Nice little rod for the money…I have 2, but had to doctor 1 up when the tip broke. I prefer a different spring bobber though, because the spring type on the popper freezes up too easily.

Great pics everyone! I’ll add a couple as well…

A good perch bite going on…

And have been able to find a few 9+ inch slab gills as well…

Brett Favre ???

Quote:

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Pull each plug and spray 3 seconds of fogging into each cylinder and then turn engine over a few times with the kill switch pulled so you don’t start the engine and you will be good until spring.

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Good point…forgot to mention the pulling the kill switch thing. Fogging the cylinders is really quite easy, and certainly cheap insurance if the boat isn’t stored in a heated garage.

NWBuck

I have a Yamaha 150, and here’s the fall routine I go through each year. It doesn’t really take too long, but I think it’s pretty comprehensive.

1) Pull trolling motor batteries and electronics and briing them in the house. Don’t set batteries on concrete basement floor…put wood down first.
2) Change engine oil and filter. (This is the one item that could wait till spring).
3) Change lower unit oil.
4) Add appropriate amount of Stabil and top tank off.
5) Fog cylinders. To do this, I pull the spark plugs. Spray a small amount of fogging agent into each of the 4 cylinders. Clean (or replace) the spark plugs and put them back in. Turn the motor over just enough to get a spark, driving the fogging agent through the cylinder.
6) Hook up a trickle charger to the starting motor for periodic charging through the winter.
7) Throw a couple of rolls of toilet paper on the floor of the boat. In the event that mice get in the boat, they’ll chew on this rather than the wires of your boat.
8) Tarp it up, and call it good.

Hope this helps.

NWBuck

That time of junk does more harm than good.

Shoot through windows in a quality blind are no problem with fixed heads. You shouldn’t notice any difference in arrow flight. Expadables are OK if your shots are straight through the screen. If it is an angled shot, you’ll want the fixed blade head. Good luck.

NWBuck

Had a nearly identical problem with my Yamaha 150 4 stroke earlier this summer. Dealer told me I needed the new Yamaha fuel filter system, so $150 later, my problem was still not fixed, but I had a nice new fuel filtration system. After some head scratching and thoughts of taking it back into the shop, I decided to try 4 new spark plugs. Problem fixed…now smooth as silk just like when new. For the little bit it costs, it’s certainly worth a shot. Good luck.

NWBuck

Put my first out last week and will get a couple more out in the next week or so. Let’s keep this thread active so we can see some good pics.

NWBuck

Put my first out last week and will get a couple more out in the next week or so. Let’s keep this thread active so we can see some good pics.

NWBuck

Lead core is just another way to get your plugs down deep where the fish are, but certainly not the only option for doing so. Snap weights, 3 way rigs and even the right plugs running alone will all get you down to great depths for walleyes. I used to think crankbait fishing was boring too, but today would have to count it as my favorite technique. Much more thought to how and why than what you might think. Good luck.

NWBuck

Did much the same here in NW Iowa. Ice gear is up and away, batteries and electronics back in the boat and ready to go

Heard tonight that a nice little lake nearby had opened up enough for boat access, so could be pitching jigs to the shallows later this week

NWBuck

I once waited just over 2 years to get a piebald rooster pheasant back, but had been nagging the guy for most of a year before he finally got it done. A full year, in my opinion, is max. I’d insist on a refund…the guy doesn’t deserve the opportunity to finish the job at this point.

Roy Lake Resort is a great place. My brother and I spent several days there a couple of summers ago, and enjoyed it very much. Although we found walleye fishing to be a bit finicky on that trip, it sure looks like to me that the lake is a real trophy smallmouth fishery. Great looking fish

NWBuck

Talked several who were on West over the weekend, and it is slow. Decent gill bite in places, but not fast and furious by any means. My son and I will be giving it a shot this weekend as well…hoping to find a few ‘eyes to mix in with the panfish before the season for them closes on the 15th. Good luck.

NWBuck

Although not related to the panfish non-limit, the IDNR did recently impose a slot limit for walleyes on the Iowa Great Lakes in the northwest part of the state. Limit of 3 and all ‘eyes 17-22 must be released immediately. 1 of the 3 can be over 22. Having seen the results of similar, but more restrictive slots on MN lakes, I think at least they’re headed in the right direction on the walleyes. Maybe panfish will follow soon.

NWBuck

Everyone remember a month ago when we were whining about all the warm weather and how “we may as well get the boats ready ’cause there isn’t going to be any good ice this winter.” ?? Wonder what happened to all that global warming talk anyway

Mother Nature…she’s a funny gal

I’ve killed a bunch of turkeys. Most with a gun…a couple with my bow. If you’re using just a gun, don’t get too hung up about your decoy setup. I’ve killed plenty without any decoys…just be good with a mouth call. For archery setups, a jake decoy is at the top of the list. A hen with the jake isn’t bad, but if I only wanted to haul around one, it’d be the jake. A tom will want to approach the jake decoy from the front and the hen from the rear. Keep this in mind when positioning decoys. For archery setups I set my decoys ultra close to the blind. No more than 10-12 yards. This allows a decent shot if the bird decides to hang up just before actually reaching the decoy. Good luck…the season will be here before you know it.

NWBuck

I’ve killed a bunch of turkeys. Most with a gun…a couple with my bow. If you’re using just a gun, don’t get too hung up about your decoy setup. I’ve killed plenty without any decoys…just be good with a mouth call. For archery setups, a jake decoy is at the top of the list. A hen with the jake isn’t bad, but if I only wanted to haul around one, it’d be the jake. A tom will want to approach the jake decoy from the front and the hen from the rear. Keep this in mind when positioning decoys. For archery setups I set my decoys ultra close to the blind. No more than 10-12 yards. This allows a decent shot if the bird decides to hang up just before actually reaching the decoy. Good luck…the season will be here before you know it.

NWBuck

Timber is looking like he wishes it was still hunting season

Great pics.

Maybe the “cure” is on the way…I heard the words “Artic Blast” in the forecast for the week beginning January 15. Let’s keep our fingers crossed anyway

Helluva game guys…that TD called back was a crock. Good season anyway.

We’ll get a good cold snap before long…probably about the day after my late muzzleloader season closes

Thigles,

So wbat are the options for access to Angler’s bay now? And how was the ice out there?

I hope that’s right. Weather channel showing 40’s through the weekend and mid to upper 30’s for highs and 20’s for lows next week. I just don’t think we gain much at that rate…would love to see some single digits. Take care.

Dale

Ryan,

This tourney full yet? Only thing that might be an issue is the one line thing…I’ve got a 7 year old that won’t let me out of the driveway with the shack unless he’s coming with But I certainly understand the reason for it.

Been to the pond yet? I saw someone out there a couple of weeks ago but would like another cold snap to try it myself. Still a couple of late ML deer tags to fill anyway.

Dale

P.S. Or now that I think about the date, is this tournament going to be a go? Ice conditions and the forecast for the next week or so don’t look great.

Heard there was about 6 inches on Little Emerson over the weekend. It’s supposed to get colder over the next few days, so maybe the main bay will be OK before long as well.

Hybes,

You can report your Iowa deer online. Here’s the link:

https://hfwa.centraltechnology.net/iowadnr/harvest/mainHarvest.do

I’ve done 3 archery kills there, and it doesn’t take more than a minute or so to get your verification number online. You’ve had to write the date of the kill on the tag for several years, but this is the first year for writing the verification number on the tag…not a big deal though. It really is extremely easy online.

NWBuck

Hybes,

You can report your Iowa deer online. Here’s the link:

https://hfwa.centraltechnology.net/iowadnr/harvest/mainHarvest.do

I’ve done 3 archery kills there, and it doesn’t take more than a minute or so to get your verification number online. You’ve had to write the date of the kill on the tag for several years, but this is the first year for writing the verification number on the tag…not a big deal though. It really is extremely easy online.

NWBuck

Saw a guy out on a local farm pond around here yesterday. This is about as early as I can remember for awhile. Supposed to warm up later in the week, so I’m sure it’ll still be a bit iffy for awhile.

NWBuck