The Barge was sold last weekend and will be moving to Winni. We had many, many enjoyable days on The Barge, a real fishing machine all the years we had her, will miss the old gal.

We priced it right in the middle of book value and had no problems whatsoever selling her, had 10 E mails in 8 hours on Craig's List. Got my asking price with no haggling at all from the first person we showed it to.

My advice to anyone thinking they might have a boat to sell in the future, "KEEP THE SEATS AND CUSHIONS CLEANED AND WELL CONDITIONED" this was the number one question and most important factor in selling my boat. The Barge was 11 years old, but the seats were like new, we cleaned and conditioned them with Mothers and "303" 3 times a season and any cushion in need of any repair at all, was re-done each winter.

The Barge will be retired and all done fishing on the 27th of May, it will be docked across from Diamond by Rattlesnake.

Anyone in need of a fishing and/or family boat, Pontoon boats are a super dual purpose boat. Our new boat will also be a Pontoon boat also, a little smaller, a custom made Bennington and geared more towards fishing, but no comfort was compromised in the design. We will trailer her back and forth from NH to Florida in the winter, she will fish 9 months of the year and I will be living a dream.

No photos yet, being built 3rd week in May, hope to have her maiden voyage Memorial Day weekend.

Not much to report from Squam yet, a few 2 yr olds are being boated, some Bows, we suspect a slow year due to maybe 3 year class failures in a row if the 2010 class also fails. There are no 2 or 3 yr olds to speak of, we hope to see more and more 2 yr olds (the future of the lake) as the water warms up. The few 2 yr olds caught are 17 to 19 inches and super fat and healthy, so far I only know of a 1/2 dozen or so, however the season is young.

Big John

Gonna miss the old gal for sure. Had a number of exciting outings last year (TYVM Big John!, and that girl is just a fishin machine. Only hope the new owners treat her as well as you did!

Hope you get the new one in soon, sir, and look forward to a day or two on her as well. Always welcome on my boat in the meantime, just say the word!

L

All you have to do is say the word John and I am sure there is a lot of fisherman on this site that will take you out on their boat while you are waiting for your new ride to come in. I know I would be happy to. God knows you have taken many a fisherman out with you.

If all goes well, the transfer and delivery if my boat will allmost coincide the same day or so if I planned it correctly and so far the boat is being built 1 week earlier than expected.

Thanks, I'm sure I could get a ride if I needed one, I'd just hate like hell to be without a boat for the long weekend with friends and family coming up.

If all goes well everything will work out well.

Big John

Last Friday I caught 1 rainbow at Squam that was only 17" but weighed 3#-9oz. it was so fat it looked like a bass. Like you say thou your lucky to catch a fish at Squam it's very slow, I fished 8 slow hours.
Should be there Saturday this week if forecast calls for light winds.

I have nobody scheduled for Saturday if ya want to jump on The Barge one last time, it's slow, but not dead.

Wow that was some Bow, a few 4.5 pound Bows were caught last Saturday, the big ones should be biting soon, our mongrel NH Bows are trying to decide now if they are spring or fall spawners, ha-ha. Some are in tight, some are down deeper.

Let me know on Saturday so I can hook up with someone else if ya can't make it.

Alone in the wind does s---, but on The Barge with 2 people it's fine.

Big John

John need to have a retirement party or something. There have been a lot of very nice fish caught on the barge. It really needs an official retirement.

Is kind of sad to retire such a great fishing machine, but she's getting old and unlike women, they are allot easier to trade in for new model, ha-ha. I gave allot of thought to it and it seems to be the right thing to do.

May have auto pilot on the new ride too, setting lines alone in any kind of wind real bites it, but I had reservations about using auto pilot on the Barge, her steering was always a bit stiff ?????? New everything should make it work allot better.

You and your brother have to jump on again before she retires, we can have a retirement party.

Big John

hi john
happy to hear you sold the barge so fast.
sad to see her go though many great days of fishing.but i am sure the new boat will be just as nice if not better.keep me posted and if you need any help give me a shout.
joe s.

John,

It was an honor to spend so many days on board the Barge with you "Fish'n Squam Agian". I guess I would say I'll miss hanging off the back untangling line off the motor or ducers....or contorting myself to fix a loose wire or screw....or trying to net another big fish off the side...while Forry or Floydo throw jabs....Its been fun, educational, and enjoyable. I'll miss fishing off her deck...but look forward to the time spent on the new ride. I'm sure you are doing it right...you always do.

Roger-

It was a great fishing machine, I doubt new owner will fish it much, told me I could take off all the fishing stuff. So as I plan to buy new rod holders, I'll be selling my black Lexan holders. I'm going with anodized aluminum from Traxtech, I wanted them before but they would not fit behind my couches, the new boat will be fine.

Find some time to fish and I'll be happy to have to you on board anytime. The new boat lends itself to fishing very well, it's actually a custom made model, not even on their web site or catalog. Cant wait, going to put auto pilot on too so that fishing alone will be easier.

Big John

Boy we know who has the big bucks "AUTO PILOT?" LOL. if I could on mine I'd do the same thing.

I found out "retirement is when you stop saving for retirement and start spending". May need a loan, not money, your truck, ha-ha. Allot of trailers and boats to move around later this month. Maybe you can hop on for the maiden voyage, wont be til early June, like the 3rd or 4th.

Big John