A-Jay

When I feel like Quitting, I remember Why I Started. A-Jay

While I will agree keeping level head during any unexpected event can greatly increase ones rate of success, my experience has shown that even 100 yds is a stretch for adults that are in 'average' physical condition, which the Vast Majority of humans these days do not meet. So covering a distance that's over a quarter of a mile across open water, even without any waves or current, is almost completely out of the question - especially fully clothed. Some context - Besides a couple of decades of Search & Rescue experience on the water, I participated in the evaluation of 17 - 28 year old men & women, in their ability to pass a '100 yd swim test' in a Heated Olympic pool. 50 - 120 humans a week, 50 weeks a year, for 8 years. They all knew in advance the test was a pass / fail deal, many of them 'trained' for the test months in advance of getting to boot camp. These young adults were is at Least as good (and most likely much better shape) than a good portion of the much older adults reading this response. Trainees were not allowed to flip over on their back at any point but could utilize a breast or side arm stroke. Men wore swim trunks and women wore a one-piece swim suit. Test required them to step off a 5 ft platform, surface and cover the required 100 yd distance. While each group's pass / fail percentage varied a bit, 50 % passed no problem; 30-40 % struggled mightily but in the end, barely passed; the other 10 to sometimes 20% failed. The service had a remedial swim program where non-swimmers would come to the pool very early morning and were taught to swim and re-tested near the end of the 8-week training program. I did that for 18 months. That program has a very high success rate to where it's super rare that a trainee is sent home for swim test failure. All that said & done this is only 100 yds, in a controlled environment in a heated pool in swim trunks. I post All This to stress a very important point that revolves around survival when one goes in the drink. If you are alone, and your boat is capsized or you can not get back in it, EVEN IF YOU ARE WEARING A LIFE JACKET, unless you are very accomplished swimmer (like you were the Captain of the swim Team in High School or college) Stay with your craft - do not 'swim for it'. Distances across open water are hard to judge and often much further than it looks. Add wind, waves & current, and your job just got a lot harder. When your rescuers come looking for you - your craft is a much bigger target and so much easier to locate than just your tiny little head appearing for a second or two between waves- because that's all we can see while you're swimming for it. (or just floating because you're exhausted). And prior to EVERY trip on the water, make certain someone responsible (insert adult) knows where you’re going, what you’re driving (Tow vehicle, Boat & Trailer description & tags #'s help a bunch) where you’re launching from and when to expect you home. And if you change plans – Let Them Know. Additionally, I’d encourage you to also leave them with the number & info of who you want them to call if you don’t return on time. (Police, US Coast Guard, Fire Rescue etc). Hope this helps Stay Safe A-Jay

OK ~ I took a shot. A-Jay

My end goal with all of this is to be fit for life; my life. So I can not say what may be right for you and your life, my training 'program' is built & designed to do just that. I do not usually have a need to, hopping a fence can be a little tricky depending on it's height & design, one's own agility & confidence and perhaps if you're being chased my a Rapid dog or not. At just over 5'7" and 165 lbs, I do feel that my balance, flexibility and strength to body weight ratio is such that I can hop a couple fences in a row if the need arises; dog or no dog. Weighted Body weight exercises are a beautiful thing. Just finished a killer workout and I'm feeling good. Also something to note - I'm somebodies Grandfather. A-Jay

Did you recently lose a remote for the TV and are they all accounted for ? #stuckunderacushion A-Jay

I have a very small 'stash' of the Uncle Josh that I've been milking for several seasons. Just looking at the pics he's posted, I like it. I'll also give it a try once it's available again. He could probably ask & get a bit more for these; especially as the lone source of supply. Don't tell him though. A-Jay btw- Just a thought ~ How long before we see a pork neg rig ? Just Asking . . . ?

@Dirtyeggroll Thank you for sharing this one. Agreed ~ I was hoping & thinking the same. Also 'the colors' - black, blue and brown are all 'backordered' I'll be watching this one to see what's what. @GTN This may be helpful - From his FB page A-Jay

And so it goes . . . A-Jay

I think he may have - the American Sportsman show often aired immediately following the Wide World of Sports. Certainly another Classic ! A-Jay

Resurrected ~ My favorite growing up was The American Sportsman. I watched it on ABC Sunday afternoons in the late 60's and early 70's. Host Curt Gowdy, an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox, was The Man in my young eyes. His signature line of ‘Tight lines, folks!’ is something I still remember fondly to this day. A-Jay

"Spider ! " A-Jay

Still making it happen ~ A-Jay

That is interesting. My Knees & Elbows do that all the time. A-Jay

59 days ~ A-Jay

Can always shorten it up a bit. Kind of hard to add length. ? On a separate note - I mounted my motor to one of the Minn Kota Quick Release Brackets. Makes sliding the motor on & off easy. Otherwise you never know it's there. There's several models that fit several motors. Back plating the mounting hardware will ensure a super secure install. Good Luck A-Jay

The few times the 62" on the Fortrex has actually come totally out of the water for extended periods of time, trying to fish up there was pretty close to being at Six Flags ! And I wasn't tall enough for the ride . . . . A-Jay

May boil down to how & where you fish. Where one length may come out of the water occasionally, it may never be too high to be in the way. Where another length will probably never come out of the water - it may need to be raised occasionally to access skinny water. I fish some bigger water - a longer length is useful. I accept that and raise it when I need to; perhaps 5-10 times a season. Keeps the 360 transducer in the drink too, which is mounted on the shaft 12 inches above the trolling motor prop. A-Jay

Break out a tape measure and then consult the guide ~ https://www.minnkotamotors.com/support/faqs/how-do-i-select-shaft-length A-Jay

Perhaps something to keep in mind when planning, installing and/or revamping our boats battery power needs, is that the recharging unit or system we choose is every bit or perhaps even more important than the batteries themselves. Additionally, how deeply & how often, deep cycles batteries are discharged, as well as how quickly and in what manner, they are recharged, all play a fairly important role in the every battery types useful life span. Mis-matching chargers & batteries, continuously deep draining batteries to near zero and/or routinely utilizing poor recharging habits can all be detrimental to what we all hope for when it comes to our batteries life span. When I 'hear the horror stories' of how poorly a certain battery brand performed, what I routinely do not hear, is what role the above played in each case. Clearly, none of that is breaking news, however when ignored, there's a decent chance it is at least partially to blame. A-Jay

Me Too. A-Jay

Appropriate Term Right there ~ Might borrow that. A-Jay

LOL ~ Looks like that job vacancy has been effectively Filled. A-jay

Nicely Done ~ Just a heads yup, and don't ask me how I know but the BPS management gets all bummed out when you "Noodle" in the trout pond. Especially when you get a few . . . A-Jay

Hello Brian and welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Can't be 100% sure on this one. I make many of my own skirts, so it could be that. It might also be a Strike King Perfect Skirt Magic Tails, with the tails cut short. A-Jay