volzfan59

The state of Tennessee has been doing this for as long as I can remember. It's no big deal. If you don't want to pay the upcharge, buy your license directly from your state wildlife folks.

I don't disagree with his take on the "direction of the sport" at all. Randy has a bass fishing YouTube channel. Spends 75% of his time whining about FFS and other issues and being negative. I've been a fan of his since the mid 80's when he first came on the scene. Was a subscriber of Intuitive Angling since his first video. Dropped him back in October. Even though he says he's not negative, he is. Lost all credibility with me.

I agree with you. I used to be a subscriber but let him and his negativity (that he says doesn't exist) go.

Not an Omega, but my wife uses a 33 on a 7' medium Ugly Stik and a 33 u/l underspin on an old Carbonlite 6' u/l rod. Both perform flawlessly. Back in the early 80's, I back my loaded race car trailer over my buddies son's 202, cheapest Zebco out there. Bent the handle, that's it. Straightened the handle, reel worked fine.

Congratulations @ol'crickety, I'm happy for you!

My beautiful wife is a card exchange kinda gal and she loves old cars and hot rods. Got her a card along with a dozen roses. Also got her a Moon Eyes and an Honest Charley's T-shirt. For you young guys, Moon makes racing and hot rod parts. Way back before the Internet, Honest Charley's was a mail order, racing parts place, based in Chattanooga, TN. Her daddy used to race dragsters and purchased from them.

I'll be praying for him and your family.

For me, I really miss wading for smallmouth bass and trout fishing in east TN. We don't have either here in south Arkansas, none miles from the Louisiana border.

@Vantage Tackle, That's what he was talking about. They're a new sponsor for Luke.

@The Maestro @Eric 26This year, for bass fishing, I'm going all spinning gear and light tackle. See if that doesn't help as I prefer finesse fishing. I'm probably going to do more bluegill fishing than anything else. I've just lost my hardcore drive for bass fishing. I know that I'll get out on the water, just not as driven to go. My boats in the carport, batteries charged with the cover on it from last November. Same thing sorta happened in the early 90's. I used to build, own and drive stock cars. Spent a couple of years with the NASCAR weekly racing series. Racing two to three nights a week, working on the car and travel (+ working a full time gig) sucked every bit of the enjoyment out of it. My wife was pregnant with my second son, I quit. Sold everything with the exception of my tools, jack stands, garage floor jack.......stuff I had a use for. That's kinda where I'm at with bass fishing. Funny, I had some pictures out last night looking at them and reliving it.

@The Maestro, I'm kinda there right now. Haven't completely lost interest, but I'm not chomping at the bit to go either.

I am very fortunate, I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, my beautiful wife isn't so lucky. She has sleep issues. Anyway, I go to bed around 2200 (10:PM), get up at 0630 through the week, might sleep in on the weekends until 0800. That's all depending on if I'm going fishing, then I get up earlier. @clayton86, congratulations on cutting back on the energy drinks. For anyone else that drinks several energy drinks daily, please be careful with them. One of my former Deputies on my watch drank three to four of them daily. Had a heart attack at 33. He was the picture of health, Marine, worked out every day, ate right, etc. His MD warned him to stop drinking them, heck we all stayed after him about it. Dave didn't listen, had another heart attack 34, didn't make it. We're all adults and as always to each his own. Just please be careful. Personally I won't touch them.

Noticed that they have started building the Johnny Morris Signature Series and Platinum Series rods here in the United States and seem to have discontinued the BPS Patriot line, also made in the USA of rods. I own several Patriot and Platinum rods and really like them.

@Captain Phil is 100% correct about knowing when it's time to stop fishing alone. Other than sitting on the bank, I hate to admit it, but I think I'm there now. I'm just 64, but due to a few concussions in the past I have some reasonably serious balance issues. I'm a good swimmer, wear an inflatable, never thought about tethering to the boat.

RIP Toby Keith. Thanks for the music, it will live on.

Sorry for your loss, I know that this is really tough to deal with. I lost my closest friend to suicide in 1998. Not trying to make this about me, it's not, but if you don't have someone, find you a person to talk to. Thankfully I fished with my Pastor a lot. He was the help that I didn't know I needed.

In the 2024 BPS master catalog it says that the 2024 Spring Fishing Classic will be held March 7th through March 27th. Don't know about when the fliers will go out, but @FishTank is correct, it's usually around mid February.

He always finds a way to stick around. Randy would complain if Santa Claus came every day. It's like he can't help himself.

Congratulations on your decision @whitwolf, and on your recovery. I highly recommend retirement to everyone! Best decision I ever made.

I've done so many stupid things I've lost count. Here's a one, When a senior in high school (1978), I was heading out one of the school's exit doors at the back of the library. Saw the maintenance guys ladder leaning against an exterior wall, extending to the roof. A buddy and I took the ladder inside the library and left it. To this day I'm not sure how those guys got off the roof.

I enjoyed the thread, what happened to it? I own several Rebel lures and use them from time to time, they still work well.

Great looking rig!

I got mine this past Saturday.

Anything that I drop $100+ grand on will most definitely have a zip code.

I used to use the ultra light and smaller versions while wading creeks in middle TN. Like @riverat said, they work.