A-Jay

The combination of wind and colder temperatures pumps up the lake effect snow enhancement between tonight and early Tuesday morning for northern Michigan. A-Jay

It might be shiny, But it's hard to tell since it's covered with a serious layer of sand, salt, and frozen road. Will stay that way for at least a couple more months. And another reason I trade them in every 3 years. Be ordering the new one in May for delivery in November this year. Always a good time. A-Jay

Michigan winter driving is a unique skill that we can only learn by living through it. There's no manual. There's no certification. We just get thrown into it one November morning when the first snow hits, and we either figure it out or we end up in a ditch. The first rule of Michigan winter driving is that all driving rules are now suggestions. Speed limits? More like speed goals that we'll never actually reach because the roads are covered in ice and slush. Lane markers? Gone, buried under snow. We're just guessing where the lanes are and hoping everyone else is guessing in roughly the same direction. Every Michigan driver has a collection of winter driving horror stories. The time we slid through a red light because our brakes did absolutely nothing. The time we spun out on the highway and somehow didn't hit anyone. The time we got stuck in your own driveway and had to dig ourself out before work. These aren't rare occurrences. This is just winter. Many warm states see snow and cancel everything. School's closed. Work's closed. The city shuts down. Michigan gets six inches overnight, and everyone just drives slower and complains more. We're still going to work. We're still dropping kids off at school. We're still living our lives, just with significantly more stress and worse gas mileage. The morning commute in winter is psychological warfare. We leave 20 minutes early because we have to scrape a solid inch ice off our windshield, brush snow off our car, and let the engine warm up. Then we get on the road and immediately regret it. Everyone's either going 15 mph in the left lane or 70 mph in the right lane with a death wish. There's no in-between. Black ice is the ultimate villain of Michigan winter driving. We can't see it. We don't know it's there until our car starts moving in directions you didn't tell it to go. We're just driving along, minding our business, and suddenly physics stops working and we're sliding sideways, praying we don't hit anything. Four-wheel drive doesn't make us invincible, but try telling that to the guy in the massive pickup truck flying past everyone at 80 mph in a blizzard. We'll see that same truck in a ditch 10 miles later. The unwritten rules of Michigan winter driving include giving everyone extra space because nobody can stop quickly, we don't trust your brakes, we accelerate gently, or our wheels will just spin, and if you start sliding, don't panic (even though you absolutely will panic). Also, when we see someone stuck, we stop and help push. That's the code. Snow tires are a debate that divides Michigan drivers. Some swear by them. Others say all-season tires and good driving skills are enough. Both groups will judge each other, and both will end up in ditches at some point anyway because winter doesn't care about your tire choice. The phrase "it's not that bad out" is Michigan winter driving's greatest lie. Someone always says it right before getting in their car and immediately regretting leaving the house. Yes, it is that bad. It's always that bad. But we're going anyway because we have things to do. Parking lots in winter are absolute chaos. The lines are invisible. Everyone's parked at weird angles. There are 10 ft snowbanks blocking spaces. We have no idea if we're actually in a spot or if we just created your own spot. Nobody knows. Nobody cares. We're all just trying to survive. By February, Michigan drivers are numb to it. The first snow in November is terrifying. By February, we're driving through a blizzard with one hand on the wheel and a coffee in the other like it's nothing. We've adapted. We've evolved. We're a winter driving veteran now. Michigan winter driving isn't fun. It's not safe. But it's necessary, and Michiganders do it every single year without a second thought. We complain, we slide, we get stuck, and then we do it all again the next day. Because that's just what you do when you live in Michigan. Winter doesn't stop us. It just provides us an opportunity to take our driving skills to the next level. Stay Safe A-Jay

Workout Day 1 ~ Completed 3 working sets of the 5 movements scheduled. Felt pretty good. Clarity. Commitment. Action. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Can you tie an FG Knot? Yes. Do I use it ? No. Compared to a few other connection knots, it's a giant PIA to tie, and there's no upside IMO. Been using a double uni-knot as my connection knot of choice quite effectively since Spiderwire & Fireline first gained mainstream popularity in the late 1990's. #30 years If it ain't broke, I don't fix it. (or complicate it). YMMV A-Jay

That's nice. I like when other anglers display my gear to their significant others. Maybe you should also share some of the pictures of the fish these baits account for. Might help your cause. A-Jay

Winter in January here is often pretty nippy We are seeing that play out this week. #longjohns 🥶 A-Jay

Size 2 oval goes on the nose of all my 110's and similar-sized stick baits A-Jay

Can not justify a diesel run rig. A-Jay

So in reference to the recall on my truck and a possible wonky crankshaft. I couldn't take not knowing any longer, so I took it in to the local GMC service department today. They ran 'the test' and my rig 'passed.' Part of that is they changed the oil/filter and used 0-40 instead of the 0-20 that came from the factory. Definitely a good thing. Doesn't mean that there may not be problems down the line. But at least I do not need an engine replacement now. My next new truck date is at the end of November, so I'll be trading this one in then. While I was there, I talked to the salesman to inquire about the new 2027 models. It seems there's going to be a body style change along with a few other things. Don't want to be part of that deal yet, so the plan is to order a new 2026 in the spring, switch the cap from the 2024 to the new rig and we'll be good to go. I'll be right up against GM's last 'new build date' if I wait too long, so the timing will be pretty important if this is going to work. We'll see how it all plays out. A-Jay

Since I am neither the latest nor the greatest, I generally don't lean that way. I would, however, enjoy the reintroduction of better vintage gear if it included some newer materials and slightly upgraded features. A-Jay

Thinking of warmer days ahead ~ A-Jay

Good times this morning, which includes a 'wintery mix.' Must be a meteorologist's way of saying 'sloppy mess.' Looking forward, I'm sitting on 93 days and a wake-up for the projected open water action. But it's also Tanker Tuesday ~ Jumping back to an early morning trip in May of 2022. Two SMB over 6 lbs before lunch had me pretty pumped up. A-Jay

Full grips for me. A-Jay

Just Got Real ~ The Commercial Air Flights Have Been Booked! No turning back now. Lake Baccarac Or Bust ~266 Days and a Wake Up ! And it looks like the Scrounga Club is making a comeback tour. Let's Go ! A-Jay

Workout Day 4 ~ Retaining muscle as I age requires consistent strength training, paired with adequate protein intake to combat age-related loss (sarcopenia), which is crucial for maintaining mobility, independence, and preventing falls. Focusing on compound exercises helps build strength, while regular activity beyond just workouts also supports overall muscle health and vitality. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Social Media: Have we come full circle? The first true social media platform, Six Degrees, was launched in 1997, followed by influential platforms like Friendster and MySpace in the early 2000s. It's hard for me to believe that this deal is anywhere close to full circle. It's not even 30 years old. I have socks older than that. 🧦 A-Jay

Pitbull split ring pliers are a little different design and work for me down to size 2 rings. https://pitbulltackle.com/pitbull-tackle-split-ring-plier/ A-Jay

No need for anything more than I have now. Plus it helps keep me in shape. A-Jay https://youtube.com/shorts/5iwFpbwvQ9s?si=zDttaDL_8u2OVJ71

Accumulating snow continued to spread across northern Michigan from Saturday into Sunday. Accumulations of 3-6” for most of the area and localized 7”+ possible with the heaviest snowfalls this evening and tonight directly on A-Jay’s roof. I'm logging some very respectable hours behind the snowblower so far this winter. Good Times. A-Jay

So often first-round matchups can be a bit of a formality. The first two games this time around were not that. Congrats to the victors. 🙂 A-Jay

Workout Day 3 ~ Somewhere between my pre-workout meal and when I do my first warm-up set, the noise in my head slowly fades away. The home gym doesn't rush me or ask me to explain myself. It just lets me breathe and be present. That's the part of resistance training I never forget. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

YOU are the MAN !!! I knew it was only a matter of time. Thank you. A-Jay

First, I would back up my home lake data to a separate card and name it for proper ID. Then use a new/different card for your tournament lakes. Then just plug and play as needed. Something of interest ~ After collecting 8 years of pins that were not stored with much of a plan. When I replaced my units recently, I chose not to bring those WPs with me Actually erased the cards so I couldn't double clutch. Since then I now mark 3 and only 3 specific targets. Boat access points. Hazards to navigation (prop eaters) My boat position to fish whatever structure or cover I'm fishing. Experience taught me that I will know where to cast when I get there. Some WPs are weather/wind specific, but so is the fishing right there. This has cut down on my screen clutter and all confusion as to what I'm fishing and where the boat should be without burning fish. Finally, and this is like the Law - ALWAYS trust the way points. Good Luck 🙂 A-Jay

Sweet ~Liking the Dark Mode Thank You 🫥 A-Jay