Rough day on the ice.

[Wables]

Today had to be the worst day of fishing I have ever had. Period. It all started with my boss telling me to quit looking at my watch and go fishing at 3:00. I should have known then that the big guy upstairs had a special afternoon planned for me.
First things first, I decided to move my permanent. Managed to break the globe and mantles on my lantern.
About dark I pulled out my new Aurora headlight to finish out my evening with. On only its second journey onto the ice, something in the hinge mechanism broke allowing it to just swing on my head. Really annoying.
Sometime between emptying the bladder and dealing with my broken light I broke the tip on my favorite jigging rod. Night's getting worse.
Didn't catch anything over 8 inches, so I decided to move the shanty for tomorrow's adventure. I have a friend from work coming with me and I don't want us to get skunked. Midway through the last hole, the clutch went on my 11 month old 10" Strikemaster. I am now fumed and call it quits.
Driving home, I started to get a hum from my truck tranny. I don't even want to think about it.
I am going to email Princeton Tec tonight and see if they can help me out. I am going to rip into that strikemaster as well. I guess at least I still have all of my limbs, etc, but it was still a terrible day on the ice.

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Wables

[Dakota Iceman]

what a bummer....got depressed just reading your adventure. hope your next trip out you land a hog. Interesting to hear about the trouble with your lazer, is it covered under warranty?

[Wables]

I see on the Strikemaster webpage that their augers have a one year warranty. I will find my receipt (hopefully) tonight and call them in the morning. Trouble is, the nearest replacement is about 70 miles away. I just hope they don't say "send it in, we will take a look at it and return it sometime in mid August."

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Wables

[Guest]

sorry on the bad luck... I'd ask Strikemaster if you can get a loaner to use during the repair period... It's at least worth asking for during the peak ice time...

[hunt4food]

Look on the bright side!!! With that bad luck streak out of your system, you and your buddy will probably slaugher them now!! I do apreciate hearing your story as it seems you still have a sense fo humor. I always tell my co-workers this: "life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it". I know sometimes it is easier than others, but it does help! Just look at it this way...that policeman that drove his squad in hot pursuit out onto the ice and then fell in is probably wishing he only had your petty problems hang in there!!

[Wables]

Well, I emailed both Princeton Tec and Strikemaster, and hopefully both can help me out. Bought a new globe for the coleman, and have a spare rod tip in the basement. Hopefully my imagination was acting up again with my transmission. Except for the lack of fresh fish, it looks like tonights problems might be fixed. I will post if I have any problems with either Strikemaster or Princeton Tec, but I am optimistic at this point.

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Wables

[Ruegs23]

Wables, sorry about the bad day. It happens to the best of us. I might be able to help out with your tec light. Mine did the same thing a couple of weeks ago and I just tightened the tiny screw on the pivot point. It tightened it right up. Mine did not become loose until I had worn it about 100 times though. you will have to try this and see if it helps. Hope the fishing gets better!!

[Wables]

The screw was the ticket! Thanks! I guess it helps to look at it in the light. Now, if only my strikemaster had a little magic screw...

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Wables

[Steve Foss]

You should tell your boss it's all his fault for sending you out before quitting time. I'm sure that would go over well. You might even suddenly find yourself with EVERY DAY FREE FOR FISHING, otherwise known as unemployment.

[Captain B.R.K]

Wables, I don't think your boss would get a big kick out of you telling him/her it was his/her fault. I bet they would get a kick out of your bad fortune. I'm sure you would hear something to the tune of "And you wanted to leave early", etc. on and on and on! It would never end and you would probably catch hell for awhile.

Hope your problems are solved soon!
-B

[Matt D]

My first response was going to be ... "look on the bright side, at least you got to get out fishing". But after I finished reading your post, I think I'd have preferred to stay home. May they fishies smile on you for your next trip.

[Guest]

Yes, truly a dismal experience. I really don't want to rub any salt in, but you should have bought a Jiffy. Sorry bout that.

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<The Sucka{
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[Fishn'Lady]

If he had a Jiffy his night would have been even worse then he had with his Strikemaster.

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Fishn'Lady

[Swill]

What a horrible fishing trip!!!
That reminded my summer fishing trip from hell. It all started with a sketchy tip from the local town drunk but we figured all he does is pound hamms and fish so hey what the hell. Well after we loaded the canoe onto the car we drove down the narrow road to a lake boarding the boundry waters. Well the road had washed out but we figured hey crystler make a good car so what the heck lets go for it. Well they don't and actually we are fat. After negotiating many large exposed rocks then came the thump. The car wan't moving and I got out to see both of the front wheels in the air and the car was balancing on the oil pan!!! SO we gave er hell and finished our journey down the hill. There was a huge gash in the oil pan but she was holden oil so we made it.
Well then the fun started again. We had to carry the canoe still 1/4 mile threw bitting flies and mosquitos in the dead of summer. My arm and face got hammered like Jerret at Subway before he lost the pounds. They finally quit bitting me but I had on a hooded sweatshirt and stocking cap!! Good thing it was only 98 out and humid.
At the lake I put in the canoe. I looked back to see if my cousin was coming and ohhh goody he was dragging my new 500 dollar tent in the mud and gravel! He ripped about 3 holes in it and it was brand new. He was young so I tried to not lose it but I could feel it building.
So we were finally on the water...Ahh it felt good. We decided to camp on this little island so we picked a good spot to land the canoe. Well as luck would have it we picked the only spot with a wasp nest on the shore. About 3 stings later and total chaos we were finally fishing.

Well we ended up catching only a few small walleyes and a snake northern here and there.
But what a fun time huh?

Still alive and kicken.....Swill

[Guest]

I had the same thing go wrong with my 10" when I bought it a couple of years ago!! Strikemaster will get it and fix it within a day and send it out again. Sent it out on monday and had it back by friday!!!

Good Luck!!

[Wables]

Well, here is the scoop. My Aurora headlamp is fixed. I called Gander Mountain today to see if they would exchange my auger, but they won't have anything to do with it after 90 days unless Strikemaster tells them to exchange it for me, which they wouldn't. Strikemaster said that they would make good on the warranty. They are sending me a shipping label, so I can send it in first thing next week. Assuming a one day turnaround at the shop, and the average shipping times to the U.P., I am looking at around two weeks from yesterday. I can't fault either Gander Mountain or Strikemaster for how this is being handled. Afterall, Strikemaster is going to fix it, and Gander Mountain isn't really liable for a product they sold 10 1/2 months ago. However, it is leaving a sore spot that I will be augerless during the peak of my season. I have a few friends who are going to buy augers at the end of the season, and they are anxiously watching the service I get. Thanks for all of the support!

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Wables

[Dano2]

I feel your pain.
Two of us hand drilled a few holes last
night through about 14 inches of ice, and we were using one of those old, old style,
plus I think the blades were getting dull,
needless to say we got quite the work out,
I thought my buddy was going to have a heartatack.
then of all things when it started getting dark, that little sock deal on the latern was all fried up, so we used the spot light, only when we need to, and the battery went dead pretty quick,so we went all night just with the light from the heater,
then to top it off, we only caught one little dinky wally,
could have been worse i guess.