Lund Explorer

Go for it Robert, I can see the plan. First it was the love of fast cars, and now the shorts? All that's left is to get out of the real estate game and get your private investigator's license to bring out your inner Thomas Magnum!

Flashback to 1961 - Three young kids meet each other as they start kindergarten at Riverview School. They become friends and spend quite a bit of time after school and during the summers fishing and swimming along the western shore of the river that runs through their small town. The river is home to smallmouth, walleye, and pike, all making certain holes their homes. The boys slowly learned which place held which fish and what it took to catch them. Fast forward to the 8th Grade - The three have become absolute river rats as they've learned every honey hole along their river. They've also fished many of the smaller feeder creeks for trout, and a local lake that is great for bluegills and largemouth bass. One day while discussing their favorite subject a sixth grade underclassmen has the audacity to introduce himself. He's from across town on the east side and he has fished the same river from the other bank. Now he is interested in all those spots we have found. Even though they should have given this underclassman a well deserved "wedgie" and sent him on his way, but they decide to include him in their adventures. The trio learn that not only is this younger kid a fairly good fisherman, he also is the only boy in a family that has six girls. SIX GIRLS! To make a long story shorter, all three of these young guys ended up marrying one of those sisters, and we're all still married to them today. B-I-L Scott made the best observation at deer camp one year when he said "I don't have any friends anymore, just Brother-In-Laws!" And we still haven't given him that wedgie!

By the way, you can find out what I said by going to Google Translate!

Wat een ongelooflijke waaier dit kleine meisje heeft. Gewoon geweldig! Nu als ze kon alleen leert een aantal van jullie hoe je de vertaling van Google gebruiken.

I'm sorry to hear that Glenn, it's hard on everyone. Just a guess on my part, but is your sister the oldest of the female siblings? It's a proven fact that the family caregiver is almost always the eldest daughter, or if there were no girls, the eldest daughter-in-law. Watch out for her too. I know it's hard to find the time, but she's going to need some time off from those duties. Even a weekend away can help relieve the stress that comes with being an in-home care provider. I'm afraid that I'm not the same jolly old fat guy you met in Kentucky a few years back, but that's a subject for a whole new thread. Someday we'll be able to hoist another beer together and share a few war stories.

Exactly!

The average fisherman also isn't putting themselves out as being the best fisherman the world has ever known, and they aren't spending a couple of days on the lake for a guaranteed paycheck just for showing up. It's all relative. Big name pros draw big time crowds, and weekend warriors or crappie fishermen only draw tournament snobs and jet skis. And while we are speaking of the average angler, go back and look at the picture. Did you see any tin boats in that crowd? Bucket fishermen? All I saw was a crowd of fiberglass rockets. The same kind so many average fishermen complain about when they are cut off by. Maybe we've discovered that some of these pros are just like the rest of us. Maybe when things don't go exactly the way they want it to, that they can't perform at the level they're competing at. I can only repeat the same thing I've said before. These pros have been held up as having the knowledge, skills, and equipment that we don't have, but need to learn or more importantly buy (from their sponsors), so that we can be just like them. And then we find out that they also need to have a lake devoid of all others to succeed. Big time bass fishing will wither and die when the fans they are trying to attract are told to stay away. The tournament directors know it, the sponsors know it, and I guess it's about time that the anglers know it.

"The point is yelling fire in a crowd will cause panic." Yes, that is the point. "I have never seen someone open carry create a panic." No, the point I'm trying to make is that the author's opinion is what caused the panic. A small vociferous minority of gun owners completely overreacted to a nonissue. For many years, the right of gun ownership has come with certain rules and regulations. Neither the author in his editorial, nor I in my reason for this thread was not to suggest that we need an excessive amount of new regulations or restrictions. It's simply that this same majority should understand that any regulation is not a bad thing. I fully understand your viewpoints on this subject, and I would hope that you understand both Mr. Metcalf's viewpoints, and mine. I also understand that you may not agree with them, but I think it's important that all of us have the right to express those views.

For the last two and a half years I have been a full time, 24 hour a day, in-home care provider for an 86 year old woman with a combination of COPD and Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease, wherein my sibling, his ex-wives, and their children refuse to either regularly visit or offer to give me any relieve from those duties for even a short amount of time. However, they are actively involved in making sure that I am not squandering any of their inheritance. Rant Over. While the pay is absolutely lousy, it keeps me busy enough that I don't have the need to purchase any fishing related things. I can only hope that on the very sad day that this job comes to an end, that some higher power realizes that I've earned the chance at whacking a few more limits of hawgs than my poor angling skills used to come up with.

Expanding on my thoughts. 1a. The key to this was the quoted gentleman that he wanted people "De-Sensitized" to seeing others openly carrying some sort of weapon. I simply feel that this flies into the face of rational thinking. You can say that I'm judging a book by it's cover, but I would find it hard to believe that no one else has ever come face to face with someone that immediately set off your inner alarm. Now imagine that person using open carry. Isn't it a little too late to become concerned "after" the guy is pointing that gun at you? 1b. I'd like to hear from some of the LEOs on here to see if their training should be to ignore anyone they saw openly carrying, or perhaps doing a really lousy job of CC. 2. The reason I included this story in my original post was to get people thinking about the issue that everyone, including those predisposed to turn into John Wayne, should have the right to CC. As I said before, it's impossible to ask the two what was going through their minds during the entire incident, because unless they now reside in Sam's house as ghosts, its probably too late. Professionals like our LEO brethren all go through screenings prior to being put on the streets. The military does the same thing with it's troops. Isn't it possible that the same should be required with John Q. Public? 3. Most disturbing to me was the third part of my post, where a proven pro-gun author's career could come to such an inglorious end for no other reason than he used his 1st amendment rights to question our 2nd amendment rights. I read the entire opinion piece he wrote, and wish I could attach to it here, but it wasn't that bad. Maybe I'm just too old, but I was taught that every right comes with certain responsibilities. I think it would be easy to understand why our 1st amendment rights don't give us the right to yell FIRE in a crowded theater, so I can't see the reason that certain reasonable restrictions can't be placed on the rights given us in the 2nd or any other one.

Goals are important! Back in my tournament days, I set goals for myself. They were set by a combination of the body of water, the season, the current weather conditions. More importantly, I also reviewed what other tournament fishermen had weighed in during prior tournaments. Knowing what my competitors were capable of gave me a yardstick to measure my efforts against. If I was on a body of water that produced 18-20lb limits, I wasn't satisfied if the only thing I was catching was 14" keepers. I might come in with a limit, but I knew I'd be buried way down in the standings. In the end you are competing against the lake, but more accurately, against the lake's potential.

I'm not sure where you saw that in my original posting. I simply brought up three news stories that dealt with other topics in this section. I commented on each and asked for replies.

For 362 days a year, we are bombarded by the fact that these gentlemen are the best bass fisherman in the world. They supposedly have abilities far beyond any of us. They tell us that all of that expensive equipment and tackle they are sponsored to use guarantee that success too. And then we find out that all of that extra skill and all the fancy equipment and tackle is thrown into chaos because they have to put up with what everybody else has to put up with when they get on the water! This goes on every year at the classic, and even if they could block the public from the tournament's waters during those days, it wouldn't be long before one or more of these superior fishermen would complain that some crappie fisherman caught his giant bass the day, the week, or the month before he could get there. Maybe its about time that they take off the fancy jerseys, swap out the fiberglass rocket for a tin boat, and spend the day fishing a nearby lake during some else's tournament. Learn to use those superior skills in way less than perfect conditions. It's either that, or petition B.A.S.S. to hold these tournaments on secret lakes, with no announcements to public or media, and no fancy weigh-in show that might attract a crowd. I'll bet the sponsors, who are the only real reason for all of this, would be happy!

Not wanting to hijack any of the existing threads, here are three random thoughts and questions for you to consider and perhaps reply to. Before we start though, I want to explain that I have had a long history with many types of weapons, including my time in the military police, as well as a state certified hunter safety instructor. I've also had a lifelong fascination with times when irony which many times leads me to such thoughts. First, Open Carry. Here in West Michigan, we have had a few cases where a group has been very active in pushing for more open carry. In several instances, it has led to lawsuits involving local police agencies such as Grand Haven and Grand Rapids. The linked article includes an interesting post dealing with the subject, and the group's view of it. While the leader of this bunch does state in the article that he thinks that getting a CCW is a good idea and thinks everyone should follow the letter of the law, I found the following quote rather interesting. "You're a law abiding gun owner," Lambert said; " Your job is to desensitize the public" http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/01/grand_rapids_open-carry_advoca.html Thoughts - I might be completely wrong, but remaining diligent one of the best keys any of us have to remain safe. We're taught from one of the first days in driver's education to drive defensively. Your favorite TAM certified bartender has been instructed to know when you are approaching way too drunk and not waiting for you to fall off your barstool. LEO's have been taught to observe and react. Question - Are we going to be any safer once everyone openly carrying a gun, no matter how scruffy looking he might be, can be ignored? Second, Concealed Carry. Two gentlemen, both CC and packing, driving down the same road. Nobody knows for sure what started it all, but road rage accelerates to the point where one driver pulls off the road into a parking lot. Second driver pulls right in behind him. Curses follow, fists are swung, and at some point, they all retreat to the last option. Slap Iron & Blast Away! Both drivers died! http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/09/road_rage-related_shootout_lea.html Thoughts - If there was ever a case where irony could rear it's ugly head, this very well could be the case. Too bad both died, as it would have interesting to hear if either thought if their CC made it safer to drive aggressively, safer to pull over to escalate the situation, or to not just back down before it was too late. Question - While you're going about your day, have you ever considered the fact that the other guy just might be as heavily armed as you are? That maybe they are a little more aggressive because of the fact that they're packing? Third, When Opinions Can Get You Fired. Take the case of long time writer and gun advocate Mr. Dick Metcalf. Perhaps you've already read about this. 30 years of writing in untold numbers of media, the mere thought that the words well regulated could possibly mean that some sort of regulation could be tied to a person's second amendment rights brought about such a firestorm that he was fired. The editor who had the distasteful job of cutting him loose resigned as well. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/7/longtime-gun-writer-guns-ammo-fired-piece-question/?page=all Thoughts - A long, long, time ago, I was taught that everything is on a pendulum were rules, regulations, and just about everything make swings widely to either side of almost every issue. Somewhere in the middle of those swings, the majority resides and looks forward to every swing to reverse itself. In my simple minded opinion, we're seeing that pendulum being pushed way beyond the center by an extremely vocal group who wants to see so little regulation that we'll soon see gun shops open for business across the street from the prison's gate. We've gotten to the point where a man who spent most of his life promoting gun ownership being fired for suggesting that there has to be some kind of rules. Question - Have we gone too far, not far enough, or just about right?

Google up a few images of a Gray or Hungarian Partridge.

PM Sent

Yup, I guess that's what I am - Harsh! I've listened to this same type of thing more times than I care to remember. Not just about fishing, but from all kinds of people who decided to throw their reasoning skills out the window and then complain about the consquences aftwewards. I can't see any reason to try to understand why Mr. Ply chose to do what he did, that was his choice. But I choose to say that it is rather ignorant that when he was faced with a potential record catch, he obviously didn't bother to think about what needed to be done to get credit for it. That is 100% his fault, and no amount of whining by him or others changes that fact. I can also assure you that my type of harsh would be nothing compared to the what the current record holder would display if he lost the record to someone who decided not to bother with the rules.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Fishing/Recognition/SIWR/

You need only to remember the retort: Your Sister's Are Bigger! -or- Your Sister Is Thinner! Whatever - Just make sure to mention her sister.

I'm not sure what these guys are paying, but they were on the news last night. Still here and growing! http://muskegon.wzzm13.com/news/news/72458-made-michigan-motiv-bowling

I know of several that have such scales. These aren't the ones sitting on the counter, but they are usually located in the back room and are used to weigh incoming shipments which could be as big as an entire side of beef or a whole dressed pig.

The species that you go after with those tip ups will determine where to set them. Northern Pike could be in shallow weed beds during first ice but will follow natural prey such as bluegills which tend to move deeper later in the winter. I usually fish Walleye in deeper water near the areas that we also target for perch. The deepest fish are Lake Trout which we target in water depths of 90' - 120'. For any of these fish, tip ups are baited with some type of live minnow. Grey, Blue, or Golden Shiners are popular as well as smaller Suckers. Some states allow you to use goldfish, but not here in Michigan. I usually use Sucker minnows for Pike unless its going to be sunny out that day, and then I'll use a shiner minnow that puts out more flash. Walleye/Lake Trout usually calls for smaller Blues. Your local bait shop should be able to help you out with what is working in your area.

Heck no, I'd give it to a bucket fisherman to take home to eat! Now seriously, I guess I'd feel a little stupid/unlucky/whatever for not knowing the rules. After about ten seconds, I would simply accept the fact that rules are rules. And I have not only read stories about record setting catches, but knew what needed to be done to establish a claim for a state record catch. In the 1960's this state added a whole bunch of new salmon species swimming in our Great Lakes. A lot of people dreamed of catching a state record King, Coho, or Atlantic Salmon. A#1 on that list was a certified scale had to be used, which with a little thought should be easy to find if you have ever visited a meat market as their scales MUST be certified by the State Dept of Agriculture. As far as a witness from the state, there's a conservation officer in every county, many of whom would gladly come to help out. The Bottom Line - The things this fisherman did wrong far outweighed (no pun intended) an IGFA rule that was in effect long before he ever hit the water that day. If he or anyone else wants to take it personally, then I can't cure that either.

Schnapps - - - Peppermint Schnapps!

Berkley Power Worm, and/or Rage Tail Space Monkey.