BrianMDTX

Might be an option.

Update: went to Harbor Freight to buy a magnet and some rope. The rope was 75’ with a clip that would easily detach as the clip would get attracted to the magnet. No biggie. I cut off about 25’ of rope and simply tied the rope onto the eyebolt. I tried for almost an hour tossing the magnet off the boat, but it seemed to me that I was pulling the boat more than I was pulling the magnet. Got on shore and tossed it. Dragged it back (nothing) and tossed it again. Forget to hold on to the rope. You can guess what happened lol.

Here’s the clutch bar. Well, 75% of it lol.

Truth is, Austin Powers would be scared of me, except I don’t smell like cabbage. My hands are not large and at almost 65, I’m not all that powerful anymore lol. I think I’m like a person that burns their clutch out by riding the clutch.

Man, back in my youth, I would have been boiling mad at that moment and still fuming about it today. Instead, I was laughing at myself while I headed to shore. Some guy stopped and asked it I needed help, and I said no, my feet are on the bottom. He asked if it felt good (the water, as it was already over 90°). 🤣 I talked to two more guys about fishing while I practicing my casting skills trying to snag my ballcap. One told me that teens in the apartments near the pond have been using caught bluegills as bait and (in his words) caught and kept two 8 lb. bass. I’ve never seen an 8 lb. bass here, but caught one between 6-7. I do think the quality and quantity has diminished due to pressure, and people keeping fish. If true, that stinks.

No, I ended the skunk streak last weekend. I was hoping that it didn’t rear its ugly head again. It didn’t, but the bass got their revenge lol.

So, I must be a fat-thumbed mofo or something. I was fishing yesterday with 5 baitcasting rigs: the two Fuegos I just repaired, a Tatula and two Black Max’s (my oldest of my recent baitcasters). I had a weightless Senko TR on one of the Max’s, and on a cast, something felt funny. I looked and the clutch bar was cracked. Again, on the right side of the clutch bar. I would say that statistically, it’s highly unlikely that I have done something either in storage, transporting, etc. that would damage three reels, all in the exact same spot. So my guess is that I am pressing down on clutch bars too hard during the cast, and using my right thumb, it’s probably more on the right side of the bar vs. the middle or left. I use my thumb more as a brake during the cast and as the bar is in the down/unlocked position, if I’m pressing too hard, it has no give. Except by cracking. I actually like those two Black Max reels, but as they were $45.00 per, I don’t know if it’s worth the cost to repair it. Of the two I replaced on the Fuegos, one was trashed but the other only had a slight crack, and I cleaned it and repaired it with two-part epoxy to keep as a spare. On this Black Max, a 1/4” piece simply cracked completely off. So, the bad news is that reel is damaged, but at least it helped diagnose why my clutch bars are likely cracking in the same spot. Yay, me! 😂

It’s my Ravens AFC Championships hat from 2012, so I’m not getting rid of it. Note; I am NOT wearing it while fishing again! 😂

I’m good. Had to laugh at myself. I’m confident I’ll find the keys.

I went out this morning to see if my luck had changed. Wore a different cap (never wore it before- my wife said maybe it was “lucky”). Fished for two hours with only one light strike. I used a topwater popper, spinnerbait, jig, bladed jig, squarebill, Texas rigged craw and Zoom Trick, and finally caught a dink on a weightless Senko TR. Kept at it and finally hooked a 2+ lb. bass. Although I set the hook quick, it inhaled it. Deep. Netted it and got it in the boat and finally got the hook out. Put it back in the water as fast as possible with grippers and ready my iPhone to take a pic. Got the bass back out out the water and as I was taking a pic, it flipped and flopped wildly and knocked the phone out of my hand…and over the side. I watched it hit the water and start to sink…and without really thinking I reached over and down, down, down…and over the side I went. I surfaced with the phone. I was close to shore so didn’t even try to get back into the boat. I kicked a few times and felt the bottom and towed the boat behind me to the bank. I got out and beached the boat feeling great…until I noticed my truck keys were no longer in my pocket. I have zippered pockets and I ALWAYS put my keys in one, but this time I neglected to do so. I was very close to home, so I called my wife on my work phone (I turned my phone off immediately) and she brought me my spare keys in 5 minutes. I’m fine. I had my vest on, phone is ok (I’m using it now- it hardly got wet at all), and will be getting a magnet to locate my keys (it has my only Snap-On toolbox key on the ring). I felt foolish but at least I was safe. Things can happen in an instant for sure. The lucky hat? It was floating away. I used a bladed jig to snag it lol.

I fish weightless TR’s on a spinning rig all the time. Senkos, Zoom Tricks, etc. Once I add weights, I fish them on a baitcaster.

Why can't you do it? Why can't you set your monkey free? Always buying those new baits Do you hear the monkey or think gear is free ? Why can't you do it? Why do I have I have to listen to the monkey? Hear the monkey? (Monkey) Hear the monkey? (Monkey) Oh, I bought ten baits But I need ten more And I don't know why But I need ten more If he speaks again Like he did just now Like he did just then I’m gonna be poor I've had the rest Now it's time I had the best So when he tells me My tackle box needs more Well I'd write Tackle Warehouse a letter But I think the monkey knows better If I keep on ordering maybe I'll get what I'm asking for

I envy the fishing, but it’s the camaraderie and long-term friendship that’s the real story. I had that for a time years ago deer hunting in the northern PA mountains in a true, old-fashioned Pennsylvania deer camp. Memories such as those are not easily forgotten. It’s everything. From planning the trip, getting there, settling in, eating and drinking together, cracking jokes, playing cards and simply just hanging out with old friends. Enjoy it!

I think Aird-X rods are tough to beat in their price range.

I fish mostly ponds, so about 8’. Fact is though, most catches are in 2’-4’ off the bank.

THE worst thing to add to your washing machine is liquid fabric softener. That’s what gums up the works.

That’s a big damned gator right there!

Platinum Parts and Service. Located in Tampa. They were $2.00 ea. $10.00 to ship.

Nicer, and less wind!

Well, the skunk has been unfunked. Caught 7, but 6 were dinks. But it’s better than a zero! The first one was the biggest by far. I started off with a spinnerbait. I rarely fish spinnerbaits and never as a first option. Never. Didn’t catch anything, but I figured I’d shake the tree. Fished a jig next. Same result. I had a Zoom Z Craw worm on a Texas rig and tried that and also zilch. Took it off and put on a Rage Craw. That caught the first two. Caught two more on a weightless Zoom Trick TR and 3 on a weightless Senko TR.

I didn’t even have my boat in the water yesterday and saw a small 4’ gator swimming closely by the ramp. In an inflatable, I’m always watchful for gators. They’re ornery ‘cause they got all them teeth…and no toothbrush.

When you want to fish all 5 Great Lakes. in one day!

I firmly believe it’s the weather. I refuse to believe anything else! It’s not me, dammit! 😂 On a good note, at least I know both Fuegos that I changed clutch bars on, and cleaned and lubed, worked flawlessly. Well, at least as far as casting and retrieving. Maybe tomorrow I should not use any of my standard baits and just use ones I hardly ever use. If I can overcome the anxiety! 😆

Well, I tossed a spinnerbait today, so that tells you something! 😂 I would have tried a few crankbaits but that hydrilla was unreal. Most I’ve ever seen. NOTE: the “weedless” on my trolling motor is a bald-faced liar! Don’t have one. I haven’t fished a Mepps spinner in decades.

Make it 4 lol. Not one darned bite. Didn’t see anyone else catch a fish either. See what happens tomorrow.