kirbydog

how do you go thru two hitch balls? Just askin'. And what is a banded pygmy sunfish?

Twice a week on average. Once a week in the winter months. I go for a solid week about 3 times a year-usually Texas in the fall or early spring. No matter how many times I go I never get tired of it but I do find myself quitting in early afternoon during these hot days. Used to be able to fish all day in the heat when I was younger.

One thing that low water does-it usually coincides with low oxygen levels and higher water temps. This can have an adverse affect on survival rates of fish caught and returned to the water.

I have had some 100 fish days but they were on private water and honestly, it got boring. You can catch TOO many and it ceases being fun after awhile. Plus, on days where I have caught alot, the fish have been on the small side. Would much rather have a 15-20 fish day with some good ones over 2-3 lbs.

The best and least expensive (bang for your buck) thing you can do is add more insullation in your attic. Cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter.

Its been near or over 100 here in CO for a week now. I line in Colorado Springs and the fires are just 4-5 miles from my house-all the heat is not helping. We really need a good rain but its been very dry all winter/spring and so far this summer. All my lakes are low and getting lower.

I think those numbers don't take into account the recycling of water in the production process-it may take alot of gallons to produce one newspaper but I'm guessing that water is used over and over again.

My wife just takes a book. Sometimes she'll fish but her casting is not very good and she has a hard time doing the hook set. I don't care for trolling at all but sometimes I do it with her and that makes her happy because she doesn't have to cast or set the hook. I know very few women who can actually fish. Don't think they are genetically programmed for it.

Heres something else. We may clean up our act and polute less and become better stewards of the enviroment but what does it really matter when China is on a coal generated power plant building spree. They are not yet, but they are well on their way to becoming the worse polluter on the planet.

Guess I'll just speak for myself from now on, its easier that way. One more time, I DO agree the planet is getting warmer, just haven't been convinced that man is a significant cause of that warming, or even a minor cause. And as far as CO and wildfires, I've been living here since the early '70's and we've had fires every year. Its actually a good thing for the forest and helps it regenerate itself. There are many forest rangers and biologists who argue that in many cases where human life is not at risk, the best policy may be to let them burn themselves out. Now a better argument could be made for the increase in acres of beetle killed pine trees due to warm winters that don't kill off the beetles like they used to. Also, below normal snowpak and precipitation weaken the pine trees and make them more vulnerable to disease. The evidence of that is overwhelming and in the long run beetle killed pine trees are a FAR greater threat than areas lost to forest fires. Go to any national forest in CO, there are whole mountainsides with dead trees.

Wow. The non believers (I'm one of them) don't for the most part deny there has been global warming or climate change (the preferred name now). What they deny is that man has played a substantial role in this climate change. What they also argue is that the earth has experienced many climate shifts in the past, long before industrialzation took place. Many of the climate shifts were dramatic-our great lakes were created in the last ice age that lasted hudreds of years. And guess what, there were no factories back then, or cars. I live in CO, at one time we were part of a massive inland tropical sea-no indutrial production, or cars, or cows back them either.

Justin, How you inject a 401K into this conversation is beyond me. For the record I don't have one but I have been working since I was in my early teens so lets call it 50 years. I started my own company years ago and I've worked hard and saved for a not wealthy but confortable retirement. Thank you for your concern. And when I was born has absolutely no bearing on how I feel about this subject.

Wayne, You have said it better than I could have. I remember when I was growing up there was talk of a new ice age. People tend to overreact and want to make a "crisis' out of every situation. I refuse to be part of the sky is falling crowd.

Live in CO and any largemouth bass over 5 lbs is a "good" one and anything over 7 is considered a trophy. The state record is just shy of 11 lbs. I fish TX alot and anything 5- 10 lbs is considered a decent fish but a bass needs to be over 10 before its in the trophy category. I think its easier to get a 10+ lb bass in TX than one over 7 in CO. Alot of that has to do with C&R, practiced by most fishermen in TX, not as widely practiced in CO. Still, alot of guys are surprised to learn we have some pretty decent bass fishing here in CO, especially for spots and smallies. A spot or smallie over 5 lbs puts you in the trophy class.

Thanks for the input, appreciated.

I've got a 2004 40 hp two stroke Johnson and it runs great but it does do one thing I've wondered about. After the motor is warm most of the time when I start it , it starts right up. Sometimes though I have to key it 2-3 times to get it to start. If it still won't start I have to advance the idle lever and it starts right up. Other than that, the motor runs great, idles smooth. I've always figured this is fairly common with two strokes but thought I'd ask.

As has already been said, an aluminum boat offers more value for the money. Only thing I'd argue for is a semi V instead of a flat bottom-it will handle the waves alot better. I've got a Lowe with a 40 hp, does about 29-32 on the lake, is way easier to trailer than a fiberglass boat, uses less gas, is easier on the tow vehicle, etc. Get a good trolling motor (to me thats every bit as important as the main motor is not more so) and you're good to go. You could get a good used boat like this for not a big outlay of cash-$3,000 to 6,000 depending on the year. I couldn't imagine life without a boat.

Wrench, Tried to send you a PM but I'm new to the site and don't know if I'm set up to receive messages.

Wrench, I've got an issue with my minn kota All Terrain 55 lb TM. Over the years it has seemed to lose some power. Wheras I used to be in #2 or 3 speed alot, now I'm in #4 and 5 just about all the time. I have heard that TM's will lose power over time, motor is 12 yrs old and its been used alot. Is there an easy fix for this. Right now my thinking is I'll just treat myself to a Maxxum 55 lb for my birthday. Other than the lose in power I've not had a single problem with it over the years. Part of me wants to open the bottom unit up as I've heard if its leaked the water will rust the armature and stuff and this will cause you to lose power.

As said by others, save your money. I joined way back in the day and quickly found out what a scam it is. Also, as pointed out, they have a habit of sending you books you never ordered and billing you. The tackle I got to try was a small packet of baitholder hooks.

I agree, I think joint health is the key. I have noticed my aches and pains seem to mostly go away in the warmer months.

Not talking about fishing off the end of a dock for crappie. Talking about full tilt bass fishing, out on the lake, running the TM, firing off long casts where needed. I'm 62, gonna be 63 soon and its been on my mind alot lately. I'm in good shape but I remember my dad had to quit golf in his late 60's because his shoulders hurt and he couldn't swing the club anymore. I figure if you stay in decent shape you can do it thru your 70's anyway. But I've already got aches and pains I never had 10 yrs ago, some artritis in my knees and an elbow that acts up with the weather. And I can't put the line thru the hook eye if its low light. God have pity on my soul.

I live in CO. Fish Pueblo Res quite a bit but to rate Pueblo higher than Bull Shoals (which I have fished) or Powell is a joke. I do agree right now Falcon is probably the best bass lake anywhere in the US. Lists like this always seem to have lakes where you go "huh?".

You learn something every day. Didn't know that a morel is a mushroom, had to look it up.

The biggest killer of batterys I have found is letting them loose their charge when the boats sitting sitting idle for weeks at a time (as often happens in winter). I check my charge every 10-days to 2 weeks when the boats not getting out often. Also cold weather is hard on them, if you store the boat outside its probably a good idea to disconnect the batteries and bring them inside.