I read about this twice before switching to this for winter fishing for Minnesota sunfish and crappies about 15 years ago. I never switched back. This is monofilament quilting thread. I use the Coats Brand which comes in .004 and .005. I have used both but settled on the .005 which is only about 1 1/2 lb. test. It sells for about $2 a spool at some craft stores but I found it at our local Walmart Supermarket. This line is super supple, does not easily twist and gives direct contact with the ice jigs we use here for panfish. The secret is to use a quality ice fishing rod, very light action for use with 2 - 4 lb. test line. It also requires a reel with a superb drag. I was tired of spinning reels and switched to the inline reels which do not twist the line. I found a rod and reel for $25 on sale at Mills Fleet Farm when they wanted $25 for the reel alone. After using this setup once I went back and bought 2 more rods and reels still on sale. I have used this combo for the last few years. I purchased the black plastic inline reel. There are many so for my method you MUST use the reel that you can palm in your right hand (I am right handed) after completely backing the drag off. The right side of the reel does not turn so it lays in your right palm. I reach out with my index finger and stop the reel from turning when setting the hook, then immediately release the spool so the drag can be pulled out by the fish. With the limber rod and stretch in the line I seldom lose fish or break the line. I turn the reel with my left hand while pumping the fish and then when the fish enters the hole in the ice I slide them out if they are small or medium but lift them out if they are larger. I have landed a 5 1/2 lb bass and many others and even northern pike and walleyes while using this method. If I am fishing in 15 or more feet of water there is no problem. When I fish a local lake with only 6 feet of water I must remember that the line won't have as much stretch so I must set the hook with more of a lifting motion than a normal hook setting motion. I have consistently outfished my fishing companions and most of them have switched to this line on at least one of their reels and have done better. I use ice flies and maggots because the sunfish and crappies have plenty of time to look over the presentations in the clear water in most lakes during the winter. If a larger bait is used they usually won't bite or will just nip at the bait hanging off the hook. Those with cameras are amazed at how many fish they see that will come up and suck the bait in and immediately spit it out without them even knowing they had a bite if they had not watched it on camera. Some can ONLY catch a few by watching them bite and quickly setting the hook. I use a Vexilar and watch how they react to the presentation and usually catch all I want using my normal presentation which is very deliberate while occasionally they want a violent jigging presentation. I know a few local fisherman who will not use this line because they have not been able to catch fish without breaking the line but they do not pair the line with the necessary rod and reel. Because of the weeds in the summer and because the fish are more active in warmer water I use 4 and 6 lb. Green Trilene Xtra Tough for my summer fishing. (DO NOT use Green Trilene Xtra Limp as it will cause severe bird's nests and you will be discarding much line each time and cursing your choice.) The Xtra Tough is coated to encounter weeds and bottom without shredding but the Xtra Limp is not!

Four elderly ladies were out for a Sunday drive and were speeding at 85 MPH when pulled over by a highway patrolmen. He approached the driver and asked her if she realized she was going 85 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. The driver replied that she had just passed a sign that said 85 so that is what she was driving. The officer informed her that was Highway 85 and not the speed limit. When he looked in the back seat the officer noticed the elderly women in the back were shaking and appeared frightened. He said he was sorry if they were upset by him pulling them over with the flashing lights and siren. One of the ladies replied, "Oh it is not you officer!" "We just got off of Highway 113!"

Welcome John. I am from St. Cloud, Mn. You have some great fishing opportunities in your area. Washington, Stella, Ripley, Belle and Minnie Belle Lakes have all provided excellent fishing for me in your area, mostly for pan fish but also walleyes. The large ball of twine at Darwin is also a well known attraction in your area. Good fishing and share the pictures!

Cascade Reservoir is Huge - 47 Sq. Mile surface area! I couldn't find the yellow Perch or Crappie listed in the limit section and then the last entry was all other species not listed had no limits. Fish listed gave the number per day and the possession limit was times three after the second day of fishing. The consensus is that the perch harvest size will decline and then pick up again after the next size coming up grow up. It was also stated that most of the big perch die of old age rather than from being harvested by fisherman.

Look it up on You Tube. There are a number of videos available. I have been considering heading out there and the perch are huge! It seems it is an area that snowmobile use is recommended and what I watched showed the fisherman going out a long ways. I don't know if vehicles are allowed there or if the ice is thick enough to drive a car or truck on like we do in Minnesota. Good Fishing and don't forget to share the pictures of your success with us!

Long ago I was told to soak the freshly filleted fish in cold water with one of 3 items added. Milk, salt or vinegar. A gallon of milk costs more than a gallon of gas, salt is not good for us, so I use vinegar. The recommended amount is a cap full, but there are lots of different sized caps. I don't measure, just add an amount dependent on how many fillets I have. Add the vinegar and add water to completely cover the fillets and place in refrigerator. Overnight they will turn snow white and firm up. Any part above the mixture will remain opaque as when cleaned. I have soaked them for up to 4 days, after that they should be washed and eaten or frozen. The mixture removes the slime, blood, muddy and fishy taste. When you take them out of the refrigerator and run cold water over the fish and mixture the water will suds up like dish washing soap and I run the water until it no longer foams up. Some have asked me why I don't want fish to taste fishy which leads me to think they don't eat many fish! There is nothing worse than fish that taste fishy! To each their own.

Correction! To each their own!!!

I prefer sunfish, crappies, perch or walleye. I have deep fried SMALL largemouth bass along with sunfish and crappies and many don't taste any difference. My late wife used bass instead of salmon in her "salmon loaf" and I thought those were okay. I have found the larger representative of each species to be less palatable than the smaller members. Too each their own. Good Fishing!

Spiritof27. If that is true it sounds like there are a lot of felonies being committed in San Francisco as the report is the sidewalks and streets are littered with feces and the cost per week for cleanup is $30,000. This has been reported for months on the internet. Allegedly the tourist trade has disappeared because of it.

Snowman. I am from Central Minnesota and fish often all year. This winter ice fishing season has been different to say the least. We had a few inches of ice, then snow, then rain which opened some lakes. Then when they froze again we had heavy snow which was more than the ice could handle so most had water covering the ice and forming slush. I usually put my small permanent fish house out but there was only 9 inches of ice on the lake I usually go to and too much snow on top for an ATV and not enough ice for a truck. Our permanent houses have to be off the ice by March 2nd this season and further north a little later. I did fish with my portable but it was difficult walking out with the slop on the ice. By the time we had adequate ice, but still too much snow, the fishing slowed down as usual at this time. We have had so much wind and so many snow showers and temperature fluctuations that opportunities were few. I did well when I went but it was not often. Many on this site are not familiar with ice fishing and how much we enjoy it with the right conditions. In Minnesota we can drive on the ice and the DNR recommends 8 - 12 inches for a car and 12 - 15 for a truck. We should not walk on until we have 4 inches of good ice. Wisconsin has different laws unless they have changed. My parents lived in Madison so I visited and fished there. There are (or were) No vehicles of any kind allowed on the ice unless equipped with flotation devices adequate to prevent them from sinking and polluting the lake. The number of ultra plush fish houses in Minnesota is astounding. They sell for $20,000 to $50,000 or more and are equipped with anything and everything!!! Popular Lakes like Red Lake have so much slush on top this year they are not allowing any of these big fancy wheel houses on the lake this year. The owners are unhappy as they usually stay in them on the ice many weekends or many days at a time. This year they can park them on shore and stay in them but cannot fish in them on the lake. They are unhappy this year but the snowmobile owners are happy this year, many years not so! First ice and last ice are the best times for fishing. The first is past and the second will be here in March, even sooner in Wisconsin usually. Good Fishing!!!

Larry M. Please be aware that most doctors don't know about alternative methods or if they do won't tell you because they won't benefit financially by doing so! This is just a fact! Dr. Alan Moore supposedly developed UC-ll, which is short for undenatured type ll collagen, while trying to help his daughter who had rheumatoid arthritis. It is supposed to be 2-3 times more effective than a combo of glucosamine and chondroitin which are the leading joint supplements sold today. Also available without prescription at www.puritan.com. My information on this and other health subjects is from a book by Doctor Richard Gerhauser, M.D. that I obtained free over the internet, after waiting 6 weeks because of demand. He is one of the 600 doctors trained worldwide to provide the treatment I described earlier called prolotherapy. Again this is where a mixture of sugar alcohol (called mannitol) is mixed with vitamin D and injected precisely into the knee over the swollen nerves he usually finds is the source of the continuing pain long after knee surgery and the patient is told the knee replacement is fine and there is nothing more they can do. This heals the swollen nerves and eliminates the ongoing pain. A list of doctors who are trained to do this is available at http://www.lyftogtmed.com/where-to-get-lyftogt-pit/ (This list includes Dr. Gerhauser , M.D. who has used this treatment on many patients including many who have come to him for relief after knee surgery.) If you were told 20 years ago you needed knee surgery, you have 90 days to try UC-ll before having knee surgery. As I stated, I am 81 and after seeing so many locals have the knee replacement and too many complaining about the pain and limited flexibility I have opted to prevent any need for knee replacement in the future. I have no chronic pain or knee problems but don't want to do nothing if prevention will help. I know people who had knee replacement surgery and years later still have difficulty getting up after kneeling because the knee locks up. Dr. Gerhauser states that from 2000 - 2010 knee replacement surgery increased 100% in women and 86% in men. With more than 640,000 knees replaced every year he said knee replacement surgery has become the most common inpatient procedure performed on people over 45. He said that was the very definition of overused! Again, most doctors can't or wont tell you about the alternatives that they are not trained to use or benefit from. Thanks to all who are sharing information on this forum.Good Luck! Good Fishing!

Fish Dancer. Sorry! It is sometimes hard to determine intentions. My Bad!

Egghead and Fish Dancer. We are all entitled to our own opinions here. I never said I never missed a day of fishing or hunting. Who hasn't? So I am heading out solo fishing and halfway to my fishing spot and the charging light goes on. It goes off so I continue. When it comes back on I head back, remove the alternator, have it repaired and go fishing the next day. Who should pay? When I am all ready to go fishing or hunting my wife or child get sick and I have to cancel. Who should pay? Revenge on who? Your anger is only going to hurt you. I love fishing and hunting but there are sometimes that they don't come first. I went solo fishing and the farmer owned the landing and rented out the boats. As I approached I saw the farmer with a rifle and his wife holding their daughter back who was crying loudly. They explained her horse had gotten out again and run to the neighbors who had been complaining about it. The father was just going out to shoot the horse and the more they chased it the wilder it got. I asked to help and calmly removed a few apples from the tree. I asked for a short piece of rope and that I go alone. I KNEW NOTHING about horses except I didn't like them and they didn't like me. It took me over an hour to walk towards the horse sit down, roll an apple towards him and let him calm down and approach me in his own time. After eating the apple he came forward for another and I finally petted him and was able to put the rope around his neck and lead him slowly back to the farmyard. The father was going to come with a rope and I advised him instead to tie the rope to the fence and stand there quietly. When we walked to the corner I urged him to slowly walk behind us and tie the rope to the other fence which he did. The horse was aware he was now enclosed and allowed the farmer to lead him into the barn. The couple and their daughter thanked me profusely and felt so bad that I had lost time fishing that they wanted me to use the boat for free. I declined and rented the boat and caught my limit of fish anyway. This forum is okay. I haven't thought about that for years but your comments about payment and revenge brought it all back. I felt good about it then and obviously still do. I never went back and never knew what happened to the horse. There was a public access opened and I had a boat then. I agree the mechanic or repair facility should own up to who screwed up and didn't call him and maybe discount his bill, especially if it is too high anyway. In my opinion, anger and revenge, no. He could of course say that he won't be back if this is the way he is treated. That might encourage them to apologize and discount his bill. Good fishing to ALL!

I am 81 and have not had any problems with my knees or hips. My 92 year old fishing companion still has his knees with no current problems. I asked what he did and he said his doctor told him years ago to take glucosamine and chondritoin. He did that for a long time, then forgot, then REMEMBERED when his knees reminded him and started taking them again. He is active and walks straight. I recently watched a man from church just about BEG his doctor to replace his knee. Every 6 months the doctor told him it was not time. Finally his doctor agreed. He expected to be back in church with us the following week and we did not see him for 9 weeks! He was in such pain that he would not leave the house and would not talk to the parish nurse. Finally he sent her a message that he was beside himself with pain and must have been one of the 5 that it does not work for! He later said he now knows why people consider suicide because he did also. I have heard often recently that doctors advise to have both knees done at the same time because if you only do one you will probably never do the second one. Most do not follow through with the therapy that is advised to be done daily, for the rest of your life, just like brushing your teeth. Exercise without weight is most beneficial. Sit on a bench or desk high enough that your feet will not touch the ground/floor. Sit back so that only your lower legs, knees and a small space behind your knees are hanging over. Move your lower legs back and forth about a foot alternately for at least a half hour and an hour is better. The bones between your lower and upper legs are not touching and the space in between where the miniscule and fluid should be to prevent bone on bone contact will regenerate, faster with the Glocusimine and Chondrotin. This will strengthen the muscles in your upper legs and across the knees. Those who experience bone on bone contact on one half of one knee will usually find that their posture or bent leg is the problem. Another problem is phantom pain! My late wife was taken to the hospital seven months after we married at 30 with a severe pain in her right side. She was clutching her right side and writhing in pain! I was told they were going to operate to remove her appendix. I thought that was happening until a doctor came in and said they were going to wait a couple of hours. Later they operated by an up and down incision on her right side. They found nothing wrong with the appendix but took it out while there. They knew something was wrong because her stomach was full of blood so they cut from the middle of the incision over to the right side which resulted in her having a scar shaped like a letter "T" sideways. Her LEFT ovary had a tumor wrapped around it so they removed both. THAT IS WHEN I LEARNED that the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body! Doctors treating knee surgery patients MANY months after their surgery for continued pain, sometimes worse than before the surgery, tell them their is nothing they can do. There are allegedly 600 doctors around the world trained to repair the knees WITHOUT surgery by injecting sugar and vitamin D directly into the knee to repair rather than replace the knee. The sugar is not glucose as that would be detrimental to diabetics. This is a sugar alcohol that is not absorbed into the bloodstream. One of the proponents of this treatment has a large practice in America and claims he treats many patients who come to him by word of mouth months AFTER having knee replacement surgery. He said he almost always finds inflammation is causing the pain and sometimes back or some other pain that is redirected to the knees by our brains. In other words your brain may have been telling you your knee hurts when it was somewhere else before you had the surgery. Another doctor says he finds some surgeons who are treating the shorter leg which appears to be causing the knee problem after the knee surgery is done, WITHOUT properly diagnosing the problem and making it worse. They are placing lifts or blocks under the shorter leg without xraying and finding the leg looks shorter because the HIP is higher and therefore compound the problem by pushing the hip up even higher rather than placing the blocks under the longer leg to push that lower hip up higher and even the hips out! I am doing the swinging leg exercising after reading about it over a month ago. I am now doing 1 hour at a time. It is extremely boring so I listen to music, read or use my computer to have something to do. Praying works also! I have ordered Glucosimine and Chondroitin free from my Humana benefits and should receive them this week. Prevention is much better than a metal replacement. Also, many are not aware of the consequences of carrying tools, billfolds or heavy purses on one side over the years. I have a good friend who was an electrician for many years. When he retired and complained to his doctor that he was listing severely to the left and limping badly the doctor asked him what the did for a living. When he said he was an electrician the doctor asked if he wore all his tools on one side and he said yes. The doctor told him that was the problem and he should have worn 2 tool belts, one on each side and balanced things out. I heard many years ago that men should not wear billfolds on one side as they will experience problems later. I never carry my billfold in my rear pocket any more. I was a mechanic and saw how many people had gobs of keys and trinkets and knives on their key chains and experienced ignition switch failure from the weight. Think what the lopsided weight would do to a human over the years. Women carry most anything in their purses and experience the same problem. So there is not just one problem or solution and all is not evident or obvious. I agree with the doctor who says it is better to rebuild and renew the joint rather than replace it with artificial metal objects. To each their own. You can exercise to keep them or exercise after replacement for the rest of your life. Too many do neither. Most do not like therapy as it hurts like the dickens and the worst is it doesn't let up! If you watch the knee replacement surgery on You Tube as they saw the bones, drill deeply into the upper and lower leg bones for the metal anchors to be glued into and trim and fit the bones for the proper spacers and clearance and measure and install the appropriate size, you will understand that you can expect 2 - 4 months or MORE of constant bone pain. I have been told the patient hates the therapy because it is SO PAINFUL but it hurts even more if you don't do it!!! If I reach that stage I will seek out a doctor trained to inject the sugar alcohol/Vitamin D mixture first. They say two injections and they will know if it will work on you. Six injections will last for life. If you don't like needles a topical application is an option. Again, Repair or replace?!

I also don't like the taste of smallmouth bass. I like a small largemouth but not a large one. The smaller representatives of most species are more tasty than the large ones. I mostly catch sunfish and crappies and a sunfish over a half pound has much coarser flesh and less flavor. I also have found many worms in smallmouth bass. The long worms resemble string and run through the fillets from end to end. When I pulled them out and laid them down they pulled themselves together (shorter) and were obviously alive. Some of the sunfish and bass here in Central Minnesota have parasites (black spots) and small white worms resembling tiny maggots. I have NEVER found any worms in crappies. Once I caught a limit of walleyes in the Mississippi River in the morning before work. I laid them in the trunk on paper and parked in the shade while working. When I went home for lunch and opened the trunk I observed a massive amount of long white worms (still moving) that had crawled out of the anus's of the 6 walleyes!!! These were not in the meat and I haven't found any worms or parasites in the meat of walleyes.
I also agree with Robert J. Samples!!! have avoided the sun like the plague since I was severely sunburned in my early years. My 92 year old fishing companion and his 84 year old wife LIVED in the sun with few clothes and no shoes for many years and for years now they are having lesions and sores removed from their faces, heads, noses, arms, legs, ankles, etc. It is ongoing and it is constant. I can't believe the number of times he can't go fishing because he is recovering from skin cancer operations or staying home because his wife has been operated on. Many will pay the price. I wear long sleeved shirts and wide brim hats and many times I have thrown my hat and shirt in the water and put them back on to cool down and keep fishing. Anything to avoid the damage from the rays of the sun. Good Fishing!!! (It looks like you already have that)!