There is no better rod for sight fishing than a “sweet pea” from THORNE BROS.

I have a bucket that’s 70mph proof. Has an open top for easy access to your bait and if it tips over,nothing can spill out. Watch for them coming to a store near you soon.

I’ll be there as long as I get my fishing equipment and van back in my posession. Might need a ride from ya Derek. Oh yeah, might need an auger, some rods, electronics and a lot of luck if you can spare any.

One thing I have learned through the years is, there is GOOD moaning,groaning and cracking. Usually a more harder/solid sounding (hard to explain),but that’s usually ice being made.
BAD moaning and groaning well, if you have ever heard a very, very large ship sink, that’s the sound I hate hearing on the ice. It is a much more earie gut turning sound.
When they make you jump out of your skin, that’s good.
When it moans for a long time and starts moaning your direction (like a minute or so), make sure your close to shore.

I have really found that it all depends on 2 things.

First, what kind of food(s) to be smoked.
Second, how serious are you about it as a hobbie.
or how much will you be using it.

I have countless smokers. Some homemade some store bought. Gas, electric, propane & charcoal.
NONE of which are really “universal”, and not a one of them can produce the same results as another.

The best thing to do is start cheap, experiment and find out what works for you.

Hit the channel with the smallest shiners you can find. East side, real gradual sand/mud transition into deeper waters. this is a good early spot for that golden walleye hour.

Shhhhhh don’t tell anyone, it’s one of my secret spots.

I used to be in HVAC sales (10yrs), and I can tell you this.

1st For parts-
The average mark up is roughly 300%. Yes that’s 300%.

2nd For the labor-
The journeymen wage as of May 1st 2006 is $50.13 per hour, that’s just what the worker makes before you pay his/her company for “providing” them for you.

I won’t even go into the “fuel surcharge”. That one upsets me always. Wonder how long till my pizza guy tacks that onto a large pepperoni

After landing on my keester with my lazer mag still running at FULL throttle pointing straight up in the air, I figured I had better do something about traction. So I bought a few pair of “Arctic Spurs”. They work really good except for they are the loudest thing I’ve ever heard hit the ice. Fishing shallow water gills is not an option with these. But, I can say I’ll never land on the ice again like that.

I also offer custom welding services for any ideas you may have. I can also make extended rear bars with storage/cargo areas. Trying to get a little business so I can have one of these neat little advertisements we see on the side.

someone… throw me a bone.

Yes ! Absolutely hook up a separate unit for the garage. You’ll get better heat and more control of the area you want to heat. Might save a little on the A/C bill in the summer time as well.

BPETERSON I suspect your a local 10er. I worked for S/M connectors the last ten years. Who you workin for ? Just curious.

The chuby darters absolutely rock on the pond. As for cutting your hooks on jiggin raps,look at the picture of the chuby darters again. I cut mine off. Have never once hooked a fish with the front hooks. And NO, you will not miss a fish because of cutting them off.

ooooohhhhhhhhh I really (and I mean REALLY) had to sort through them. Had some pretty decent ones here and there. Ended up keeping 5 for dinner at 2:30 this morning. Never did measure them with a tape, but if I had to guess I would say about 10″ +/-. Had a great time.

Had a stellar crappie bite last night on coon lake. 4″+ in the channel. Entire lake is completely locked up. I would have to think with it getting down to 9 whole degrees over night, most of the main basins SHOULD be walkable by tonight. I’m think of chasing some gills right now. Chisago chain is probably good to go (with caution) maybe a little “squeak cheek shuffle”.

The season is in full throttle! Catch me if you can.

Try the Lakemaster chip. You won’t be sorry.

NOTHING BUT Thorne rods for this guy !

-Sweethearts (both perch & walleye sweethearts)
-Sweetpeas
-Finess
-Deadsticks (gotta have the deadstick)
And trust me, the list goes on.
Any of you who may not know, all the other rods are knockoffs from the Thorne rods. SOME may have duplicated…
BUT nobody has got it mastered like the boys at Thornes.
I’m not just spoutin off hear. When you get a hit you can feel the teeth from the fish hit the jig. If a fish swims by your jig and lets out a sigh you know it, because you feel it. If you’ve never tried one. DO IT. It is worth the money. I can’t say enough about them.

That’s why we have antennas on the cars… to hang your tag from. Seriously, I used to do it in my tipin days.

But, I too thought NON-residents had to buy a tag in Wisc.

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Wow~
This is a tragedy that is uncalled for if everyone excercised the rules of gun safety classes. Know your target know what is beyond your target etc. etc.
But what we are ALL overlooking is the fact that a $3.99 blaze orange hat could have been the thing that would have saved this young life!!
I know it is not a law as long as the majority of the body is in orange but on this day the hat alone may have saved this kids life!! My exact reason for me wearing from head to angle BLAZE ORANGE!

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I think he did have a blaze with camo pattern on for a lid. guess I see a point on an all blaze cap. I wear a camo pattern blaze… till now anyway.
Similar thing happened just a few years ago in Isanti county (I think). An elderly man was hunting off his porch chair and shot a horse that had a young lady rideing it. If memory serves me right, he took a 150-200 yard shot through thick brush with a 12GA.Now I hunt with slug,rifle,bow etc…
When I think of how slugs drop after 100 yards (even less), he would have had to be pointing directly at her head to hit that horse in the vitals.
I will never wear a camo blaze hat deer hunting again.

This is so tragic. God bless.

God
Country
Family

Sempre Fi

I could give that a try.Sounds like a good idea.

He who drills the most… will catch the most.Good article guy

JDEAN you said it.I want to know their stand on gun control is or what they are going to get done about wetland conservation.Anything on what “they” will get done in office.I don’t give a rats can about who did what 10 yrs ago.I think I spent the most time ever in a poll booth today,it just didn’t feel right voting for someone who never mentioned what “they”
want to get accomplished.

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What will happen when our lakes and waterways all taste like Teriaki

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Marinade

When is the contest ? Is it a 2 person per a team or can singles fish ? I used to fish the lake for big (& very smart) gills years ago and just love the challenge.Any info would be great.Thanks.

Congrats !!! Looks like a dandy typical.Way to go,here’s to ya

Congrats !!! Looks like a dandy typical.Way to go,here’s to ya

Depends on how much time/attention I have to give at the time.If I’m out in the shop or yard working then I like the coal it has the better flavor in my opinion.If I’m stuck in the house with the munchkins,I’ll do the electric.With the electric I can set the heat and add a big ole’ pile of wood and let ‘er buck.Matter of fact,I have 5 snow geese going right now.(on the electric even,since the littlest guy is down for his nap )

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Eyehunter…

I’ve never used a charcoal smoker…the reason being that my old charcoal grill was always too hot or too cold.

I know that when I switched from charcoal to a gas grill, there was a very noticable taste change.

My question is how do you keep a consistant temp with charcoal?

Just trying to learn.

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I always keep my little weber going with a pile of coals that can be taken out and put into the smoker as needed.This will get the bad taste out before adding them to the smoker.I usually get the smoker going first,then after it at the temp I need & the meat(or cheese )is on,I’ll start a small (10pcs) pile in the small grill.As I use the coals from the grill,I’ll replace what I have taken out so they will be ready.Do not add fluid to these as they should catch just fine.
BK,how do you do your cheese ? I use a cold smoker for mine.
Smoking is one of my favorite hobbies.Been doing it for years and have about any type of smoker you can think of ie:gas,elec,coal & some homemade of each.

BrianK.I most certainly do catfish.I like them on the hardwater.

“some parts are missing” man that’s some funny stuff right there,I don’t care who you are.

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH, very good point.Way to go with that common sense.When I was 16-18 yrs old I came in at 125lb.Boy those were the days,years.