A-Jay

Like seeing this . . A-Jay

@bogfrog ~ My experience has been completely different. Guess I just got lucky. A-Jay

Glad you're OK Sorry you lost some gear and a rig. Managing Risk can be tricky. Eliminating Risk seems to work better but can be a hard choice to make. If & when we survive a day like this one, the decision can become a bit easier to make. Time to purchase that replacement rig. A-Jay

Belly Boats right after ice out ~ I would call that Very Ambitious #shrinkage A-Jay

Just Awesome ~ "It was the best day fishing I have ever had in my life." A statement that will no doubt keep a smile on your face for a while and a memory that will last a life time for both of you. Looking forward to the pics Congrats A-Jay

Collect stamps then - they're very light. A-Jay

Yea, that extra ounce is brutal . . C'Mon Man. A-Jay

198 days and a Wake Up ~ A-Jay

While I do not use left handed casting reels, the Shimano Calcutta 200D is a killer Cranking reel (I have several) and is totally available with the handle on the wrong side. (CT201D) https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-SHIMNOREEL.html?from=basres A-Jay

Sad. A-Jay

That is great news ! We are still working on several days of on & off rain. Ground snow is making a mass exidus. I will be making my first visual check on local Lake Menderchuck before my workout tomorrow morning. Fully expect it to be iced up but it will be nice to check it out anyway. Good Luck on your first trip out. A-Jay

Berkley makes one - not a fan really https://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Line-Stripper-Black-Red/dp/B00LDYR58W/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=berkley+line+remover&qid=1585490278&sr=8-2 A-Jay

I've been using an older model of this one for years. If I can't get the point on any type of single hooks bait or soft plastics hook I need with this one - I replace it. I usually don't sharpen trebles except to do minimal point touch up. Trebles that wear get replaced often. There are a few different versions including & double sided jobs with various grit stones. DMT FFHWF Diafold Hook And Knife Diamond Whetstone - Fine https://www.amazon.com/DMT-FFHWF-Diafold-Diamond-Whetstone/dp/B00004WFTQ?ref_=ast_sto_dp A-Jay

This is what I'm running now. I Plan on running this straight through open water season. 3 working sets on major muscle / compound movements for Legs, Hips, Back, Chest & Shoulders. Usually two (sometimes 3) for everything else. Should take just under 90 minutes with minimal rest between sets. If these workout sessions take more than that, I'm training too slow. Day off between 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 and two days off between 4 & 1. One Day off between 2 & 3 (sometimes two days off if the bite is good ) ~ DAY 1 ~ LEG PRESS HIP LIFT MACHINE CALF HIGH INCLINE D/B BENCH Weighted UNDER GRIP CHINS D/B LATERALS BENT OVER TRICEP ROPE KICKBACK Curl BAR CURLS Core ~ V-UPS LONG BAR ~ DAY 2 ~ HEEL SLIDE SEATED CALF DEAD ROW OVHSP MACHINE CABLE CROSSOVER ONE ARM TRICEP CABLE EXTENSION INCLINE D/B CURL ONE ARM CABLE PULLOVER Core ~ HANGING TWISTS & KNEES ~ DAY 3 ~ STEP BACK LUNGE RDL CHINS IN FRONT LOW INCLINE D/B BENCH HALO & Face Pull OHV CABLE TRICEP EXTENSION Straight BAR CURLS against wall Core ~ 8’S, SIDES, SCISSORS, FLUTTERKICKS Weighted V-Ups ~ DAY 4 ~ RACK PULLS CALF ON BLOCK HIGH CABLE ROW SEATED OVHSP WITH D/B’S Close grip TRIcep OFF DECK STANDING ALT D/B CURLS PUSH UP ON WEIGHT STACK Core ~ OBLIQUE WORK, CRUNCHES ON BALL OF DEATH A-Jay

Two words my friend ~ Twin Talons. Game Changer. Life is too short to worry about launching & recovering solo. It's only money, you can get more. But time . . . . A-Jay

You dirty dog you . . ? A-Jay

While I understand Mr. Blaukat's explanation regarding back reeling and do respect his opinion on the subject, I do not share it. Spinning gear is also a big part of my angling, has been for a minute. I fish with and use a relatively light drag - and never back reel. Seems to work well for me. A-Jay

Thanks ~ In the 40 years plus of training - I'm betting there isn't much in the way of 'workouts' I haven't run for a few months at least. A few of my favorites over the years and some that helped me get stronger; Keeping the exercises basic and doing 5 sets of X 5 reps was a good one. Need to warm up for sure. Volume training was a killer - both good & bad. Sets as high as 40 reps in a hack squat rocked my world. Effective short term, but seriously over trained long term. I am a fan of push / pull sets and have been for a long time; including now. Include it whenever I can. At this point in my training life, there's a super fine line between not enough, just right, too much and injury. I do not want to pull, strain or torque my back, knees, shoulders, elbows or hips - something I am very prone to do. So what you see now, is a workout that is inherently safe - for me. The most I push myself is on the rack pull (partial Deadlift) and the Leg Presses. Both pretty safe for me as long as I work with weight that I can do 5-6 reps with. Either way, older dudes like me are super prone to torn pecks & biceps, blowing up shoulders & rotator cuffs, cranking an elbow or a knee too. My workouts are 'designed' to help prevent that but still get me some 'fit for life' results. If I can avoid over training it helps too. I've NEVER been hurt by not doing enough. As long as I can move myself around, be flexible & have stable confidence balance - my workouts are doing their job in my mind. A-Jay

There's a fine line between Dedication and Addiction . . . Continuing with the Four-Day Split workout routine, I added an extra off day between #2 & #3. Just felt like I might be coming close to over training. My personal history with that is, if allowed to continue, sometimes culminates with an injury. Ain’t nobody got time for that ~ A-Jay

Happy 3 - 28. A-Jay

Yup ~ I've been seriously spoiled super early season - No One Else on several of these lakes for at least 2 or 3 weeks after initial open water. Pretty sure that will not be the case this time around. It should be opening up here in a couple weeks, so I'm sure I'll find out. May just mean I'll need to keep my "summer hours" on the water. Get there and Leave, before they even show up to ramp. Works like a charm. Not so good for the sleep factor though - but I slept all winter . . . A-Jay

We can most likely expect to see many more inexperienced boaters during the week. Where most of that "show" was reserved strictly for the weekends & holidays, the free for all may go on like a Chinese Food Buffet; All Day & Every Day. Serenity Now. A-Jay

I like these ~ They are a mixture of 6th Sense, Bass Dozer and I think there's one Strike King mixed in there. I do up most of my own skirts and my preferred color pallet is usually perchy & bluegill/pumpkinseed-ish. I'm usually throwing them for big brown bass in the same type of shallower deals I'd use a spinnerbait, but often when there's less wind and / or super clear water - around or over vegetation and high(er) in the water column. Gear used is routinely on the 'medium' side of things. Long casts work well for me so a somewhat 'lighter' (but not too light) hook finds a home a bit easier. 1/4 oz baits will be presented on spinning gear and 20 lb braid while 3/8 oz baits usually get thrown on casting gear with 12 lb FC. A-Jay

Yesterday was in the low 50's up here and there was big sun. Over night the rain started and is forecast to go on a while. Still 18 days away from my projected Open Water date, but considering the rate we're loosing the snow on the ground, that's not looking too bad. Could even beat it - Now wouldn't that be a beautiful thing . . . . A-Jay

Nice Rig ~ And I hope you can be mended and on the water as soon as possible. A-Jay