Jason Mitchell Outdoors had a show about 3 years ago fishing in Iowa with cane poles. Interesting and look like fun. Search You Tube Jason Mitchell Outdoors fishing with cane poles.

Oops! Is too late.

Correct me if I am wrong but I did not see 1 fish with the stomach pushed out from the swim bladder. When we catch Crappies or Walleyes from 30 ft or so this is very common. We always close the Crappies mouth when releasing, but wasn’t aware of air bubbles in the mouth. Lesson learned. Very interesting video and educational.

It must be those damn electric cars.

Better check with missing persons around Bemidji. Somewhere a Village is missing their Idiot.

Below zero temps here this morning.

Saw this video about a year ago and have used it ever since. I pre tie the leaders, makes it easier in the boat.I believe DNR says you can use 2 hooks on 1 line, if the hooks are 9 in apart.

stevenoak wrote:

I can only speak to 45 years that I owned a body shop. The body shop business and rates are completely dictated by the insurance industry. I never cut corners or fudged billing. But a lot did. Body shops rates are hovering around $60 per hour. We could raise our rates, but the insured would have to pay the difference. Insurance companies pay $x per hour in your area. Not to mention reinterpret industry standard estimating programs to give themselves discounts. On a very good day you may break even on materials if you were very careful. Forget mark up. When I needed to subcontract to a mechanic it was $120 per hour. The insurance companies often reimbursed me $60 or $80. I had the best front-end shop in town do my front-end alignments. Only to have the insurance company use a coupon price in the newspaper to establish what they would pay. I’m in the process of having electrician at my house. He is $125. Good friend I graduated with worked building farm equipment. Last year he worked he made $180,000 and worked 8 months with shutdowns vacations etc.. I never saw 50% of that, with $100s of thousands invested. Averaged over 60 hours a week. Along with all the liability of working with airbags, suspension, employees etc. I’ve known most shop owners in town over that time, most reached retirement age before me, as I started at 17. The majority of the shops have just closed. The owners could not find buyers to take over. Last few years I worked the average age for a body man was mid 50’s. Very few new people coming in. The last 20 years I encouraged most young people I liked to do about anything else. Town I live in had 6 body shops 20 years ago. Now one, and the owner is over 65. I was fortunate to also start real estate investing about the same time I opened my shop. Or I would probably worked till they wheeled me out.
Just a little insight to the PDR business. When I quit 5 years ago. There were dozens of PDR techs in town. It is truly an art. A very small percentage can take a $80,000 car with hail damage and make it acceptable to the owner. They are very very well compensated for that. My guy was the best I’ve seen since PDR started; he had an elite group of storm chasers he called in for storms. My guess he made over a quarter million a few years. But met very few with his abilities. Also know what ever he charged the insurance companies. They saved over %50 compared to conventional repair.

stevenoak wrote:

I can only speak to 45 years that I owned a body shop. The body shop business and rates are completely dictated by the insurance industry. I never cut corners or fudged billing. But a lot did. Body shops rates are hovering around $60 per hour. We could raise our rates, but the insured would have to pay the difference. Insurance companies pay $x per hour in your area. Not to mention reinterpret industry standard estimating programs to give themselves discounts. On a very good day you may break even on materials if you were very careful. Forget mark up. When I needed to subcontract to a mechanic it was $120 per hour. The insurance companies often reimbursed me $60 or $80. I had the best front-end shop in town do my front-end alignments. Only to have the insurance company use a coupon price in the newspaper to establish what they would pay. I’m in the process of having electrician at my house. He is $125. Good friend I graduated with worked building farm equipment. Last year he worked he made $180,000 and worked 8 months with shutdowns vacations etc.. I never saw 50% of that, with $100s of thousands invested. Averaged over 60 hours a week. Along with all the liability of working with airbags, suspension, employees etc. I’ve known most shop owners in town over that time, most reached retirement age before me, as I started at 17. The majority of the shops have just closed. The owners could not find buyers to take over. Last few years I worked the average age for a body man was mid 50’s. Very few new people coming in. The last 20 years I encouraged most young people I liked to do about anything else. Town I live in had 6 body shops 20 years ago. Now one, and the owner is over 65. I was fortunate to also start real estate investing about the same time I opened my shop. Or I would probably worked till they wheeled me out.
Just a little insight to the PDR business. When I quit 5 years ago. There were dozens of PDR techs in town. It is truly an art. A very small percentage can take a $80,000 car with hail damage and make it acceptable to the owner. They are very very well compensated for that. My guy was the best I’ve seen since PDR started; he had an elite group of storm chasers he called in for storms. My guess he made over a quarter million a few years. But met very few with his abilities. Also know what ever he charged the insurance companies. They saved over %50 compared to conventional repair.

stevenoak wrote:

I can only speak to 45 years that I owned a body shop. The body shop business and rates are completely dictated by the insurance industry. I never cut corners or fudged billing. But a lot did. Body shops rates are hovering around $60 per hour. We could raise our rates, but the insured would have to pay the difference. Insurance companies pay $x per hour in your area. Not to mention reinterpret industry standard estimating programs to give themselves discounts. On a very good day you may break even on materials if you were very careful. Forget mark up. When I needed to subcontract to a mechanic it was $120 per hour. The insurance companies often reimbursed me $60 or $80. I had the best front-end shop in town do my front-end alignments. Only to have the insurance company use a coupon price in the newspaper to establish what they would pay. I’m in the process of having electrician at my house. He is $125. Good friend I graduated with worked building farm equipment. Last year he worked he made $180,000 and worked 8 months with shutdowns vacations etc.. I never saw 50% of that, with $100s of thousands invested. Averaged over 60 hours a week. Along with all the liability of working with airbags, suspension, employees etc. I’ve known most shop owners in town over that time, most reached retirement age before me, as I started at 17. The majority of the shops have just closed. The owners could not find buyers to take over. Last few years I worked the average age for a body man was mid 50’s. Very few new people coming in. The last 20 years I encouraged most young people I liked to do about anything else. Town I live in had 6 body shops 20 years ago. Now one, and the owner is over 65. I was fortunate to also start real estate investing about the same time I opened my shop. Or I would probably worked till they wheeled me out.
Just a little insight to the PDR business. When I quit 5 years ago. There were dozens of PDR techs in town. It is truly an art. A very small percentage can take a $80,000 car with hail damage and make it acceptable to the owner. They are very very well compensated for that. My guy was the best I’ve seen since PDR started; he had an elite group of storm chasers he called in for storms. My guess he made over a quarter million a few years. But met very few with his abilities. Also know what ever he charged the insurance companies. They saved over %50 compared to conventional repair.

stevenoak wrote:

I can only speak to 45 years that I owned a body shop. The body shop business and rates are completely dictated by the insurance industry. I never cut corners or fudged billing. But a lot did. Body shops rates are hovering around $60 per hour. We could raise our rates, but the insured would have to pay the difference. Insurance companies pay $x per hour in your area. Not to mention reinterpret industry standard estimating programs to give themselves discounts. On a very good day you may break even on materials if you were very careful. Forget mark up. When I needed to subcontract to a mechanic it was $120 per hour. The insurance companies often reimbursed me $60 or $80. I had the best front-end shop in town do my front-end alignments. Only to have the insurance company use a coupon price in the newspaper to establish what they would pay. I’m in the process of having electrician at my house. He is $125. Good friend I graduated with worked building farm equipment. Last year he worked he made $180,000 and worked 8 months with shutdowns vacations etc.. I never saw 50% of that, with $100s of thousands invested. Averaged over 60 hours a week. Along with all the liability of working with airbags, suspension, employees etc. I’ve known most shop owners in town over that time, most reached retirement age before me, as I started at 17. The majority of the shops have just closed. The owners could not find buyers to take over. Last few years I worked the average age for a body man was mid 50’s. Very few new people coming in. The last 20 years I encouraged most young people I liked to do about anything else. Town I live in had 6 body shops 20 years ago. Now one, and the owner is over 65. I was fortunate to also start real estate investing about the same time I opened my shop. Or I would probably worked till they wheeled me out.
Just a little insight to the PDR business. When I quit 5 years ago. There were dozens of PDR techs in town. It is truly an art. A very small percentage can take a $80,000 car with hail damage and make it acceptable to the owner. They are very very well compensated for that. My guy was the best I’ve seen since PDR started; he had an elite group of storm chasers he called in for storms. My guess he made over a quarter million a few years. But met very few with his abilities. Also know what ever he charged the insurance companies. They saved over %50 compared to conventional repair.

Amen! Having owned a small business for over 40 years I can attest to everything you wrote.

Steve Foss is a good source for info. Also check Arrowhead Outdoors in Ely.

If it does start snowing hard, how are we supposed to watch for Balloons.

Koehler Clinch Knot tool is easiest for me. Comes with a good set of instructions
and there is a very good video on You Tube.

I have the same Problem. Lower back surgery 18 months ago and still recovering.
Fishing memories on you tube helps. Check out Clayton Schick underwater videos of Walleyes. Clearest pictures I have seen.

acarroline wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
Those are you using a barrel swivel, are you actually reeling the swivel in through the guides? I don’t even think a swivel would fit through my guides unless it was microscopic in size and I had a rod with bigger guides. Not to mention the damage a piece of metal would do to the guides. I could see using a swivel in some situations but not through the guides.

I would not be planning to reel the swivel through the eyes (Spro Power #10…fairly small). Thinking like a 2-3ft leader.

Braid to VMC ball bearing swivel to 3 to 4 ft Flouro leader. Can’t always see the swivel when reeling in so I use a bobber stopper as a visual on the braid about 3 in above swivel.

tim hurley wrote:

People tend to stick with the same thing when the bite is good, really thats the best time to try and build confidence in new stuff.

Thats good advice. It’s what I have been trying the last few years.Of course alot depends on the fish.

Definitely will be trying this system when the leaves start to fall and Lake Vermilion calls.

Same thing for me. Thermocline started at 20 ft. Marked fish 16′-19′ no takers on
1/8 oz jig and minnow. Downsized to 1/32 and used drop shot set up. Wasn’t great but picked up a few keepers.

I would definitely send these pictures to the dealer and manufacturer.

Cottonwood fuzz, Dandelion fuzz, Mayflies, Gnats and jumbo Mosquitoes. Man,I love Northern Mn. Let’s go fishin.

Cuda at Walmart. Under $5.00 I have tried way too many and paid way too much $ Without a doubt these are the best.

I just finished cleaning and oiling my reels with Lucas reel oil and Hot sauce grease. Now I am wondering if I should have used Antifreeze .

Embarrass river runs thru Sabin and Embarrass. Very dark stained water. Access maybe a problem. Have you looked at Fishermans Point on Whitewater Lake in Hoyt Lakes.

Two things. Put some Skis on that sled. And when that little voice in your head says wouldn’t it be nice to bring ???? Think twice.

I have 2 Dawai B G 2500. Very nice reels. Very smooth drag. Paid about $100.00 at Fish Usa about 5 yrs ago.

I have decided to let my 3 sister friends to take of the snow this year.
April, May, and June.

Had an Endoscopy 12/23. Got sick with the flu on 12/24. 1/6 still not moving. Didn’t start the 4runner for 4 days. Battery dead and won’t take a charge. Froze or possibly alternator BO. Or both. Drive up window at Hibbing Walgreens extends around the building.
(What Me Worry)

I have a terrible time tying knots with my numb arthritic fingers. I agree the Palomar knot is a good way to go. I recently bought a Koehler Cinch knot tool. Absolutely love it . There is a great tutorial on YouTube . I think the moderator’s name is Skip. He goes thru the instruction booklet showing all the knots you can tie. Check it out.

I have used advanced mono on my open water and ice fishing rods since it came out. Actually I have started using it instead of braid. I plan on trying the ice mono (neon) this year and would be interested in any reports. My only complaint with advanced mono is the line is hard for me to see. Good news is I have read Sufix will be offering advanced mono in neon later this year.

I was out yesterday on small lake north of Grand Rapids and picked up a few crappies. Water temp 46 Deg. Smaller bays had skim ice starting near shore and most of the ditches and small creeks were froze over. Time to put the boat away.

A couple of years ago I switch my open water and ice rods to 4 and 6 Lbs Sufix Advance Mono . It is a low stretch copolymer line. I use it without a Fluoro leader.