Fishing Rhino

You get promoted by your post count. You start as a one star general and work your way to a five star general. On the road trip you must salute those with more stars whenever your paths cross. Good deal! I'll be heading over to the introduction's and typing Welcome till I get another star Why go through all that work. Copy "Welcome", click on reply. When the box opens click on ctrl and V, then post. Save yourself some key strokes.

Oddly mine doesn't look the same, its an 86 trailer though, it has a small hole below the lever and says lock with an arrow pointing towards it, When I hook the pin through it though it doesn't do much to stop it, I might have to take a picture if nobody is getting what i'm saying Do you have brakes on your trailer? If you do, that could be a lockout for your brakes. Occasionally, when backing up over soft ground or launching where a wheel may roll into a depression, unless the braking mechanism is locked out, the brakes will be applied, and you will not be able to back up any further. The "brake lock" pin does not go through the tongue. It only goes through one side to prevent the inner section from sliding and applying the brakes. My coupler is not like the one posted, but it works the same. The coupler lock for it goes through the tongue, and is about four inches long. Mine looks like the one in this owner's manual. The brake lockout on mine is different. http://www.nitroowners.com/~library/1180/Trailer%20Owners%20Manual%20Info.pdf

New vs used? I'd opt for the new. It comes with a warranty. As for Rangers, Bass Cats, etc., being better than a Nitro, what's the point? You get what you pay for, and the fish don't know if you're fishing from an Allison or a shingle. They don't care either. I'm perfectly happy with my Nitro, though there were a few kinks they had to take care of, like installing the wrong propeller. Of course that had nothing to do with the boat. You won't catch one more fish out of the most expensive bass boat than you will out of a similar boat that costs much less. A man and a boat are a team. And the man in the boat is more important than the boat the man is in when it comes to catching fish. If one is to believe that you will do better fishing in one boat than another, then the best boat, hands down has to be a Nitro. Kevin Van Dam fishes from a Z9. If the others were so much better he'd use them and the manufacturers would be delighted to pay him to do so.

You get promoted by your post count. You start as a one star general and work your way to a five star general. On the road trip you must salute those with more stars whenever your paths cross.

Buddy or not, unless invited, my rule of thumb is to give plenty of room, maybe 200 yards or more. If they are working an area/shore, I pay attention to the direction they are moving, and make sure I do not jump in front of them, not even by two or three hundred yards. It's common courtesy, and what I'd expect of others. If they are anchored, I'd still give them a wide berth, but would not hesitate to work any side of them as opposed to someone drifting or motoring a consistent direction. It makes no sense to follow someone closely. If they have disturbed fish, your quarry is less likely to take your offerings. Give 'em a chance to settle down. Last year I was working a shoreline and a man and his wife (I assume) jumped ahead of me. I just kept working my way toward him. As I got closer, he asked how close I was going to get. I told him it was possible I'd bump into him since it was he who was rude enough to jump closely ahead of me when it was clearly evident that I was moving to the south along that shore. I told him that rudeness does not deserve the least bit of courtesy. He grumbled and huffed, then left. I don't go looking for trouble, but I'm not going to be driven from the area I'm working by anyone. Twenty five plus years as a commercial lobsterman have served me well regarding protecting my turf, even though my possession of that turf is only temporary. Treat others with the same courtesy you expect from them, and you'll be fine.

I think most states require you to be at least 18 years of age to enter into a binding contract for the purchase of any product, or a loan to buy it. You'd need the signature of a parent or guardian, which would hold them responsible for any default on your part.

We don't get much "junk mail" these days. But, I can recall getting bundles of credit card offers from gasoline companies, banks, and all manner of businesses every week. Then I read something very interesting. The article suggested two things. The first was to take company A's offerings, and stuff them into company B's postage paid return envelope. The second was to really punish repeat offenders. About those return envelopes, the company making the offers only has to pay postage when the Post Office scans the bar code on a return envelope. You can past that envelope onto a box full of rocks, or any other non forbidden items, and they will be charged the appropriate postage, which could be several dollars. And, there is no way for them to trace it back to the sender. Unless of course one is dumb enough to provide that info when it is mailed.

Billboards don't bother me in the least. They are not intruding on my space. Neither do print ads or commercials. I buy a magazine or paper knowing the ads help to keep the cost of said publication down, whether I buy their product or not. Same thing for commercials on television. I "invite" commercial television into my home when I turn it on. Those are perfectly understandable. But I absolutely hate unsolicited solicitations. Sales people don't bother me unless they become annoying, obnoxious, or knock on my door. If I go to a Best Buy, or car dealer, I am on their turf, and fair game. I have no problem telling any salesman to scram in polite terms. Don't mind the Boy or Girl Scouts or kids selling stuff for their class projects.

Regarding knowledge and wisdom, I heard it put a different way, don't know who said it, and this may be a crude paraphrase, but it goes like this. Knowledge is the gathering of information. Wisdom is the appropriate use of knowledge.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2011/02/23/north_attleboro/8898226.txt

If it is a "no fishing" pond, I wouldn't fish it.

What's next, KVD jammies and bunny slippers?

Nah, that wouldn't give me any satisfaction. I realize they are only doing their job, but I don't care. I consider those unwanted calls to be an intrusion of my privacy. I know, I know. I'm just an old grouch. But, I was doing that when I was a young grouch. With caller ID, I can ignore the unwanted calls. If it's an important call, they can leave a message at the tone.

I don't think that was Chlorox. Chlorox is just a 6% solution containing sodium hypochlorite. Having used 15-25% solutions in an industrial setting, I've never seen such a reaction with any organic material. Even using powdered calcium hypochlorite, I've never seen such a reaction. If you're seeing such a tremendous exothermic reaction, are you sure you weren't using hydrochloric acid? Actually, I poured in a cup of the granulated pool chlorine. The bait was in plastic barrels with the clamp on tops. Didn't clamp the tops, just pressed them down. The resulting mini explosions lifted the tops off some of them. We did get potent liquid bleach from Borden/Remington chemical company to clean/kill off the "grass" that would grow on the end lines of our lobster pot trawls. Did that a couple of times 'til we realized that tying a length of line to the ****** block, then taking a couple of turns around the end line would strip the grass as we hauled the line in without producing the fumes that would irritate eyes and throats.

I don't think that was Chlorox. Chlorox is just a 6% solution containing sodium hypochlorite. Having used 15-25% solutions in an industrial setting, I've never seen such a reaction with any organic material. Even using powdered calcium hypochlorite, I've never seen such a reaction. If you're seeing such a tremendous exothermic reaction, are you sure you weren't using hydrochloric acid? Actually, I poured in a cup of the granulated pool chlorine. The bait was in plastic barrels with the clamp on tops. Didn't clamp the tops, just pressed them down. The resulting mini explosions lifted the tops off some of them.

Glenn, when it comes to Daytona, seating is everything. That new building in the infield is an abomination it obstructs the backstretch view of many who once had an unobstructed view of the entire track. If you want an unobstructed view, it's going to cost you, if you can manage to get one of those ducats. The first three years that we went to Daytona we were stuck in row six (bench seating, with no back rests) in the Oldfield section close to turn four. We could only see the cars as they progressed through turn three into turn four, through turn four, and at times (depending on who was standing) through the dogleg and into turn one, less than half the track. And you are correct. The cars were nothing but a blur as they passed in front of us. But it does give you an appreciation for the speeds at which they circle the track. It will blow the loosely fitted caps off heads for several rows, and lift the trash from the rubbish barrels. Back when the only tickets to be had were from scalpers on the day of the race, a group of guys who were attending their first NASCAR race went nuts the first few times the cars whizzed by. They were high fiving each other and exclaiming that seeing the cars flash by that first time was worth the price of admission. The Daytona 500 has never been the best racing on the Winston/Nextel/Sprint cup circuit, and likely never will be. I've slept through long stretches of the 500 in the past, and missed very little if anything. We go, not only for the racing. Like the Superbowl, it's the circus like atmosphere leading up to the 500, and the excitement that permeates the crowd. It was the spectacle, more than the event that kept us returning. We've stayed at the "resorts" along the beach, Disney, and made the trek forth and back, and stayed within sight and walking distance to the track. None of the above is economical. So, if one is to spend money on air travel, and accomodations, it's hardly worth it to scrimp on the seats. We made the decision years ago to spring for the cost of the best seats, high up and as close to the start/finish line as possible. We are high enough to see over the black monolith that was erected behind pit road a few years ago. And while the cars are small on the back stretch, even with my old, glass needing eyes, I can make out the action on the back stretch. Plus, they have jumbo trons so those whose vision is blocked can follow the Superstretch racing. The two by two racing of this year's 500 made it much easier to follow the duos around the track. It was amazing to see a pair pass four other sets of cars on the back stretch as though the others were stopped, only to see the others do the same to them on the front stretch. It breaks up the long New England winter. We've played golf, gone to Disney, and done some sightseeing on the off days. This year we stayed at a nice hotel, only a half hour's drive from the track with a 42" flat panel HD television, large rooms, for less than a Ben Franklin per night. We did pay a premium to park just past the track, at a motel where we had previously stayed. But, after the race we could escape the throng without getting jammed up in a parking lot or other traffic. Speedway Boulevard is blocked to eastbound traffic immediately following the race. We can get onto it in seconds, head east to Clyde Morris Blvd, south to Belleville Avenue take it west until it turns into I-4, and be back at our hotel room in about 35 minutes. It took us several years to "perfect" this strategy. Other than Speedweeks, Daytona and its beach would hold very little attraction for us. They city has done quite a bit to clean it up the past several years. But they still have a long way to go. We are now closer to the start/finish line, and higher than when I took these pictures several years ago. Casey Atwood's debut for Evernham Racing in his short lived Cup career.

Let's see now. 42 cars running side by side with very little passing is boring. Racing at Michigan with a track that has four lanes (kinda like California) making it possible for faster cars to easily pass a slightly slower car, and the field gets strung out with few cautions is boring. So this year we have a Daytona 500 with a record 74 lead changes, a record number of cautions, no side by side freight train racing, but we did have "the big one", and it's boring. While it was much tougher on the drivers, and drafting partners were constantly being shuffled during pit stops, there was no shortage of on track action. The racing depended upon the precision drafting of each pair. A matter of an inch or two separation slowed cars considerably. It was one race where being there was better than watching on television. There was action all over the track, and I have little doubt that much of it was not caught on television. I would not want to see that kind of racing every week, nor would I want to see Bristol or Martinsville every week. The big problem with Daytona, especially with the new surface, and Talladega is that the handling technology has surpassed the design of the tracks. No matter what they tried for the past ten or fifteen years, maybe longer, they drive the track with the gas pedal to the floor. Handling is not as critical as it is on the shorter tracks. Get rid of the restrictor plate, and then do one more thing which will slow the cars down, groove the tires to shrink the contact patch so they have to get off the throttle to make it through the turn. The better handling cars will eventually pull away from the pack. Very few adjustments such as track bar, wedge, or tire pressure were needed at this year's 500. We've been going to Daytona since '93. This year had the best racing and the best weather since we started. No rain. Temps in the high 70s to low 80s every day. Good flights down and back. A long sleeved shirt was all I needed for the truck race Friday night. Danica was a major disappointment. She did well early in the race and even led a couple of laps. Don't know if something scared her about drafting, but after leading the race, she never got into a tight draft with another car. She seemed content to ride around the rest of the race drafting with several feet separating her and other cars.

I have a single axle trailer which came with my Z7. It has brakes, and it makes a huge difference. I have to use the brake lock on one of the places I launch. The "ramp" is sand, and if the trailer wheel hits a soft spot or depression the brakes will lock. On a couple of occasions, I forgot to pull the pin after loading the boat, and the difference in braking was significant. It only took one application of the brakes to let me know I forgot to pull the pin.

Before the days of caller ID, we'd answer every phone call. If it was a telemarketer, I'd ask them to hold on for a second, take the phone to the bathroom, hold it close to the toilet, and flush. Then hang up on them.

Clorox wipes? Yikes!!!! You've never seen how Clorox reacts with bodily wastes. It is used to wash down kennels. It not only cleans, it kills the odor. I've used it to "neutralize" rotten lobster bait. It pops, fizzes, smokes and generates a tremendous amount of heat. You're lucky to have any sphincter left.

Yea and I know it is going to suck when I have to fly to Boston tonight. Tomorrow it definitely won't suck when we fly out of Providence headed for Florida and the racing at Daytona.

I'm off to the races, literally, tomorrow. Be back next Tuesday. Weather high sixties, low seventies for Daytona. When the ice is gone, the first day with temps like that, I'll be casting jigs in my favorite pond. Late Feb, or early March, whenever it happens.

Also, one of the most important things I've learned is that every wave, or set of waves, is different, and should be driven as such. It takes a lot of concentration and can be very nerve racking. Absolutely true, especially on the ocean. You can have ground swells several feet high with the surface like glass. Combine swells with wind driven waves, and it produces an interesting combination. The waves and the swells, though moving in the same direction travel at different speeds. At times they cancel each other out. Other times they combine to make conditions worse. The time between the two extremes can be several seconds or a few minutes. We've all seen surfers sitting on their boards off the beach, waiting for the perfect or better waves. If you've heard of "rogue waves" they are the result of various surface conditions coming together to produce them, much like lows converging to create "perfect storms".

Sleep in most cases is a necessary and healthy body function. Many illnesses disrupt healthy body functions. When you are sick you often don't feel like eating, lack energy, and if sick enough, don't care about things that you normally would.

While we are speaking of extreme weather, here's a helpful tip if you are ever caught in these conditions, and you have to run with the wind. All of the boats mentioned here are fast enough to match the speed of the waves. The safest way to run with the sea is to ride the back side of the wave, controlling boat speed so that you are "climbing" the wave toward the crest. Never ride the front side of the wave. You may find yourself surfing the wave, putting yourself in danger of pitchpoling, or yawing badly enough to get broadside to the sea and being swamped.