Bass Turd

What is the front deck constructed with? I've learned on this site not to use treated wood in contact with aluminum. It will cause pin holes to form. Other than that question it looks great!

Looks beautiful! How about a silver belly?

I use this one and keep it on a lanyard I wear around my neck that also has my line clipper on it. I find that if it is ultra accessible I am much more prone to use it. It's only a couple inches long. https://www.amazon.com/SE-DF401FS-Diamond-Fishing-Sharpening/dp/B00C7XNJKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521821867&sr=8-1&keywords=fish+hook+sharpner

And.... what color did you get....? lol

I just did mine yesterday! I'm 50 3/4. Not eating anything solid for 24 hours was the worst part. The taste of the stuff you drink to clean out your system was the second worst part. They knock you out so fast you don't know anything happened. When compared to dying from colon cancer those two things are minor inconveniences. It's never too late. If you are over 50 please have it done.

Excellent write up. I have never fished Kentucky Lake, or anywhere close to it, but I felt I was right there in the boat with you. I don't know if you have explored writing as a career but you should look into it. Grit wins more tournaments than talent. Don't ever let anyone out grit you. (Paraphrased from Gerald Swindle)

Don't be afraid of messing with settings on the water either. There is a "reset to factory settings" somewhere in the menus.

The next generation of trolling motors will have the technological ability to sense the fish, species and even size you are after and drive you right to them. An electronic display will tell you how far, how deep and how big they are. It will also suggest the bait and technique to use that has the best chance of working based on all the conditions including time of year, time of day and moon phase. The scary thing is that after reading what I just wrote I really don't think most of it is out of the realm of possibility. I would hate to see it get that automatic. You might as well play a video game outside.

At least it's not hopeless. You'll have to think through loading a deer on your boat at the water. Maybe an overhanging tree and a winch set up? Be prepared for him to try to block the deer from getting to your property. Keep exploring the legal route and please don't let it escalate into something where somebody gets hurt. Nothing is worth that.

You say it is on a lake. Is it possible to access your land from the water?

I have not owned an Jon boat but I think you are on the right track. Ten years ago I bought an old ugly fiberglass boat for a one time payment of $2,000. I still fish in it every weekend. I have probably put another $2000 in it over the years adding this or that as I could afford it like better sonar, a front deck and good trolling motor. Do some research on the internet and you'll see plenty of Jon boats transformed into many different kinds of fishing machines. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Getting on the water still gives me a thrill every time I launch.

We fished late summer/early fall

I took a guide out of Harriisburg PA for my one and only small mouth trip. We fished by the airport and south but above 3 mile island. We used white flukes weightless nose hooked with red mosquito hooks. He said the red hooks were important. It produced good numbers. The bigger fish were caught on a green pumpkin vibrating jig.

Surgery is only when you can't stand the pain anymore and there aren't any other options. I've had three lower back surgeries in my thirty's. I'm fifty now. The first two were open back the third was arthroscopic (much faster recovery). Every time was because I had numbness in my left leg and drop foot because the nerves were pinched. When they explained this can become permanent I elected surgery. This was all before disc replacement. I sit when I fish off of a boat. Hey... if Bill Dance can do it... I can't stand for long. The only thing I can't do well is pitch to targets. I didn't get a boat until I was in my forty's. Fishing is still fun. Improvise, adapt and overcome.

I understand there are winter and summer blends of gasoline. I have no idea what the difference is but I do know people complain about lower MPG with the winter blend.

You can reverse the line on the spool and put the end that is on the bottom on top. Tie the end to a tree and walk out all the line. Add some mono on the bottom if you need to fill out the spool from line if you broke some off over time. Go back to the tree and tie that end to the spool or the mono if you went with that and reel it in. Wala... New spool of line to last several more years.

I love my local delivery drivers. And they love me. Every once in a while I tell them I have a 12-pack that needs to be delivered to their house. Do they have the address and will they take it? My rods always arrive on time and in perfect shape. Sometimes even before the scheduled delivery date. Sometimes you gotta give a little love... to get a little love...

Excellent lessons that day dad. From one father to another you did a great job.... having him face the natural consequences of his actions ie paying for his own gear he lost. That one lesson will serve him well for his whole life. And he already knows how to hold a big fish for the picture!!

I do not know. I have cut 5/0 Superline hook with moderate pressure.

This is what I use. https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Tools-11412-Compound-Diagonal/dp/B000PRWJ52/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1508612123&sr=8-2&keywords=compound+wire+cutters I keep them in a Plano StowAway water proof tackle container (the smaller one with yellow seal) wrapped up with a cloth lightly coated with oil.

Spinning or Casting?

Look at Frabill on Field Supply. Fantastic prices. Sizes run a little large. You find some of it to try on at Academy. The "Stow" series reverse stuffs into the left pocket on both the jacket and bibs. I tried Frog Togs but they always leaked on me. http://www.fieldsupply.com/frabill.html

I would suggest the NED Rig. Many posts about it. I believe in the Z-Man baits for the NED because they stick tail up off the bottom and imitate a feeding fish or worm. Remember... the goal is to catch fish. Use a real worm or insect or even a micro perch you catch... if only just to survey the lake and make sure catchable fish are there.

Try Field Supply. I have no idea about wader quality and you'll want to double check prices but sometimes they have amazing deals. Not affiliated. Just a happy customer. http://www.fieldsupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=waders

You will want to put the trolling motor on a different battery than the fish finder. The trolling motor causes all kinds of interference with the sonar.