DaubsNU1

Live between Omaha and Blair. First time purchasing non-resident Iowa fishing license. Recommendations for lakes on the western side of Iowa(?) Thanks! Daubs

@Bankc, WOW, just wow! I do all of the maintenance / oil changes on everything I own...truck, car, Mercury, ATV's, pressure washer, generator, make sure the 2-strokes have good fuel and oil (weed eaters, blower, chain-saw, old Lawn Boy push mowers, etc.) I was running 5k miles between changes in vehicles...moving back to 3k now...It's so inexpensive to do it myself...cheap insurance. I write down every oil change with mileage, and document all maintenance. Whenever I sell a used vehicle, provide all the documentation to potential buyers...always seem to get asking price : ) My former brother-in-law leased a Camry, did the oil changes himself, but never changed the filter...it was "too hard to reach." Yep, engine failure...had to shell out $$$ for a new engine, before he turned in the lease. Ugh!

I have three in my tackle box...two shallow divers, one deeper diving. Have not used them in years. Should probably tie one on here soon...

Ugh. Bummer. My brother used straight gasoline in my old Lawn Boy 2-stroke push mower back in the day...siezed the engine. Thankfully a neighbor ran nursery / mowing company...he pulled the engine apart, bored out the cylinders, replaced the piston...that old Lawn Boy is probably still running somewhere. Have a marine mechanic take a look...might be worth it. Maybe not...

Here is where I second guess myself: Moving around the lake, hitting the spots that have been productive in the past...catching no fish...keep moving. When I finally catch a fish on a spot I know to be good...do I stay and pick it apart? Or move to another spot? Never leave fish to find fish...right : ) Or did I just catch the one fish that was active on that spot...and should keep moving to the next spot, looking for active feeders?

We hunted public federal waterfowl production areas in South central Nebraska for the duck season openers many, many years. Game wardens, both state and federal, were always checking us, respectful, just doing their job...except for one. These marshes were walk-in only, no powered vehicles. Wardens would frequently check us when walking out, or at our trucks finishing up the day. A few would walk in through the marsh to check us. No problem, happy to comply. We were hunting along a levee when a federal game warden drives his truck out the levee, and stops 5 yards from us, hops out and demands to see our guns, licenses, shells, any birds we had harvested. Once we were all checked and cleared, we politely asked the warden to move along, so we could finish our hunt. He got a little growly...so I asked if we could drive our trucks out the levee to pick up decoys and gear(?). He said vehicles were not allowed in the federal waterfowl production area. So me being the smart-butt that I am, asked if he has special permission to drive out to us? He got in his truck and left. Jack wagon.

I've replaced a few guides...picked up guides, thread, and epoxy from Mudhole. Also picked up a rod -dryer...I think it was $40.

Good to hear. Thoughts and prayers! DD.

@gimruis, good catch!

Good looking boat. But for that kind of money, I'd rather have @A-Jay's Lund.

Agree with @MAN, downsize and/or try something different. NED rig, finesse worm, wacky Senko. I busted out the beetle-spin last Sunday when nothing else was working...put three fish in the boat. Pick up a jointed, floating Rapala. Toss out...give a good pull (about 2-3'), then stop and let it float back up to surface. Small jig with a white twisty-tail grub seems to work when nothing else will. Early morning, first light, I like to throw a buzz-bait. Just fun!

I am right there with you @ol'crickety! My home lake is a 220 acre flood control reservoir in the metro area, opened in 2018. Nebraska Game and Parks left much of the timber standing, and created some good under water structure, and rip-rap. Not much in terms of "lay downs," although I am seeing more as the trees rot, and fall in to the water. I try to fish spinner-baits and jig-n-plastics as much as possible. Probably my two favorite ways to fish right now. I can cast a spinner-bait in to really tight spots, and bounce off of wood and cover. I love pitching and flipping jig-n-plastic next to trees. Here is a picture of the old creek-channel...it's 13-16' deep between the trees. 3-6' feet deep outside the trees. Should probably stick with SB and Jig presentations longer...when they aren't producing, I am quick to switch to drop shot, wacky Senko, squarebill, or a NED rig.

Excellent advice!

I've been out a handful of times here in Nebraska...water temps finally in to the 50's. Concentrating on jerk-baits, spinner-baits, chatter-bait, jig-n-craw. Busted out the old beetle spin and put three fish in the boat yesterday.

Welcome!!

That's a great story @A-Jay!! And the video was wonderful!

Early 1990's, I did not have a boat, or even a canoe. Buddy worked at Cabela's and hooked me up with a gently used belly boat. I would pull on the neoprene waders, strap on kick-fins, and wade down the ramp in to the lake. Thankfully there was a nice wood filled cove right near the ramp. This was in Northeast Missouri, the lake was used for city-water, so trolling motor only. Oh, did I mention they stocked with Musky(?) I had recently switched over my bait-casting rods to Fenwick IronThread braid. Loved the sensitivity, and could manage a good length case without bird-nesting. I was pitching a jig-n-craw next to trees in about 20' of water. Using my feet / kick-fins to position my little belly boat. Pitched next to a nice big tree...and watched the line...the jig stopped...then started moving to the right..."hello Mr. Bass!" and I set the hook! Knew right away the bass had escaped, as it felt like I set the hook in to a stump. Bummer. Then the stump moved(??!!) I kept the line tight and the fight was on! Pretty surprised to see a nice Musky surface next to my belly boat...he pulled me around in circles for a while before I kicked to the shore. I was able to unhook and release the toothy predator unharmed. And thanked him for the dance.

Dealership supplied the wedge. To my knowledge, Lund & Mercury documentation do not specifically tell you one way or the other. I've always been a fan of the transom saver. It's easy on-and-off. My dealer said be careful with the Wedge...a few of their customers forgot it was installed...and cranked down on power trim, caused damage : (

With the old boat and the 20hp Mercury 2-stroke, left the motor down. No issues with clearance, and it seemed to stress the transom less. New boat came from dealer equipped with the wedge. I swapped it out for a Transom Saver.

@TnRiver46 & @BigSkyBasser, Yep, that's bigger bass than I'm catching in Nebraska by FAR!

I like the 1000 size reels on pretty much all of my spinning rods. I do have a few 2000/2500 size reels.

Picked up a few of these Shimano Curado's in the 1990's, along with Citca's. I like them so much, now when it's time to get a new baitcaster...I run towards eBay... I have four Curado's and four Citca's.

Early 1990's, worked at a small directional University in Missouri. Some faculty told us of the "University Pond" south of town, right off the highway. You could not see the pond from the road...had to hop a barbed wire fence...then walk about 50 yards through some trees. The pond was just a bit larger than a football field...lots of trees had grown on the dam, there were very few places to fish from shore. Rumors swirled about some big bass in that lake, and the people we knew would frequently catch LMB's in other lakes, and transplant them in to this pond. Seemed legit. One afternoon we schlepped our canoe to the pond and fished...always caught a few nice bass here and there. Discovered the pond was max of 12 feet deep. Few weeks later I had some free time and went fishing. I was tossing my favorite lure at the time, a rainbow trout colored Slug-Go on a medium spinning rod, spooled with 8lb Trilene XL. Fishing one of the few open spots on the dam, I was tossing that Slug-Go as far as I could...twitching it back my way. BAM!!, huge strike and I set the hook. Could not believe my eyes when the bass surfaced close to shore. Thankfully I had an fish scale in my bag...this bass weight in just over 8 pounds! Still my personal best large-mouth bass.

Most of my rods are Cabela's brand purchased in the 1990's. Never once did I ever put anything on them besides my sweaty palms. No issues so far.

Had a ProMariner on my old boat for three years...and went with ProMariner on the new boat. They stay plugged in 24/7/365. No issues so far.