TerryH

I've never understood why people want to go to all the trouble of putting a motor on a pontoon boat. Between flippers and oars, I've never had a problem getting around on any of the lakes I fish. To each his own I guess. Anyway, for those of you who insist on using one, I'll pass on an interesting setup I saw recently, to deal with the problem of how to steer using a rear mounted motor. This guy had a metal bar clamped to the vertical shaft of the trolling motor. The bar was oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the boat. There were short cables attached to each end of the bar, that extended forward so the he could hold one in each hand. By pulling on these he could control the direction of the motor, and hence, steer the boat. Of course this isn't going to be too convenient if you're trying to troll at the same time -- unless you use a rod holder. I suppose with a bit of ingenuity, one could set modify this scheme so that steering could be done with your feet. Too much trouble for me -- I'll stick to flippers and oars. Terry

Actually, the X value is related to the diameter. Subtract the X value from 11 and you get the diameter in thousanths of an inch. Also, the tippet material you typically pay $12 to $14 for one spool is stronger, for the same diameter, than the bulk stuff. Terry

The stuff I use was bought at Michael's probably 10 years ago. The last time this subject came up, it didn't appear they carried it anymore but you might find something similar. It's a very heavy black crochet cord (Opera size 5 by Coats). Although it's only about 1mm in diameter, it's plenty strong, and matches closely the material in a C&R mesh bag. Terry

Don't say stuff like that -- now Clive'll have to get a larger hat.

It's called the Stop Inn. Here's some info from another web site. Stop Inn Motel Phone: (403) 562-7381 Located on Highway 3 in Coleman, the Stop Inn Motel is close to fine dining or takeout restaurants, laundromat, convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores. Feel right at home with 24 clean, comfortable units, some with kitchens. All have cable TV and a fax-modem compatible telephone. Their staff is known for their excellent customer service. The BCMI in Blairmore did indeed have a fire, and they've been working on the repairs for some time. It's no where near being ready and from what I've heard, it's not expected to reopen until 2013.

motorcyclist hits speeds of 299 km/hr -- see video here

I assume you're on your way to Bullshead, now that you're legal. Have a great B' day. Terry

I've been using a home built extension for years. The main component is just a good long set of booster cables. However, there is a safety issue to deal with in that once you hook the cables to your battery, you've got a potential problem with the other end now being hot. You could either get zapped or short out your battery. I got around this by building a little gizmo at the hot end, that prevents the "+" and "-" cable ends from coming into contact with one another -- or with me. The cables from the motor clamp on to the two terminals (just copper pipe and a few fittings that can be found in the electrical dept. of any hardware) shown in the second photo. Terry

MARCH 31, 2012 -- except for old farts. Take notice Taco. Terry

I agree.

Windsor Plywood. They have every type of hardwood you'll ever want. Terry

C'mon Don, that's a cubit. Terry

That's bizarre. Sounds like a lot of coulda, woulda, shoulda on the part of the judge. I always assumed whether you're guilty or not of an offense depends on what you actually did, not on what other people might do. Oh well, nothing surprises me anymore, when it comes to judges and our legal system. Terry

Try Streamside Nets in Lethbridge -- click here for their website They have a range of net bag sizes, some of which are available at many fly shops. Since they are in Lethbridge, you won't have to go far to get what you need. Terry

Canadianfish has provided a good basic list of tools that I would see as the bare minimum. As you move up the line in the tool department, it just gets easier to do a really good job. Therefore, let me add some stuff that is in the "nice to have" category (tools are like fly rods -- you can never have enough) router table -- for rounding over the edges and cutting a slot for the string that holds the net bag bandsaw -- for cutting out the templates and pre-shaping the handles (i.e. where the net frame joins the handle) a good carbide tip rip blade for your table saw (minimum 40 teeth) -- for cutting the thin strips for the frame surface planer -- for reducing the strips to a uniform thickness with a good flat surface each side drawing program -- like Autosketch, which allows you to design the frame so as to get the exact perimeter and shape you desire, and to print full scale drawings for templates Hope this helps. Terry

There are a few things you might want to consider when buying bear spray, because it's not all the same. First off, there are different sizes of canister, and obviously bigger is better. Also, the government limits the percentage of the active ingredient capsaicin. The limit in Canada used to be 1% while that in the US is 2%. I believe the Canadian limit has recently been increased to 1.84%. Anyway, when making a purchase, take the time to read the fine print on the canister. You will want to go with the strongest juice you can get. Terry

Amen.

Wow, not sure why you say that. From my observation of "recreation" activities both north and south of the Crowsnest Pass, things are totally out of control -- read random camping, irrespnsible OHV use etc. The best thing that could happen in my view would be to turn the Castle area back to a park. At least then, there would be some control over how the place is used. Oh, and it's not just a handful of bad quadders -- it's just too many people doing anything they want without anyone at a higher level (i.e. SRD) doing anything to protect things. Right now all we have is a free for all. Terry

I have a pair of the zip fronts -- the original version that had stitched seams. I know Redington had some problems with this line when they first came out two or three years ago. The problems had to do with the seams, the neoprene feet, and I believe the weight of the material in certain locations. They have redesigned the waders to deal with all these problems and the new Sonic Pro line is much better. I believe they also found a new manufacturer who's got a better handle on quality control. Even with the problems on the original version, I have to say mine have stood up quite well. I have two full seasons on them now and have had no problems to date. The other thing to bear in mind, is that the Canadian reps for Redington are very accommodating in dealing with any defects. I like the waders so much that I have a second pair waiting in the box for when the first pair eventually wears out (no sign of that yet). I also bought a pair of their Sonic Pro wading pants this fall, but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet. The zipper front is great for obvious reasons. However, I have found the zipper can be stiff at times and difficult to zip. I solved that problem by wiping on a bit of jigaloo (a non-oil based lubricant) at the start of the season. Now I can zip my fly down in a flash, just like a young guy. Terry

Where would we be if we didn't have people like Rex, who call bull$hit when they see it? Here's some more from Rex, re our saviour, D. Suzuki. Rex Murphy, National Post, Dec. 3, 2011

If you look realistically at all the things we pay for (rods, reels, lines, waders, boots, flies, gas, hotels ...................) to support our fishing activity, and break them down on an annual expense basis, I would guess that licence costs are at the low end of the list. Why is it that these fees are what some of use bitch about the most? Oh, and speaking as a geezer, I argue that everyone should have to buy a licence. Terry

A few comments: 1. A lot of money has gone into research. Much of that research has been done at universities although funded by the oilsands companies. If you look into it, you will find that in fact a great deal has changed as far as the process is concerned. 2. We are all free to get a piece of the action. Simply call your broker and buy some shares in Canadian Oilsands (ticker symbol COS). The current yield is around 5.7% -- try and find that in a GIC. However, if that sounds too good to be true, don't forget that there is something called "risk" involved -- and therein lies an element of our capitalistic economy that the lefties choose to forget. When you buy shares, you are providing capital for the company, but you could lose on the deal, if the share price goes down. The shares in COS are currently trading at around $21. They peaked in 2008 at around $45. 3. If investors didn't risk their money by buying shares in companies like COS, we would have a long wait at the pumps -- anyone here old enough to remember what happened in the 70's (Don, you don't need to answer, I know you were there)? Terry

I've got my tickets and am looking forward to next Friday. Terry

Hope you're having a great birthday Paul -- and only 3 years old. You sure look older than that. Terry

The term "family friendly" keeps turning up. My oldest "kid" is turning 40, but I can tell you, we did a lot of family fishing from the time he was about five, and a lot of it was done with flies -- and that was long before indicator fishing was invented. I do not accept the implication that a "family" must use bait, and bonk everything that's caught. A quality fishery can mean quality fishing for everyone, regardless of age. We have far too few special regs lakes, so let's make sure we keep and improve the few we have. Terry