MN Fisher

We'll have to interrogate Lynn for confirmation.

What's a 401k? (Mine and Nora's got 'eaten' by medical bills...as did my Roth, her IRA and my ESOP - SS is all we got)

Main increase was in meat - 2 months ago ground beef was $4.99/lb - latest shopping trip it was $6.99/lb Chicken Thighs (skin and bones still there) was $0.99/lb - now it's $1.29/lb That's where the majority increase came from - but everything went up at least some.

Ya - Home Depot even has them in stock in some stores....and 'Scotts' even - not a no-name brand.

Already is - Wife and I did an experiment....Took a grocery list from 2 months ago and went to buy the exact same items....the new grocery bill was 15% higher - in just 2 months. Inflation rate of 3.7% - well ya...cause it doesn't include food in that figure. And of course that lower number is what our COLA increase next year is going to be based on...so every year, we get an increase to our SS - but because they don't count food in the 'official' inflation figure, we keep loosing ground

Aird-X again....they say it's a Fast, but I rank it as a Mod-Fast....which is why I use my Aird-X MH/F casting rod for spinners/chatters...just the right flex for those.

Should tap that every so often and make maple syrup.

I used one of those in my early teens on our lawn. Now-days....no idea....my neighbor takes care of the lawn for me in partial exchange of me letting him park his two trailers and his old Explorer with Collectors Plates on it in my back yard...he doesn't have the parking space in his yard.

It's fairly new - came out in 2023 - but Tackle Tour liked it, so there is that.

You got any issues - I'm close and can come give you a hand.

I'd never put anything thicker than .010" as mainline on a 3000 or smaller spinning reel - it gets too unwieldy. And that translates to 8# or less. Now braid-to-leader is a different animal. On my MH/F spinning rig, I use 20# 832 with 12# InvizX for a leader. I use this rig for spinners/chatters and skipping jigs...I'm crap at skipping with casting gear. Medium-Light - 8# or 10# braid to 6# or 8# FC is my normal setup.

Minnesota: Even though a few are more recognized as multi-species anglers, these guys make my list Babe Winkleman Al Lindner Sam Sobi Steve Pennaz I also have to throw in my old neighbor, who I helped get his little 'out of the basement' business going back in the mid-70s. John Peterson of Northland Tackle. Wait - all these guys ARE in the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame.....

That's just to give you an idea of how much line it holds....I've got reels that 'specify' 10#-12# and I put 16# or 17# on it...or even 50# braid.

^ What Boomy said - though I run 12# YZH on my spinner/chatter rig...it's actual strength is 19.5# as tested by the IGFA.

Ignore the Laguna rods - I got one, used it for a bit, then got rid of it as fast as I could. Spend a little more and get the Aird-X...MUCH better rod.

Ya - that's the power - action is Moderate/Mod-Fast/Fast Too many (including those who should know better) mix those up.

I use 10# on my casting gear and 4# on my spinning - close to the diameter of main-line I use on each. Big Game doesn't come in a 4# test (lightest is 8#). Both are cheap ($10 for Big Game, $7 for Cajun in 1000yd+ spools)

I used Elite for a while until I got my first spool of Siege. It's more manageable in all respects. Now I've gone completely to Siege anytime I want mono as a top-line....I use Big Game as backing on my casting reels and Zebco Cajun as backing on my spinning reels - but that's it.

Oh, it's still going on....give it till late-October/early-November and it'll start up.

"Bubba-Shot!"

In Tonka - 95% of the surface busting is done by carp....so I don't even bother.

Yes, I think by now everyone knows how you feel about drop-shotting.

Mud Hole has it for $7 + shipping - https://mudhole.com/products/u-40-cork-seal-2-oz?variant=33194179002501&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOophmz_kR87fzoRDDKtYzeIB7l2vRbMLPO_XisVhzKGLosFRZcFqTQ8

Which is why I stick with my NCH VideoPad - low learning curve, results good enough for YouTube.

I'd still twist for easy/neat insertion. If they're a crimp-solder type, then yes...crimp them first as the solder isn't enough to fill the gap, just to make the connection more secure. Also, too much heat will evaporate at least some of the glue that's coating the inside of the shrink tube, making it not quite water-tight.