Zel

Cool! When my grandfather passed away in the mid 70's, we found a letter signed by Adolf Hitler to my grandfather. It seems before war broke out with the U.S., Germany was targeting some US citizens who immigrated from the then Slovak Republic which was recognized by Nazi Germany. The letter basically stated that my grandfather was still considered to be a citizen of the Slovak Republic and expected to return and serve the Third Reich.

A overhead shot at blast off of DVD's WaterWarrior Z13 at this years Guntersville Google/MicroSoft/ EXXON Elite Series Championship. His Tri-Powered craft, utilizing solid sails, wind power and solar energy combine to produce top speeds of Mach 2. DVD is currently leading the board, with a top prize of $1,500,000,000, and an all expense paid trip to Europa, Jupiter's once icy moon, which melted into water during the 2074 solar storms. Europa has since become the intergalactic ultimate fishing paradise.

"ex-member"

I call what you see "CRUISERS." The hardest bass for me to catch. If they see you they usually won't bite. The only thing I've found that works on them, and only rarely, is to throw a rapala as far off as you can (where they can't see you), but in the path they are traveling as they swim back and forth. Jerk it slowly. Good luck.

SPEEDBEAD, that was one of the best OOPS posts I've ever read. Dom told me you were coming up to fish Mauch Chunk Lake. A day on the water with the two of you... you guys should sell tickets! (Oh and by the way, change your avatar to this for a little while)

Fished Mauch Chunk Lake yesterday with the Duke of Mook in my boat. Dominick and I didn't do too badly for a rough, cold, cloudy, rising pressure type of day. Mid 40's to low 50's while we were there, after cold rain the night before. Did a lot better than others we saw and talked to on the lake. Nothing big... caught about a dozen LMB between us. All bass came on really slow worked plastics. I think most of Dom's came on *** Beaver Craws, and mine came on dark natural colored Fat Ikas, 4 Berkley Hand Poured Straight Worms, and wacky rigged ***. Only the pickerel were interested in hard baits. A couple of pics of the average size bass we caught are posted below. Saw quite a few beds, but only one single bass on one bed. The cold must have moved them off the beds and deeper - where we caught them. Good day overall, we laughed, told stories, and talked about the characters here and the changes we've noticed. I will miss him here on the forum, but we plan on getting together soon for another trip to the Chunk. For fun, I took a video of Dom getting the boat from the dock to the trailer, to show those familiar with the story, how far he's come with a foot controlled trolling motor since Lake Fork. But it's a moot point now, so I won't post it. Dominick... The other Mook... (update, I figured out how you guys link multiple pics to appear in a post!). The HELP section IS really good for figuring things out

Thanks Wayne P, I will definately give that a try when the motor finally goes down on its own. When the motor is raised, and the cranking battery is dead so the trim switch doesn't work, you can't open the cover to the battery area to get to any of the cables or batteries (a whole other headache).

Thanks Wayne P. The Eagle Cuda 250 has a built in antenna. I unplug the trolling motor after I get off the lake, and don't plug it in till right before I launch. I don't seem to have a drain on the trolling motor battery, only the cranking battery.

No, I've got an Eagle Cuda 242 for the front deck, and an Eagle Cuda 250 with GPS mounted on the dash (but I think Lowrance makes the Eagle brand). I do disconnect both fishfinders and the CD player after every use and store them in the garage. I only put them back on the boat right before I launch.

Unlike the gas thieves of the 70's when I was hit several times, these days they are also punching holes in the gas tanks to get at the gas faster and with less hassle.

Pennsylvania is a key state for honey bees that are transported across the US to pollinate crops. I've recently seen a special on Pennsylvania Public TV about this situation called CCD. It now appears the culprit might be a recently developed class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, sprayed on practically anything that grows. It breaks down insects' immune systems, and causes memory loss and nervous system disorders that make insects quit feeding. Unfortunately some of those insects are bees. Further implicating these insecticides is the fact that bees raised in organic environments are largely unaffected by CCD.

Thanks guys. I'm not very good with electronics. I take the key out after every trip. All the switches now seem to work since getting them fixed at the marine. My 2 depth finders and CD player are the only additional accessories tied into the cranking battery. I take them out of the boat after every use. The remainder of electronics don't work unless I turn on the "Power" switch on (at least that's what I've noticed), except for the trim switch on the big motor. Therefore I think there is nothing else to turn off. Also, is there a way to test for a drain of power?

One year and two completely dead new cranking batteries. Something is draining the cranking battery and I can't figure it out. When I got it winterized last year at the local marine shop, they fixed the wiring problems for $250. Although some of the wiring problems are fixed (switches not working), the drain continues. Nothing is turned on (Fish'n'Ski), I've checked and checked. I charge it the night before, and by morning, it's completely dead (thats less than 8 hours). Right now I use a deep cycle instead of a cranking battery so the battery won't get destroyed when it gets completely drained. Any ideas to point me in a direction? Thanks.

If only it were so easy, but preconceived notions and politics trump already sound alternate methods to the dependence on foreign oil. Clean and efficient methods to convert waste coal into diesel fuel, and other substances that can be used for energy, already exist, but coal has become a dirty word. Several years ago here in Pennsylvania, home to some of the largest coal reserves, there was a battle for U.S. Senator. Here is an interesting read from their stances on the subject at the time. Guess who we picked for Senator Bob Casey Jr. http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17018421&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=579721&rfi=6

All I can say is those people at North Face have a twisted sence of humor. Hope those points are worth a bunch!

JerryC: I haven't fished Round Valley yet this year, but in prior years, at this time in spring, I would recommend hitting the stretch marked in yellow and green on the attached map with: rapalas, soft jerkbaits, tubes and 4 straight worms (on a jig head or T-rigged) along the banks. Pay special attention to any areas with structure (rocks, submerged wood, brush), and any points. The area I marked in yellow can easily be fished from the bank. Side note: As you leave the boat launch, not far to your right, in the deeper water you will see the end of an inlet pipe (water is very clear so you can easily see all the way down) with a dark bottom all around it. Be sure to fish it I've caught several 5lb+ fish from that spot (right where the yellow starts, nearest to the launch, on my map). Good luck. http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/zelmonster/roundvalley-apr.jpg

I'm familar with Spruce Run and Round Valley in Hunterdon County, but not the small ponds. Maybe this list will help (link below). Check out the Hunterdon County list, I see two small ponds in Clinton where Spruce Run is. They also have directions which might help. http://njbassanglers.com/places.php#hunterdon

I got some of my artwork hanging in the Loo (not to be confused with the Louvre).

I use a variety of lures with confidence. When I think of a goto bait, it's the one I throw when fishing is tough, and most other lures won't work. Mine is a Berkley 4" Power Finesse Worm Hand Pour (Watermelon Magic Red Glitter), usually on a 1/8 ounce Slider Spider Jig. Also works great texas rigged, split shot rigged, or when drop shotting.

We've lived through the recent Chatterbait and Basstrix craze. So... what's your guess at the next new hot bait craze that will sweep bass fishing. From some of the reports I've heard early this year, here's my guess at the next lure craze, the Sebile Magic Swimmer swimbait. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0052738122653a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=magic+swimmer&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=magic+swimmer&noImage=0

Boy, I think I could write a book about my battles with my township. There is development and then there is smart development. Our planning commission was smart enough to section off the township into specific areas for all types of development, including high density housing, upscale, trailer, open spaces, etc. The problem is builders in my area always want high density housing, but don't want to build in the areas designated for it. They are buying farmland in areas that are zoned for a minimum of 1 acre to build (the really nice areas). And the new private golf course, and close proximity to a ski resort is a lure for density housing. The builders have successfully put some of their own members on the planning commission. Now the builders are willing to run water and sewer lines for miles in order to get waivers so they can build their density housing. Unfortunately, everyone along the water and sewer lines would have to tie into it (houses less than 150 feet from water/sewer line), at a cost of about $8,000, and pay almost $100 per month for the privilege of having water and sewer (which costs me almost nothing per month because I have a septic tank and well). They don't care much for me at the planning commission meetings and board of supervisors meetings, and I have been quoted numerous times in the paper for sticking to my guns about just keeping new development in the township as it was planned from the start. Some want me to run for the board of supervisors, but I always tell them I like fighting my battles in my own way. My last suggestion was to have the developers pay the hook up costs and 5 years of water and sewer bills for everyone having to tie in, if they wanted to put lines in areas zoned against it. The board said they couldn't do that. I replied that if there were no zoning plans to account for the different types of development, then they were correct, but since there are, the developers should pay the price of getting the zoning waivers they so desire. It got cheers from the crowd, and glares from some of the board.

tubesock, here is some contact Information: Independent Bass Masters http://www.pabass.com/clubs/independent.htm Standing Stone Bass Masters http://www.standingstonebassmasters.com/contact.html You might also contact Seven Points Marina, (814) 658-3074, and see if they know of any open tournaments at Raystown, and also ask them the name of some local bait and tackle shops who might know of open tourneys. Good luck

Here is a list of Open Tournaments that are run by clubs in the PA Bass Federation (from the minutes of their last meeting). Scroll down to the bottom of the minutes and you will see a list of the Open Tournaments. Looks like Independent runs Tuesday night open lunker tournaments, and Standing Stone runs Wednesday night buddy open tournaments on Raystown. Also Susquehanna Valley seems to be having something in the beginning of June. http://www.pabass.com/minutes.php

Okay... now if only we can figure out who the people WERE, who are forced to change their viewed screen names when they update their profile. (some change it completely, with no reference to prior screen names)

My vote is the pure camo. Looks good and pattern will hide the little dings and scratches our tow vehicles always seem to get.