I used canoes for about 20 years and found that a longer canoe is much easier to paddle as it does not sink into the water as far as a shorter canoe. The square back is not desired as a side bracket to hold the electric motor works better for your arm to reach. Get long cables (I used battery jumpers) so the battery can sit in the front of the canoe to distribute weight better. I liked the lighter weight aluminum canoes for ease of loading onto the vehicle. I see the Alumacraft QT 17 is 17′ long and only weighs 64 lbs. That style canoe may be an ideal canoe for your use. If you plan on doing rough water canoeing down shallow rapids filled with rocks then you would need a much heavier and durable canoe.

http://www.alumacraft.com/qt-17.php

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Hi Brian,

I see you have some frustration with Charter. I dropped their TV signal last year and now only have Charter for internet service at about $48/month. We live in NE Rochester at about the same elevation as you (1200′) and put the below antenna in our attic. I pointed it towards mpls and receive most of the mpls stations, plus all of the stations to south of us (cbs/nbc/abc/pbs). I also split the signal to two TVs. This antenna may be worth a try and if it does not work then just return it.

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-ClearStream4-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B001BRXW74/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359052578&sr=8-2&keywords=clearview+antenna

The quality of the over the air signal can be just awesome (1080p) at times.

We also stream netflix at $8/month.

This website will help you point your antenna in the right direction.

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/

Dave G

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Dave, did you also install the signal booster?

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I did try a Clearstream booster to see how it would work. We have 2 Panasonic TVs and the reception on the 3 year old TV improved somewhat on the weaker Mpls stations, but the reception on the 7 year old TV got much worst for the Mpls stations. So I returned the booster and have been very happy with this simple set up for over a year.

Hi Brian,

I see you have some frustration with Charter. I dropped their TV signal last year and now only have Charter for internet service at about $48/month. We live in NE Rochester at about the same elevation as you (1200′) and put the below antenna in our attic. I pointed it towards mpls and receive most of the mpls stations, plus all of the stations to south of us (cbs/nbc/abc/pbs). I also split the signal to two TVs. This antenna may be worth a try and if it does not work then just return it.

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-ClearStream4-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B001BRXW74/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359052578&sr=8-2&keywords=clearview+antenna

The quality of the over the air signal can be just awesome (1080p) at times.

We also stream netflix at $8/month.

This website will help you point your antenna in the right direction.

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/

Dave G

Over a year ago I happen to read some very good endorsements for the EasyTroller Trolling Plate on another website’s forum. Then after reading the exceptional reviews at Cabela’s website I decided to get one. Although I actually bought it through Amazon as they had a better price.

My boat is a 16.5′ (90” beam) Lund Explorer tiller with a 70hp Suzuki 4 stroke. When I wanted to slow down for various presentations I used to toss out a couple buckets, but that has it’s own set of problems. For this last year, the Easy Troller has performed just great. It goes down with a pull on a rope while in neutral, and up when you give the big motor some gas while in forward gear. It has a spring loaded bottom half plate so if you accidentally give the motor full power, no harm is done. I also have good steering control going both forward and backward as the plate does not cover the big engine’s lower quarter of the prop.

It was recommended to add an extra notch so it would also deploy at a 45 degree angle. That setting works great for pulling crank baits at 1.5 – 2.5 mph. With the plate in it’s full down position the boat slows to less than 1 mph at idle. That is just right for pulling 3-way floaters/stick baits when going upstream on the river. If backtrolling with the plate fully down it slows the boat to about .3 mph which is perfect for dragging jigs upstream.

I am VERY pleased with this setup as I don’t have to struggle with buckets, socks, or a kicker. But most important, I am able to sit in the comfort of my main boat seat and just enjoy a day of fishing.

Dave Gulczinski

PS: The reason I have not posted on IDO for many months is because of previous political BS injected into too many posts, but I do not see those kinds of injections anymore. Thank you!

This last winter I happen to read some very good endorsements for the EasyTroller Trolling Plate on another website. Then after reading the exceptional reviews at Cabela’s website I decided to get one. Although I actually bought it through Amazon as they had a better price.

My boat is a 16.5′ (90” beam) Lund Explorer tiller with a 70hp Suzuki 4 stroke. When I wanted to slow down for various presentations I used to toss out a couple buckets, but that has it’s own set of problems. So far, the Easy Troller has performed just great. It goes down with a pull on a rope while in neutral, and up when you give the big motor some gas while in forward gear. It has a spring loaded bottom half plate so if you accidentally give the motor full power, no harm is done. I also have good steering control going both forward and backward as the plate does not cover the big engine’s lower quarter of the prop.

It was recommended to add extra notches so it would also deploy at a 45 degree angle. That setting works great for pulling crank baits at 1.5 – 2.5 mph. With the plate in it’s full down position the boat slows to less than 1 mph at idle. That will be just right for pulling 3-way floaters/stick baits when going upstream on the river.

I am very pleased with this setup as I don’t have to struggle with buckets, socks, or a kicker. I am able to sit in the comfort of my main boat seat and just enjoy a day of fishing.

Dave Gulczinski

Dean,

That was a very nice post. I know you could have dwelled on some of the problems associated with your leaving, but taking the “high road” with your post shows your extraordinary integrity. Your helping out fishermen and giving advice at fishing clubs will always be remembered.

Good luck on what ever is in place for your future.

Dave Gulczinski

The rules are simple, “no political posts”. Let’s say you are reading an interesting post about fishing and someone highjacks the post and interjects their political views, then opposing political posts occur. Soon the content of the original thread is lost and it may be deleted.

There is no incentive for these people to stop injecting their political views on any fishing related thread, after all the thread/post is just deleted. One way keep these people from highjacking fishing posts is to ban them for continually breaking the rules. If you have a better suggestion to stop these people from breaking the rules, then lets hear it.

PS: By calling people who do not share your views (twinkies and cupcakes) shows some real maturity.

I don’t care if there is a special political forum or not. But I would like to see anyone making a political comment be banned from the website for a month. After their second violation, they would be banned for a year. I really get turned off by those political comments on any fishing forums.

I think all of MN will win as we must have the worst roads in the nation. It must be our high taxes and fine weather that keeps us here — although we all know it is for the walleyes as to why we live in MN.

Are there any problems when fishing in the winter with Boat Buckles? When you pull the boat out of the water in 20 degrees, are they going to ice up?

I also need new tires and was researching trailer tires at many websites and the Maxxis seem to get good reviews most of the time. I have older USA Goodyears now but there have been so many poor reviews on the China ones that I am thinking of switching brands. Maybe Goodyear gets more bad reviews because there are a lot more on them on the road. Has anyone had experience with the Maxxis?

me too

I have a unique problem with the old and new DFI 2-stroke motors. I am very sensitive to some exhaust smells and these 2-stokes just make me ill after awhile in the boat. Even though they have cut down on the oil consumption, it still smells to me. If you or any of your passengers are also sensitive to these oil exhausts, then I would highly recommend a 4-stroke.

Here my friends are two absolutely true fishing facts!

1. Those big floating cans aren’t buoys, they’re boat magnets.

2. When a guy in another boat ask, “How’s fish’n?” , just reply “Five more after this next one and I’ll have my limit.”

Another option to consider…

About 7 years ago I did a basement bathroom with a big roll of vinyl I got from Menards. It was a complex two room situation. The cement floor had big cracks in it and I did not want to use tile, as the heaving cement would eventually crack any tiles.

This vinyl roll did not need any glue to hold it down and had a soft cushion base. I first cut a thick paper pattern to fit exactly on the floor of the two rooms with no seams. Then used the paper as a pattern to cut the vinyl. To this day it still looks like new with absolutely no problems. The vinyl was heavily textured so it looks like expensive tile but is soft and warm on your bare feet.

I have installed a lot of flooring and wall tiles in my days, but was very impressed with this (then new) vinyl roll for its ease of installation, inexpensive cost, flexibility, durability, comfort, and looks.

Total: 15.1 lbs
Big fish: 5.3 lbs

While cautiously driving through some dangerous mountain switchback roads my daughter says, ”If we go any slower we will be going backwards”.

Now if we could only hook up our Humminbird SI transducer, or Lowrance LSS-1 units, to our laptops with appropriate programs, we would not even need those expensive units in our boats. But I suspect that will not happen for awhile.

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Just a reminder this is coming up tomorrow night hope to see everyone there!

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You said “tomorrow night” on 1/30, but your first post said 2/7. I am confused as to which day

I was just looking at another picture of that fish and it does strongly resemble a football. She must have gotten fat from eating all those Everts plastics. Or could it have eaten a badly thrown Favre football that went into the river and drifted down to P4?

I had to fire my tax man last year because of incompetence. Does anyone have recommendations for people that do taxes in the Rochester MN area?

Three of us in the family do not use much cell time and have been using Virgin Mobile for many years. $15 every 3 months with auto top up, that is $60/year for 333 minutes. Unused minutes keep rolling over. Uses Sprint network. Phones are good quality starting at $20 and last about 2-3 years before the battery starts getting weak.

Considering all the expenses of fishing and time involved, when gas goes to $5/gal the price of fresh caught walleye for many will go from $200/lb to $210/lb.

I recently purchased a 13” Toshiba laptop for when I am traveling and moving around the house. I love the PC, but it’s shinny display does not like the outdoors – too many reflections and hard to see in the sun.

Whatever you get make sure it has a good return policy. My main concern would be seeing the display, especially in the sun with polarized sun glasses on. Let us know if you find something that works for you.

I see that a new finder the “DownScan Imaging™ Elite-5x DSI Fishfinder” is coming out in early 2011. The Downscan Imaging looks very interesting and is in your price range at $549. If it works as advertised I may soon be picking one up.

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Mark-Elite-Series/Elite-5X-DSI/

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I have never heard of anyone running Leadcore on a spinning reel before.

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I have run all my lead core rods with larger spinning reels for 20 years. Put on 2 or 3 colors of 18 lb lead core, some backing, a leader, and you are set to go. Let out line until the plug starts hitting bottom and reel up a couple turns. Absolutely no birds nests or backlashes and oh so nice to fish with. I replace the lead line about every other year. If you get some weeds on the plug the speed which you can reel in is so much faster than a level wind reel. The only disadvantage I have experienced is that spinning reels do not come with loud clickers so you have the watch the rods a bit more.

I was in the front of a 14′ Lund Rebel with a red parka. We caught several fish very close to your boat. When you moved for awhile we didn’t know where to fish as the “blue boat way point” was on the move. So we went jigging but could not catch anything of size. Luckily you came back to your hot spot and we were again able to catch some nice fish by your boat.

Erick,
I did not recognize you to say hi, as we all had hats on and big jackets.

Dave Gulczinski

Should You Cook Your Turkey in an Oil-less Turkey Fryer?.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/should-you-cook-your-turkey-in-an-oil-less-turkey-fryer-2408811/

this link will show you how to do the exercises. it worked when my daughter had vertigo. try google for more info

http://www.ehow.com/how_2303034_treat-vertigo-brandt_daroff-exercises.html

The people behind some companies like Apple, E-Tec, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, etc. are very sharp. They have somehow convinced people to be super loyal to their products and it does not matter if the products are better or worst than the competitions. Building a super loyal customer base is a key to success.