A-Jay

Thank you, I appreciate it and you know I agree but it is what it is. Things were different while I was active duty. (79-07) No computers at first. Definitely no Video. I started out navigating with Loran A (look that up) There were 'offers' made that included all types of shellfish, and seafood, Liquor and get out of jail free cards. You name it it was offered, never taken, but offered. The parting prize for them was a fine and sometimes handcuffs. "I always assume nobody knows any rules, and try my hardest just to stay out of the way." These are the words I live by on and off the water. Stay Safe my friend. A-Jay

When it comes to 'Nav Rules' and freshwater bass fisherman, my aim is to always keep it as simple as possible. Terms like "restricted in ability to maneuver" and "constrained by draft," while important, often get glazed over here. Everyone with your experience on the water knows the rules. Story time, One night off Cape Hatterass, I watched a very nice sportfishing boat go between a large ocean-going tug and the string of barges she was towing a couple hundred yards astern. Apparently his radio was off, or he wasn't even on the bridge. Wasn't pretty. btw - we call the bold type "The Rule of Gross Tonnage" " A-Jay

Christmas Eve with Miss Kya ~ https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HmAtP3mFZ/ 🥰 A-Jay

Happy Holidays from our family to yours ~ Stay Safe A-Jay

Unless the vessel is bearing down on you. Properly displayed Navigation lights at not for the operator of the boat. THEY ARE FOR EVERYONE ELSE ON THE WATER. Being able to 'read' what another vessel is doing from a distance at night is a skill, and one that takes some time to learn. Especially on the open ocean and when very large commercial vessel traffic is involved. For the purposes of most of us here, the info below is a great place to start. Knowing how your boat should look is one thing. But understanding what you’re seeing from other vessels is equally important. Here’s how to interpret other boats' lights: Lights You See What It Means What to Do Red and Green (head-on) Boat is approaching head-on Both boats turn starboard (right) Green only You're looking at the starboard side You have the right of way Red only You're looking at the port side You must give way White only Boat is moving away from you Maintain course unless overtaking White and green Boat is crossing from your left to right You have the right of way White and red Boat is crossing from your right to left Give way Finally, understand that any time of day or night, a constant bearing combined with a reducing range is a collision waiting to happen. Stay Safe A-Jay

We're getting a bit of a mild spell today before the next wave of snow events. It's kind of a nice change And it's Tanker Tuesday once again. Went back a few years for this blimp. She was part of a wild morning where we had a 29-7 lb bag. Still looking for that elusive Dirty Thirty. 114 Days and a Wake up . . . . . A-Jay

My last two trucks routinely remind me that I need to ensure that I am not leaving my child in the back seat before I depart the vehicle. My son's 40 years old, married, and lives on the south shore of NJ. But sometimes I check just in case. You never know . . . . 🤓 A-Jay

I use mostly Tranx 300's and a Calutta 300D down south. They perform nicely. I will admit that in the 100 plus degree mid day sun, the metal reels can get a little hot to the touch. I wear gloves, so it's all good. A-Jay

I have to be the checklist man. Otherwise there will be problems. This one goes on the steering wheel of the truck before every trip. A-Jay

Also side nav lights should never be seen from the opposite side of the vessel. —INLAND— Lights and Shapes RULE 21 Definitions (a) “Masthead light” means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel, except that on a vessel of less than 12 meters in length the masthead light shall be placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel. (b) “Sidelights” mean a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side. On a vessel of less than 20 meters in length the sidelights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel, except that on a vessel of less than 12 meters in length the sidelights when combined in one lantern shall be placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel. International REGS are very similar. A-Jay

A few years back On a Canoe trip with Lynn, I forgot the Paddles. #knucklehead. So we went all the way home and drove back. Ended up fishing the day a bit better than it started. https://youtu.be/gWfXaO_a3g4?si=VGG7xyVu3731r7od&t=149 🥺 A-Jay

Took an extra day off after getting poked pretty good in the eye. I'm OK but that's not something I want to do again. Workout Day 3 today. But No pictures and no video. It was just me grinding on the promise I made to myself last century. #borninfiftynine. A-Jay

To be honest, I'm surprised and impressed by how long this thread has endured. Well done. A-Jay

This was pinned for a while. It's still applicable. A-Jay

Good luck My advice is to not fish meaning not even make a cast until there is a shadow line on your spot. So close to or after sunst. Just sit quietly and wait. Decent chance good fish will move in to feed when you're not machine gunning the area to a froth with casts before they arrive. A-Jay

If I told you, you probably wouldn't believe me. Let's just say that I am pretty sure I'm on the farthest end of the 'Extreme' category. Probably just a huge waste of time & effort, though. A-Jay

Always a very exciting time. ~Dates locked in for late Oct 2026. ~Private/Charter Air Locked In & Reserved. And perhaps the biggest deal, ~We have our favorite guide reserved for the whole trip. BFJ & I will have the distinct privilege of fishing and teaming up with the Mike Bucca Swimbait group. We were there when Mike made his first trip. Awesome folks and as you can imagine, as talented and hardcore as they come. The official countdown will commence after the new year. And I'm already packed. A-Jay

It's real from last winter. I replaced most of my mostly aging casting reel arsenal. Very happy about it too. A-Jay

I am very familiar with ORD Airport - pass through it every time on my trips south. Far better than DTW (Detroit) A-Jay

I understand the premise, but I only have one tier. It's called the performance & reliability tier. YMMV A-Jay

Sorry my friend. If it makes you feel a bit better, I am currently working on 2 separate new "baits" threads which will include at least a few pictures. So there's that. A-Jay

It was getting to be time to replace the cranking battery in the Pro-V Bass. The new graphs have been making it work pretty hard. Obviously, spending a few more months in the frozen tundra, this is not that urgent. But a good deal is a good deal, and this one I could not pass up. This 31M EverStart Platinum AGM Marine / Deep Cycle Battery, was very reasonably priced. #offseason We'll see how it goes. A-Jay

Nice Bass. And it's a little funny that you can write 'pumping a lippless' here and everyone knows exactly what you're talking about. With zero people being offended. A-Jay

When I'm alone (not with Lynn) taking the stairs is fun and a rewarding challenge. Especially since I prepare for it several times a week. https://youtu.be/7zYXsnHu06c?si=kDV7k8cHlYiPnb6x&t=5 It helps if I'm the only one on them. Otherwise I'm probably running over people. Btw, bolting up an escalator is fun too. A-Jay