Talk about being Lucky!!!

[Kevin B]

I got laid off in late March, and I am collecting unemployment. My wife got her lay-off notice this week. She'll get unemployment. We've never had time off together in 15 years of marriage. WE have no kids. Our bills are all caught up and we've saved pretty well this winter. Right now, I think I am the luckiest guy on the planet! We'll both go back to work around mid-July.
WE can go anywhere (lower 48)and do anything for the next 10 weeks or so. She likes to fish as much as me. If you were in this spot, where would you start fishing? Where would you end up?

[Wags]

I'D GO OUT AND GET A JOB SO THAT EIGHTY-HOUR-A-WEEK WORKING FOOLS LIKE THE REST OF US AREN'T PAYING MY BILLS FOR ME... WE PAY HUGE TAXATION TO SUPPORT UNEMPLOYMENT... I CAN'T BUY A HOUSE FOR FEW MORE YEARS BECAUSE I MISSED SEVERAL PAYMENTS DURING A LAY-OFF THAT WAS IMPOSED UPON ME IN 1998... FIND A JOB... THEN GO FISHING...

[RiverRat]

I'm not sure where you live but if I were you I'd find a small creek and pack a lunch. I'd fill a small plano box with a couple of hooks and bobbers. I would sit at the bank and take in all the sights and sounds of nature. I would thank God for giving me the chance to enjoy this time to spend "care free". It won't last forever!

[m rivet]

kevin erie has large boats that take groups of people out fishing for walleye and when the season opens mille lac lake in minnesota also has these boats. the guys on the board can give more specific information enjoy your time off.fishnrod22

[Don..SD]

The employer pays for the unemployment. I should know I own a manufacturing company.

To spell it out you have a certain "fund" level based on your laying off of people and several different things. This fund is payed directly to the state.

However if this person can not find a job, they may be intitled to welfare which is payed for by our TAX DOLLAR.

[BL]

Lake Erie's western basin would be where I'd be right now if I were in your shoes.

[Kevin B]

RR- I thank God about every other minute for this kind of break from the rat race. I still can't believe it. Another nice thing about this time off is that we can spend more time helping out at church events - Easter Sunday Brunch, fathers day BBQ in June, take some of the kids at the college from the Neuman Club fishing and camping.

[Neal/CO]

Don is right. The same people who laid you off, also paid your unemployment insurance. Take advantage of it and fish your *** off. The same thing happened to me exactly one year ago. Now I am back in the rat race, but I have a bunch of pictures of some the fish I caught last year, here in my office.

[Kevin B]

BL- My boat is only a 16ft Bass Tracker, Pro-V16, with a 30 horse motor, splashguards, Motorguide 32lb. thrust troller. Is that enough boat for western Erie?

[Kevin B]

Thanks Neal. That's exactly what we plan to do. We live in Durango. I'd like to talk to you about those WYO walleyes. e-mail me if you have time.

[Dan]

Kevin, fish all you can! I would be fishing Steamboat Springs, the Yampa River is killer in the spring, also Pearl lake just north of Steamboat, the native cutthroats are incredible. Use 1/8 oz black crappie jigs. I did live there for 2 years and the trout fishing is good.

[BL]

Kevin, you would have to pick your days with your rig on Erie and make sure to have a marine radio. You could take the ferry out to the Bass Islands and stay there, that way you wouldn't have as far to run and have the option of getting out of the wind and catching smallies if it was blowing hard.
BL

[Scott]

Actually I look at unemployment insurance payment as a tax you don't see on your check like the other half of Social Security. I swear, if we did not have withholding and each person had to pony up the money and send a check each quarter, there would be a revolt or a major tax cut. Hidden or otherwise, I still say it is a tax.

[Kevin B]

Thanks Dan. I heard there are northerns in Stagecoach (Steamboat area).

[Ron]

Kevin you should head northeast to FT Peck in Montana. Your boat will be fine and the fishing is incredible. The best thing about fishing the breaks is the lack of other people. You will not have to wait to launch and the scenery is awesome. (no mountains to block the view) enjoy your time and thank god for his blessings.