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GJ Adam. Thanks for the report. The grumpy old men are probably a week away from giving it a try.

GJ Ken nice pics.

It's going to be a week or two before I even think about going. Glad you made it out.

HEY!!!! The Mac is back. Haven't heard from you in awhile Mike. Tell your dad and Cam I said howdy.

With in-line planer boards, you either love them or hate them. Since I started using in-lines a few years ago, my big boards gather dust. I have used them with lead-core for Salmon, but mostly mine are used for walleye.

I stop into this place about once a month. They have the best prices, on Church Walleye Boards. $20. http://www.northwoodsoutlet.com/oscommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=4_35&products_id=2371

Check the lure action at different speeds before you let it all the way out. Sometimes it's necessary to tweak them a little. Find the speed they run the best at. It doesn't hurt to bump the speed up or down a touch. Just find out what they want, and give em lots of it.

You would think they would bend over backwards to avoid negative feelings. With what they have going at the casinos, you wouldn't think they would mess with fishing. Maybe the CG will get as fed up as we are, and apply some pressure. Maybe we should get more vocal in the media. Hit them where it really hurts, Casinos.

Play safe. I'm glad you are OK. Last year, about this time, a friend of mine fell through and we buried him. You are lucky, but don't press it.

Don, Very Nice indeed.

If a fish hits an outside line the inner lines are let out to take it's place. You can not load the rods because the lines are free sliding on the planer board line.

Scott, Welcome aboard. I fish mostly out of AuGres with my Starcraft Islander Hardtop. I hope to see you on the bay. Manistee is my favorite Lake Michigan Port, and the closest one to me.

I always run the the std size spoons as sliders. I never run a slider on a rod that has a flasher on it. It's best to run short leads on the main line if you are going to put out sliders. If you run long leads the slider has a long ways to slide before you get into the fish. When a fish hits the slider you will probably see the rod start shaking. Get on that rod, release it, and reel like a maniac. You need to get some tension on that fish A.S.A.P.

Dan, Thanks for the census report. It was very evident that the number of boats on the Bay was way down from 07 to 08. Do you suppose that $4.20/Gal fuel price had anything to do with it? It was eating my lunch. The economy in general hurt, but the fuel prices kept the laid off people home. It looks like another great Summer ahead on the bay. I do hope this economy starts showing some signs of a recovery.

More Ice pics. These shots were near the Old Pt. AuGres Hotel. I estimated the height at 35+ ft. Those are 6 foot adults on the pile. I took the pics about 7 PM today.

Keith, A very warm welcome to you. Let us know if you need any help. I fish mostly out of AuGres on Lake Huron and it's Saginaw Bay. Most fishermen over here concentrate on the walleye and do very well. I fish from a 22 Starcraft Islander Hardtop. I do make a few trips a year over to Lake Michigan. I sometimes go West and leave my boat here. There are a few guys here that will put up with the likes of me for a short times. WELCOME

WTG. It's good to get the first shakedown cruise in. At least you were getting some followers and did manage one brown.

Reels are not necessary if you can rig some sort of mast or have a hardtop to run them off from. I have the line wound on some large line spools. I put a dowel through the spool and let the boards pull the line out. I have a dog snap on the end and just hook it into an eye on a pvc mast, or now some eyes on my hardtop. To wind them in just head slightly towards the board, and rewind the line on the spool. I have two 1/4 inch SS eyes on the forward upper sides of my hardtop, for running big boards. On my former 16 foot boat I had a 2 inch sch 80 PVC mast that was guy wired and it slipped over a pedestal seat post. I seldom use my big boards. I crazy about the in lines. I'm real comfortable pulling 8 in line boards and have pulled 10. If you are going to run boards, consider some Bird Tree Rod Holders. I added them to my rig last year, and like them very much. Here is a pic of my Port side home welded SS Bird Tree.

The Linwood Beach area of the Saginaw Bay is getting hammered by huge windblown chunks of ice. The news said they are starting to evacuate residents. This area and S. to the Bay City State Park gets blasted every so often. Those strong E. NE. winds push a lot of ice into the inner most part of the bay. Thirty five or so years ago I saw first hand the damage by Killarney and Little Killarney Beach.

Love the web cams.

DK is a legend. No past tense needed. He can still "Gitter Done":)

Oh happy day.

Nice looking browns Larry. Good job.

Trust us Robert, an Autopilot could save that beautiful relationship you have with your wife.

It surely is a buyers market. There are so many good buys from real estate to toys.