Paulywood

We must have been typing at the same time Terry.

The best way to deploy dipsey's is to back off the drag and let them out under pressure. This avoids tangles and allows them to gain depth and width as they are let out.

My dad and my brother came over this morning and cleared out some pine trees along my driveway. Now I can bring the boat home without getting sap all over it. I plan on getting it home and starting to get it ready at the end of the week.

For that price you even get to install it yourself:D They aren't cheap but I'm hoping it's worth it.

The cheapest I have been able to find it is at Cascade GPS. Just under $1500.

I tried a sander but there are too many curves and rivets. Hardly any areas that it worked. That's why I went to the wire wheel. I think my biggest problem is that they don't make a fine mesh wheel the correct size to fit on the grinder. All I could get was medium or coarse so I have been using a medium.

Once I finish off the second grinder I'll run up to HD and pick up another. The aluminum is so soft that there is a lot of resistance from the wire brushes catching. Must be hard on the motors. I've done some work on sheet metal before but it is a lot different with aluminum. Oh well, it comes off nice.

I'm not going to go out and buy a heat gun. I already have almost half the outside done. Not to worried about the inside. Haven't decided if I want to repaint the outside or not. Probably just leave it. I wanted to strip the outside so it would be easier to check for any cracks or other needed repairs. Probably put in some wood floors and carpet to make it a little more quiet. I'm trying to keep the cost down, I stick enough money into the big boat. I plan on mounting lights on it, I already have everything I need for that. Stick a little 4-5 horse on the back. Maybe a trolling motor. Couple of rod holders and I'll be all set. I plan on using it in rivers and some inland lakes. Maybe go up to Higgins and troll for bows and trout after ice out. Might try to do a little panfishing. Should be fun. And if I don't use it I'll trade it for another toy:D

I really don't want to get into the chemical mess. I think I'll just keep burning up grinders. It does a real good job, just hard on the grinders. The guy at Home Depot said they'd exchange them no questions asked.

I traded my snowmobile for a 12' aluminum boat and trailer. The boat has a couple layers of paint on it so I put a wire wheel on my angle grinder to take it off. I have about 1/3 of it off but I've already burned up the motor in my cheap angle grinder. I went to Home Depot and bought another one with a lifetime warranty but I was wondering if there is a better way. I don't have access to a sandblaster. I'm pretty sure it'll take me 2-3 more grinders at this pace.

I know there has been some discussion about this unit being discontinued. I decided to contact Navico and find out. Here is the reply I received: Dear Mr Thelen, Thank you for contacting Navico, Inc. The AP14R, which is the AP14 kit that replaces your mechanical steering helm using the exisiting push/pull steering cable is still a current product for 2010. There was a version of the AP14, the AP14H, which was for hydraulically steered boats (not boats with mechanical cable or mechanical cable to power assist systems), and this unit was discontinued about 2 years ago. I plan on buying one in the next couple of weeks and getting it installed as soon as possible.

I've run people over to get to a fish. Too many times my friends have panicked and couldn't figure out which rod I was talking about. But when I'm fishing with Redeagle (Mike) and a full core goes off he'll run you over going in the opposite direction:D

We are going to be up in the Leland area from June 25th to July 2nd and of course I will be taking the boat. I would like to fish up there, including heading out to the islands, but have never been in the area. Anyone ever fish there and have some info they would like to share? Looks like a pretty cool part of the lake. Thanks, Nick.

My wife's nephew out of Holland My father in law out of Pt. Sheldon The real Sugar Mama out of Muskegon

The orange and red Z-Dodgers are killer. The Luhr Jensen's will work to but the Z dodgers have better action IMO. Maybe Dirty Dog will chime in, he knows a lot more about coho fishing than I do.

Well, now I'm going to have nightmares. Thanks a lot Don.

You'll be fine Don. You guys can all wear skirts while your fishing too:D

In my experience it hasn't mattered where you were along the northwest shore as long as you had a light. My grandparents cabin is on the old Legion land and we usually fish out front. If not I like to fish in front of the creeks.

You can buy them. I'm pretty sure Sigg's Rigs (site sponsor) has a wide selection. I don't have any of his peanut flies but I have a ton of his regular ones and they are great.

Nice fish Don! Good job.

To be honest that has nothing to do with the people running the tournament. They just deal with trying to run a fair contest. Who you have fishing on your boat is up to you. And I can't think of anyone who fishes with me that would do something like that. Like I have said, they are using the exact same rules that work on Lake Ontario, why wouldn't they work here?

"Really I would think that just like boats everyone on the pier should be required to enter as well to make it fair for those of us who spent thousands for our spot to stand and fish." "Honestly the way this sounds so far I would have to put together a group based solely on fishing this and not allow any one without a entry on the boat after the 4th of July." Neither of these statements make any sense to me. I really hope you were just kidding about the first one. Pier fisherman have the same rights the guys in a boat do. People with boats already have a great advantage and I see no reason why a witness statement and the use of a polygraph, if needed, wouldn't be sufficient. As for the second, I think you are way over analyzing this. I wouldn't let the fact if someone is registered impact my fishing. And if someone on my boat did happen to catch a monster and they weren't registered, oh well. Sh!t happens. Like Kevin said, these rules have already proven to be successful on Lake Ontario. They aren't reinventing the wheel here, just bringing a great tournament to Lake Michigan. There is no reason the rules used on Lake O won't work here. Sounds to me like you guys are doing a great job Kevin, keep it up.

Welcome, let us know if we can help.

The service at the bait shop you are talking about is not very good. I have had a lot of problems with them over various issues. That's why we only go to Phoenix. As far as whitefish, my uncle went out with one of the guides a couple of years ago and he learned how and where they catch them and lakers. If you want any info PM me and I will let you in on what I know. Granted, it isn't much but it could help. I did increase my laker catch after learning what he did. Good luck.

Good job. I wanted to go up this weekend but with my back I wasn't able to . Maybe this week.