Fish Chris

I really hadn't even considered a new Mercedes for pulling my boat :-) Maybe I should ??? :-) LOL Seriously though, I get what your saying, and I agree.... with our local Ford dealership just filing for bankruptcy, and rumors of our Dodge dealership following closely behind, Toyota does feel like a safer choice from that aspect. Granted, one local place going under, is still a long ways from the whole corporation going under.... But still.... Fish

I'm definately a truck kind of guy. I've already worn out two of them, from start to finish. The first was a Chevy S-10 that I actually got 257,000 miles on ! The second is my current Tacoma (which has had a much harder life than the Chevy did) and has 216,000... but as I always say, it has the equivalent of most other peoples 300K. Their are actually other reasons why I will end up being forced to get the SR5 package.... besides the cruise control, the color that I "have" to have, is only available in a reg cab, with that package. The stuff that I could live without, but will be pretty nice anyweay, is fully carpeted floors, electric windows, and door locks. Again, the only problem with that package is that "they think" they are going to "force" some exterior chrome on me..... But that's not happening. Speaking of which (kind of funny) I was talking to the dealer yesterday and told him > You will just have to reorder black door handles, grill surround, etc, etc, and swap them out in the shop. To which he says, "But what will we do with the stuff we take off" ? I told him, put it back in the package my black stuff came out of..... It's still brand new, right ? Of course he was like, "But... but...."..... So I just told him, "I'm already going to have to pay more for the SR5 package, so I'm sure you will make the chrome disapear, if you want to sell me the truck" :-) Anyway Beast, like I have said, I know the Fords and Chevies are good trucks too..... but after owning my Chevy S-10, and my Tacoma... come to think of it, I owned a Ford (darnit... can't remember the name now... little economy car) and it was a good car too.... But yes, I am pretty much sold on Toyotas. Peace, Fish

they don't actually show the guy getting bitten on the toungue by a snake. Its just a short interview with the guy talking about what happened......... It's just that you can tell he might have lost a good portion of his tongue, and his throat area is completely jacked up, all around the obvious tracheotomy hole they had to cut in the guy, to keep him breathing. Oh boy ! I want to try that someday ! Fish

I caught a bunch of them when I lived in Louisiana. Their mean, and tough ! Great sportfish :-) I caught some good ones too.... like 32". Wish I had taken some good photos. Gar are a blast too ! And Carp.... never did get to catch an Asian Grass Carp.... but always wanted to. Personally speaking, if it will bite my hook, and rip drag, I'm down with it ! Fear no fish ! :-) Peace, Fish

Their are just some things in life you would never have to warn me about. Sticking a rattlesnake in my mouth is one of them ! I bet that tracheotomy was fun, huh ? Fish

1) Being able to think outside the box. 2) Always keeping an open mind. 3) Great eyesight, and knowing what to look for. 4) Patience. 5) Persistence. 6) I'm good at playing big fish, once I stick a hook in one..... and I almost never get nervous, or shaky "until after" I put a big one in the boat :-) Peace, Fish

Of course you have been telling me about them.... (and your the last guy I'd ever doubt) but to actually see those beauties.... WOW ! Big congrats to you buddy :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And BTW guys, SuperMatt is one of those guys that makes it look easy.... But I can assure you, that their are exceedingly few other Nor Cal anglers getting numbers of DD bass like this up here, so far this year. Certainly not me. Heck, our water is still not up to 60 degrees in most lakes. Anyway, stay on em' buddy. The bigger lead you can get on me right now, the better.... You know I've always been a late season guy ;-) Peace, Fish

How about a big, fat, chocolate Malt ;-) Tastes WAY better, plus you can "legally" drive yourself home afterwards :-) Peace, Fish

well Chaddy, your talking to a guy who absolutely loves his camo boat.... is wearing a camo hat, and camo boots as he sits here and types this.... and who is sitting besides a camo bedspread :-) I just have a thing for the "outdoors look" of camo. If you are thinking along the lines of like a "bright red truck, with 20 inch chrome rims".... I was thinking about trucks like that earlier, and I had an idea for a decal on my new truck, which would read > "Hey, that's a 'pretty' truck you have there. Is that yours or your wifes" ? ;-) LOL I'm going to be driving a "mans truck", thank you :-) I have to admit, I might have developed a bit of a complex, as my little Hyundai, which is bright orange mettalic, and has flashy, aftermarket rims gets all kinds of compliments.... However, the number one thing the girls say is, "Oh, what a 'cute' car"..... Uhhh.... geeee.... Thanks.... I guess :-/ Hey Bighead, no doubt the American builders make some really nice trucks, however, I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but Motor Trends full sized truck of the year award for 2008, has gone to ..... drumroll please..... Toyota Tundra :-) Hey Pond Hopper, in a nutshell > the price. To get a V6 Tacoma (at least in these parts) it has to be the SR5 package, with extended cab..... which is all fine, but with that package, plus the fact that (again, around these parts anyway) they are not offering the big rebates on the small trucks, that they are on the full sized ones, a little SR5 Tacoma, will end up costing me about the same $25K, as the full sized Tundra :-( Those new SR5's are some really sweet trucks though. Peace, Fish

and give me a hit of that crack rock while we are at it :-O I can't believe alcohol is legal, or that marijuana is not {I wouldn't recommend that to anyone either, but it's certainly not as bad as alcohol}. Alcohol is absolutely the most destructive "drug" on the planet. It's too bad prohibition didn't work. The best high, is the wide open adrenalin rush, of sticking a big one :-) Fish PS, It cracks me up when I hear the term "drugs 'and' alcohol" ..... Huh ? Alcohol IS a drug, in every sense of the word. Okay..... I'm better now :-) Peace

BTW, cool screen name :-) This is a really friendly place, with lots of combined knowledge. Put it this way, I used to go to a lot of different fishing forums, but their were so many idiots, I just slowly, but surely quit going to the others. Nowadays, I just come here, and to my photography forum. Don't have time for all those other places anyway. Great fishing to you, Fish Chris

Yea' like I have said, my little old Tacoma is just about ready for the pasteur.... but with the "equivalent of" at least 300K hard miles on it ! That poor old thing doesn't know what an easy mile is :-) I have heard about the front end, and brake problems with Dodges. You'd think that Dodge would take care of that right away.... But internet research doesn't make it look like they have. Hmmmm. Peace, Fish

Yea' I think a Dodge is just about out of the question for me now. You mean > until the 09's come out, making the 08' that are out right now, drop way down in price < correct ? I agree. I just hope that doesn't bite me, with not having the best possible selection, as like I have said, I'm am going to be relentlessly nitpicky. Their is only "one right truck" for me. I won't settle for something that's not quite perfect for my driving style, and my tastes in the looks of the thing. I've driven a plain jane white toyota Tacoma for 11 LONG years. This time, I want one I can look at and be proud of...... Plus, with the styling ideas I have in mind, it's not like I will ever have to walk out to a big parking lot and say, "Wait a minute.... Is that mine" ? :-) I don't know what this says about American made trucks (or the economy), but our giant, new local Ford dealership just filed for bankruptcy last week ! I have heard that Dodge, Chevy and GMC were close behind. In fact, the only truck dealers keeping their heads above water in these parts is Toyota, and Nissan. (BTW, I looked at Nissan Titans.... Awesome trucks ! But no V6 available, and the sales guys their were complete idiots... Oh, and lousy / unworkable paint options). Anyway yea', I can imagine a Toyota being a little "softer" than a Chevy 3500HD, or Ford F350..... and I'd probably be leaning towards one of those if I was hauling something heavier.... But as it stands, my V6 Tundra is rated at a max payload of 1590 lbs.... I might load it with 300 lbs. And the max towing is 5100 lbs.... I think my boat, motor and trailer weighs about 1300 lbs. So, I think I should be okay :-) Peace, Fish

Oh, I'd definately trust a Toyota..... It just bugs me a bit that with such a well built truck, that Toyota doesn't give a 10 yr / 100K "standard" warranty. In that department, I think Toyota needs to step up to the plate. Fish

Hey Bassn Blvd, I think 26K for a standard cab, 2wd is high too ! .....and that's with a $5K rebate ! But remember, I am including everything..... fiberglass bedcover, tow hitch and reciever, (and like it or not, I guess the SR5 package) + state sales tax and license.... Hey RW, well yea'...... remember, I've driven the living $#@$ out of a Toyota Tacoma, for the last 11 years, and although the motor sounds like a steel can with marbles in it, and it is starting to burn a little oil, it does still actually run.... and I'd have to call my 216K miles, the equivalent of most peoples 300K + miles. So yea', I really can't complain. Hey BadKarma42, totally ! And the fact is, I think the Toyota Tundra (especially the way I plan to have it) looks REALLY good too ! Maybe about 5% better than the Dodge. I'm telling you, you should see this Pyrite Mica paint in person, in bright sun :-) Freaking cool :-) Hey Dominion. Thanks, I have to agree. Especially for somebody like me who never buys a truck, thinking about resale. Instead, I buy a truck and if it last 200K that's great ! 250K is even better ! 300K Whoo Hooo ! .......and then its pretty much straight to the wreckers for $50 :-) Peace, Fish

{about the Dodge.... Really nice trucks.... but I think my personal mechanic is steering me away from them..... and my buddy told me to do some research on Dodge Ram brake problems [i'm notoriously brutal on brakes in every vehicle I've owned] A quick search (even among the guys on the Dodge forum, who love their trucks) showed consistent problems a mile long} The price is sure nice on the Dodge's though.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So last evening I went by the Toyota dealership.... And dang those Tundra's are sure nice ! And the braking systems are like total high performance, even on the cheapest model ! Horsepower is higher than any other V6 on the market..... in fact, its about the same as Dodges small 4.7 V8 ! .....and + 1 or 2 mpg as well ! Almost certainly because the Toyota's are the only ones that have a 24 valve system, while all the others are 12 valve. As for the paint options, Toyota has this color called Pyrite Mica, which is somewhere between desert sand mettalic, and light charcoal mettalic, and it looks REALLY nice with Mossy Oak Shadow grass :-) Problems with the Toyota are; 1) I'll have to wait 1 to 2 months until all the 07's are gone, to get the $5000 rebate on an 08'. 2) To get cruise control {which I absolutely must have} I'm forced to get the complete SR5 package ! Don't know how stupid the price for that will be. This package also gives you carpeted floors, and power windows and locks.... which is fine..... but it gives you an exterior chrome package which flat out won't work with my paint and camo scheme. Don't know what we can do about this yet..... 3) It also bothers me, that for a truck with such a good reputation, that they only give a 6 yr / 60K warranty standard. They said I can "pay" for an extended 100K warranty..... Oh sure. And I could "pay" for a freaking Ferrari "IF" I had money coming out my ears :-( Anyway..... I know its a really solid truck, and I think it looks freaking awesome too :-) So here's what I'm thinking..... Except 1) Regular cab {had to use extended cab to get the color to come up} oh and BTW, you wouldn't believe how much space the Tundra has behind the seats in the regular cab ! They advertise that you can fit a 5 gallon bucket behind them when fully reclined ! This totally eases my concerns about not getting an extended cab. And 2) With tougher looking 5 spoke alloy rims, than those shown here, but still flat black..... But then how many guys will only look at the photo, and not even read this ??? :-) So anyway, I can get a great looking Dodge, that I wouldn't trust as much, with tax, license, add ons, complete done deal, for about $21K. Or, I can probably get this Toyota Tundra, completely paid, tax + license, with everything I want, plus add-ons, for about $26K..... At this point, I think I will probably hold out for the Toyota. Hmmmm, Fish PS, Add on a small, all black running board, to hide all the unsightly undercarriage stuff....

they finally figured it out..... Okay fine. So I'm only 3ft 2 ! It's not my fault I never grew ! Maybe I don't eat enough ;-) LOL Fish

about WWE type of wrestling, is that they often show it on Spike, right before or after UFC's ??? What kind of guy watches "real, actual, mixed martial arts"..... and then says, now I want to watch actors (usually lousy ones at that) pretending to do, what the guys right before them were "really doing" ? I love MMA, but I just don't get WWE....... Hmmmm, Fish

the replies reminded me of a (kind of messed up..... and certainly not politically correct) joke.... Did you hear about the Ethiopian who fell into the alligator pit ??? He ate five of them, before they could pull him out ! Fish

That is an absolutely beautful Ram you got there ! Even though I'm going for tough and outdoors'y with mine, I can totally appreciate yours, on the other end of the spectrum too. And a 5.7 Hemi at that ! I bet that thing flat gets up and GOES ! Wish I could afford a 5.7 Hemi to begin with..... and then the gas to drive the thing as much as I drive ! Hey what do you think about the 500hp RT 10's ? I'd be afraid of pulling the tongue off of my trailer :-) Drive safe, and take care of that sweet ride. Peace, Fish

the truck I'm most seriously considering, is a 3.7 V6 Dodge Ram ST. (not the hemi... just can't afford the gas for it) The 4.7 small block V8 sounds like a sweet motor.... but it forces me up to the SLT package, which not only would run me about $3000 more, but also, forces me to get chrome bumbers, which just flat out, will not work with my paint / finish scheme. On the other hand, while I prefer the vinyl floors in the ST (it's a fishing truck.... wet, dirty boots need to be okay :-).... I absolutely won't own vinyl seats ! If I have to rip them out, and have them reapolstered, I'll do it. Oh sure, I'm going to get Mossy Oak Shadow Grass seat covers for them anyway.... But they still wouldn't breath as much as fabric, and I can just see those seat covers sliding, twisting, and stretching all over the top of that vinyl ! Yuck ! Anyway, I'm loving this paint scheme :-) Now keep an open mind here..... I'm not going for pretty and flashy, but rather, tough and outdoors'y..... and remember, it will always have my Mossy Oak Shadow Grass boat right behind it :-) Oh.... and one final note; I probably won't go with this style of rims.... I'm looking into a set of factory Dodge 20 inch alloys from E-bay..... but having them powder coated flat black ;-) Just wanted to show you the truck with flat black, 20" wheels :-) Wish I could spin it about 45 degrees for you. That flat black grill looks tougher than $#@& :-) I think my little aluminum baby will just love it ;-) Starting to get excited :-) Peace, Fish PS, It will also have a fiberglass Snug Top bedcover from day 1. Also probably a Flow Max exhaust system.... not that I'd expect the 3.7 V6 to sound like a 5.7 Hemi anyway, but just hoping for a few extra HP's and maybe a 1 or 2 mpg increase at the same time, because of easier breathing.

I added a bit of contrast, because they look better that way on my monitor, and from my printer. You didn't say whether or not you thought "darker" was better, or worse.... But either way, you must remember that everyone viewing photos on the internet, sees them somewhat differently, based on the monitor they are viewing them with. So, even if you didn't care for the darker, higher contrast of the 3rd shot, on your monitor, you might like it better on mine. Peace, Fish

I had said why the A series Canons were such good fish photo cameras, but I didn't say why DSLR's are not (and BTW, the Nikon D40 is an excellent camera for general photography, given a few good to great quality lenses, and assuming you are holding your camera) DSLR's typically have a very short DOF (depth of focus) meaning that your focus distance is much more critical, and a lot more tempermental. {harder to get both you, and the fish, in sharp focus}. Furthermore, if you try to use the self timer, it will 1) focus, 2) Count down, 3) fire. The problem with this order, is that you will not be in position holding your fish yet.... So it will focus on the other side of the lake... then you get into position, but its already incorrectly focused, then it counts down, then fires > an out of focus shot :-( In all honesty, my A series Canon "would try" to do this too.... which is why I set a predetermined focus distance manually, then save it in the "C" mode. Along with the fact that fixed lens cameras have much deeper DOF's, it almost always takes tack sharp photos :-) Peace, Fish

I did. Okay, so I have been eating Hot Pockets for litterally 20 plus years... Darn near 1 every morning for the last 10 years. They are easy (micro-wavable) taste pretty good, and come in quite a few different varieties. So, I go to the grocery store a few days ago, and I read this lable > Which leads me to wonder > "So what the #$@% have I been eating for the last 20 years, if it wasn't cheese ?!?! :-O Now they tell me ! Hey thanks a bunch ! Funny thing is, I think I liked the taste of the old ones, which contained the "orange, cheese-like substance" a little better. Oh well. If the Hot Pockets don't kill me, something else certainly will. Peace, Fish

well actually, I did just buy a DSLR (it's an Olympus E510... best value on the market) but I decided a long time ago, that DSLR's were not a good choice for self taken fish photos. I use the Canon A series 630 and 640 {and fixing to buy an A650 as a go everywhere car cam}. Their are several things about the Canon A series that I think make them ideal as fish photo cameras. 1) They have a flip and twist LCD screen, so I can see where I'm lining up in the frame, when I'm doing my self-taken (most of them) fish shots with a tripod. This is HUGE ! 2) They use AA batteries. Sure, I still use high quality lithium Ion rechargeable AA's, which do have a pretty long shelf life (months).... However, I also carry a couple sets of old school alkalines, for my backup power, which have a superlong 10 to 15 year shelf life ! The problem with proprietary rechargeable batts is, even if you carry a spare, or two, the chances are good, that if the one in your camera has died, from just sitting around unused, so have your backups :-( 3) My Canon A series have a function / feature called the custom "C" mode. In this mode I can put the camera in manual {at home in the back yard, with all the time in the world} and get it totally dialed in.... exposure, manual focus distance, F stop, fill in flash, even the self timer.... and when I get it tweaked in just right, I hit the "save settings" feature, and it remembers everything. So the next time I stick a big one, I pull the camera out, put it on the tripod, turn it on in the "C" mode, and Bam ! It's good to go ! Heck, even if I had another angler with me, he wouldn't likely know how to use my camera like I do. So basically, my "C" mode is like having myself behind the camera, and in front of it too :-) 4) The Canon A series are small, and compact, and relatively cheap. I got mine for $200 and $240..... but they were really popular, and when the A650 came out "if" you could still find one, the prices spkied to like $300 and $350. But no worries, the A650 will do anything that these will (and then some), and can be bought for about $290 5) The Canon A series take very nice pictures. Some of the fanatics on the camera forums say that 10 mega pixels on such a small photo sensor is not a good thing, and they slam these cameras for it. But the thing is, as long as you shoot in sunlight, with an ISO of 80 or 100, "or" if you have to shoot and lower light, and don't mind flash, you will not have any problems with grainyness (digital noise) problems. I've posted this before.... But my Pelican Box with my A630, my A640, spare batts, and my certified digital scale, is just about as important to my fishing trips, as are my poles :-) Hope this helps, Peace, Fish