MN Fisher

^ Happens all over really. Locally, our 'ring' highway gets nicknamed "The 494 Parking Lot" during rush hour. 60mph limit....you're lucky if you average 10mph through one section.

^ Ya - older two-strokes can't handle ethanol-infused gas. It'll be more expensive, but the ethanol-free will extend the lifetime of your motor. My 1973 Evinrude still runs like a champ - never used anything but ethanol-free gas in it.

Use to be that I got money every Yule from the parents, and that was my budget for the year. Since they died during the holiday season of 2023, I'm limited to what I can free up here and there. Being on nothing but Social Security, and the loss of purchasing power every year, I find I can buy less and less. Of course, with the cancer, now I'm going to be selling....

66 years ago today, the world trembled as someone made their appearance.

Looking good.

Why wait? I've got a pumpkin pie sitting on the counter that I'm gonna dig into tonight.

My two places to look for used gear is Facebook Marketplace and Next Door.

DNR takes reading, also there's independent groups that take readings. Locally, the "Freshwater Society" which is headquartered just a couple miles from my house does this for various spots on Lake Minnetonka and other local lakes. They publish the data, and Omnia along with others subscribe to get that data into their apps.

Yesterday was a special music program at the local elementary school put on for the grand-parents/grand-friends. Serenity (youngest of my 4 unofficial grandkids) decided she wanted 'Papa' to be her special guest. As it was her debut and I wanted her to feel special, I decided to dress up for it. When she first saw me, her jaw dropped and she went, "Papa....you look great." Rennie is the one on the right, the one in the middle is her best friend Michelle.

Okay, I'd check it like you would rod-guides. Lightly run a Q-Tip around it, if any fibers from the Q-Tip 'grab' on, then it's a nick/scuff/something. Replacing the roller is the only fix, but luckily it's a pretty available part. Also make sure that the screw to the outside that holds the roller in place isn't too tight. Also, I use light oil there - TSI-321 is best....my personal light oil is Air Tool Lubricant.

Are you talking the 'Line Roller'? Even if it doesn't spin, it should be smooth enough that the line will just pull across it without issue. If it is affecting the drag, then there's something besides the bearing causing the issue....more likely it's 'scuffed' and the line is being held up - like when there's a nick in a rod-guide. Close inspection is needed and possible replacement of the roller.

Tough break on that buck...happens sometimes. At least you got something for the freezer this year, I know a couple guys who got completely skunked....mainly because they didn't get an antlerless permit and never saw a buck.

Ya - Rainbows are native to the west coast, they got transported all over....I even caught a few back in Massachusetts when I lived there as a kid. Browns aren't even native to North America - the Europeans brought them over to have 'something familiar' to fish for. So they can be considered an 'invasive species' - especially as they chase brookies out of their territory and take over.

Beautiful thoughts, Andy. Congratulations to the both of you for finding your soul-mate. May the years ahead be continually filled with love, life and happiness. She's a strong woman, fighting to stay with you, and I know you feel blessed to have her in your life. Raising a glass in toast to a wonderful couple.

My personal preference is for split-grip cork, but saying that, I do have a couple full-length cork handles, some EVA and one Carbon. Long as the rod/reel combo is balanced, I'm not too fussed about what the handle is made of.

^ Heck, even Oxy-Clean wouldn't help.

^ Ya, I would have said at least as far back as the 70s when I really got into fishing. Mr Twister Grubs and Phenoms were my mainstay then.

Gorgeous aurora last night - pic from my front porch.

^ What Tom said - Mike Siebert makes fantastic jigs of all type.

^ Was it 157 smallies, or 157 different shots of the same smallie? Inquiring minds want to know.

Carbontex? Did you clean them? If so, just a touch of lube (I prefer Cals for drag-washers) will free them....you'll loose a bit of top-end, but they'll be MUCH smoother. BARELY touch a swab (not a Q-Tip, a tight-weave swab) to the Cals and spread it out as thin as possible both sides. Doesn't take much.

Dude - that's a hellava rig.

Right back at-cha, coastie. 🎖️

^ Practice makes perfect!