jimf

I regularly clean the cork handles - hot soap and water or a little rubbing alcohol. I also use a dab of car wax on the blank. Those two things keep them spiffy.

It's not the fish, it's the intent of the act. I'm trying to understand what kind of insecurity/need for attention or whatever a person would need to do that. I don't get it, so I don't know that I would want to hang out with someone like that. Now if it was one my childhood buddies where we are always pranking each other, ok that's different. But if a person really wanted to steal the show there like that ... that's just weird.

I've actually heard a similar story, where a trout jumped into a tree. I can't remember where, but that's the first time I've heard of that happening believe it or not. Great story though. I can't think of rage, I can't think of many cases of utter disappointment. My wife slamming the truck door on a $600 R.L. Winston fly rod, throwing a rod on my Evinrude engine many years ago, taking some OT money and buying a new prop and shearing that sucker completely off before I even got the boat off of the trailer (super low water levels, shouldn't have tried) .... @JustinCT good vibes your way, I've been there and that is maddening and sickening waiting. You know you are 1) missing fishing time and 2) probably going to end up with a bill. Sucks.

The water clarity was normal, but the temp was down 4-5 degrees from last Friday and I think that made a difference. Today was "fair", everything between 1-2 pounds. I'm really waiting for the rivers to come down, I do enjoy fishing rivers and the water is just too high and fast, and I think it's going to be a while before they are in good shape.

Great article, thanks for sharing. And @Paul Robertswhat did you catch that trout on? Fly fisherman/tier here too, and I'm curious if you matched anything in the stomach.

It's definitely not always worth it. I don't mind cold, and I don't mind wind, and I don't mind rain ... but put 2 of those 3 together and I'll probably take a pass, and put 3 together and I would rather do just about anything rather than go fishing in that. In response to the argument that the fish will be biting in those conditions, my response is "I don't care".

MH/F was where you looked like you could use something, so I think that is a good choice. Next time you are in that price range I would look at the St. Croix Mojo Bass rods.

No. Illinois is same ... I haven't been out on a river all year. Going out tomorrow to a power plant cooling lake, did great last Friday and am curious to see what all of this rain did to the fish.

My second boat, and my first aluminum. I didn't have much of a budget, but I wanted a 17'+ boat. I focused more on the engine when I was shopping, failed to really properly inspect the hull. Lots of loose rivets, and then a stress crack developed on the keel. I remember that day - it always took on some water, but right after launch it was obvious something something worse was happening. I thought I must have left the drain plug out, but no ... just a new (and big) leak. Loose rivets water seeps in, but this was coming in to where the bilge wasn't shutting off. I never one time felt comfortable in that boat. Engine ran great, but I spent more time under the boat patching than I did in it fishing.

Always carry a net, rarely use it for bass unless it's really good size and I want the photo op or whatever. I don't keep track of fish counts or anything, I just don't fret over losing a fish that much. If I lose one at the boat, oh well. Walleye fishing I will use it for legal fish because I'm usually keeping a couple for dinner. Anything toothy - a big northern etc... Two weeks ago I hooked up with a gar on a crankbait (teeth + treble) and you can bet your bottom dollar I would have been using a net with that guy. Trout fishing while I'm wading I often use a small net that I have hanging off of a magnet on the back of my vest because they are hyper-spastic and I think it's safer to net them, turn them upside down to disorient them and remove the fly, and then release.

My first boat, 1987 and I found a 1980 Cajun that was pristine and pretty as could be. I can't remember the details but the loan was a problem, I had to come up with a little more cash than I had planned. I just remember my budget was $5k, and I was seeing some pieces of c$&# that the book said were worth that or more. The only problem with it is on re-sale, I owned it for a while and put some wear and tear on it and it wasn't so pristine by the time I got to sell it. Sure I took a hit there. I don't regret buying it for over book cost.

I never knew anyone did anything but go to Walmart and buy a pack of numbers and letters and slap them on the boat, after consulting the local regulations on placement of course.

One more comment ... the brand names being suggested are all good. I think most of those brands being discussed are so close to each other quality wise that I would pick based on the layout of the boat, and the price. You won't go wrong with a Crestliner, Lund, Tracker, Lowe etc.... imo. Years ago I think the differences were notable, today probably not so much. One other consideration for aluminum is riveted vs welded. Riveted boats will be lighter, maybe making it a bit easier to handle. Rivets can leak - and I had first hand experience with that years ago with an old Lowe aluminum boat that leaked like a sieve, but I still bought another one. Rivets can leak, but welds can break, the former being alot easier and cheaper to fix.

I wouldn't do it. Seems like an unnecessary long term commitment. This is one of those things that sounds better in theory than it does in practice. You could invest that money, or use it to pay off a future credit card bill at 20% interest, or reduce the amount of a car loan, or pay school ... a million things. Not to mention moving etc...

I think if I pulled up at the lake and a person offered to trade rigs for the day - an $80k job for my 16' Lund, I'd decline. I'm comfortable with my rig, it's got everything I need and nothing more, it's easy to launch, and most of the lakes I fish on either have HP limits or speed limits. I don't fault anyone for having a rig like that, and believe me if I had no worries about money I'd have on my garage (along with my little Lund), but it just doesn't make that much sense on the bodies of water I fish. In fact, plenty of "ramps" I use that I wouldn't want to launch something like that, and I'm not ever sure if you could.

I am going to recommend a Tiller model. I've had a couple of bass boats, up to 17'8" and my little 16' Lund Fury Tiller has more space and is better laid out for fishing than anything I have ever owned. Handles chop great, again better than some bigger bass boats that I have owned. A couple of small remote lakes by me that I can launch on that I wouldn't dream of being able to get on with a decent sized bass boat, but if I want to get on some bigger water it's no problem at all. I had to really talk myself into it, but it was the right decision for me. I love being *in* the boat. I probably bass fish 3/4 of the time, the other 1/4 panfish, walleye etc... Also, Lund is offering some nice factory discounts right now.

Just an update in case someone else has same issue - 2017 Merc 25/30. Problem was overheating, not oil pressure. Mercury said they have had problems with this year/model with thermostat sticking, so the remedy is to replace it.

I actually threw a rod on an old Evinrude 50hp years ago, my wife and then 3 year old son were with me and it scared everyone a little bit. That was not fun.

Question for the motor experts... 2016 25HP Merc Tiller (4 cycle), probably about 40-50 hours on it. I took it in for maintenance at the end of Feb, had it out 6-7 times this year with no issues. Yesterday I ran it about 15 minutes, stopped for about 2 hours, and then ran it again when I encountered a problem. Maybe 10-15 seconds after full throttle I felt something weird and sensed the engine dying, looked back and saw the red oil pressure light on solid. I checked the obvious - oil level, fuel line, made sure the prop was still on etc... Started it back up, had a good stream of water, no light, so I putted around for a few minutes and then slowly opened it up. Ran the rest of the day without issue, including the end of the day where I close to the ramp and just did laps for about 20 minutes pretty full full throttle. Rewind a year ... I remember once last year when I was running full throttle and I trimmed the engine just a hair, and saw the red warning light turn on for maybe 1-2 seconds. The engine ran fine, I wouldn't have noticed anything if I hadn't of seen the light. I just assumed that maybe it was normal when you trim out like that, but someone I talked to said they don't have that happen. Never happened again. I am taking it to the Marina tonight, of course I worry about them saying it runs fine and then having the problem again. Any clues?

Lot's of sunglass talk recently. The biggest thing you will notice on a daily basis between cheaper glasses and expensive glasses is comfort. Expensive glasses really are more comfortable, and the are more durable. But imo, that's about where the benefits stop. If you are worried about optical quality of the cheap lenses like Berkley or the BassPro XPS brand, don't. They will work fine, and provide proper UV protection as well as the expensive models.

I read the title as a BIG ..... fish slump. As in no fish. Not a BIG FISH ..... slump. I was going to reply to go bluegill fishing, but I see that you still aren't doing to bad for yourself, even if you are in a BIG FISH slump.

I throw what is on sale. Super Spots this year, BP had 5/$10 and I picked up $20 worth. Silver and a crawdad color are my two basic schemes.

I first really learned of Luxottica on a 60 Minutes episode a few years ago. Interesting. I've mentioned in another thread that I probably would not buy an expensive pair of glasses again, but that I do own two pair of Maui Jim's and I will tell you flat out their customer service is first rate. I've had lenses replaced, and I continue to get nose pads replaced for free because one pair I have they will eventually fall off. The glasses are so comfortable that you don't even realize they are off, but when you do finally notice you just send them an email and they send you free of charge a replacement. I'm guessing Luxotttica customer service is probably not quite as good.

I tend to limit myself when 1) I don't have a convenient way to bring everything and 2)I know the water. Two extreme examples - when I fish out of my boat I bring more gear with me than I do on vacation. Big Plano Guide Series bag full of boxes and then loose boxes stuffed in various compartments and yet more boxes and packages left in the truck. Opposite end - I have access to without a doubt the best bank fishing ponds in the county at my work, and you need an employee badge to get back there so they will most likely stay that way. I've worked here 21 years, I've fished here that long, and they are small bodies of water. To say I know them would be putting in mildly. There I will most often take my rod and reel with me and nothing else. I also became a minimalist fly fishing for trout. I visited an area of Southwest Wisconsin for years as a tourist and bought attack the streams with a vest just full of boxes and everything. I clanked when I walked. Then I lived there for a few years, right up the ridge from a blue ribbon stream, and spent enough time on the water to where I figured it out pretty well. I would do the River Runs Through it Thing and just stick a few flies in my hat and head down to the stream. I don't ever remember not having what I needed, even though I barely had anything with me. I think in general people probably error on the side of too much junk and too much complication, so if you are wondering what to do I'd lean toward simplicity.

I just did a quick google search: http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/pricey-cheap-designer-sunglasses-provide-uv-protection-cheaper/story?id=25337330 http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-looks/style/are-cheap-sunglasses-safe/ http://www.today.com/style/debunking-9-common-myths-about-sunglasses-2D80554300 etc....