I bought some 8″ bolts from Menards. Some sort of lag, but these use a torx head driver. They seem to have what I would call serrated edge on the threads. They work great, especially since I welded a couple drivers onto some 2.5′ rods (electric fence posts) and a 24v drill. No more bending or squatting to get em’ in.
Tica cetus 500 
Beautiful. I’d always been jist a wee bit in awe of you lads with the artistic abilities. 
Please post an update when ya return. I’m heading up on the 18th and I’m a little concerned how the ice will be. We’re hauling the 4 wheelers none the less. 
Needed one for my old Jiffy last year. Went to a mom and pop small engine repair shop and they had one to fit……..$4.95!
Feds outline plan to nurse Great Lakes to health
By JOHN FLESHER, AP Environmental Writer – Sun Feb 21, 3:05 am ET
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The Obama administration has developed a five-year blueprint for rescuing the Great Lakes, a sprawling ecosystem plagued by toxic contamination, shrinking wildlife habitat and invasive species.
The plan envisions spending more than $2.2 billion for long-awaited repairs after a century of damage to the lakes, which hold 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the document, which Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, was releasing at a news conference Sunday in Washington.
“We’re committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation,” Jackson said in a statement.
Among the goals is a “zero tolerance policy” toward future invasions by foreign species, including the Asian carp, a huge, ravenous fish that has overrun portions of the Mississippi River system and is threatening to enter Lake Michigan.
Others include cleanup of the region’s most heavily polluted sites, restoring wetlands and other crucial habitat, and improving water quality in shallow areas, where runoff from cities and farms has led to unsightly algae blooms and beach closings.
Also promised is a strategy for monitoring the ecosystem’s health and holding federal agencies accountable for carrying out the plan.
During his 2008 campaign, Barack Obama pledged $5 billion over a decade toward fulfilling a Great Lakes cleanup wish list developed by a coalition of agencies, scientists and activists.
Congress last year approved his request for a first installment of $475 million. The newly released plan assumes yearly appropriations of the same amount through 2014, except for the $300 million President Obama requested this month in his 2011 budget.
The 41-page plan sets out ecological targets and specific actions to be taken by 16 federal agencies working with state, local and tribal governments and private groups.
Among the goals it seeks by 2014: finishing work at five toxic hot spots that have languished on cleanup lists for two decades; a 40 percent reduction in the rate at which invasive species are discovered in the lakes; measurable decreases in phosphorus runoff; and protection of nearly 100,000 wetland acres.
It also will help save species such as the lake sturgeon, a prehistoric fish that can reach 8 feet long and 200 pounds but is endangered because of overharvesting and habitat degradation. The plan promises to provide 25,000 young sturgeon for stocking programs.
Combined with enforcement of environmental rules and new ones where needed, officials said the plan would help make Great Lakes fish safe to eat, their waters suitable for drinking and swimming, and their native plants and animals thriving.
The lakes provide drinking water to more than 30 million people and are the backbone of a regional economy dependent on tourism, outdoor recreation, shipping and manufacturing.
“We now have a golden opportunity, even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to make huge progress,” Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, co-chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, said in a telephone interview Saturday. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time. Now the federal government is putting some real resources behind it.”
Jeff Skelding, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, which represents environmental groups across the region, praised the plan’s commitment to long-range funding for the restoration but said Congress should boost Obama’s 2011 spending request to $475 million.
The coalition also says too much restoration money is being diverted to fighting Asian carp, which could endanger the region’s $7 billion sport fishing industry by gobbling plankton and unraveling the food chain.
An “all-out effort” is needed to keep the carp out of the lakes, but funding should come from elsewhere in the federal budget, the coalition said.
Cameron Davis, EPA’s senior adviser on the Great Lakes, said about $58 million in restoration funds would go to the carp battle this year. But invasive species programs are getting less restoration money than other needs such as toxic cleanups and habitat improvements, he said.
How about this? Overkill probably, but should give you an idea where to start.
Do away with the coin toss from the get go (it’s so boring). Let the visiting team make choice at start of regular play and OT.
About as exciting as the jump ball in BB.
I was under the impression that any enviromental issues in the Great Lakes was to be dealt with by some sort of joint cooperation between the U.S. and Canada and also involving the states and provinces. Or maybe this is some future deal.
Quote:
Dosen’t matter who plays in that game – it always sucks.
Right on!
Mounting brackets
They’re the best imo. Ram Mounts
Should a list be compiled, here are the links for us Iwegians:
Sorry guys about putting up a link that’s caused problems for some. No malice intended. Tried the link myself several more times without any issues.
I found myself in an ugly position back in the late 70’s. Housing prices had skyrocketed for years here in Waterloo mostly due to the fact that Deeres had hired nearly 10,000 people in a few short years. Thought I better buy now or wouldn’t be ever again be able to afford a house. Well I jumped, paid an ungodly amount for a small two bedroom fixer upper at 17 1/2 percent interest on a 30 year loan with 20 percent down. Spent about 14 grand fixing the place up. Deeres start laying 4 or 500 people a week off and everything goes south in town. Every other house in town has 4 sale signs out front. Couldn’t give a house away for a few years. I was layed off and couldn’t make the payments. Banks wouldn’t refinance. I moved on and let it sit for several months until I found a couple that rented it from me for about $175 a month less than what I owed. After owning for nine years I couldn’t see myself ever getting ahead so decided my only way out was to sell for whatever $$$ I could get. At closing I wrote a check out to the bank for 15 percent more than selling price to cover what I still owed. OUCH. It all amounted to about a $40,000 lesson the way I figure. Been living in my present place twenty-five years. Twice the house, half the cost, bought and paid for 10 years ago.
I feel bad for people that find themselves in an unfortunate position now, I’ve been there. I don’t really give a rats butt whose in control of this show right now as long as they find a fix and soon.
Here is the list Show me the TARP money 
Try looking at some basement replacements. They open inward and if set on end they would give a good area for drawing your bow. I think some can swing all the way open or have the pane completely removed??? They sell for less than casements or awnings. No experience here but I have the same problem and been thinking about this as an option myself, just haven’t checked into it yet.
I have three GT series Penn reels that I’ve used for years. They are solid and reliable reels IMO. Never had a problem with them. I plan on picking up a couple more this year. They now have line counters available, but I have no experience with them.
Wow! What a adrenalin rush that must have been. I caught a 39 incher during the 1984-85 ice season on an old Schooly rod and reel spooled with about 25′ of 2lb test with a teardrop/waxworm. Spent 45 minutes getting her up through a 8″ hole with 40″ of ice. At that time I thought she might have been a world record within a line class and so forth. Contacted the ‘people’ and it was more hassle than I cared to deal with. What a difference 6 or 7 inches make in these fish!
Here you go, one site I saved.
One place not mentioned although not exactly the direction you may want to head would be Lake Erie. Superb smallie fishing on the western basin near any of the islands. Deeper water with large boulders and rock. First couple weeks in May is a great time if the weather will cooperate and allow you to get out. I have fished the area many times and have consistently landed 5lb fish or better. Great time to get on some nice walleye also.
With all the snow this year, any roof vents could easily be covered and restricting air flow. Mine were, so after some serious snow I always check and clear as needed.
28.43 total
8.64 big
Good luck all
I have seen it recommended to seal all holes or cuts with an epoxy to prevent moisture from entering the fiberglass and any hole creates a weak or stress point I believe they called it for a crack to potentially start.
Congratulations for a nice fish and a win
Seems as though when the worst of the worst is unfolding before you and then turns out for the best it just makes the experience all that more fulfilling
Thanks for the recipe Ed. Hope to find enough of em this spring so I can try it. Didn’t have much luck last year.
Geez, those pics make my mouth water. Didn’t know people canned them. I have preserved morals every possible way……. I thought 
Care to share your recipe or a how to Ed?
Thanks ole wise one that’s just the info I needed to make up my mind. Seems like a 380 is in my future.
Here is a recipe I’ve used for years that a long gone river rat gave me. Everyone who has sampled it has asked for more. I have used fishing machine’s recipe and think it’s great, but variety is the spice of life hey!
Pickled Fish
Northern or Crappie are best. Must be kept refrigerated.
Use 1 gallon glass jar.
Ingredients: non-iodized salt, white vinegar, sugar, whole all spice, whole cloves, whole mustard seed, sweet white onions.
Fillet and cut into 1-2 inch pieces.
Soak 48 hours in 1 cup salt to 4 cups water. Keep refrigerated at all times.
Rinse thoroughly in cold water and soak in vinegar 24 hours. Longer will not hurt.
Rinse thoroughly again.
Layer fish in jar between layers of sweet white onion slices.
Make brine of 2 cups vinegar, 1 tbsp all spice, 1 tbsp cloves, 2 tbsp mustard seed and 1.75 cups sugar. Double if required.
Stir to dissolve sugar. Pour over fish, seal jar and refrigerate.
Wait 2 weeks and enjoy.
I have the Shappell Ice House 6000. When the wind is an issue, I found setting up with one corner to the wind instead of a full wall taking the brunt of it all greatly reduces the chance of a hub collapsing. I have used a long bungee cord attached to a hub loop and hooked to my power auger. Real easy fix once setup
Quote:
If you’re fishing with someone else bring a second sled,
Very good advice, I couldn’t agree more
