FX

Happy Birthday Jason!! Enjoy your day! Shawn

of all people to be feedin you material!! Sorry....carry on.... Shawn

Saw these on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Salmon-Flasher-Stor ... 240%3A1318 anyone use them? Shawn

Welcome Dbl D! Great site here with a lot of good info and Ray for entertainment (and good info too). I fish out your way as much as I can - feel free to pm me if ya need a fishin partner. Good luck, Shawn

Thanks Bill! Won't be long for you! Enjoy every moment because the memories last lifetimes! Shawn

Nice!!! Thanks for sharing! Shawn

Thanks guys! It was quite a thrill. Mark - my hat's off to you and all other educators. The time you guys devote to getting kids involved is to be commended and is much appreciated. I was glad when Kevin took his course a couple years ago, that the instructor invited me to take it with him and get re-certified. Much more enjoyable for both of us and especially for Kevin when he outscored me by one on the test! Probly won't ever live that one down and that's ok as long as he keeps his interest in the outdoors. Thanks again, Shawn

Nice pics! They sure do look pooped in the last one! Shawn

We're still waitin for him to get ya back! Shawn

Same here with the Seaguar. Are you using the leader material or just regular fluoro? Thanks, Shawn

Awesome pics Stan!! It must be hard to watch the rods with all that beautiful scenery around!! Shawn

Pretty cool link - thanks! Do you guys typically use fluoro for leaders or are you spooling up with it? Thanks, Shawn

Nice!! Thanks Rick! and Chad! Shawn

Nice pics Ray! I guess now we know the "real story" about you shooting the bear at the zoo! I think you probly shoulda used a 2x6 though in the last pic! Shawn

Thanks Tim and Chowder! I have been attaching the free slider after I've snugged up the line in hopes it would find the "belly" sooner. I kinda prefer the free slider method as it covers a little more water and I have had more success with it than fixed cheaters. Have doubled on skipper kings, but nothing with any serious weight. Looking forward to that though! I do use a mag spoon on the cheater in hopes of it ending up lower on the "belly", but as you said, I don't really care either cause it catches fish. Shawn

Tim, when do you deploy your free slider? Thanks, Shawn

Happy New Year! May 2009 be a safe and prosperous year for you!! Shawn

The new NYS Youth Mentor Program was successful for my son, Kevin who turned 14 in Oct. He was very excited when I told him of the new regulation earlier in the year and he read the regs as soon as I gave them to him. He spent quite a bit of time out scouting while I was bowhunting and had the ground blind all picked out for us for opening day. As opening day approached he says to me, "Dad, I can't shoot a doe can I, since I don't have a DMP?" I explained that he could and I signed one of mine over to him and he says, "I don't want to shoot a doe anyway - I want my first deer to be a buck and I'm going to gut it out myself!" Of course, that was right after he saw the "Big 8" buck. I explained to him that harvesting doe's is important and any deer harvested for your first is a trophy. The eve of the opener had us down at camp preparing for the next morning and I'm not sure who was more excited - him or me! We awoke to pouring rain, put on the rain gear and headed out in the dark. Fog settled in and as I was telling him the deer wouldn't be moving much with these conditions, when he spotted movement and we watched as three deer approached. I see him get his gun ready, and click the safety off as a nice doe and two yearlings trotted by. My soft grunt wouldn't stop them and Kevin held off on a shot. After a few minutes I asked why he didn't shoot - he says "the two were too small and I didn't have a good shot at the bigger one. Besides, I was hoping that a buck was chasing them!." I told him that he made a good decision and I was very proud of him for doing so. Later that afternoon, we were in the same blind when 4 doe came into view. Again, Kevin got his gun ready and I heard the safety click off once they were in range. The biggest one walked broadside at 90yds - no shot, 80yds - no shot, I look at him, wondering why he's not taking the shot, and he's looking past her to see if there's a buck trailing! At 70yds - BANG and she drops dead! After some high fives and a hug, we went over to the deer. We waited for the others in our group to join us and after pictures and more congrats it was time for field dressing. With a little help from Dad, he field dressed his first deer. I really can't say who was more excited at that moment or the moments leading up to it, but I can say that I couldn't be more proud of him. The practicing with his shotgun, the scouting, the patience, the safe gun handling, it is all what I am most proud of. The time spent together outdoors is most meaningful. He held out for a buck the rest of the season, but never had an opportunity, so, "there's always next year!" I told him.

As Legacy stated - make sure to use same lure manufacturer per rig so lure action is consistent. NBK's, 42 second, tranny, and pro-king purple (not sure of exact name) spoons were the best mupped and cheated producers for me this year. Shawn

Very cool!! Will there be a third catch and release? Couldn't imagine those odds!! Shawn

Nice job Bill! Thanks for sharing! Shawn

Wishing all LOU members and your families a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! Shawn

Good one! I heard he went over there to secretly meet with the "Big Three" auto exec's and figure out a way for NY'ers to bail them out by being taxed more!!! Bigest topic was coming up with a way to tax flatulence! If they were really smart, they would figure out a way to make cars run on flatulence. That way Ray would have a new van every year and still be able to afford more tackle Shawn