We’ll be heading up with the kids in the morning. Then spend our last weekend in the trailer as my folks sold it. 
It was a nice run… 34 years at Orrs/Castaways. Good luck to all fishing and hunting this weekend!
must have had a brain freeze… But the “ice shows” are soon approaching us!
Here’s just a few for starters:
9th Annual Thorne Bros Portable Modification Get Together!!! …
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Location: Thorne Brothers – Blaine, MN (www.thornebros.com)
Times: 9am – 5pm (however the store will be open at 8am)
Dakota Angler Ice Intitute November 8th & 9th
http://www.dakotaangler.com/product/dakota-angler-ice-institute-tickets-11608.htm
St. Paul Ice Show December 6 – 8
http://www.gsevents.com/shows/display.cfm?showID=56
Duluth Ice Show December 13 – 15
http://www.shamrockprod.com/exhibitor/ice/iceehome.aspx
Congrats again boys!! 
It was nice meeting you Jake! We were only able to muster 8 fish that were mainly 25 to 26.5 inches with one 20.5″. We caught most our fish on or near 3 mile reef with a couple trolling lead core on and around 5 mile gravel.
Fun! Can’t wait to go north next week. Finally done with in-stores this week..
SWEET!
Congratulations Joel and well deserved! 
Hope you have a great season! 
Looks sharp!
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we used one of the first vexilar scouts a year ago. we had a marcum there side by side. the marcum was a much better picture, it tells you the direction of the camera and gives you the water temp. the vexilar did none of that. maybe the new ones do but i’d rather find an older marcum than a newer vexilar to be honest.
The FS2000DT has depth, temp and direction
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I’ve talked to a number of people that were on the fence between the Vex and the Marcum.
I ask them to do one thing.
Go to a store that has both cameras, set the cameras so they point at the same object around 10 feet away. Then look a the displays.
Go ahead, adjust the color on the Vex. It won’t matter.
Also notice the picture of the object in the display, compare it to looking at it with your own eyes. Does it look further away then it really is?
Which camera shows the best, most accurate picture?
I can sit here all day and say MarCum MarCum MarCum and others can say whatever. What really matters is what you see with your own eyes.
Welcome to the MarCum family!
BK – I totally agree that consumers should set them side by side and choose which one looks best for them. Also, be sure to try to have them facing directly into the sun if possible and see which one washes out. 
While you can sit there saying m,m,m I can sit here all day and say Vexilar, Vexilar, Vexilar. May the bantering begin 
Let’s just hope we all have a better winter so we all win!
Congrats on the new boat!
The line that I have used with best results has been using a braid like Power pro or Suffix 832 in 10/12# test with a 10/12# Seagaur flourocarbon leader using an Albright knot – NO swivel! A good friend of mine showed me that combo about ten years ago (not the 832…).
One of two things:
1) 1/32oz jig with large leech
2) BB split shot, plain hook with leech
Both of what you’ll want to pitch ahead of the school.
Just for you Fife!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl3SAPb-6YM
“You won’t be disapointed!”
Here’s a few… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxfneiQ3QLo
“He’s the great american fisherman…” Roland!
Don’t count out Suzuki. I purchased a used Alumacraft with a Suzuki this Spring and so far have been amazed with the overall performance of it.
I test drove one a couple weeks ago on Prior and it performed very similar to my old 1785BT YarCraft. However, the rod lockers are longer/bigger in the Backtroller. Both of which are 9′. The one thing that stood out for me was the ability to do a complete 360 in the captains chair without knocking your knees or shins. It also seems like everything you could think of was carefully thought through. I would have strongly thought about buying one had I not just puchased a boat. Maybe next year.
Comparable boats all have been pretty much covered. However, if you’re looking for what looks to be the best bang for your buck in a 17′ glass boat, I’d consider the Backtroller Boat: http://www.backtrollerboats.com. I test drove it a couple weeks ago and it tracked very nicely. Looks to be a very well thought out designed boat!
Been there done that with the “catfish” guide…
It was one of the college kids…
On another outing, I took one of the gals from the office and her husband out fishing and I saw the DNR kid waiting for us. It was kind of cute as she couldn’t believe how I was able to pull my boat out without getting any weeds on my trailer as the launch was just INVESTED with that lovely curly pond weed. It’s not to difficult to do if you have a roller trailer and willing to get a little exercise. My friends were wondering what in the heck I was doing with my paddle (I believe is required to have in boats 16ft or larger). I was clearing the chopped up vegetation from the last trailer. Then it was time to get on my waders and crank it up old school. 
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This isn’t a new issue, Bait buckets used on infested waters had the same rules previously. I’m hearing that folks are getting extra water at the bait shops they buy the minnows from. The hassle is bringing an extra empty jug or two.
No it’s not a new issue. When the cat fisherman found out about this (after the fact) they were/are less than happy. It was the straw that broke the camels back in starting to push for a catfish advisory board like all the rest of the special species interest groups.
I’ll use myself for an example.
My bait is held in a bait tank that uses well water…or whatever a bait dealer uses. I’ll take out 24-30 ($30-$45) in my 28 quart cooler using the same water.
While fishing the cooler sits in my boat. Noting enters the cooler, only bullheads exit.
Now it’s time to go home and I need 7 gallons of water to refill my cooler. OK, honestly most times I have less bullheads on the way home but I’ll still need 5 gallons of water.
For what reason? Because a CO doesn’t know if the water in the cooler is or is not contaminated.
Guilty ’till proven innocent.
The law is the hassle. It assumes we are guilty.
I hear ya Bri, Last year at the Liberty Beach public landing the brown shirt fella told me I had to dump my leech water that was in a cooler. The water was from the bait shop and was not changed at all from the lake at all! As I explained to him that it was water from the bait shop and he said that it doesn’t matter. “We have to believe that any water in your boat is from the the lake regardless if it is or isn’t…” Luckily, a fellow angler near by had some ice I could use to put on my bait. I’ll tell ya, that young man working his post did not make many freinds that day as the lines kept getting longer and the wait to get out or in was getting LONGER! Never did use the leeches as the Hornets were the “bait” of choice.
22 3/4″ and 3 3/4 lbs.
All year long inside and out.
The Albright knot is all I use for any braid to mono or fluorocarbon line. It’s very simple to tie and I have yet to have one break.
Nice work!
I don’t know if it’s the best, but I have been using the Albright for many years with ZERO failure and it’s easy to do.
Now that’s a “christmas tree!”
One thing I have done over the years is to use one of my musky rods and place into a rod holder. Once secured, place your rubber stopper that has a loop on it – attach to your Ice-Ducer cord, then simply put the loop on the second or third eye let of your musky rod and tilt your rod holder down until your Ducer is in the water. This helps keep your Ice-Ducer away from the boat and allows you to use your regular summer panfish rod. I’m sure you could a 2X2 or PVC to hang your ducer from as well. This system is best when your using 2 anchors to help keep your boat from moving and keeping your bait in the CONE or ZONE
Joel,
I hope to make it up with the kids too! Unfortunately, I won’t be able to fry fish as my daughters have soccer, but rumor has it that Josh might be frying something fishy. As Joel metioned, it will be fun to see all the new toys from all the different manufactures. I know I will be buying some new line for my late fall panfishing (pre-fishing for winter slabs!) and I’m sure I’ll HAVE to get more jigs and plastics. Should be fun as I’m letting the kids pick them out.
