Gator
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Awesome! Show them what we're made of! And keep the pics coming. Costa is on our short list for the next couple of years. -
Can I blame Jim, too? lol -
Pat McManus used to say that before he went ice fishing, he'd sit outside and have his wife shovel snow down his back. If afterwards he still wanted to go, then he'd head to the doctors because he was a sick man... Don't forget to add a sled to the list above, with a long rope to drag it on the ice, and a bucket for fish / to sit on. More the later than the former lol.
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My season was here and gone in a flash, as per usual. When I look back on it, I wish I could have gotten out more, but my hunting log shows that I managed to sneak into the woods nearly every other day, albeit for only an hour or two at a time. But at least I gave myself opportunities by being there. The bucks showed on my property on October 12th, as per usual. There were multiple ghosts running around that I never put eyes on, making me think that access is still an issue and we're busting deer walking in. The peak of the rut came (and went) fast. Chasing started on Tuesday, October 30th with mainly small rack bucks in the game through the weekend, then the big boys came out to play the following week. And by mid-week it was done. Oh, there was activity here and there after that, but not the craziness that multiple doe going into heat simultaneously brings. I shot the one and only deer that I took this year on November 5th, on a quick Monday morning hunt prior to work. I'd already climbed out of the stand at 8 am when I almost got run over by a small buck chasing a doe toward Brian. So I ducked into cover, thinking to watch the show or help if Brian shot a deer. When the doe spun 180 degrees and ran back past me, there was a nice nine-point on her heels. He came to within 15 yards before turning broadside and saying "shoot me here" lol. Honestly, I had to shoot around one of my tree tubes, but that was it. Chip shot. And likely the most exciting thing I've ever been part of in the woods - I know that's a set-up, but no snarky comments please . I also passed on numerous small buck and doe over the course of bow season, but -as per usual- my property rotted during gun. It was only after season ended that I had graduate students asking me when the "venison party" was going to be held this year. I told them they missed the bus by not placing their order before the season. I'll shoot deer, but only if I know they're going to be eaten. I also passed on a stud nine the last Sunday of rifle season in Albion. Why? I don't know. I'd already shot a buck, I was hunting alone and I just didn't feel the need. Maybe he'll make it until next year. One thing that this season emphasized to me is the importance of tree stand safety and maintenance. I had numerous situations on the land we lease where stands were in disrepair and either prevented my hunting effectively or that I felt unsafe hunting. It's hard as you get older to keep up, but this stuff is important. So, as soon as the season ended I bought four new stands and planned to work last week in the woods. Three days on my back sick and an unscheduled surgery to remove a lump in my finger put a nix on that, as did a new puppy (fox red lab) that kept me up most nights. But the stands are in my garage and as soon as I'm able, they'll go up. Like Rob last year, I'm hoping to get the heavy lifting done early - and maybe avoid the yellowjackets this year lol. It's been a great time interacting and sharing everyone's adventures; stay well in the New Year; we'll do this again come fall! -
I don't do Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or any other form of social media. But I love LOU and I'm proud to be part of the brotherhood. Here's toasting another great year, my brothers! -
You guys are killing it!! lol -
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This sounds like a decision made to bring Rangers on par with ECOs in terms of pay and job classification. And perhaps support/oversight/administrative burden? If so, and they continue to maintain unique roles that reflect their respective historical responsibilities, then I don't seen much concern. Consolidation can save taxpayers $$ and reduce the size of government. Which is a pretty conservative thing to want...hence, a surprise from the current regime.
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In between deer hunting and ice fishing, unless you chase late season quackers or chrome it's pretty slow this time of year. So I think a good discussion can help to stave off the boredom. And I can't do crap until my finger heals, so... I define hunting by the effort that you make in pursuit of game. If that means practicing at 800 yards to make a clean kill, and you can do it, that's hunting by me. Conversely, the guy who grabs his gun once a year and shoots a deer out the window isn't hunting, he's harvesting. But doing the same thing on a bait pile that you've rigged with motion sensitive cameras takes effort and commitment. So, it's hunting. You follow my drift? Don't bother, I caught all the fish out of that run lol.
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Wait, what?? I've been sitting in the stand all this time waiting for the wrong animal? No wonder I never shoot anything. All I keep seeing are these stupid big bucks, but no elephants...
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I've heard a buddy of mine talk about his smokeless MZ that doesn't need to be cleaned as regularly. Tell us more please.
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Just make sure you remember it's a two stage trigger! I have a buddy who couldn't figure out why his gun wouldn't fire this year while a buck stood right in front of him lol. I think he needs to shoot more...but the gun is a keeper. I'm with Billy in using a plain Jane Winchester Model 12 that's almost as old as I am. It's on it's third Bushnell Banner scope...cheap crap, yes, but it's a shotgun not a rifle and I could hit deer with open sights at 50 yards where most of my shots are...and I've shot more deer than I can count with it. I made the mistake of cleaning it this year, though. I'll probably never hit another deer with it. I'm with Brian on the Accura V2, and I'm partial to Leupold scopes. Here's the best deal I found: https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/rifles/cva-accura-v2-leupold-combo-pr3125snlc.html
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Surprisingly, none. I interpret that to mean that I need to fish more lol
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Man, that's a coincidence. I just had surgery on my middle finger Thursday of this week. The Clam plate won't twist you up nearly as badly as using a handle on the bare drill. I saw a guy nearly break his wrist that way. That's why using the drill on the low speed setting is important, too. I myself have no worries at all after having fished with this rig the past two years, even given that I can't lift a coffee cup if it puts pressure on my middle finger right now. And I don't even bother with the drill until there's at least six inches of ice, so I figure I've got a few weeks to heal. Go low and slow and you'll be fine.
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Let me know once you get it whether it looks like it will work. It's a good deal if it does. You may want to put out a quick feeler on Shanty first, too, and get some expert crowd-sourced input before going through the hassle. Good luck!
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Gotcha. I like having two batteries in case one goes dead I know what I have left to work with, but six of one, half a dozen of the other. You'll probably never burn through nine Ah in one day anyway. I think the new Clam plate uses a regular 1/2" chuck no modifications necessary and should be fine. Check out the latest poop on IceShanty, but I have the 2704 with the Clam and it's FANTASTIC.
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Here's a top rated seller that lists for $239: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-FUEL-M18-2804-22-1-2-Inch-Lithium-Ion-Hammer-Drill-Kit/113495417291?epid=13020357204&hash=item1a6cdaa1cb:g:fBwAAOSwLmBb9bx5:rk:15:pf:0 If you search Milwaukee 2804-22 on eBay, you'll get a bunch of options. There's auctions going on that are ~170 now and a bunch of sellers with new combos at $229 with free shipping. I may be mistaken about the impact driver; it could apply to the "hammer" setting of the hammer drill lol. Still, right tool for the right job is worth thinking about, and the consensus on IceShanty is fairly clear.
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I just looked at that Ryobi combo at Home Depot and you probably want to make sure that the drill has the right torque. The 2000 ft.-lbs is for the impact driver, which is a separate tool, and to my understanding you want to be on the drill setting of the combo tools, not the impact driver setting, when drilling holes in the ice. The drill in the combo may have much less torque. I could be off-base, but if you're seriously considering it I'd look really hard first.
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My buddy just picked up the Milwaukee Impact Driver/Drill combo 2804-22 with two 5 Ah batteries for $229 new off eBay. It's brushless, has 1200 ft.-lbs of torque and runs great at low speed. I've had the 2704-22-same thing practically-for a couple years and it's the bomb. With the Clam plate and a Nils auger, the thing is premium.
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Good point on the left-handed reel! I jig with my right hand and often have trouble switching hands after a strike to pick up the line fast enough. Left-handed reel = end of problem.
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Interesting post. It raises the question of whether a fish should be named according to it's genetic makeup or it's behavior. The steelhead in Lake Ontario are either Washington strain or Skamania, both of which come from the West coast. However, steelhead are also defined as a strain of rainbow trout that migrate to saltwater. So, I guess you could argue both. I will stick with steelhead for the West coast strains and lake run rainbows for the domestic strain. -
Not to be argumentative, but over the past decade China has made great strides in quality control. The new Golden Gate bridge was made in China. And their engineering currently approaches German standards for specifications. The issue is that when it's made over seas you don't know whether that quality applies, or whether it's made by some fly-by-night outfit. Of course, that's the case whether it's China or Sweden. Just saying that the old adage of made in China equating to crap manufacturing doesn't (necessarily) apply any more. I will qualify that by saying I don't know anything about the reels in question. I use a Revo Rocket with 15 lb Powerpro and an 8 lb fluorocarbon leader on a 6 1/2 foot medium fast blank for Finger Lakes jigging. So many of the hits are on the drop that technique is more important than how expensive your rod costs. The ability to take up line quickly will be important. Before I made my own rod, I used a St. Croix SCIII blank or a Bass Pro brand rod. You certainly shouldn't have to break the bank to jig lake trout. In fact, for years we used our steelhead rods on the NIagara bar for water less then 50' deep, and we landed many. many lake trout over 20 lbs on them, with #1, 2, or 3 places in the Spring derby for over 6 years running (drifting out of a 24' Wellcraft, none the less). Good times.
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And a great Festivus, lol!! MX, everyone! To all those out there with little kids, enjoy the dickens out of tomorrow (pun intended). Those wide eyes and breathless excitement disappear all too quick these days.
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Malin. x2 on the mono to prevent curly Qs when it's on the spool. That or always keep it tight. And cut off 20' every year. We usually get 5-6 years before replacing.
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Man, that's funny! I'm just disappointed that we didn't get to 100 pages of posts this year. Ruined my whole season.
