Priority1

Don't buy long allen wrenches because allen wrenches fit nicely into the same size socket wrench. Cut off an old allen wrench and put it in the appropriate socket and use a standard socket extension. Once they are set they don't need changing.

Jim, I like the fact that they are stamped out of SS and use some decent hooks. Are these available in more than one size?

Mike, Never issue any challenges to a red neck yooper.

I recently switched from Walkers to Blacks. The Blacks can be set light and still load the rod a plenty. The Chamberlains are nice with the two different settings and I considered them. I bought two Blacks to try and I liked them. The Chamberlains are about 1-1/2 times the price of the Blacks. I'll pick up two more Blacks soon. The Blacks can take a lot of upward pressure without tripping even when set relatively light. Any outward horizontal pressure trips them easily when set light. I fish mostly walleye.

I have never used the Brads but I'm a firm believer in scents.

Joe, Fantastic. Sounds like you have a program dialed in.

Bob, Keep icing em.

Ryan, You will slay em next time. Thanks for posting the report.

I guess I some how missed this post. I do get busy in the Summer time. I have a 12V DC charger that plugs into a cigarette lighter outlet. When all laptops are plugged in be it in the car, boat or home they are brighter and of course the battery gets charged. I bought the DC charger on ebay for under $20. I did make some changes in the settings that keeps the toughbook on all the time. After using the Laptop GPS Chartplotter for a full season I have no regrets for going this way. I have a 13.3 inch screen that even I can see from the back of the boat.There are pros and cons to everything. A lot of marinas and campgrounds have WiFi and I can make phone calls or post a report here with it. It's not for everyone but it works for me.

Wheels, GJ on the crappie. The right tools help ya Gitter Done.

Cris, It looks pretty cool. I'll edit your post.

Mike, One thing about shrimp if the fish don't cooperate eat the bait. Pass the shrimp sauce.

Jim, I ran SeaClear and NOAA charts all last year on a refurbished Panasonic Toughbook. SeaClear is free software that works well. Here is a thread that started about this time last year and went for 13 pages. Yes I run an external GPS that has a USB connection. The GPS is a Globalsat and was about $35. This GPS is about the size of a pocket watch and works even in a steel building. http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16411&highlight=SeaClear Here is a screen shot of the program. http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/8/7/seaclear_noaa.jpg' alt='seaclear_noaa.jpg'> If you have any specific questions or need any help just holler.

Matt, Nice pic. I like the Hubbard Lake area.

Joe, Good job on the gills. Nothing tastier.

Chris, The Bronze membership allows you to place items for sale in the classified section. The fee helps pay some of the sites expenses.

Ah!!!! An old Caz thread revived. Has anyone heard from Rich lately. I hope all is well with him.

Mike, Name it after me. Ya never forgot about the red bead and the bare hook did ya?

Mark, A steelie would never hit one of those. I think they would gag on the crawler.

You can even put those charts on a laptop and use it as a chartplotter GPS. They are handy on a PC also just for planning purposes.

Getting old is just fine. Ya know what the alternative is. Heal up my friend. About the last four or five years I can't force myself to do much of anything over the Winter. Spring, Summer, and Fall I do OK. Winter time I reluctantly do what needs doing and that's it. Maybe I should migrate South with the birds. I think it's part of the aging process or maybe a mild form of depression due to the shorter cloudy days. I think we all feel more chipper when the sun shines. I spent a lot of time outside during the Winter when I was younger. I was outside this morning clearing the snow with the blower and didn't mind it once I got going. The problem is getting going.

I think there is software that will allow you to do that on your PC with it's DVD burner.

I have an old Penn 49 on my fireplace mantle. It's a garage sale find. I like the scenery that is molded into the side plates. It's still spooled with some heavy old faded pink line that is probably Ande. Mine has some corrosion and looks like it was used in salt water. If you need some parts I have seen these on ebay. I also have an older Penn 9 that I bought at the same time. I use the 9 but probably will retire it and put it next to it's BIG Brother.

I like the old pics.