Ratherbfishing

I lipped a big old catfish for my friend one time (because I was afraid of losing it) and I swear it not only clamped down on my fingers but also ground his "teeth" on me. I won't do that again.

While I do believe in diversity, I don't maintain quotas. And equality in opportunity does not equal equality in outcome. Wait, what are we talking about here?

I've been "reading up" on all the latest fish finders, GPS, and trolling motors (which "talk" to one another) and it all seems to demand beau coup dollars and a PhD in electrical engineering just to set it up and make it actually work properly. It IS intimidating and if I let it, it could make me almost throw in the towel-until I remember that I caught fish before all this whiz-bang stuff came out. I'm not knocking it but I won't let it get the best of me, either.

One of my favorite color shadow raps, a chrome gold color, doesn't seem to be available anymore. And when I dig deeper, I noticed that there aren't really that many examples of chrome on the market place at all. I'm assuming that truly chrome baits must be more expensive to produce?

I've never tried to count them but for insurance purposes, etc. I did photograph all my hard baits and examples of every soft-bait I have. It took a lot longer than I expected.

My success with a Carolina-rig (almost none) does NOT justify the amount of time, effort, hardware (swivel, beads, knots) necessary to set one up. I won't waste my time on them. I feel almost the same about a drop shot except I have caught a few bass on them.

This goes to show how little I know about Shimano reels but can you take the side plate off and spread out the magnetic doojamafloppers? When I purchased my first Pro-qualifier reel, I was disgusted with my distances until I learned that I could do this. It helped my distances considerably.

Can I provide my thoughts/input even though I'm not there (yet)? I wouldn't fish EVERY day even if I could but I do get itchy after a few days away from fishing. The thought that I can pick and choose WHEN I want to fish, however, is very appealing to me. I'm of the age now where a long day of fishing really wears me out so that means, if I take a weekday off from work to fish, it's likely to be a Friday (so I can recuperate on Saturday) but Fridays are not always that nice and I detest fighting crowds on weekends. When I travel a long distance to fish (i.e, rent a cabin, etc), I will fish every day and I don't regret it but being able to pick and choose when I fish is really appealing.

My advice is two-fold (sort of): Either leave (until they fish aren't exhibiting this behavior) OR fish for bass you cannot see (probably not very many). I've fished long enough to know that bass that are cruising around like they don't have a care in the world are VERY hard to catch.

I, like you, would prefer to keep money out of the equation. I mean, fishing is fishing right? And do most weekend tourney guys ever realistically expect to move into the "big leagues"? Anyway, if I lived anywhere close to you, I'd consider joining your club. But alas, I'll just have to wish you good luck in your endeavors.

When I was about 28 I bought a little 14 foot aluminum semi V with a 10 horse Johnson motor for about 200 bucks. (I still have the motor). About ten years ago, I purchased a 17 foot jon with a 25 horse Evinrude motor. It won't win any races and it's not great on big water but it does about everything I ask of it-including getting me onto some lakes that are horsepower restricted. I also have a Bass Raider which I used quite often on small lakes and trolling-motor only lakes. Unless something drastically changes, I'll just keep what I have until it breaks, sinks, or I can't fish anymore.

Have tried it for about 3 weeks now. Was hoping it would reduce the arthritic pain I feel in my shoulders but alas, while I had high hopes for it, it doesn't it get me high nor (anymore) do I have any hope for it. (Authors note: Was not actually expecting it to get me high. CBD doesn't contain THC. I knew that.)

Add bowfin to this list (unless you just LOVE shredded fingers).

If you love 'em, that's awesome. Got nothing against it. I find the wire bends too easy and then it's tougher to get them to spin properly. But that's my issue and not yours.

The amount of effort to drill a hole larger than 8 inches is more difficult. It's rare that you would ever need something larger than 8 inches and a larger hole (and the equipment to drill it) is more difficult to justify. Once, when I wanted a larger hole I drilled two 6 inch holes so they merged/intersected (like a two circle venn diagram). It wasn't twice as big in diameter, obviously, but it worked.

Beast of a fish! Both, really. Great story and congrats!

A map?

Everyone around here (that I'm aware of) pronounces it this way. When I heard "rap-uh-luh" the first time, I was like "....what?"

Renters will see a submerged metal fence post and not hesitate to go over it. If you baby your boat too much, you'll miss out on the joys of having one. Just use prudence and you'll be fine.

About 3 dollars.

I'm kinda like Steve Martin in the jerk when he's been abandoned by everyone and he says, "I don't need you! I don't need anything!!!....(?)... I NEED THIS!!!!"

Call it what you will (OCD or the need for an orderly life) but seldom do I take a spur of the moment sick day. I will, however, take a "floating holiday" (get it? a FLOATING holiday???). Semantics, you know.

I use to love his show and that fish tank of his was the bomb! Watching him bounce a hair jig off the bottom of that enclosure was almost more then I could take! This was at a time when I was confined mostly to bullhead fishing off a bridge a 10 minute's bike ride away but dang! I wanted to be like him (still do, actually). I can still hear his theme song ("From the lakes of Northern Canada....") playing happily in my head.

Been thinkin' of putting aromatherapy candles on the deck of my boat.

Are there any basic do's and don'ts you recommend for taking apart (and putting back together) a baitcaster (specifically a Pro Qualifier)? I need to give mine some basic oiling/greasing and don't want a bunch of spare parts laying around when I'm done.