DaubsNU1

Ice is gone, temps climbing. But Marge is still buried in the back of the shop. I need to change oil & filter, replace lower unit lubricant, and get the MEGA 360 installed. Oh, and it's time to service the trailer axle bearings as well. Hopefully this weekend we can get serviced, and then on the water Sunday. Supposed to be highs in the upper 60's!

Great information here. I use a simple Berkely digital fish scale. Every once and a while I will test out just to make sure it's close. @A-Jay, I really like your set up with the fish-grips. Good idea! But I will refrain from posting pictures on a certain Musky forum using that grip...I got put on full BLAST for using that grip, and potentially hurting fish. ** ...I still use it when landing the big, toothy predators **

Good on you for offering to mow neighbor's yard @gim! Offer to do it for the same price as the lawn-service charged last year. That would be fair. One thing to consider...if you double your mowing weekly, you are wearing out your equipment twice as fast. I used to mow lawns in middle-school and high-school to (just had to have those fancy EPI speakers!), and thankfully the neighbor ran a lawn and garden shop, went to Lawn-Boy school, helped me when things broke down. His theory was this...for every yard you mow, in addition to your own, you are adding years of wear and tear on your equipment. Mow five yards a week...you are putting 5 years worth of wear and tear on your mower each season. That's why those professional yard services run "industrial" type equipment. I've seen your Toro, it's great. Something to consider. For the record, I normally mow on weekdays, so not impacting my fishing time. I really love the hour and a half of solitude on the John Deere, cutting straight lines, attempting to make my 2.64 acres look like the outfield at a ballpark. Oddly satisfying for sure!

I am almost always spot-locked, or running the trolling motor and moving along cover, making casts. Rarely, if ever, do I drift. Home lake is full of standing timber...if I drift, I'm running in to something. Spot-lock has been a game changer for me...Instead of tying off on a tree limb, or dropping anchor...I can position on some structure, spot-lock, and concentrate on fishing. Just got MEGA 360 and I believe for the way I fish, it will very much enhance my ability to target brush piles, structure and cover, etc.

I had quite a few of those back in the day. Got away from them. Hated that the reel could "back up" when fighting a fish.

Loved my old Rich Line! It was 12' and came with trailer and the outboard. I added front casting deck and trolling motor up front when I got this back in 2000. Served me well for many years. I could get just about any where a kayak could as far as shallow water. Feels like the boat could handle rougher weather vs. a yak. In 2021 I added the decking, new fish finders, lights, USB ports, etc. Fun project, but no where near what @MN Fisher can do(!). I really liked having a boat. Nice to be able to stand and walk around. Plenty of room for coolers and even a second person. I could even lay down and take a nap(!) My trailer wasn't great, so I had to put on chest waders and get a little wet to get this boat on the trailer. But better than lugging a yak out of my truck bed. Good luck with your decision!!

The MEGA 360 arrived this week...had to order the y-cable today. Universal mount and Sport-track bracket should be here soon. Cannot wait to get this installed and on the water!!

Back in the 1990's I loved throwing the 1/2 oz chrome and blue original Bill Lewis Rattletrap down in Missouri. Lake had stocked Musky and we would hit the dam / rip-rap at sunlight, burning the Rattle trap as fast as we could. Caught quite a few LMB's, and some toothy predators as well! Don't throw much now a days...too much timber to get snagged on. Rather throw a square bill.

I don't really have a favorite NFL team. Kiddos like the Chefs. Boss likes the Donkeys. Good buddy at work loves the Steelers. Have many friends that are Packers fans. I kind of root against the Cowboys and Patriots. I did like the Vikings...before they moved indoors. Tark, Foreman, Eller, Marshal...I got to meet Alan Page...he spoke at our University...I was his driver and "guide" for the day. Kind and soft spoken man. I would love to see the following win a Super Bowl: Detroit -- never been there Bengals -- old NU QB is their Coach...good man Bills -- nuff said Vikings -- even though they play in a dome Cleveland -- as long as Sanders is not the QB

I love walking! Never much of a runner...hated it. Do love to road or mountain bike. I used to put 20 pound dumbbell in my hunting backpack and walk to get ready for deer season. That was 10 years ago. I've been watching my nutrition lately and walking a bit over the lunch break. Haven't lost any pounds, but feeling much better.

Each rod had it's own reel. I do have a few Musky / Pike rods that do not have reels. Purchased them for a trip to Canada two years back. Will be swapping reels on those rods this summer when we make a return trip north.

I purchased my boat used, sight unseen, from a Lund Dealer in Iowa. Pretty much knew what I wanted, and looked for a long time before finding. My brother got an aftermarket bimini top for his Lund Alaskan. It works well and can handle speeds up to 45 MPH. It was ~$500. It doesn't store great in his boat, and takes a bit to set up. I went with the Lund bimini top. It stows in bottom of boat perfectly, and is quick to clip in and set up. And it handles up to 45MPH as well. Heck, my boat can barely make 39MPH. It was pricy @ $1,300, but well worth it in my eyes.

Grew up fishing a sandpit from the bank. Walked a lot, tried many different spots...didn't catch many fish. Always wanted to be on the water...seemed like so many more opportunities. Got a belly-boat and it was GREAT! Then a buddy asked me to fish in his canoe...even better! We would rent john boats with 15HP tillers at the local lake. Got my own boat in ~2000. Game changer! About the only time I fish from the bank is the occasional stop on my way home from work. There are a few small lakes and ponds that prohibit boats, and have fair access from the bank. 99% from a boat...1% from the bank.

^^ Great advice @gim !^^ You may be able to angle your boat to fit better. My third bay was a little shorter than the first two...but angled in, fits nice! I don't even have to use the swing tongue.

@A-Jay, you are not wrong! I need to step up my game. With my previous boat, the old Rich Line, I had to put on the chest waders every time. Kind of nice not having to do that...but I guess if I really want to fish early. ...and, it's 21 degrees this morning with 20MPH northwest winds...and they are now calling for 3-6 inches of snow(!) HA!

Broke record...73 degrees yesterday. Tomorrow high temps in the lower 30's with a dusting of snow. Likely not enough to warrant breaking out the snow blower. All the local lakes are now ice free. But NE Game & Parks probably won't get the docks back in the water for a few weeks. I'm working house projects...before it is time to FISH!

I switched over to 10lb bright yellow braid on all my spinning rods. Leader varies based on rod power and the presentation. Anywhere from 6# to 10# fluorocarbon leaders. For my NED rigs, usually run 6#, but step up to 8# when I'm in South Dakota chasing those bronze-backs.

Have not run the snow blower since 29-November-2025: 31-January stood outside working "parking team" for graduation...it was -4 to star the day. A week later, 7-February, waterfowl hunting as the temps got in to the upper 50's. Yesterday, 9-February, reached record high of 74 degrees(!). Today the high temp should be mid 40's. Hope to have the boat in the water the first week of March...

Interesting thread. My home lake is ~220 acres, and maximum depth is just 20 feet. One of my favorite lakes is an old oxbow lake, once part of the Missouri River. 95% of that lake is 8' or less....there are a few deep spots that get 18-20'.

Depends...is there money tied to this in some way? Or attention / fame? Am I getting some financial gain from this...well then yes, I would most certainly claim the state or world record. That would likely come with some level of notoriety, press tour, endorsement, sponsorship, etc,. and I am fine with that. As long as you are paying me for my time. If there is no money involved, and I would just have my picture plastered all over the internet...nope. Not interested. No money involved = catch the fish, snap a few pictures, and release back in to the wild, as I thanked her for the dance. And thanked God for the opportunity.

Mine is at back of the boat, near the fuel filler and transom. I have noticed the blue light...but never bothered me @ night. Appreciate the heads up @casts_by_fly

On the lake last summer...buddy's ski boat battery died. He got out this little gem, hooked up, and it fired up the inboard with no issues at all. I got one for my boat, and also for my car, wife's car, and gave to our kids as Christmas presents. Better safe than sorry.

I keep Hot Sauce in my boat, spray and wipe down every time I pull the boat out of the water. Made the mistake of not wiping down the boat over a long weekend camping / fishing. Man, those water spots were very hard to remove, once dried. I will not make that mistake again. Great product. I order the gallon jugs on-line.

All of my casting reels are these...most I purchased back in the 1990's...or through eBay in the last few years. I really like how they feel in my hand, and perform. Simple, solid, reliable.

Yep, I'm with you. Two plus years ago I got brand new Helix 9 inch G4N's on my Lund. Now, if I want to get MEGA Live 2, I'm forced to upgrade both those screens to the new Explore models. I'm sticking with the Helix units, and looking to add MEGA 360. I believe it will serve my fishing style better than live-view. Companies are smart...they know to always be changing, upgrading, and moving forward. It's called... Planned obsolescence is a business strategy where products are deliberately designed to have an artificially limited lifespan or to become perceived as outdated within a set timeframe. This practice ensures consumers will need to purchase replacements or upgrades sooner than they might naturally, thereby maintaining steady demand and manufacturer profitability.