MN Fisher

I get mine from Coremark Metals - two locations, Minneapolis (20 miles from me) and Fort Worth, TX. They're even cheaper than Lowe's, Home Depot or Menards (even with the 11% rebate). Order online, custom lengths if I want, go pick it up.

Ya - but I have a local supplier of metal that I can get that aluminum for about 25%-30% less than he charges..so I won't be getting his 'kits'.

Still have the cap too - got it when I hit their 'Fires Tour' back in the early 80s - Lincoln, NE when I was in Omaha courtesy of the USAF.

My old runabout had a 1972 Evinrude 2-stroke 40HP - I ran standard gas with 10% with no problem for about 8 years before I sold the boat.

If I wore a hat out on the lake back then, it was always the BOC cap...so easy-peasy.

Actually, I was wearing a Blue Oyster Cult ball cap one of those times...no hat the other.

If the rods and tackle aren't spread out on the deck...I wouldn't worry it. Mine were 'strewn' about, so obviously 'in use', if not at that exact moment.

One thing I like - this Alumacraft came out of the local factory (St. Peter,MN - about 50 miles from my place) back then. I'm stealing those pics to give me more ideas. I WAS going to look at a motor - but given that the guy who buys/rebuilds/sells those old motors only has a 10HP max now, and he does up to 25HP - all tiller - I'm gonna wait and see. He use to have a local bait shop with an Evinrude/Johnson repair shop in the back...he's still certified by both...it was local tax changes that forced him to close down, so now he just repairs and sells old motors. I plan to...this winter will be modifying work...plan to hit the water in the spring with it.

Nope - the times the DNR-EOs pulled me over, I was just cruising to a new spot...so not actively fishing. Them seeing rods and tackle was enough to ask about my fishing license.

The times the Sheriff's patrol pulled me over - no...they just made sure I had my registration tag, and PFD handy. The couple times it was an actual DNR-EO, ya...they saw rods, tackle, and asked to see my fishing license.

I would want at least a 48" beam (max width) with the transom width being at least 40" - sort of like jon boats in that respect, but a semi-V is - IMO - stabler than a flat-bottom. Yes, I've been in both - my old 14' runabout was a semi-V and I felt it was better on the water than a friend's 1452 Jon even though the Jon was wider. If you look at the pamphlet image I posted, even their old 12' had a 49" beam and 43" transom width.

If it's a shad - it's gotta be sexy.

I'm actually looking at putting in a front casting deck, then seeing if I can find a used-working Edge.

I'm on a tight budget here, Paul. Getting a rebuilt 1967 10hp Johnson Sea Horse is going to hit my ceiling for 'major purchases' this year...and that's only if I can sell the canoe for a decent price.

"Warp speed, Mr. Scott."

Nice thing about the Lake Master - it's a wide/deep boat - 64" beam, 29.5" gunnel to keel...very stable. Lowered transom lip, so it take a short-shaft motor. He's the original owner and still had the original pamphlet.

So it's not a bass boat, but it was affordable. Still need a main motor, but a guy in the neighborhood buys old motors, refurbishes them, and sells them at an affordable price...gotta call him tomorrow about one he has up. Anyway - 1972 Alumacraft F-9 Lakemaster - 15' for under $700. Came with trailer and an Endura C2-30. Needs some cleanup, but it's registered to the end of next year and he showed me pics of when he had it on the water this past weekend.

Lucky dog In the 8 years I had the 14' runabout, I got 'checked' by water patrol half a dozen times. In the 4 years I've had the canoe, I've been checked twice.

Can't tell you how many times my canoe has almost been swamped by a wakeboat going at speed INSIDE the no-wake buoy markers. One reason I'm looking at getting a 'real' boat. Actually going to look at one this evening.

Just go with it, doesn't matter if it grew up in the stream or 'escaped' the lake - it's a SMB of decent size. I think the Minnehaha Creek gets some larger smallies occasionally when they release extra water from Minnetonka (source of the creek). Right now, the Minnehaha is way down from the drought as they restrict the outflow from Minnetonka to try and keep it's level up. When I was shore-fishing Friday, I noticed that at the spot I was, lake level was down about 2'.

That was my 'go to' mono before testing Advance - now I use the remainder of the 6# & 8# Elite I have left as backing on my spinning reels

I'm running Sufix Advance and I'm really liking it. As Mr Franco said - no matter which you pick, get and use KVD.

On paper that's true - but when a lake is totally enclosed by private property...try getting permission to cross to the lake from one of the homeowners. It's like trying to pull the teeth of an un-sedated lion.

I prefer the full article to the 'Cliff Notes' version as well...gives it more 'feels'.

MN: Private lakes? Yes - when there's no public land adjoining the water, the lake is private to the homeowners. Some will give you permission to shore-fish, so long as you stay in the boundaries of their property. Note that a bridge of a city/county/state maintained road counts as public land. Any public land adjoining a lake, the lake is public.