A-Jay

That is so fantastic to hear @gim Here's to good health and fortune for them both moving forward. Thank you for the update. A-Jay

I quoted what might be holding you back. There is no easy way, so stop looking for it. Understanding that this is a grind and believing that you can do it will carry you through. Social media, including me, posts all these happy reports and pics of fish. But what you do not see are the hours, days, months, and even seasons of fishless recon where information was gained but few fish were caught. If you need to fish every brush pile once in the morning and again in the late afternoon, then you need to fish every brush pile once in the morning and again in the late afternoon. Bassheds who make it happen - didn't have an easy button. They fished the heck out of places and learned the bass & the bait. Do it; it's fun. It's called bass fishing. Good Luck. A-Jay

Inspired by this most historic day in our country's history, I pounded out Workout Day 4. After performing three working sets of the 5 movements scheduled, I think it went well. Looking forward to my two scheduled recovery days by getting my gear together to spend some quality time on the water next week. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Welcome back to Bass Resource A-Jay

There it is ~ What a Long Strange Trip It's Been. A-Jay

Seems like it's been months since I've had the Pro-V bass on the water. Because it has been months. Gearing up for the late summer into fall brown bass action. As always, it's Black if my Land & Black if my Sea. Or in this case, Lake Menderchuck. 😎 A-Jay

Sorry you're having mechanical problems. Video doesn't show a whole lot, at least not to me. The first few questions I'd have are the following: How fast were you going ? Did you sustain any wheel and/or tire damage ? And finally, did the lower unit actually come in contact with the curb itself ? If so, did the lower unit and/or prop take a hit as well ? I'm guessing you were probably traveling at "parking" speed. There is no real wheel/tire damage besides perhaps a scuff or scratch. The lower unit was well above the curb at the time of the incident. So there probably is not anything in the way of visible damage. If I'm close here, the two deals may be more coincidental than directly related. If I'm wildly off base and you and your rig were traveling a ramming speed, I guess those two could somehow be related, but even then, it seems unlikely to me. Either way, without any visible evidence to refute it, it sounds like an electrical and/or hydraulic problem. Maybe it's time to make an appointment and visit a marine outboard service center near you. Unless, of course you happen to actually be a licensed Mercury Marine mechanic. In which case I wouldn't be typing this response. Good luck, and I bet it's something simple. A-Jay

Hang in their my friend. I enjoy the banter. A-Jay

I like to say "Good day" and "Good talking to you" Sometimes I even mean it. 😎 A-Jay

Cool story. A-Jay

Workout Day 3. Some of my favorite things about the iron in the gym:It Never Lies to Me: The iron deals strictly in reality. If I am strong enough to lift it, it moves; if I am not, it stays put. It cuts through all my daily excuses and flatters no one, giving me an honest baseline every time I grab the barbell. It Doesn't Care About Drama: Outside the gym, people will judge me, doubt me, or build me up based on moods and opinions. The iron offers a quiet, unbothered sanctuary. It won't talk back, gossip, or freak out, making it the most consistent "friend" I have. It's the Ultimate Antidepressant: There is a deep, psychological therapy in physical exertion. It burns off nervous energy and grounds my mind, acting as a natural mood booster. When my body works hard, my mind follows suit with a clearer, stronger perspective. It Gives Me Tough Love: The iron teaches me that failure isn't the end of the world—it is just feedback. It pushes me right up to my limits, forcing me to discover what I am truly capable of when things get heavy. It Makes Me Earn Your Keep: I cannot bribe, cheat, or talk my way into building muscle. The iron makes me respect the process, enforcing a core life lesson that I have to put in the time to see results. It Demands My Complete Focus: Underneath the iron, I cannot worry about work or bills. It forces me to be hyper-present, anchoring my mind entirely on my breathing, my form, and the task at hand. It Doesn't Pick Favorites: It challenges the experienced trainer just as heavily as the absolute beginner. It doesn't care about my background, social status, or bank account—it only respects the effort I put into lifting it. It Builds My Character: Every time I push through a grueling set, the iron builds my mental grit. That same resilience I learn when grinding out a heavy final rep quietly bleeds into how I handle stressful situations in real life. It is Always Waiting For Me: No matter what time of day, how busy life gets, or how long I take a break, the iron is patiently waiting. It holds no grudges and greets me with the exact same weight and challenge whenever I return. It Speaks a Universal Language: The bond forged with the iron is universally understood. It unites everyone in the gym in a shared pursuit of self-improvement, completely bypassing the need for words. #bornnfiftynine A-Jay

Mismatched tackle. A-Jay

Boy oh boy. We are all getting old fast. And now the real fun begins for you. Stand by for the one word answers. At 16 we all knew everything.....about nothing. Hope you all have a fun and safe weekend my friend. A-Jay

I hear that. I skipped it as it's Africa Hot here too. Plus we are getting blasted every night with thunder storms. Just about the time it starts to dry out, we'll you know. #welcometothejungle A-Jay

In modern times, the bald eagle has also become a profound symbol of American resilience. After being driven to the brink of extinction by human activity and the pesticide DDT, strict federal protections allowed the population to boom exponentially. Its triumphant removal from the Endangered Species List in 2007 serves as a powerful reminder of what the country can accomplish when it collectively values and protects its resources. A-Jay

Hello Chuck and Welcome to Bass Resource. A-Jay

Wish I could remember. But I sure had fun and that's what really matters. A-Jay

I've documented some of the landscaping challenges we've been working on the past 2 years. We totally closed off the entire dog yard for all of last summer to let the new grass get a head start. Tank was not happy, but worked out OK. Last summer: This summer: A-Jay

Workout Day 2. Focusing on keeping the positive mojo flowing. Eating a little more. Sleeping a little more. And lifting a little more. All in an effort to be the best version of me I can get to. The journey is challenging and rewarding. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Yup, but not on the hottest days of the year. Grinding through the tough trip for a few decades, one is bound to have a few of those special days. I say stick with it but have reasonable expectations. Especially when it comes to current weather and seasonal patterns. No fish days are part of the sport for me. But so are days like this one . . . A-Jay

About the only bait I still use a feathered treble on is a popper. Megabass Pop Max mostly. I'll use the stock feathered treble if I'm feeling frisky because that hook although plenty sharp, just not the heaviest wire around. Plus-size brown bass can make short work of them if I apply too much pressure. I'll change them out in short order when the toads come out to play. I will usually tie my own using Gamakatsu Magic Eye EWG. However, Mustad recently came out with a new line of EWG's. The KVD Inline Triple Grip Short Treble Hooks use AlphaPoint and TitanSteel. Available straight up or dressed - both solid quality. It's about the only aftermarket feathered treble I'll use besides the ones I tie. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mustad_KVD_Inline_Triple_Grip_Tinsel_Treble_Hooks/descpage-MTBTT.html A-Jay

I rarely drink coffee any more. However, I make my wife a fresh cup every morning, without fail. Been through many methods. She has settled on the ceramic pour-over deal. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

These swimsuits are very effective on the tilapia eating bass south of the border. Before I work my magic on them, they begin life as pearl white color. A-Jay

Me too ~ Not sure if they are the best but if you can put a decent edge on a knife, Disassembly on these is 1 screw. A few strokes of both sides down a medium (1000-ish grit) stone, and these are ready for another season. I only use them on braid. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-5-Stainless-Steel-Micro-Tip-Easy-Action-Scissors-White/5170438262?classType=VARIANT&from=/search A-Jay