DaubsNU1

I use the Nikwax products as well, @A-Jay. Most rainwear has a DWR (durable water repellent) coating. Keeps water from soaking in to the fabric. DWR needs to be re-applied occasionally. My old Gore-Tex has held up okay. Some seams leak, and could use more DWR. I don't fish much in the rain, but I do like Gore-Tex to cut the wind. When it does rain, I have a cheap pair of Frog Togs I throw on over the Gore-Tex...manages to keep me pretty dry.

Buddy @ work grew up about an hour away from State College, PA. He's so very ticked they cannot beat Ohio State...but come on man, 10 win season, and playoff bound.

Funny thing...Indiana absolutely hammered Nebraska. A week later Nebraska was leading the Buckeyes in the 4th quarter. And then Ohio State throttles Indiana. Penn state survives vs. the Gophers. College football is getting to look a lot like the NFL....anything can happen.

I am still holding out hope for a sunny afternoon in the 50-60's where I can get "Marge" back on the water for one last hurrah. Need to look back through the fishing logs, count up all the days and fish. I did boat a personal best for the my time in Nebraska, breaking the 5lb barrier. This was my first full year fishing the new-to-me Lund Adventure. Lots of time figuring things out, honing skills with the TM and fish finders, and trying new techniques. Good old spinnerbait was my top producing lure. Also had good luck late in the summer running cranks over sunken brush piles off shore. T-rigged power worm was another technique that produced some good fish. @A-Jay, I tried and tried to boat fish with jerkbaits, and had a little success in the spring. It's a fun way to fish and I need to keep throwing them. Brother and I made the 19+ hour drive to Canada to chase pike. It was an outstanding trip. We are planning to head back in July of 2026.

Caught PB for Nebraska, 5lb LMB on 6-October. Landed three total 4lb LMB's and three total 3lb LMB's this year fishing in Nebraska.

This is a great and timely thread! Thanks for posting @Darth-Baiter, and thanks for serving as that constant motivation @A-Jay! Ten plus years ago my wife was hospitalized due to complications of ulcerative colitis. About wrecked her. She went gluten free, and I joined her shortly after...no need to make two different dinners. Over the years we have eliminated other things -- sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, vegetable oils, processed foods, etc. Mainly eat eggs, beef, pork, chicken, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and occasional processed item. Wife makes her own dressings and sauces from scratch. Truly amazing how much better we both feel. I've been slowly getting back to exercise, strength training, walking, and improving balance. Gotta keep grinding!!

It it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, and swims like a duck...well, you get the picture. Best to just move on from that group. I'm pretty darn competitive, but never fished tournaments. Didn't own a kayak, and my previous boat did not have a live-well...so no tournaments for me. I likely won't start fishing tournaments any time soon. My time on the water is more about disconnecting from work, and people, getting back to nature, and enjoying God's creation.

Just like @MN Fisher, I have gone braid to leader on all my spinning rigs. It was really a game-changer! Improved casting distance, better feel, better hooksets, and I'm even using my spinning gear for techniques normally reserved for casting gear. About the only downside is the time it takes to tie the Alberto knot...but I'm getting better.

@gimruis, yep, nothing to see here.....😉

Why fish for bass? They are plentiful in Eastern Nebraska. They bite on a variety of lures, shallow, mid-depth, and deep water. They are aggressive and strike everything from fast moving top water to slow moving t-rigged plastics. I don't care to fish tournaments. I manage a team of eleven, who serve thousands of customers. My days are spent answering phone, e-mail, staff questions, etc. On weekends or the occasional vacation, I enjoy my time alone on the water...peace and quiet (or with my Dad and/or Brother). If I lived in Canada, I would target Pike and Musky all day long. If I lived in South Dakota, it would be SMB's. I like casting and retrieving, and moving from spot to spot.

@casts_by_fly I picked up this trailer dolly from Amazon. @A-Jay has a great set up, but I have a big lip going from driveway to garage, and needed something with bigger tires.

@gimruis as much as it pains me to say...I agree with you 100%. Curt Cignetti has caught lightning in a bottle...I wish them well. IU destroyed Nebraska....then, just a week later, the 'Skers went to Columbus and actually led the Buckeye's late in the game...only to get beat. And remember, Nebraska smacked Colorado around...now the Buffs are ranked, and being discussed as potential Big 12 championship caliber. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing. One thing I will say, it certainly feels like Ohio State and Michigan seem to get favorable calls from the men in stripes. Good luck Hoosiers!

Ugh, not good. Sadness. I have hunted out of a tree stand a few times when living in Missouri. Always scared the crap out of me. Since moving back to Nebraska...I hunt deer in the Sandhills...no tree issues : ) Stay safe out there people! Thanks for the reminder @Glenn

@mcipinkie & @gimruis have good points...starting off with a 21', 250HP bass boat might not be the best idea. Heck, my old 14' Rich Line with 20HP Merc scared the crap out of me, and it only made 20 MPH. Just one small mistake, one moment of not paying attention, and things can get bad really fast.

Outstanding!!

Last year I moved the boat from garage down to my shop for winter storage. Changed engine oil+filter, spark plugs, bottom end lubricant, and shot some grease in the bearing buddies. Full tank of ethanol free, alcohol free gasoline, and called it good. Shop is unheated...left the batteries in the boat and the charger plugged in all winter. Worked just fine (contactect charger manufacturer and they said leave it plugged in all winter). This winter I'm keeping the boat in the garage, and plan to work on the Chevy K-20 restoration in the shop. I will likely pull the bearing buddies and repack the bearings on the boat trailer, and do all the required maintenance on the Lund here in the next few weeks.

I'm still fishing the Cabela's branded rods and Shimano Curado and Citca's purchased in the early 1990's. My Dad still has two "d**n Quick" reels from the 1960's, although they do not work well.

Chasing fowl this weekend. Ranger got some work in...

Duck hunting this weekend...supposed to rain, high's in the mid 50's, lows in the upper 40's. Still keeping the boat ready...I hope to get a few more days on the water before freeze.

As a kid, we grabbed out pillow cases and ran the neighborhood stocking up on candy. What fun!!! My daughters are 26 and 24, wife's boys are 22 and 20...none of them live with us...and now that we moved to the acreage...we get exactly ZERO trick-o-treat'ers at our house. Sadness : ( When we lived in the city, and our kids were younger...groups of Dads would meet up with our kiddos, a wagon, and a cooler of adult beverages. The Dad's would walk kids around to houses...and the wives would hand out candy and sit in driveways. At the end of the night we would all gather at one house, get a driveway fire pit going, finish the adult beverages...and the kiddos would swap candy. Glorious times!

Chasing waterfowl this weekend. Probably keeping the boat in the garage this winter...need room in the shop for old truck project. Christmas list includes a sand-blast cabinet, and a bed / cab hoist (you can see where my mind is...)

This is a business decision. I have never seen a business "restructure" things with the end result of making less money. Nope....it's always about making more money.

Wife and her son do meal prep on Sunday's. Some weeks I throw meat on the smoker...this week it was Greek buda-bowls. Five bowls each...15 total for the week. Dang good! Aldi's chicken breast Home made street corn Home made dressing Cabbage, vegetables and a little brown rice underneath

Great year @gimruis!! @Tennessee Boy, I am offended(!) 🤣 I should say Indiana Bones McClane and Ranger Ellis Boyd Redding are offended : )

Good luck with your search! You can gain some inches here and there by angling boat in...My Adventure 1775 fits in the third bay that is 19'5" long front to back. I don't even have to use the swing tongue. It's a tight fit, but it works. DD.