fishingram24

Think I paid 10$ for my senior lifetime hunting/fishing/management area/salt water licenses when I turned 65 here in Ms. Includes everything but duck stamp.

I would rather catch a spotted bass than any other type but we just don't have that many in the waters I fish regularly. I've caught several near 5 pounds in my trips to central Al. over the years and believe me they are a blast and have not seen any reduction in the numbers of LM we catch either. Even a small one has an attitude.

7 dollars gas for the truck, 30 miles round trip, 5 dollars launch fee, 25-30 dollars for non ethanol in the boat on an average day, over 65 so I have a lifetime hunting and fishing license that was a one time fee of 5 dollars. Bag of plastics and a spinner bait.

Lots of baits I have never tried but of the ones I have thrown enough to have caught something, probably a frog. Tried 2 years ago and had a couple small ones pop it but never caught one. Also a Pop R type baits but I have not really given it a real chance but still have 4 or 5 in the tackle box cause they look good.

Rough estimate 5,000 in rods/reels, 25 that I can use at 200 each some more, some a little less, boat 35,750(bought new in 2020), tackle 3 to 4,000. That's just what I have today. In my lifetime, way to much.

Probably 25 years ago there was a web site, now deceased, that I was on that had a fishing report page so I started posting my trips on that giving just enough info to jog my memory later on about that day on the water. Still do so on another site but I try to put in as much info as I can since my brain needs a lot more jogging now, water and weather conditions, baits used, depth and location of the fish caught such as grass lines,wood etc. and anything else to help me or someone that may read it just not the exact location. Will go back and look from time to time to remind me to try this or that bait under certain conditions and time of year mainly for places that I don't fish on a regular basis.

Many reasons. When I was much younger and having played competitive sports all my life I enjoyed the tournaments for the competition and as time went on I realized that I wasn't enjoying the fishing but just the competing to the point where I was getting burnt out. Then I realized that the real fun was just to fish. Dialing back the urge to win was not easy but I did. Fishing became my refuge from a long week at work, stress, grief and anything else that strained my mental health. Now retired, I fish because I really enjoy it on so many levels. Times with my long time friend and fishing buddy, the thrill of the next bite, the beauty of nature, buying the new hot bait and hoping its the miracle lure, but mainly because I just love everything about it

Academy has always had fast delivery for me only they seem to out of stock on a lot of items recently.

Ordered reel parts from them twice, first order took a little while because they did not have all that I ordered and relayed that info to me, second order took less than a week.

Tires that came on my 2021 are radial trailer tires. As mentioned earlier unless there is an issue with alignment most people will probably not tow enough to wear out the tread but dry rot, as I have called it, or cracks in the rubber will more than likely be an issue before the tread is gone.

Will soon turn 67 and I'm sure I could fish the rest of my life without ever buying another bait or lure but where is the fun in that? I can at least walk into my favorite tackle store and walk out empty handed at times now so maybe I'm making progress.

If a 100 to 150 dollar lead acid battery last 3 years, which it should easily do, then will a lithium costing 5-10 times as much last 5-10 times longer, very doubtful. Weights of a lithium batteries are about half of lead batteries, also sealed so you don't add water. Lithium's have many advantages over lead or AGM's but personally I have a hard time justifying the cost difference, even though I can afford them I'd rather spend the dollars on something else. Plus at 66 years old I may die before the batteries do and then I wasted them on whomever gets my boat.

You can get an Xpress H 18 with 115 Yamaha for 30 or a little less depending on options. I bought a 2021 X 18 last year with 150 and sea dek for 33. Only problem is finding one to look at. Many dealers of all boat brands seem to be still having problems getting boats in stock.

Congrats on the new boat. Had a 2012 X 17 that I sold to daughter and SIL last summer after I ordered an X 18 that took 4 months from order to delivery. The newer models are much wider as you stated, my primary reason for the new one, and are great boats at a somewhat reasonable price. Get on the water and enjoy

David Dudley did a vid on where to use junebug and drew the most ridicules looking map but got the point across. He said coastal areas and all of Fla because of tannic stained waters which are clear but dark looking. Works for me but I live near and fish coastal areas and its one of our best colors.

Only person I've ever asked for an autograph just to let you know how I feel about Jimmy Houston and his family. Grew up watching he and Chris fish on JH Outdoors. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

Age, back and knees force me to use the butt seat all day now. Up until about 5 years ago I didn't have a seat in the boat. Definitely feel that I don't cast as well or hook up as well with some baits but you do what you have to do to get on the water.

Might want to look into Cocoons fit over glasses for around 60$. Never used them myself, had Costa prescription sun glasses, but many people like the Cocoons and for sure a lot cheaper. Don't know how anyone can fish without some type of sun glasses to cut the glare and protect the eyes.

Seaguar Invizx 15 # is a great choice, Seaguar Red Label if you are on a tighter budget. Also used Berkley Vanish for several years and just thought all flouro acted as it did until I finally switched to Invisx. Won't even use what Vanish I have left as backing on a reel.

My opinion is they are a must if you own a boat and put rods in a rod locker. Sooo much easier to put into and remove from the locker if they are in a rod sleeve and offers some protection to the guides.

Xpress

Recently ordered a new boat, everything was installed at the factory prior to delivery. Boat arrived at the dealership at 3 one afternoon and I picked it up before noon the next day. Only thing my dealer did was position the hot foot to fit me and install batteries then wash the boat.

Probably 3 per hour is an average day which in 8 hours equals 24 fish. Have on many occasions had those 8-10 per hour days but a lot of small fish in the catch as the river system I fish the most is loaded with bass but just not many big fish. Still days like that are what keeps me going when you have one of those days when you catch 1 or 2 all day.

My fishing buddy of 40 years has a 2019 198P that ran like crap barely over 50 with Merc 150 until he sent it back to Ranger last summer and they reworked the bottom and ground welds. Now its 56-57 mph and riding as it should have to start. Great fishing platform with enough storage for anyone. I'm an Xpress guy with a 2021 X 18 so I can't speak for the X 19 but I chose Xpress for several reasons. Owed 2 other Xpress boats and loved them, thicker metal, .125 vs. .100, able to go with a higher hp motor, more color choices but the best reason is Sea Dek over carpet. Personally the dealer I bought from sold Vexus as well Xpress so I was able to compare both at the same time. Maybe it was all the hype over Vexus that had my expectations higher but I was kind of disappointed in them, just did not see any difference in it or the Xpress I ordered other than a smaller motor and higher cost. All are good boats but "To each his own" as an earlier post said.

FYI ordered a new boat last summer(picked up 15 weeks later) so this is a little dated but through my dealer the going rate at that time was 5.5% with good credit for 15 years. Don't remember or have a record of the amount of down payment mentioned. Found a few places with lower rates but decided to pay cash instead. Not an option for most and wasn't for me earlier in life with 4 great kids at home but now retired and everything paid for but the truck and when the wife said "we can't take it with us" our saving account got a little smaller.