Well, the problem is that this is so messed up. I understand the need for safety but the poor guy who is just on the edge, you have documents all over the place, drivers license, Concealed Carry Permit, Hunter’s safety, now Boat Safety, hunting license, fishing license, if you buy online a paper copy. Heck, a younger guy needs to carry a file cabinet with him to keep all his compliance paperwork in order. I wish Minnesota would just go to a one card system where all of these documents reside. In today’s world even in remote area’s there are systems that DNR officers can access state databases, look up one’s DNR number and get every current license, certifications, etc. Yep the state wants all this stuff but has an antiquated system for compliance. As well, I would like to see a specific certification on boat right of ways. It’s a joke on Lake Erie, had a boat safety inspection at one of the landings and when passed with a compliment from the inspection officer. I asked him, why don’t you include the question…who has the right of way when meeting a fellow boat trolling? 90% of the people either don’t know or don’t care. I suspect that state will eventually charge a fee for each endorsement, of course it costs money to enforce. Grab your ankles!

No disrespect for those honored by this gesture however, it seems like our flags are at half mast most of the time. Of course half staff is an indication of honoring someone who has died, regardless of the circumstances. Not saying it’s right but years ago when the flags were at half mast it was pretty much understood why. Personally I think it’s used so often it now one just see’s it and thinks, I wondered whomever was important died? Again not that public servants are special, they are. Of course its my opinion. I remember when Hubert Humphrey died, driving back through St.Paul seeing the flags on the capital half mast. One knew what was the purpose.

The Northwest Sportshow is probably 60% of what it was 4 years ago. I have gone every year since I can remember. The convention center has 4 domes. Last year and this year only 3 were used, and 1 was entirely RV’s. It used to be that the main hallways, entrance areas, and adjoining meeting rooms were full of booths, but as last year the only room outside the main exhibit hall was the Ducks Unlimited room. This year opening day was senior day, we all got in free! I suspect a number of issues going on, us baby boomers are getting older and suspect attendance has been falling. The St. Paul Sportshow was cancelled a few years back for good. Secondly consolidation in the industry has disrupted the exhibitors whereas Lund, Crestliner, Lowrance and Mercury are all owed by Brunswick. This has probably affected pricing as there were very few Show deals anymore. Add it all up and suspect the pricing to exhibit has really gone up as I thought there were less outfitter and resorts again this year. I was surprised at the number of Canadian and Alaskan lodges exhibiting. I usually leave dropping at least $200, only spent $50, plus buying a round for my friends and I was about $35.00.

Jeramiah was a bull frog
Was a good friend of mine
Never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine wine.

Well a couple of things. First I experienced this many times with my old Series 31 AGM’s. Very frustrating, yes the motor would start but the electronics didn’t like the voltage drop. This happened when the battery was about 1 year old. This was especially prevalent if I sat in one spot for a while, the electronics would bleed down the voltage. My first solution was to buy a DC – DC boost converter. It would take any DC input voltage down to 8.5VDC and boost it up where you set it, I set it at 15.5 volts. It is on a switch and absolutely solved the low voltage problem with my starting battery. Here is what I used https://www.amazon.com/XIITIA-Converter-DC8-5V-50V-DC10V-60V-Equipment/dp/B0C6KKYCQH/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.95e4d6bd-d93f-4ee1-9766-ff64f54d2f71%3Aamzn1.sym.95e4d6bd-d93f-4ee1-9766-ff64f54d2f71&crid=FKHAQGIQ4BW3&cv_ct_cx=boost+converter&keywords=boost+converter&pd_rd_i=B0C6KKYCQH&pd_rd_r=1fae74b7-5ad7-47c1-bea9-673c6e2f7ab5&pd_rd_w=C3Snn&pd_rd_wg=smH5V&pf_rd_p=95e4d6bd-d93f-4ee1-9766-ff64f54d2f71&pf_rd_r=S4YBGAMCW9KJ4RP6DJH5&qid=1742062832&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=Boost+co%2Caps%2C513&sr=1-3-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1
In 2021 I switched to Ionic LFP series 31/125AH and my problems ended. I still have the converter in my boat with a switch to turn it off when not in use, but a good solution if one doesn’t want to spend the money on a lithium battery. All the other suggestions are good however. I see your in North Branch, if you are interested, I think I have an extra converter if you want to go that route.

Great thread, brings back a lot of memories when I was a kid. Cigarettes were $0.45/pack when I worked at the gas station, a tin of Copenhagen was $0.25. Mom and dad always smoked when I was young. Back then all cars had a cigarette lighter and an ash tray, even in the back seats on the door rests. Most of them were filled up but now there are no more ashtrays in cars and it’s not called a lighter socket anymore. Mom would have card parties in the 60’s with her friends and they all smoked in the house, it was filled with smoke but that’s the way it was. Dad quit cold turkey, I don’t know what his motivation was, maybe the cost as he was cheap. After retiring he got a DUI and started again however must have a religious moment and quit for good. In the end he died of esophageal cancer even though he had quit for over 10 years and my mom died 5 years later of COPD, she smoked to the end, heck, quitting then would have done nothing as she smoked since she was 13. Maybe they should start putting ashtrays back in the cars, or give everyone who smokes a cup holder butt container. Having never smoked it’s impossible for me to judge those that do, as I have never experienced it. I have had smokers in my boat, I tell them before we go out, if you smoke in the boat and if there is one ash, or a burn hole, you are 100% responsible for total carpet replacement, not just a spot, I estimate about $3000. I had a 1986 Lund Nisswa guide with that plastic type indoor/outdoor carpeting and went out one night, the next morning I found a burn hole in the bow. Of course everyone denied it. People light up because of habit, regardless where they are. Haven’t had anyone smoke yet!

isu22andy wrote:

Lets pick on a bigger issue – TVs wall mounted above electric fireplaces make me want to vomit. Looking for a new house and cant stand those.

Now that’s a real topic!!! I have a bunch of friends who have their televisions mounted above the fireplace and one almost needs a recliner to watch it. It looks like a convenient place for one, especially now that they have 65 to 95 inch screens, where the heck do you put them? I know there was a 46″ in my lake home and I replaced it with a 55 inch, barely fit but at viewing height. Any larger and it would have had to be mounted higher on the wall. As far as dishes, seems like I have to do everything by hand these days!

In 2021 I replace all of my series 31 AGM’s (1 starting, 3 trolling motor) with Ionic LFP’s. Admittedly I used to be very biased against using a single 24 or 36 volt battery for the trolling motor until I realized it was only based on my situation, hence why should I care. My Ranger had a MinnKota MK-460PC smart charger, no lithium charge function but AGM. Ionic told me I could use the AGM settings to charge them. As well my Ranger has a battery switch (which I used a couple times a summer in Canada) that switches in one of your trolling motors to start a dead main battery. That only works if you have a separate 12V trolling motor battery, which is why I went with 3-12V’s. Funny but my main starting and electronics battery is the 125AH and since installing I have never had to use the switch to start the motor after anchor locked on a spot with 3 depth finders/livewell/baitwell going for hours. Lightening took out a bank on my charger a few years back so I bought the new MK-460PCL with the lithium charging algorithm. What is great about it that it will wake up a discharged LFP battery. Last year something went wrong with my 125AH and after 38 months they replaced it free. Good luck with your new system, you will love it. Interesting as my batteries are in the floor and when I replaced them the boat porpoised like crazy. My dealer said losing that weight affected the hull performance, move some weight up front. I did that and back to how it performed with the AGM’s. Based on the guy at Ionic, his recommendation to me was I could leave the batteries in the boat all winter and leave the charger plugged in. Once charged the BMS shuts off the charge anyway. Finally figured out to turn off the main power switch on the boat first to prevent any stray currents from discharging the battery.

Sorry but I don’t trust anyone or anything when it comes to government and money. As a new lake home owner, I attended my first lake association meeting. There they had a speaker from an Ely based clean water lobbying group, there to solicit funds for their group. The guy was interesting but cited that a lakeshore owner with grass up to the lake is responsible for 3# of phosphorus every year into the lake. I pointed out that for 15 years or so, Minnesota has banned phosphorous in lawn fertilizer, so where does it come from? The answer was, well it blows in from the dust from South Dakota and western Minnesota. My response was, interesting, so it only falls on green grass that abuts the lake? I understand natural lake shore buffers, my whole shoreline in native plants and trees but the “sky is falling”, we need money to stop it is getting to be a broken record. My annual association dues are modest however I donate the maximum amount toward AIS funding for the lake, have every year. In the meantime we now have seen our first year of serious zebra mussel infestation and they have found starry stonework in the lake. The weed can be treated but the zebs, well I guess we will be blessed with even more clear water. It’s sort of like the tornado that came through last June, I still got a mess, but what can you do. Yes education is important but the lake association put up a red flag on this AIS spending cuts. Well when they were spending it didn’t do much good on our lake, just saying.

Sorry but I tend to agree. The problem for dentists is that dental problems have been slowly eliminated because of better hygiene, practices, and awareness, therefore I believe the need create business. At 70 my teeth are in pretty good shape. At the same time my mother had dentures in her 30’s and dad passed away 14 years ago with probably 10 teeth remaining, including one gold one. In the meantime at the age of 12 my uncle started a dental office out west and I am sure told my dad to bring myself and brother out west and he would fix our teeth for cost. I still have most of the 12 fillings he put in. As you, my original dentist retired and the new guys quickly declared I had 3 cracked teeth and needed new crowns. Called my uncle and he told me that most people have cracked teeth and will not cause any issues, suggested I would probably die with those cracked teeth. His suggestion was to leave them and if they eventually give you an issue then deal with it. Since then I’ve switched dentists and did have 2 teeth crack off, ones with previous fillings. My cousin worked for 3M medical and they have an ultraviolet cured enamel replacement. He said to ask your dentist if he could use that instead of a full crown which runs about $1400/each. I’ve had 2 molars repaired that way and was told it probably will outlast me. Cost, $75 each and was done in less than an hour. I have 3 crowns and they are a pain, need to be made, tooth ground down, attached and fit/adjusted to your previous bite. My last one took like 4 visits after installed to get right and expensive. In the meantime the 3M fix is perfect, no discomfort and impressed by it’s durability. Of course my hygienist wants me in every 4 months for a full cleaning. I participate in an in office insurance, $350/year which includes 2 cleanings a year, one full examination, and x-rays. After 2 years of this, I have been told my gums have healed very well, but still wants to schedule every 4 months. I have requested to schedule based on the program, every 6 months. We’ll continue that discussion at the next 4 month visit. It makes me feel like the 4 month keeps them busier. Good luck.

I get a kick out of the tariff conversation. Well tell me why cannot one bring in whatever one wants in alcohol into Canada? After 2 bottles of wine, or 1 case of beer, the Canadian’s put a tariff on your imported good called a duty. That seems to be OK. Ever buy dairy in Ontario? The Canadian government imposes a 168% tariff on US milk, why, to make sure that the Ontario dairy farmers get high $$$ for their milk and not the open market price of milk produced in the US. Apparently NAFTA doesn’t mean North American Free Trade Agreement. It means that yes, the US better not add tariffs to our products going south but we can protect our own industries the way we see fit, even if it costs our citizens a lot of money. I see a quote, we look like a clown show. I suppose we do, basically ruining other countries ability to make money off of the US, whilst giving us the middle finger. Enjoy the ride!

What do expect for $18 Billion?

Great thread! When I was 16 I worked in a gas station and a number of guys had 2 cow magnets taped next to their incoming fuel lines. Gas was really starting to get expensive in the early 70’s so I guess anything that they thought would work was worth a try. Cow magnets were easy to get and cheap so WTH, costs nothing. I think my dad even tried it. You could get cow magnetics at a local beef processing plant or at the feed store in town.

buckybadger wrote:

Just ordered a copy. I have never read it but it sounds like it’s worth the $12.

Mine arrives tomorrow! Thanks

Well, I replaced my battery in my FLX28 to a LFP and never looked back. I bought mine on Amazon but yes, Vexilar has them at about the same price. I don’t know much about the Vexilar batteries’ but they seem OK as mine in my FLX 30 is now about 4 years old and still going strong. I saw on the Vexilar site where they sell the 9AH with 1A Charger for $100 but you can buy them separately for $60, go figure. Either way the LFP’s are nice and light plus last a lot longer. Here’s the one I bought at Amazon that is working really well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V79ZKVM?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1
Make sure you have a the right charger for Lithium batteries. I bought one at the Ice Show for $10, pretty good deal.

I am definitely not a wolf lover…by no means however I am always curious about all the wolves and no deer. Well the wolves have to eat something and if there are no deer then what do they eat? I believe that the deer are still there however they have switched their tactics to avoid the wolves, say deeper in the swamps. The deer are no longer are in the area’s that they once were. I am certainly not an expert but would welcome some more insight on this. Thanks

CaptainMusky wrote:

The concerning part for me with AC at least is that they have gone to a business model of “only building what is sold”, so where is this excess inventory coming from?

Unless some knucklehead WAY over estimated projections for sales and planned components accordingly only to fall way short on actual sales and they had to produce what they had materials for. I can buy that, but that is not the bill of goods they have been telling shareholders and customers for the last 5 or so years. Hopefully the person responsible was let go and the manufacturing staff who dutifully do their jobs are spared.

The problem with that industry, or any industry associated in power sports is that the main customer is the dealers, not the end user. Polaris had snow checks, an incentive to give end users a break for ordering early and giving some indication of future production needs, and to help dealers sell sleds. Today as a dealer you go to the spring dealer shows and are required to order next fall’s stock ahead of time. The knuckleheads you refer to are in fact the dealers that understand, no stock, no sale. All of a sudden there is a slow down and they are already 8 months ahead of the game in inventory. Dealers are complaining about excess inventory and lack of customers coming in to do deals, they are reaching to the manufacturers for help. It’s all around us, from automotive dealerships, boats, lawn equipment, farm equipment. You might be able to find some good deals out there but it’s almost impossible to go backwards on base prices once established. I would agree, almost anything that has an engine has been price beyond what the public can afford these days. And of course as competition drops out there is less incentive to hold the line on price. Oh well.

Got there at around 11:30 Friday morning, just in time to pay the extra $10 for a VIP pass that really wasn’t a very good deal. I thought it was pretty crowded for that early on a Friday. I have an Active Target and use a Summit 3D printed shuttle. I was surprised at all the shuttle manufacturers at the show, there must have been 10 or so, quite innovative, including the new carbon fiber pole. Just put mine together last night and was thinking it’s so bulky, I wished I had upgraded, next years project I guess. Was nice to see all the resorts there, especially from Canada. Asking why the show, one commented that the fisherman haven’t returned after Covid, as well all of their traditional customers are dying off and the young kids would rather spend their money in Mexico, got a lot of ideas. Had to laugh as I have an AquaView I haven’t use yet, but took the box out of the wheelhouse, thinking what do I have this for? Well I saw it in action and the light bulb came on, damn too much stuff! My 2012 wheel house frame rusted very bad and in 2022 brought it to a repair shop and spent about $10,000 on the repair. After looking at an equivalent house at the show, it was money smartly spent. Heck a 7 hole skid house, a few amenities, was $27,700, uffda. I think there were some pretty good prices all around, as stated got my FLX38 there at a pretty good deal that included a rebate. Hope the Northwest Sports Show will have the same excitement as they were down to 3 domes at the Minneapolis convention center last year.

wormdunker wrote:

Why are you blaming Cabelas for being a smart retailer. They have likely expired their ability to make Vexilar buy back all the gods they purchased last year and are sitting on a surplus. Ice fishing retail is risky business due to seasonality. Last year we had no ice. Flashers and other big ticket items did not sell through. Thus everyone has a ton of old inventory. Vexilar also had amassed a ton of inventory thus all the clearance sales at their factory store and retailers. Given they are already offering a $150 rebate on that 38, does that tell you anything? A. they have a large margin on it to begin with if they can give $150 off the top, B. they need to incentivize it to sell over the $399 FLX30s that are being dumped, C. the Technology is being run into the dirt. I am not a fan of Cabelas but you certainly cant blame them for being smart business people. When you have 2 gallons of Mile in the refrigerator, do you go to the store to buy more?

Not blaming Cabela’s simply stating that they didn’t have the latest products. One could easily look at it in a different light, would a smart retailer get in an overstock situation like that, maybe they are not so smart. I get the $150 rebate is an indication of the fat margins these things have, yet are they a player or not? Unfortunately there are a ton of outdoor equipment companies hitting the brick wall these days, Polaris profits down 80%, Arctic Cat laying off 65 people and shutting the Thief River Falls plant down for a few months, BRP selling off their marine division. I think this is the tip of the iceberg. Did go to Cabela’s to buy a new Glo Ring for it, even checked stock online before I went. Nothing on the floor, I asked the guy to check his stock, yep we have 8 of them. Went back to get me one and came back empty handed. Plan B was to place an order at the desk and it would be filled in 10 minutes. I told him when they bring it up tell them to bring 4 more to put on the floor. It took 4 people to finally fill my request, they tried hard, and in the end it was taken care of but really. One guy stated that Corporate has no clue about the cold water fishing market, which might address your overstock statement. Then of course a swipe at the current political situation, I just responded….heck, I’m just trying to spend some money! Oh well, below zero tomorrow night, time to get the drill out.

Well, All’s well that ends well. At the St. Paul Ice show Marine General had them on sale for $700 then they gave me a $150 rebate card to send in to Vexilar. I saved over $250 from the listed price when I went to Cabela’s, who luckily didn’t have them. Have been playing with the FLX38, not a game changing upgrade from the FLX30 but the zoom features are interesting as I am anxious to try them out on my lake for crappies. BC, when I upgrade I trade my brother my old one for his old one that I traded to him last time I upgraded a couple of years ago. He get’s the old FLX30 and I get his FLX28, I have already sold my old FL20 to a friend. I understand the Marcum however basically fished my entire life with the likes of Vexilar product including the first ones branded Hondex and Micronar. That was a long time ago. My upgrade will cost me about $300, I don’t have to learn new tricks, and my brother who has helped me out, gets an upgrade as well. My friend gets a good deal on the 20 and I have a spare 28 for guests at the lake. What is an FLX 40? Thanks

Many if not most water softener brands are made by Ecowater. I replaced mine a few years ago from Home Depot and for the most part they all use the same manifold to connect to the softener. Do some research and see if your existing manifold looks like a new one. I found that my 30 year old softener had the same input/output dimensions as a new one, therefore only had to lengthen the input lines. Of course I am sure someone would be willing to install for you. The best thing about a new softener is the salt usage is significantly less.

Agree with bigcrappie. Use a trap like this https://www.amazon.com/M-ARINE-BABY-Eliminator-Gopher-Galvanized/dp/B07DWQTKNV?crid=2IVRK89Z0XAKL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yuHFCil0KRCuIUWED3DCh5HM6MY09cy43zPEVfJrUIIFS9rYrETtImhl_5b9OmO5jZj6cR-8-HjsPdKX5JYa0cw9UQcJk6vxRdEkC7s0E_RHP5FE3Jrnte408qyAJgNyk1RpISWLPHUQNAtiHRGZkb9FDlWSHeh2Dc7b68KeTeVXx6AHwTYMq9zClejRLAxzyHGyM__vI2dxh1v2j_J_IeHOh8bnAI7TDw5wH6_4fQVL6GP5elSjWpI0V6jLcTP2u4clKXQSpnNt2QlDWD9yb6Yt1ZGA_LlDe7fmxYrUvU4.i-SMHbRGO1nZIIvijWt-nmol3JncgomF9TgZx4vvN1o&dib_tag=se&keywords=mole+trap&qid=1730514808&sprefix=mole%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-7

Simple to set, very effective, no special preparation, just find and active tunnel and step on the trap. Voila, usually you’ll have it by morning.

Interesting. When I was young we used to stock brown trout in our local pond and creeks. Then we called them German Browns.

Umy,

Brilliantly stated!

After researching this and listening to both sides, this thread has made me decide to vote no. The State Government will get their money either way, heck they put the whole $18 Billion surplus into our regular budget, a 36% increase, man that would be a nice increase for any of us. I agree with the definition of the amendment, simply a way to say….see you voted for this, live with it. I wouldn’t trust our state government any farther than I could spit. Besides lottery’s prey on the wrong people, those who believe it’s their pathway to financial security. I guess people have to have a dream regardless if they can afford it or not. Assure you it gets no moneys from me, I pay enough in the 7 county liquor tax rates….uffda.

buckybadger wrote:

Yes, but never underestimate the sheer stupidity of the American consumer and spreading panic.

Interesting but my wife got a panic call from he aunt who is in her 80’s, about a “strike” get your TP and paper towels. I looked it up, not going to affect paper product but was at Costco and bought some, not because I am worried but it ends the need to have to explain.

Well this is a double edged sword. The problem with this conversation is location, location, location. Looking for almost 2 years before I found the place I loved and had to act very fast. Yeah, lots of lake places to buy but where does it fit in your overall strategy? Certain lake size, certain house size, distance from home, lake quality, fishing quality, access to good services within reason, privacy concerns. Then one has to decide if it’s worth pulling the trigger or waiting to find the next ideal property, which might be another 2 years, and compromises your goals. Yes, love my lake home, yes, I wish I would have bought sooner yet if it would have would I have the place I have now? I am close to Joe and there are very few if any places on the lake for sale. We have a beautiful lake, a real hidden gem. However, if you want to be on our lake there are not many options available. I have a new neighbor that bought his place with out even visiting it before hand. Same goals, less than 3 hour drive, larger lake, privacy, good services. These are very hard to find.

My 2018 GMC was stuttering at around 1500 RPM’s around the gear shift point. My guy said have I ever had the transmission service….never but now am at 117K miles. He said that it could be my torque converter lockup is not working, suggested changing the ATF and filter. It wasn’t cheap but the problem went away, better than replacing the torque converter! Although it’s a 10 year old truck, you could buy one for the price of fixing it.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Any of you take in concerts? I never have but they’ve had good acts before I wonder who is there this year.

Got tickets to see Blake Sheldon on Sunday. Years ago the fair was the best place to see big acts without paying through the nose, although these tickets weren’t cheap by any means. Back in the day we never missed seeing Alabama, I think they hold the record for the most appearances at the grandstand. That may have changed by now.

So I’ve had my CC permit since they first became available in Minnesota. Honestly I do not carry nor would I be likely to as I avoid situations like a plague. I got the permit for 2 basic reasons. 1. Because I can. My permit says to the state that I am taking advantage of my rights and I am in the statistic of permit holders, regardless. 2. The permit gives you the opportunity to purchase handguns without any background checks. If I see a gun and I like it, I can buy it without any further BS, and take it home with me. My only complaint is the state makes you retake everything, instead of a simple renewal process, maybe a simple background check prior to renewing. But again, the State of Minnesota always wants that money.