DaubsNU1

I picked up a Fenwick HMG on clearance at Scheels last summer. Wish I would have gotten a few more. I really like.

Dad loved fishing is ultra-light spinning rods d**n Quick reels. NE Game and Parks stocked trout and we would go every spring. I remember Mepps, Panther Martins and tiny Dare-Devils. He did have some Lazy-Ikes. I loved throwing my Dad's the Jitterbug and Du-Dad. Brother and I would sit for hours looking at his tackle box, imagining all the great fish we were going to catch!

Old mechanic told me years ago to replace car and truck batteries ever 3-4 years. Living in midwest we can get below zero winters, and triple digit summer temps. Replacing batteries before they fail is cheap insurance vs. getting stuck. I did purchase a pretty good battery tester last summer. Foxwell BT705. My cranking battery in the Lund was acting strange...tested out bad, so replaced. I think it was 2 years old. ATV's and the John Deere x750 have battery tenders on them 24/7/365. They live in the unheated shop. I ran the x750 battery down to dead then replaced. I wasn't too worried about getting stranded in my yard : )

Where I'm fishing, a three pound bass is considered "big." I have caught exactly one bass over 5 Lbs in Nebraska. Hawg!

I'm feeling it right now... Been working on a bathroom remodel for the wife...two new windows and a new bathtub, both installed by professionals. My duties included tearing out the old tile, removing base and trim, installing new backerboard and porcelain tile. Started Saturday morning with a trip to Menards and the tile store. Got the GoBoard fit, cut and installed. Projects just seem to take longer the older I get. Spent a lot of time Sunday getting the vinyl snap in flooring fit around the curved tub. What a pain in the tail that was(!). Also had to rummage up some new base and shoe, and get that all fit back in. Mowed the lawn, then Daughter and her fiance were over for dinner (Smoked some pork butts). Today I nailed trim around window, and base/shoe, then busted out the 30 year old tile saw. That didn't end well...thankfully my neighbor is a super-handy-man, and loaned me his Rigid tile saw. That made the job so much easier!! I really like laying tile, but the layout and preparation take a lot of time. I spent an hour and a half cutting three holes in the tile for the faucet. My drill bit was super slow. After 12 straight hours I finally set the last tile. Cleaned up, popped some ibuprofen, and took a shower. I'm still wide awake...but my body hurts from all the kneeling, standing, bending over to cut tile, kneeling again, getting back up. Did not fish once this weekend...but the bathtub is finished! Grout and caulk are next. Wife is pretty darn happy!

On advice from @A-Jay, I went with the Mustang HIT auto inflate PFD. Then picked up four more to have in the boat for other peeps. I think they may be manual versions...can't remember...I think they were on sale.

Brother got an aftermarket bimini top for his Lund Alaskan. It goes up fairly easily and can withstand 45 MPH (his boat hit 38 MPH max). He really likes it, especially when we have Dad in the boat. Keeps it in the boat 100% of the time. We used it a lot on the Canada trip last summer. Kept the rain off us. I got the Lund version for my Adventure. I think it was ~$1,300. It sits on the floor and tucks under a lip and is really out of the way. Stays in my boat all the time. I've only had it up once in the year and a half i've owned the boat.

@woolleyfooley that coat should keep you dry. Poly coating is not going to "breathe" at all...so you might get sweaty underneath. Decision has been made...I am going with the REI Teris GTX Jacket in Large-Tall ($174), and the Simms Challenger bibs for $173, both in black. I already have an REI Gore-Tex jacket in Large-Tall I picked up on sale a while back. It's very light weight and packable. The GTX is heavier and seems to be made of more durable material. I really like the fit of the REI jackets, and the added body length with the tall version. The Challenger bibs are what I would call middle weight...not as light as my old REI, and not as heavy as the GTX. The Large fit, but were a little snug around the middle. I went with XL to have room to layer up should the weather turn. I really liked the Callan Jacket for $149. Very light weight like my original REI jacket, hood fit better than the others. But the sizing was not as good. Large was a bit snug, and XL just a bit big in the body. And not as long in the back. My brother has been looking for new rainwear, and stopped by to try on a few sizes. Worked out well for him (and me)...he's keeping a set of bibs and the Callan jacket. The rest are getting shipped back.

I would think as long as it's Mercury 10w30 you should be just fine. The wording that goes along with "synthetic" gets a little foggy... I used to fun Mobile 1 Synthetic in all my vehicles. Now I run Walmart Super Tech full synthetic, and I am changing oil every 4k miles. I don't care what the "engine oil life meter" says. My boat gets new oil and filter every spring. I don't care how many hours...new oil and filter every spring.

That reel does look cool @ABU is overpriced. I'm just more of a function over style kind of guy. All of my casting reels are old Citica or Curado's from Shimano. I like them for the feel and function...don't care that they are all old-school silver or green. Just ordered some new rain bibs and a jacket...went with black for both. Those white or bright colored fishing rods look neat...but just not something I am in to. To each his own. I'm sure if rod and reel manufacturers thought they could make an extra buck here or there, they would (and will) come out with new colors. Tight lines friend!

Sadness for sure @jbmaine! Hang in there. And keep fighting the good fight! All of the lakes around me are man-made reservoirs built and controlled by the NE Game and Parks. Cannot build houses on them, so that helps a lot. And NEG&P has done a good job engineering and designing. They have even "renovated" a few local lakes that were full of Zebra muscles. They do stock a lot of fish, including LMB's, some SMB's in select lakes, along with walleye, pike and Musky. In our neck of the woods, if you can see 2' in to the water, that is considered very clear(!). We get lots of moss and green scum throughout the year. Biggest issue we deal with is fishing pressure and those who like to keep everything they can to eat.

Mustang Survival and Simms have sales going on right now. REI has a sale this week as well. Kuiu has their Kutana Storm Shell Jacket on sale right now for $287.

Could not agree more on the blue fleck power worm! Fished them a ton back in the 1990's and early 2000's when living in Missouri. Kind of got away from them for a few years...then "re-discovered" recently. For the 10" PW's, I use a 5/0 or even a 4/0 EWG Gama hook.

I carry one of these on my key chain (car), and also have one just a bit larger the center console. Fun story: I used to take this pocket knife off my key-chain when flying. But a few years back read that blades could be under 2.36 inches were allowed. In February of this year I passed through TSA with this knife in my backpack on the key-chain, and another in my diddly-bag. Wife and I do not check bags...it's all carry-on for us. No issues getting through TSA. Flew to Costa Rica. Boarded plane in Costa Rica to come back to USA with same two pocket knives in my possession. Again, no issues with TSA. Return to Houston, and make it through customs...then have to walk through TSA security check again to board connecting flight home. And I get flagged for inspection. TSA agent scolds me and says, "You can't have this in your possession." I looked her dead in the face and said, "Well, then how did I get on a plane in the states, fly to Costa Rica? And then board a plane in Costa Rica and fly here with those in my possession?" She growled, then asked if I wanted to check my two small pocket knives, or surrender them to the TSA for disposal. Throw them away... Got through TSA, got on Amazon, and ordered up a new swiss army knife...it was at the house two days later.

I stopped using mono on casting rods in the early 1990's. Moved to braid and never looked back. Stopped using mono on spinning rods 2020 when I found this site, and was enlightened to the benefits of braid-to-leader. Game changer for me!! I have stashed some mono in my boat for use on Carolina rigs, but strictly as a leader material.

Lots of sales right now. I'm ordering up a few different sizes of the following. Simms Challenger Bibs (Black, Gray, Tan), $229 --> (25% off) = $173 Mustang Survival Callan Jacket (Black) $249 --> (30% off) = $174 REI Co-op Teris GTX Jacket (Black, Tall w/ pit zips) $249 --> (40% off) = $149 I have an older version REI Gore-Tex jacket without pit-zips. It's pretty light weight and seems good quality. I like the tall version...extra few inches of back length.

Looks like a good lineup! Strong work!

Welcome @Davefishes2366!! This is a Great site with FANTASTIC contributors & moderators. I have learned so, SO much here! Search is your friend, and read, read, read. I am a part of some other species specific boards, FB pages, forums...and Bass Resources is 100%, absolutely the best and most friendly! If you are catching fish in your lakes and ponds, keep fishing with those lures. What works in some parts of the country might not work in other parts. I love fishing a jig-n-craw, but it just doesn't produce in some lakes. Good luck!!!

Small pond in town, walking trail, lots of foot traffic. Small fishing pier and even has a two fountains for aeration(?) or decoration(?). This pond is stocked by NE Game and Parks with rainbow trout. There are bluegill, bass, and catfish in there as well. Lots of kids fish it. About two years ago a buddy at work figured out way to catch some lunker bass....he noticed kids catching bluegill off the pier, and tossing them back in to the water. He caught a bluegill, back-hooked it, and tossed under the pier. Large LMB's were lurking, picking off the bluegill kids were throwing back in. My buddy claims he landed a few bass in the 8-9lb range! (I've seen the pictures...HUGE!). My advice to him was this...tell NO ONE! Don't post any pictures! And don't use that technique any time there are people around. Whelp, he couldn't keep his mouth shut...and the gig was quickly up. I fish that pond now and then...catch lots of dinks...waiting for the lunker to strike : )

Outstanding work @T-Billy! In just a few short days you have equaled my lifetime Musky haul! Very impressive!!

@gim @MN Fisher, I'm an 11-1/2, with a 4EEEE width. Growing up I would just jam my feet in to anything that remotely fit, and suffer for a few weeks until the shoes stretched out. It was either that or head to the orthopedic shoe place. New Balance came on to the scene, and that changed things dramatically! There are a few manufactures out there that make 4E / EEEE width shoes. Cabelas made some 4E shoes and boots a while back, but when BPS purchased they discontinued. And... I have a giant head as well...size 8 hat(!). Large feet and large head...you know what that means....large shoes and large hats. HA!

I have a 4E (EEEE) wide foot. Options for any footwear are very limited, Lots of New Balance, Dunham, etc. If anyone knows of good 4E work boots, let me know.

PowerPro green 20lb braid.

Agree with @A-Jay, the Chuckit is wonderful! My yellow lab will run / chase / retrieve the ball all day long. We seriously have to limit him when the temps get up there...I believe he would run himself to death. Our 18lb Shiba Inu has learned to retrieve as well. He's a flight risk...must be tethered when outside. I stand at the end of his rope...throw one ball towards the house that he can retrieve, and launch the other ball in to the yard for the Lab. Both my dogs love the nyla-bone chew toys. Have to remember to pick them up at day's end...stepping on one barefoot is worse than stepping on legos(!). Bark Box has some good "indestructible" toys...with time they get beaten up pretty good.

Ha! Well played! I had a Garmin Ecomap side view in the past. Excellent unit! Strong work!