VolFan

The Zebco Omega is really good, but not light or particularly cheap (for a spincast). If you keep it decently clean it performs very well, especially for a spincast. And it is a tank.

If its been sitting in your yard or around for five years, you're going to want to replace the tires. If you're going to do that and you're not sure about the bearings, I would replace both hubs and wheels. If yoy size it, you can get complete sets from Northern Tool or Napa. Not terribly expensive or hard to do and you'll have much better piece of mind

Thats a pretty decent sized SUV. As long as you pay attention to your overall tow weight i would think you'll be fine. Going to go through some brakes though, so make sure youre replacing pads regularly or that will get expensive.

Hang in there. Remember the good times that you had with her, and the woman she was. I lost my dad about 5 years ago, and almost lost my mom two years ago (massive stroke, but massive recovery). Lost my paternal grandparents the week of my mom's stroke. Death is a huge downside of life, but only for the living. We should celebrate people's lives when we mourn, but the hole created by the loss makes that very very hard. Add the stress and limitations of a global pandemic and it makes it all the more crushing. Celebrate the life they had, and the life and wife around you, and try to make yours what you want it to be.

Also - My son stands on that deck to fish with 0 problems. Primary stability of a jon is better, but once that goes, you're swamped. The V rolls some in waves and if you walk around, but at no time have I ever felt it was unstable. They're great little fishing boats.

I'm incredibly happy with my purchase. Its perfect for me and my three person family for a first boat and step up from a kayak.

100% yes. Mine has a deck over the front third. It is however a V, so that front rolls some. Its definitely not a flat bottom.

I have the 1468 with a 55lb troller. You'll move just fine - that's basically a big tin kayak.

I would put the $100 or so into having a reputable shop look at your Evinrude before buying another used outboard. Dont be too proud to ask them to show you how to run it - I know that would've saved me some growing pains.

Those ones carrying the cicadas are ground wasps - they are native and helpful, and also pretty docile. They don't form big hives or nests like many bees and wasps. They can sting, and it packs a wallop, but you have to be really, really dumb and aggressive like holding onto them and not letting go to get stung. Trust me.

I bought a boat at almost the exact same time! Mine is a Lowe V 1467 with a 20 hp Merc tiller. It's exactly what I was looking for as a first boat.

I'd leave the money at home and go talk to a few reputable dealerships in your area. If you know what you want and have a little flexibility, they may have a late model on the lot that fits you. If not, you'll get an initial idea of pricing and an idea of how each dealership treats you. And how they talk to you and what they tell you on the call back is where you'll figure out what and who to go with. $5K down right now is a pretty good chip with the way the economy is right now.

Thats awesome man - congratulations

Where'd you Match? My sister in law is headed to Texas A&M.

If theyve been on for a while and the glue is dried and baked, spritz it with water before you start. Itll be tough if the glue is too dry though. You'll probably end up with a combination osing heat, scraping and a solvent by the time youre done.

A piece of flat cloth (like denim) and a steam iron - essentially un-doing an iron-on decal. Use the steam setting and dont leave the iron in one place too long. If you're quick you can wipe away alot of the adhesive, although being carpet makes it tougher.

Daiwa Pluton on a custom swimbait rod.

I think you need to assess what the boat needs. Make sure it floats, then make sure the outboard runs reliably, then start doing whatever customization you're going to do. If you've dumped $3.5 K into a jon boat build and don't have anything to show for it yet or a running motor, your plans are backward or your priorities are wrong.

I have a similar pond at a public park here. When you stand near the bed, the fish know something is coming. They back off a few feet and move to deeper water, then come back to it when you leave. You can either make your cast and walk away, waiting a few minutes for the fish to calm down or make a cast well past the bed from a point well before the bed and do it by feel instead of sight. Nothing works until it does.

If it were me Id go up the Catawba arm near Big Island and Bear Creek, or even just the other side of the canal. I havent been there in a few years though. There were some good rocky arras SE og Big Island though and just to the west of the canal on the S side.

Try to start now - Looking for a 15-16 foot aluminum V or semi-v with something on the order of 25 to 50 hp four stroke. Would fish mainly my son and I and occasionally my wife. Not doing any tournaments, really going for economy and ease of maintenance. I guess i started with a kayak as my first boat 23 years ago, and have had a few since then. Currently have two Nucanoes.

That kind of day.

Blurp

I went through this with my father in law, who us an engineer. Either have them buy their own gear or give them some of your gear. Take them fishing. Not with you fishing. Take them fishing where you guide them and don't fish. Tell them that you like taking them fishing but that you really enjoy the focus of fishing alone, but that you'll still take them. Once they develop to a competence level that doesnt offend you, take them with you fishing. Otherwise its just frusrtating and sometimes dangerous for everyone. Same works for kids. Also - Take a breath. Relax. Its supposed to be fun. Have fun. It gets easier when youre older.

Blip