FryDog62

Good for you for stopping Mike and I’m glad you’re feeling better! I too had symptoms 2 weeks in, and called my doctor. His nurse told me to take a “statin holiday” for a week and go back to taking the statin. I did and all the leg aches came back - and then some. After going through Mayo they determined that when I went back to the statin after the short break is when I did irreparable damage to my legs and it’s been 15 years without any improvement. I stopped taking the statins, and I work out a lot. Biking doesn’t seem to hurt my legs at all thankfully. My legs feel as strong and agile as 25 years ago. I think I could still lace ‘em up and run a 5 second 40 yard dash. But the one thing I can’t do is stand in one place for more than about 15-30 seconds. If I do, my legs will ache like a migraine for days afterwards. So part of the reason I sold my bass boat is that I can’t stand on the front deck and cast any more. I have switched to a motorized kayak and am trying to make the most of it. A good trailer to travel lots of new places, compete in some tournaments. It’s kind of like a “wheelchair on the water” lol. Just trying to make lemonade out of lemons I guess. Stay statin-free if you can 👍

Ditto… Fogy caught my PB this Spring, and the 3/8 Sieberts Dredge Brush jig is the best wood/laydown jig I’ve ever used.

We're looking at a 3 month VRBO right now on the NW side of the Twin Cities... if not, could possibly joint venture with my son to buy a home that our arrangement would be for Kelly and I to live there 3 months per year in the summer (and store the Autopilot kayak in the garage year round). Kelly's parents have moved to assisted living in Corcoran and need a lot of help right now.

Yes, I’m hopeful to fish with Koz at Kissimmee and Santee Cooper. The goal is to participate in three tournaments - and there is a good chance we spend the summer in Minnesota next year. Could make it a strong possibility for me to also fish Wolf/Fox in August. Gim, anyone on the IDO site an expert on bass in those rivers? Or maybe they just fish like the Rum!!

Bought and traded a lot of gear there over the years!

I’ve had luck Texas-rigging a 3.8 but due to price and fragility I use them sparingly. It’s great a second time thru an area and gets bites other plastics don’t get due to its unique profile and shape. Where it really shines is as a Free Rig. I have torn up an entire package in minutes and caught several fish in the process. They also smell like Fritos! 🇲🇽

A severe reaction to statin cholesterol medicine permanently damaged my legs. Before that, half marathons, but my favorite was the 10k. I miss the “runner’s high.” Enjoy it!

My first 4-stroke was a Suzuki - and it was the first with EFI and always started with ease!

I use the 16x16 Blackpak Pro. It is very full between tackle trays and one larger Plano EDGE plastics storage box. If I can’t fit it in the Blackpak Pro I leave it behind, otherwise I over-pack and too many things cluttering up the deck.

You and I both got out with Matt this year 👍 And btw - nice hat!!

I’d say a 10/10 given the smile on your son’s face. Three generations of fishing together is a huge bonus!

We found on a couple week-long Canadian trips that smallmouth 13 inches and smaller were as good as walleye. Over 13 inches were fleshy and many had worms.

Lost one of these when it grazed the bottom on light line… doink and it was gone!

This… Plus, everyone and their brother jumped into fishing during and right after Covid. The pressure was tremendous, fishing in many cases declined and people are losing their enthusiasm to the next shiny thing now…

I find Perspective mode very grainy and really only helpful in shallower water (less than 10 feet, 5 is better). 360 Imaging opens up a whole new realm in terms of clarity and works at all depths. The downside is that its classified as FFS and in tournaments you can only have one. If limited to just one, I still choose Livescope, but 360 sure is helpful at times.

Always hard for me to believe the number of people that wear glass lenses while fishing. Plastic is much safer if/when a jig comes back at you at high speed..

I’ve always struggled to some degree tossing jigs into snaggy wood laydowns. No jig would consistently stay snag-free AND catch fish. Until the 3/8 oz Sieberts Dredge Brush jig. First flip, I held my breath on a particularly nasty stretch of branches but it came back clean. The second cast, I connected on a solid 19 incher and knew I had a winner. Confidence builds from there…

I had both 360 and Livescope on my bass boat until I sold it 2 years ago. Got used to utilizing them both to learn a lake, structure, cover… and yes, even fish. So I added both to my kayak. If I had to use one or the other it would still be Livescope, but I find 360 extremely helpful at times. Especially in mid summer through Fall when fish set up on off/shore bottom cover.

Nice and fleshy, with a little mercury on the side…

The only other advantage I would list for fluorocarbon is sink rate. Over a long cast/retrieve it will allow the lure to stay down in the water column slightly over mono or braid. Could be an advantage or disadvantage depending on what depth your target is.

Wow what lake?

I much prefer the Owner Phantom Hook for weedless tubes over the stupid method. More bites, better hook ups - - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=Phantom+owner&_gl=1*a9zd56*_up*MQ..&gclid=CJDT3-2SjNECFZCMaQodOJECzA

Lake Hartwell is only 45 minutes from my house, but it’s always just been “so-so” for me. Instead, I have made the 2 hour and 15 minute drive to Lake Lanier 3 times over the last month. It’s definitely been worth the extra drive time. I caught both spots and largemouth on topwater today in 40 feet of water in the middle of a sunny day. Never did that in Minnesota… Plus, I camp out on a point with a million dollar view 👍

The 5 inch Caffeine Shad is in a class all by itself and has a completely different action than the others due to the air bubble in the tail. Best used on an 4/0 Owner Twistlock LIGHT hook.