DaubsNU1

Wow @TOXIC, good on you for helping out!! I grew up in the city, Dad was a finish carpenter. We would help him unload lumber at times, and helped move big projects here and there. Not hard work...and not very often. Uncle had a farm (no livestock), and another Uncle had a Ranch in the Sandhills. As a kid we LOVED going to the farm and the ranch! Great times! But we never had to "work" per say. Having livestock is a 24/7/365 gig for sure! Buddy is a service manager for local GM dealer...has been for 30 years. Got his son in the door...but he hated it. Always wanted to head west and work a ranch in the Sandhills (he grew up in the city as well). He finally pulled the trigger...and is a ranch-hand on a 20,000 acre set up about 5 hours west of here. Loves it!! Again, good on you for helping out! Hang in there!!

When fishing with my Dad and Brother, someone will say, "are we ready to make the call?" (i.e., call it a day...) Then someone else will say, "Yep, let's call it...." And we all begin to reel in lines, and prepare for departure back to the ramp.

Agreed!

I'm no tech / computer expert...but have been building my own computers since the early 2000's. I run ESET NOD32 antivirus. Has served me well for many, many years. I think it's $40 a year.

I don't sleep well, usually up and on the water well before sunrise. When it's going to be really hot, I'll fish until around 10-11 AM, then head for home and the air conditioner.

Fishing does four things for me: Outdoor / alone time: I supervise an eleven member team of customer service-types. Lots of e-mails, phone calls, people walking up to my workspace, asking questions, lots of personal interaction all day long. Weekend mornings spent on the water, in complete silence...just me, the boat, and fish. Regeneration. Planning / preparation / execution: I love to plan, prepare, organize...it's part of my DNA. Getting the tackle ready, the boat prepared, truck maintenanced, etc...brings me joy. Problem solving: Every outing is a new adventure, a new challenge, a new opportunity to catch a bunch of fish, find new fish, catch a PR. Keeps my mind moving and the critical thinking skills on point. Time with family: Unintended benefit of getting a new boat in 2023...the wife actually joins me on the water(!) She doesn't fish, but loves to float around with me, bring snacks, read her book, have a glass of wine. And the time fishing with Dad, Brother, Daughters, Nephew, wife's Boys, friends...what great memories! Sometimes I need a break from fishing. Doesn't happen often. I truly love time on the water.

I think tire manufactures use the standard of "max cold tire pressure," meaning you set PSI when not driving, or heating up the tire. Sure, the tire pressure is going to rise when you drive, especially in warm weather. I believe they account for that in the stated MAX PSI when cold rating. If you wanted, a person could lower PSI after driving for a while...and keep tires at MAX pressure when warm. And I agree that car manufacturers use recommended tire pressures lower than MAX to improve ride. My 2500HD states front tires at 60 PSI, rear at 70 PSI. Tires I'm running have max of 80 PSI stated on sidewalls. I run 65 up front, and 70 in back. Most I've seen the tires heat up is around +8 PSI. I think as long as you are not underinflating tires, you will be good to go. And remember to get new tires every 4-5 years.

Buddy was driving University owned K-Car to a conference in Wisconsin in the mid 1990's. He was behind a semi that smoked a large buck. Fell right in front of that car...nothing they could do but grab the wheel and hold on. It was reportedly a "Dukes-of-Hazzard" type moment...I wasn't there, but everyone in the car swore they got all four tires off the ground(!) Managed to save it...drove to the conference, then 8 hours back to Missouri. d**n tough little k-car. I believe it got totaled out. Good story though...

Largest LMB I ever caught was 8lbs, was bank fishing. I've caught some Pike close to 13bs, the big net sure helps. A 15lb LMB...I would likely faint! That would beat the Nebraska State record by almost four pounds!

I was fishing my home lake few weeks back. There are some good LMB's and Pike in that lake. Just before sunup I had a swirl and miss behind my buzz bait. Dang, missed a Pike I thought... Few minutes later a monster hit! And I was sure a Pike was on the line... Nope, eleven pound cat

Been a steady decline for Dad. We are moving him to assisted living next Tuesday. Did all the tours, meetings, walk throughs, etc. He's pretty happy with this facility...he got the last 2 bed, 2 bath room in the place. It's near my sister, brother and me. Dad wisely purchased a long-term care insurance policy 25 years ago. He will be well taken care of. Smart man! It's tough watching Dad steadily decline like this. His balance is bad, memory is fleeting, very hard time getting in and out of chairs and bed. Does have a lift chair (recliner). That helps a lot. Excited to him to be around more people his age...he's been living alone since mom passed 13 years ago. Did have a couple of girlfriends...but the last broke up 9 months ago. It's the circle of life...

Certainly! On the 4th of July my Brother, a buddy, and my wife's boy were jigging minnows and leeches next to the dock. Several people were lounging on the pontoon tied on the dock, drinking adult beverages, my wife, SIL, and a few friends were on a lily pad just feet from our position. All of the sudden the bite was on...we landed several crappie and bluegill, a 3lb LMB and two in the 2lb range, a few small ones. Then an 18" walleye and a even a gar(!). After about 30 minutes it shut off. It was fun! I caught a small 12" LMB and tossed it on to the lily pad...it swam right by my wife as the ladies shrieked and cursed me : )

Heck yes! @Dirtyeggroll gave me some great advice on a local lake, lures and colors to try, and even a few additional tips. It was very much appreciated!!!

Fishing shows back in the day (Virgil Ward, In-Fisherman, Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin), all had an impact on me. I would see them catching fish on _____, and immediately think I needed that lure, or that rod/reel set up, or to be fishing that lake, in that way....all in order to catch fish. Now with YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc., it's even worse. Keep reminding myself they are all out there, posting those videos, trying to get clicks, sell product, increase "influence," and make a buck. I think it was my Uncle who said, "The world is all about separating you from your hard earned $$$" (or something like that). This thread is a good reminder to settle the heck down, get back to my roots, and fish with what's catching fish. Case in point...on Sunday I set my wife's boy up with a 1/16 oz. jig and gulp minnow...a known producer on my home lake. He proceeded to catch 5 panfish while I threw a blue fleck power worm, then a swimbait, then a jig-n-craw...and caught nothing. Then I gave in, and tied on the gulp minnow...and started catching crappie and bluegill...and even a 17" LMB, and a few small LMB's.

Under-inflation can cause lots of problems with tires. @FloridaFishinFool speed rating is hugely important!!! I always run my trailer and 5th wheel tires at max recommended PSI. This is measured when tires are cold. PSI will increase as you drive...that is normal and expected. Another very important issue is tire age. I replace tires after 5 years regardless of miles and tread wear. Last thing you want is a tire doing the grenade thing on the road. Pain in the tail! We picked up a 5th wheel camper back in 2020. Tires looked pretty good...I replaced all four this spring...noticed the tires were nine years old(!). It was a good thing I did replace them...one of the tires had a large bulge that I had not noticed...tire guy said I dodged a major bullet right there. Whew!!

HA! Agreed! About the only thing my fishing log helps with is remembering the stories, and the fish details.

I like to fish. I measure and track my catch most every trip. Even log barometric pressure, water and ambient temp, moon-phase, etc., etc. It's all in a effort to crack the code. I've never even come close to cracking the code(!) I don't fish tournaments. I have a good boat and good equipment. Most of my fishing rods are 20+ years old...all of my casting reels are that old, or older. I do have some newer spinning reels and rods. I am around people a lot during my day-job...supervise a team of eleven, three of them are remote employees living out-of-state. On weekends I get in my boat, no radio, no one else...just me and nature. The wife does join me some days. I kind of like her : )

Fished my sister's dock at her cabin (sandpit). Picked up minnows, crawlers and leeches. The wives and nieces were on the lilly pad and in the pontoon...we were standing between them jigging next to the dock. Landed a 3lb LMB, three more in the 2lb range, a nice 18" walleye, and a crap ton of crappie and bluegill. To be honest, my brother did most of the fish catching. Good times!

My brother started a non-profit to help get kids fishing. He takes groups of 3-4 kids out on his boat (parents or guardians must also attend). He used to troll bottom bouncers with spinners and worms...would catch the crap out of bluegills suspended 8-10 feet down. Lots of work and the rigs would get twisted and tangled a lot. He has since simplified his rigs...a simple 3/4 to 1 oz. egg sinker, then a swivel and 2-3 foot leader. Ties on the smallest of squarebills....not sure of the size, maybe 3/4 of an inch long. They slay the gills!

Got the bimini top with the boat in August 2023. My brother has one and uses it often. It's a little taller and longer than mine. I mainly used when the wife joins me, she likes to be out of the sun. And also when the dogs join us. I have found it hard to fish around. Today was fishing and it started to rain. I put up the bimini top and continued to fish. Rained hard for about an hour. No worries. Surprised how dry the forward storage stayed. One of the jump seats had some wet items...I think the bimini top was draining right in to it. Bimini top for the WIN!

Taking my 84 year old Dad to sister's cabin on a lake. Will be a great time! Sister is making Mom's potato salad, brats on the grill. Good times!!

Roger that @A-Jay! Daughter's old basketball coach had a saying..."get your work done early." My daughter still references that saying...good words to live by.

Ugh. That stinks. I now wear ear plugs for pretty much anything loud -- lawn mower, trimmer, chain saw, power wash, shop-vac, any power tools, at all concerts, etc. And eye protection in any situation warranted, even some where it's overkill. Better safe than blind...

Like a lot of things...wish I had made changes earlier in life. Have ringing in my ears...no ear protection in the duck blind. Grew up next to a public pool...we never wore sunscreen in the 70's and 80's...would just get horrible sun-burn, wear a white t-shirt for a few days...then we were good to go(!). Super dark and tan at the end of the summer. And when we were not at the pool, went to the cabin on the river...more time in the sun. Wife and I joke we are putting our dermatologist's kids through college : )

Nope. Caught my PB in the middle of summer, small pond in NE Missouri...on a weightless Rainbow trout colored Slug-Go. Three pounds larger than any LMB have landed to date. Cannot imagine what that fish would have weighed in pre-spawn.