A-Jay

That is a lot of water. https://usa.fishermap.org/depth-map/fort-peck-lake/ I'd probably do some map study, watch the weather closely, and then pick my furthest spot from where I put in and go there first. Then fish my way back. On waters of this size, I prefer to use the 30/70 fuel rule. Meaning I'm willing to use 30% of my gas going out to that first/furthest spot which leaves me 70% to get home. The closer either of those numbers gets to 50%, the less I like it. Good Luck. A-Jay

Awesome Day with a great write up to match it ! Nicely done on both accounts. Really enjoyed it. Way to hang in there on a tough bite, waiting for them to turn on. I just wish you'd try to remember to smile. j/k Congrats A-Jay

Workout Day 2 ~ Maintaining a lean, strong, and balanced body in our Golden Years is highly achievable through consistent, functional habits, allowing us to move through daily life with increased confidence and independence. By focusing on regular strength training, balance-specific activities, and nutrient-dense eating, we can reverse age-related muscle loss and reduce fall risks. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Different strokes for different folks. Thanks for sharing. A-Jay

Something I neglected to mention in my previous post ~ I believe a contributing factor to baits not running straight, especially hardbaits, is reel gear ratio or IPT. Not sure I could slow myself down enough to overcome the 10.5:1 or 42 inches per reel handle turn of this KastKing offering, to keep any bait from turning over and over and over. And yet there are folks out there doing, and even making it work. 😵 A-Jay

Not a super common subject matter on the forum, but one that, IMO, matters. I haven't fished every bait, so I cannot say that they all need to run straight to get bites. However, IME, the few I have fished, are most effective when they do run straight These include but might not be limited to, most anything with treble hooks, swimbaits, topwater baits and my biggest pet peeve . . . spinnerbaits. I suppose there could be times when I was working a jerkbait hard & fast, that a bit of a sideways tilt might not matter. Under normal circumstances even these baits need to be performing without any hitch in their giddy-up. In recent years, the fishing industry has began coining the phrase "Hunts." I interpret that as some baits will run off center at random times and in a random manner during any given retrieve. Sounds cool. I was taught that the same deal was something a basshead imparted to his or her bait on their own. I still do it all the time by changing speeds, pausing, and occasionally altering the rod retrieval angle up or down. It plays a role but in the best-case scenario, the bait still needs to be running straight. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. 😎 A-Jay

I saved the best for last. These Shimano Calcutta 200D reels have been serving me well for thirteen seasons now. I call them the little silver beasts. Built like a tank and perform like a quality round reel should. Once again they are clean and ready to take me to the promised land. A-Jay

I'm throwing Homer until one or both of my arms fall right off. 🤓 A-Jay

TW Exclusive: A couple of years ago, they were giving these things away. On Sale and with a military discount, I think they were $88 bucks a pop. I got 'several, and you knew I would. Just another one of those cases where I don't need to empty Fort Knox to get the exact right tool. The sweet spot is 3/4 oz spinnerbaits and 1/2 Bladed jigs with a full trailer. Fish Hard A-Jay

Old Coast Guard trick. (#nofunding) If the CO₂ is in good repair, threads are not corroded or otherwise compromised (which can be an issue in the saltwater arena), we just changed the bobbin. I do note the original use date on the back of the cylinder with a Sharpie just for reference. I still think it's a good idea to don the life jacket and blast off a cartridge manually occasionally, just to make sure it's all good. A-Jay

I think I am 'down' to carrying 22 casting rigs in the Pro-V Bass. 12 are composite sticks, and the rest are mostly graphite. All between 7' and 7'4" - I'm fishing mostly open water. When it comes to composite rods for me, it's all about the bend. I like it. I want it. I refuse to fish nearly all moving baits on casting without it. Short version of why revolves around Casting Energy, Shock Absorption, Hook Set & Retention and fish fighting power. Composites are surely not everyone's cup of tea. But they have helped me put a lot of photoworthy fish on this forum over the years. YMMV A-Jay

Me too. Just make sense Additinally, to be in legal compliance, inflatable PFDs must be USCG-approved, in good condition, and "readily accessible." While CO₂ cylinders themselves do not have a set expiration date, they must not be used, rusted, or corroded. Automatic inflator bobbins/pills must be replaced by their specific "Replace by" date (usually every 2-3 years). If the C0₂ hasn't been discharged,I reuse it and simply replace the bobbin and save the C0₂ and use as needed. A-Jay

Very solid-looking Life Jacket. Stay Safe A-Jay

I know. Me too. 🙂 A-Jay

Workout Day 1 on this Friday the 13th. Driving on to fight the good fight. Dedicated to the cause and persevering through adversity even when the path is difficult. And the right path is always difficult. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

I hear ya - but it's not like I was wasting time. Right before you took your very first breath, I had already saved 8 lives. Just saying. 😉 A-Jay

Whenever we see this type of early February forecast up here, we queue up The Who - "Won't Be Fooled Again". #falsespring Also, I remember when that song came out . . . . . . 55 years ago (1971). Man, I'm feeling very old right now. A-Jay

Life IS the ultimate challenge. The further down the road I go, the truer this becomes. There are instances when I need to just grin & bear it. Most times I'm feeling like the glass is at least half full. A-Jay

Secured a couple custom topwater waking baits we hope to feed to a few overgrown Mexican Bass ~ 😉 A-Jay

Mega flavor of the month ~ GP Saffron A-Jay

Z-Man will be pumping the new "Jelly" line of purple bladed JKs any day now. Don't expect any "credit." 😁 A-Jay

Sounds about right. Make sure you get on the right "Bus" at the airport in Mexico. Should be a really awesome trip ! Have fun. A-Jay

Great Name ! When the pike chew the paint off my GP blades, which they always do. Totally going with the purple Sharpie, instead of the black. Thanks A-Jay

I am a fairly huge user & abuser of those baits. Settled 100% on the JH and some of its variations. My color choices are based on the same factors that I would consider when selecting the color of most any bait I throw. Pretty sure you know what they are. Interestingly enough, I do not throw a bright red bait. Might need to revisit that. Either way, below is a decent sampling of some solid producers for me. I neglected to mention that I'm targeting the brown ones ~ A-Jay

We've made a couple of 3 similar commercial flight journeys. All proved very adventurous. If you are clearing customs in Mexico City you'll need plenty of time before your final flight. Like at least 2 hours or you may miss your last flight out. Once you get to the lodge, check with Chad Meenan ( Lodge manager and great guy) about any subsequent trips and alternate fly in options. We prefer chartering a plane from looks like Phoenix this time, straight to the lodge. It's more $$$ obviously but we get an extra half day on the lake and it's considerably more convenient. A-Jay