Rascal Trophy Fishing

Putting these wind monsters on the water is definitely an eyesore and will ruin the esthetics for everyone. We are currently installing 500' high wind towers in Ludington, about 65 of them or so, and I can tell you, the folks affected on their prime rolling farm meadows are not happy at all, and their land values crashed also already, and they haven't even finished installing them yet. Wait till the flicker issues kick in.

WOW Paul! She's gettin nasty out here now, hope you pulled her, I did last week, and happy or not, she and me are safe now for the season. Just sayin.

You guys are funny, I mean really? I don't count the losses, it's few and far, as much as the successfuls that happen, much more, and really, did some of you guys make this stuff up? Or is it for laughs? Like, hey, retie those lines all the time, including wires and braids, riggers too need new cable, it's not that hard. Peel and Retie folks, it takes little time to make sure, for sure. Boat Fish, not releases! For me, one of the first rules of winning.

Which river is that Consummate Sir? I like. You weren't catch and release now were ya? I like to filet and release, hardy har....

How deep is the water where the buoy was taken out? Not far offshore I see, but the graph doesn't depict this fact. But, very good post and important info. on how this Superior has it's name for a very good reason, it's much worse than anything in Michigan and Erie for sure, or is it? I wouldn't mind seeing the comparisons, if any exists, thanks. Amazing pics too.

If you're serious Jim, there is a sistership to my charterboat up here in Ludington, maroon instead of bright red striping, he's asking $18K right now. It's a 33'X12' Chris Craft, stable platform for sure. Send me a pm if you want details, and look at my page for the sister to that. It has no trailer though, lol. I've got the other connections for a slip and storage though.

You said that very well coralee, and I totally agree, and would hope that the majority of us all do too. Thanks.

Was that a 10 point, sure looked like it.

Dave, what a valuable post and useful reminder that safety comes first, all else is a bonus to the eating table and outdoor experience. I'm glad some are taking advantage of this post to be overly safe, it's our lives on the line everytime we leave port.

May not be many left Ed, but you make up for quantity over quality for sure, real nice bird, wish I had been there with my Hildy GSP. Thanks for the pic..

Wow, monster muskie and beats old record by 7.5#, almost 15%, thanks for this pics. and report, great.

Thanks and one things for sure Dan, you make for interesting reading and history can back you up, at least up to the 1700-1800's in most respects. I was growing up in the 1950's, when Americanism was probably at it's height. Glad I was now looking at today's societal beliefs, or disbeliefs, whichever you choose. And the decaying effect today's lack of beliefs clearly illustrates all around us, from the President now on down the ladder to seaman Joe on the SS Badger, another mindboggling subject of how we need to shut our main job producing industry here in Ludington down for the sake of the green weenies....lol. I guess our 20th century forefathers thought that most free religions believe in the 10 commandments, and as such, that we as Americans should also stand for, or at least have as a blueprint for living daily. That and so much more have in the past and now continue to be tread on and torn down as ancient relics. I guess I should have either been born 200 years earlier, or perhaps 30 years later, then I would fit in better today. Thanks for the educational posts.

With all due respect, I don't agree with all that stuff there Dan. That article 11 which you quoted is part of a treaty with a muslim nation by the USA, and the disclaimer is there to see, it's a treaty, not a constitution nor bill of rights, not even a pledge of allegiance either. Most of the founding fathers were Christians, not atheists, not muslims, not jews, just Europeans that wanted to break with monarchy and violated human rights. To me, and that's just me, I too am a Christian, not a doormat, but, not a finatic either. As for our currency, tradition and 236 years of patriotism, with "In God We Trust" as our position for Americanism, isn't just something to throw to the vultures of today's ararchist type thinking, it's part of all of us, it's not just the religious overtones it may imply, it's our way of thinking and treating one another, our respect for one another, and our allegiance for a peaceful and generous culture. That's what separates us, or used to, from the rest of the world out there, and I for one, am proud of that, and will die by that, if need be. Thanks for letting me ramble and rant a bit.

Went to my local USPO Tuesday to get a spare key for my box. I was told I was supposed to be given a set of 2 keys free when I opened the box about 6-7 years ago, but was only given 1 key. Since I opened the box a while back, they now say they can charge me $3 deposit for the key. Ok, so I whip out 3-$1 bills and wait for the transaction. The guy gets the new key, and when he goes to put the order into the computer he's told I need to pay $6. I ask why, and am told that during 2010 the policy changed and I now need to pay more. Ok, so I whip out a $10 bill to pay. A few more minutes of debate passes, and then the computer says I have to pay $9, $6 for the key, and another $3 deposit. Meanwhile, this is taking about 7-9 minutes to transact, and people behind me are getting impatient and lining up to the front door. I'm confused, upset, and just tired of this demented scenario, it just gets worse with the passing minutes. After trying to get straight answers to my repeated questions, I finally give in and pay the stinking $9. Later that night I found I had another spare key to another former box that I had rented for many years prior. Bingo, I'm going to return this key the next day as I have no use for it, and I want to get my $9 back, right? NOT! They again told me that old key was theirs, and that it did not fit my prior box. So now what? Well, at the very least I thought I deserved to get the $3 deposit back, but it didn't happen, I got another excuse and policy quote, and then got a reject. Finally, the clerk says I can get the $3 deposit back if I close out my box, even though I have no intention of closing my box, I want my mail there. All I could do is leave, in disbelief, and disgust, of what is right, and what is being done over at this agency. Is it any wonder this department is in bankruptcy mode, both financially, and morally? Anyone else know about this, and what do you think I could do differently? And no, I don't have a mail box at the rural house, the snow plows and kids ran them over years ago too often, so now I trek to town for safe mail delivery. Thanks.

I just ran across this sound off and find it interesting. I looked in my coin wallet and found I still have a James Madison dollar coin from last summer someone gave me. It does have the inscription on the edge, and mine is a 2008 model, and sure enough, the saying is not so clear, and wearing off on the edge. I totally agree with all you guys, this is an insult, and is not in keeping with our American traditions, but then look at the Democratic convention last summer when they had to add God to it's platform, and it was really voted down, not passed as political correctness demanded they do. Where do these strange and unpatriotic ideas come from?

I got out once in the last 3 weeks too, nasty weather but for only a few days, all was calm on the fishing side of Ludington since mid-August basically, it died real early. Today and a few hours between rain this past weekend, I stripped the old girl, got her gassed up, and am pulling out shortly to winterize. Even after 30+ years, I still never get used to the "depression" at the end of the season, sad to say the least.

Simply amazing, I had a 2000 Silverado with a flat years ago, I had the same problem and called wrecker service, only to wait 2 hours, then have another 1-1/2 hrs to get changed up. Now I have a '10 silverado, and don't look forward to any flats, I'm just going to call AAA when anything like that happens. Too bad, it used to be easy to replace the flat, they must have a lot of faith in the tire makers, but for all these years? C'mon!

Nailer, in the last 4-5 weeks I now have boats in sandbars on their bows, where in June they were in 2 ft. of water, & now beached. The front south docks where usually is 5' of water on the landside of the dock, there is barely 2-1/2' of water, coming close to the props of big boats that usually dock there. Sandbars and low water levels this low are definitely not the fault of rains alone, it's too much to accept.

Cork, how do we make micro-etchings in fiberglass with a cleaner and brush? Does "micro" involve not visible to the naked eye? Either way, the stress cracks involved in any boat over the years is unavoidable imho. So, if that theory was true, which I doubt, it could not be weighed as a significant contributor to the cockpit's cleanliness as a whole, no doubt. A wooden fish cleaning board does not equate to a fiberglass cockpit, in any shape, way, or form to me, doesn't compute to me anyhow, with all due respect.

I'd make sure they strip it to the hull, even if that requires sandblasting to the nubs. Then the paint will stick for many years to come. Good luck Tony, hope that helps ya, and thanks for this post of help to others in the same "boat".

Never heard of a wax application to apply to marine decks, esp. cockpits. I also use the SS/bleach for normal daily usage, also a pressure washer, 2800 psi or higher, for the cockpit. If the area is really old, dirty, incapable of cleaning with comet and all the rest, consider in hot weather, masking it off and repainting the entire floor, adding a non-slip type dust to the paint to prevent slippage. I believe west marine and interlux both have specialized paint for this purpose. Good luck and stay away from wax, could be a real slippery fall in your future if applied.

Thanks Evans, great statistics. But, if you look at the over 100 year cycles, you will note that only about 4 inch of differences per year in rain is reported. That certainly cannot account for 4'-7' depth changes on any lakes, esp. not such huge great lakes, it's simply not possible. Example: if the reported 35" rain in 1986 made the lake levels their highest in 100 years, then why didn't the over 37" rains of 2009 not do the same, or worse? No, the lake levels of 2009 were also very low. Like I have said, it's the international joint waterways commissions of Canada the USA that are directly controlling our great lake levels by decisions for hydroelectric plants, dams, and many other detours of natural flowing water, on both sides of the borders. Check out www.ijc.org/en/background/ijc_cmi_nature.htm. Our local office is as follows: Great Lakes Commission, P.O.Box 32869, Detroit, Mi. 48232, 313-226-2170, ext.6733. Of course if asked and putting pressure on them got any real answers in the past, like late 1980's when I contacted them several times about too high water levels, they declined to comment on their activities, beyond their news letters, and press releases, more propaganda is what I say. They know.

Something different to do, haven't tried that, good report, better luck next trip.

Dewitt shouldn't be that far from Saugatuck, I say drive over before making any auction bid, see what you are buying beforehand, it's worth the drive imho. The website looks like high water pics., the lake is real low right now, so be sure first I think.

Thanks for the video, where was that JB?