Dan B

...when we could buy rifles back in the day for less than it costs us today to buy the ammunition? I remember buying (in 1962) a 1903-A3 Springfield in .30-06 made by Smith-Corona which was still in the box and wrapped in wax paper and cosmoline for LESS than a twenty dollar bill. Swedish Mausers in rifle and carbine styles were also less than $20.00, as were .303 British Endfields in a number of similar versions, and Remington rolling blocks were available for as little as $11.50. .30-40 Krags were less than $50.00 when I bought mine, and the first Winchester '94 I bought in .32 caliber took less then $70.00 out of my pocket. What are your memories of the good old days and prices?

Swamp Zombie, Chimp Dancer, Redheat, etc. Where'd everybody go? I'm gettin' lonely for some good questions and even better answers.

....he guided a 70+ year old man on a bear hunt with dogs. Driving up a high mountain road in California's Trinity Alps, one of his hounds in the back of the truck let out a howl. When they stopped to see why, a NICE black bear ran up a tree right beside them on the steep mountain side. They pointed it out to the old hunter and he shot it. It literally rolled down the hillside and ended up within feet of the truck tailgate. The old man refused to pay them because that wasn't what hunting was suppose to be about. They couldn't convince him he had been TOTALLY blessed by such an extreme rarity. On one hunt, I shot a mule deer at 5 minutes to 7 in the morning and it was almost 2 o-clock that afternoon before we got it to where a four wheel drive pickup could get to us. That was the last time I hunted a place shown on the map as "Chimney Canyon".

So the question is: What was your worst AND your best pack-out of a big game animal?

....he entered the 2012 "SLAMMIN' SALMON DERBY" on Ship Creek right there in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. When the final minutes of the clock clicked down and the competition ended, he had won more than $500 cash, along with a NEW boat, trailer, and motor with his 47 inch king salmon. Because he was a soldier (originally from Oklahoma) stationed at the local Army base, he won an additional bonus of $250. It was the biggest fish AND the biggest prize he had ever won, and his "used" rod and reel turned out to be one of the BEST investments he'd ever made. {In my profile photo, I'm holding the sculpture we made of his winning fish just before we delivered it to him.}

In 1978, I purchased a 9' Marlin and an 8' sailfish at a flea market for LESS than $100 for the pair. After some minor restorations, I traded the two to a dealer for a new 10' tri-hull fiberglass boat. That was probably one of MY better deals. But probably the BEST for me was creating a reproduction of a tiger-muskellunge that a friend caught in Utah and for which he traded a pretty, little California-Custom (convertible rag top) mini Dodge Pickup.

What's the "BEST INVESTMENT" that YOU have ever made relating to fish or fishing?

I've been at this Yahoo Answers game forever. Or does it just seem like that? I NEVER thought I would accumulate enough points to achieve Level Seven and share the honors with some of my most respected fellow Answer Team members. But now, I FINALLY find myself with less than 50 points to go to make that big step to Seventh Heaven? LOL I can only wonder who among you will give me a BEST ANSWER vote to one of your questions which I've just recently answered, and will it be your vote that finally carries me up and over the 25,000 points I needed to make the rank? I guess we're about to find out, and before this day is over. And I want to SINCERELY thank you ALL who have supported my efforts with your positive response to my answers. I make a very conscientious effort to give you honest and factual answers above and beyond the normal (?) replies and based on MANY years as a professional outdoorsman. Your votes, comments, and compliments have encouraged me to continue in that effort. I feel like I have made some very good friends from among your ranks. I hope I may have been included among some of yours as well. Thank you.

Here's your JUST FOR FUN Question for this weekend: In 1987, Les Anderson caught the Alaska state and World Record ALL-TACKLE king salmon. It weighed 97 pounds and 4 ounces. It should have weighed more, and probably over 100 pounds. Why didn't it?

Part Two: What was the weight of the largest known salmon ever taken by ANY means?

Grand Master Basser and I just gave factual and accurate answers to a question on trout fishing and we STILL got someones fattest finger for our efforts. I wonder why it is that even those among us who really do our best to give straight and truthful answers and to be as helpful as we possibly can still get trashed for no GOOD reason. Any guesses as to why that is?

In fishing, what is an inconnu? What is its REAL name, and what is its nickname. (three answers) I WILL give the ten points to the first person who gets it right, or to the person who comes the closest. Good luck!

Any hunter worth his salt knows the value of a tracking snow. Right? But do you know the difference between a "tracking snow" and a "stalking snow"?

What saltwater fish (found in Hawaii) has the L - O - N - G - E - S - T name of any fish found in North America?

What do all attorneys have in common with a fish called a Burbot?

If you are following along here in the Yahoo Answers Fishing Section, that has come to mean a "JUST FOR FUN" question. If you care to participate, try coming up with the answers to these questions. First one with all of them right gets the ten points for BEST ANSWER. Good luck!

What famous fisherman was called Uncle, and what was his first and last name?

What was the name of one of the earliest fishermen to have a television show? (hint: His last name sounded "almost" like baddest.)

What was the longest running "correspondence" school of taxidermy and where was its headquarters?

What fish has scales so stiff and tough that North American Indians used them for arrowheads?

What sporting goods manufacturer takes the greatest share of revenue from money spent on fishing?

That should keep you busy and out of trouble for a few minutes (or hours?) at least. Good luck, and by ALL means....have fun.

There are six species of black bass and four subspecies of black bass. Can you name them? And better yet, can you tell us which of the 10 fish are the 6 and 4? Remember, this is for fun, so let's not take each other TOO seriously. I WILL pick the best answer and award the 10 points to the one of you who comes closest OR the one of you who comes up with the correct answer first. GOOD LUCK

WOW! You guys buzzed through those first two questions like a flash and there's still a whole day of the weekend left to deal with. How about one more just to keep it interesting? I'll try to make this one just a LITTLE bit more challenging.

Name ALL the fish you can think of that have the name of an animal or bird incorporated within their own. As an example, there may be MORE than one fish that has the word DOG in its name. So there you go. I can think of several, but I am certain you guys (and gals) can come up with even more than I can. I am GENUINELY impressed. Thanks for playing along and for being such good sports. Remember, it's ALL for fun. And in the process, we learn even more about our great sport. Good luck.

I WILL pick the BEST ANSWER and award the 10 points for the most correct answers, Go for it!

What fish has a name sounding like something you might be served to drink or has the name of a beverage within its name? I know of at least two without even thinking about it. The person who comes up with the most 'legitimate' answers wins BEST ANSWER points. (Any and ALL fish names beginning with "beer-battered...." will NOT count.) LOL It has to be the normal and proper name for that fish. Good luck. Thanks for playing along and have a GREAT weekend.

What fish is known as the "living fish hook" fish, and why is it called so?

HERE'S THIS WEEK'S WEEKEND "FISHIN' FOR FUN" QUESTION: There are two most common methods and tell-tale signs on the heads of the muskellunge and northern pike that differentiate between these two VERY similar looking fish. Knowing these clues can positively ID these fish beyond ALL doubt. Can you correctly name them both? (Unless someone guesses first, I will post the correct answer Sunday evening. Good luck!)

Here's a question asked today that you will get the answer to by Sunday evening, unless someone guesses the right answer before then. Besides a rooster-fish, mutton-snapper, or a hog-fish, what other large denizen of the deep might appear to have taken its name from something we might commonly run in to down on the farm? (The most important clue here is.... "run in to down on the farm?" Good luck with your guesses on this one.

What's the name of a fish that might remind us of the very WORST kind of black eye you could ever get? HINT: Fishermen in Arkansas and Missouri might have a slight advantage figuring this one out.

I especially want to thank our dedicated VIPs for ALL the extra things they do to keep our Yahoo Fishing Section alive and well and SOOooo entertaining. You set the standards we attempt to follow. You are the cornerstones in the foundation of this department and we would be FAR less than what we have become if we had not had your guidance to lead us to this point. THANK YOU! May you ALL know the happiest and most prosperous NEW YEAR in 2013 that you have ever had.