DaubsNU1

I've done a lot of waterfowl and big game hunting in very cold weather. I can handle down to zero most days and be comfortable. Start with good hat, gloves, socks, and boots. And a neck gaiter. From there I layer starting with good merino wool base layer, then poly layers (never cotton). Can add a down or fleece mid layer. On top I always have a Gore-Tex shell. Sometimes Gore-Tex | Thinsulate parka if needed. Blocks wind and will keep you dry if needed. The wind protection is the most important for me. Some days I look like the Micheline man...but I am warm! I use the heck out of these! Put them in my pockets, and in gloves. They last an entire day. Another key for me is to avoid working up a sweat. Hard when waterfowl hunting...lugging all my gear to the blind, setting out decoys, chasing ducks...work up a good sweat some mornings. Good luck

Have not fished fall much…as waterfowl season and deer season ramp up. With a new boat this year, I think that will change. Of course the 2 year old Yellow Lab really enjoys chasing ducks! And my brother has a 1 year old Yellow Lab chomping a the bit.

My Dad was the last of five kids…all his older siblings were sisters…he was 10 years younger than the next closest (oops). Graduated nigh school in 1959. Worked hard all his life, starting as a painter, then becoming a carpenter. In those days they built houses from the ground up…so he knows how to lay out a foundation, pour a foundation, lay block, frame, electrical, plumbing, etc. In 1962 the building crew split up and Dad specialized with interior trim…basically anything “wood” you see in a house. Kitchens, bathrooms, base, doors, trim, etc. That was the year he stared his own business. I remember him as tough, quiet, and never complaining. Loved to duck hunt and could really make that duck call sing. Took brother and me fishing and hunting a lot. Loved my mom dearly! Great family man, always there to help when family needed assistance…I remember him remodeling kitchens for his sisters and brother in law’s. Was great with cars, and still has his pride and joy, a 1962 Chevy Impala 2 door hard top. It has 80k miles on the odometer. Taught me and my brother a lot about cars and trucks. I talk to him several times a week, text as well. He’s pretty good with technology at 82 years old. Oh, I do have to fix his phone now and then, but overall pretty savvy. Brother and I take him fishing when we can…he’s had several rotator cuff surgeries, and a shoulder replacement…so casting is not an option. We bottom bounce for walleye…he loves it! He is tough as nails and never complains…few months back he was walking up 6 stairs from living room to kitchen…lost balance and fell backwards. Picked himself up, got to kitchen to put dishes away…then walked up 12 more stairs to bed….that was 10:30 PM. @ 2:30 PM got up to pee and could not get out of bed…called me…a trip to the ER discovered he had broken five ribs, and broke vertebrae in his back(!!!!). Spent some days in the hospital for that one. Mom passed away 10 years ago…so grateful Dad is still with us!

Not a golfer, but a deer hunter…I chase Muley’s near this place. Beautiful. https://www.golfdigest.com/places-to-play/ne/sand-hills-golf-club‘ Valentine National Wildlife refuge has some good bass fishing. You are probably better off heading to Florida.

After learning of these forums, I switched all my spinning rods to 10lb braid, connected via Alberto knot to either 10 or 8lb Fluoro. Works for everything I need to throw…

Thanks for advice on vinyl and condition sauce...I was thinking about those. Hot Sauce is great. Makes the boat and motor look new. There are a few dings and paint-touch-ups on this boat. Doesn't bother me one bit. I have the standard aluminum 4 blade prop. A little disappointed it won't hit 40 MPH. There might be a three blade stainless prop in my future.

Never heard of that TM. Very happy with my Ulterra linked to dual Helix 9 MEGA's.

Thanks @airshot. I do have more learning to do...overall it is less work and more fun! A few pics from today.

I've had the Lund for almost a month now. There have been many nights sitting in the boat (in the garage) imagining, planning, thinking, trying different things. Really glad I had the dealership set up electronics. Had it on the water a handful of times, but I'm not catching many fish. I'm spending a lot of time getting things set on the fish finders, trolling motor, big motor, etc. I was super familiar and comfortable with the old boat...had it 23 years...fit me like an old reliable pair of shoes. Knew the ins and outs, and could really concentrate on fishing. The new boat is fantastic! A few pros and cons so far... Cons: It's bigger, and not as maneuverable in tight spots. (but that size will enable me to take this boat on bigger water...where I never dared take the old boat). I do spend more time with maintenance, Hot Sauce getting spots off the motor and boat. (it does look great!) More people want to fish with me. The old boat could fish two, but it was tight, and not comfortable. This boat can fish 3-5, depending on species. I manage people in my day-job, and fishing is my re-charge. Need to find more time to solo fish. Pros: Really love the Ulterra. Makes loading and unloading super simple and easy to do solo. Spot lock is great! I use auto-pilot all the time. Still learning features. The Humminbirds show so much more detail than the old Garmin. Finally got a Zero Line care, so I can now start mapping my local lakes. Again, still learning. Fits in the garage, I can have it on my truck and headed out in under 10 minutes. The old boat was actually longer, and stored behind house in the shop. Great to have center rod storage for 10, a live-well, rod holders (x4), stereo. Wife loves the jump seats. The Bimini top will serve us well. Old boat managed 20mph...the Lund pushes up against 40mph. According to Mercury, the sweet spot for efficiency / MPG is 3,500 rpms. That is about 28mph in the Lund. Nice! (I still have not filled up the fuel tank...) Up on plane quickly. It's been a great outboard. Fishing tomorrow...It's going to be hot.

For what it's worth...In my old 1960 Rich Line, I ran WalMart marine deep cycle battery for 12v foot controlled TM. Had separate battery to run my Garmin Echmap 7sv on the bow, and Garmin Striker 4cv. Hooked them both up to ProMariner 2 bank charger...and left it plugged in 24/7. Held up great for almost three years before I sold it this summer. No issues with the marine batteries. I was dead-set on Garmin electronics paired with Garmin Force trolling motor on my next boat. My brother got a new boat three years ago, and set it up with Ulterra 36v, paired to Helix 9's on console and bow. I was not a fan initially, but after fishing with him, and seeing how much more detail the Humminbirds displayed vs. my Garmin...well, when it came time to outfit my boat...I went with Ulterra 24v, and two Helix 9 MEGA SI+ G4N's. They are powered by standard marine deep cycle batteries. I might upgrade to lithium's in a few years. Right now this set up has been fantastic! The Helix's are networked together, and can share waypoints. But Humminbird makes you buy map SD cards for each unit. I'm still learning all the functions. Congrats on your new boat! Check out tiny boat nation...some good ideas there.

Related to my first wife, stupidest thing I ever said was, "I think we can work through this...." Turns out, we could not. I've been with 2nd wife for 13 years now. Much better.

I had some Fenwick IronThread on my reels for 10+ years...it never seemed to wear out. Did lose color. Keep running what you got.

Chatted with Humminbird support yesterday, and yes, I need zero line cards for both units. While I can share waypoints between units via the network, I will be unable to share auto chart maps. Support said I should auto chart with my console unit...then copy that zero line card to the bow unit's card. I will update when I get this figured out.

Oh, I think a very pretty lady adds a LOT to the story...tell us more! : ) About the pretty lady, of course. I don't really care about a prius transporting a boat....HA!!

I am running 10 lb yellow power pro on all my spinning rods. Mix between 8lb and 10lb fluoro. I use the Alberto knot. Works well for me.

I've been fishing the same Cabela's branded rods since the 1990's....they serve me well. Honestly, I have been avoiding new rods for quite some times...know my personality...fish one great new rod...feel the difference....and all my old Cabela's rods will be parked in the shop, and new rods will be in the boat : ) I am lucky to have Cabela's, Bass Pro, and Scheels in my town. Got to handle many rods including Loomis, St. Croix, Fenwick, 13 fishing, 6th sense, Megabass, Dobyns, and a few others. I went with two Scheels branded rods that cost $49 and $79. They meet a need in my rod stable, and felt good in my hands. My brother just purchased two BP/Cabela's branded Fish Eagle casting rods. They have a good feel. Good luck with your search!!

Wow! With my old boat it was a rule, every time the outboard was running, the PFD was on. With my new boat, I really NEED to have that PFD on, and the kill-switch attached. Thanks for sharing!

I just picked up a Scheels Outfitter Pro Classic 6'-6" medium heavy spinning rod for $79. Line weight 8-15lbs, 3/16 - 5/8 oz lures. Pretty stiff. I like very much.

I wrote a check for my used Lund last month. Wrote a check for our used 5th wheel two years ago. Did financing for my truck...only because it gave me an additional $1,500 off. Then after 6 months, I wrote a check to pay it off. On track to retire in 9 years, Lord willing. Wife hates payments...only payment we have is mortgage, and we are locked in at 2.84% on a 30 year, which we are paying off early. It's been a grind, and it is hard some months. It does feel great when I can save, and save and save...and write one check...and NOT have to pay interest.

New to me boat, dealer set up two Humminbird Helix 9 MEGA SI+ G4N's on console and bow. They are networked together with the Ethernet hub, and I am able to share way-points. I do have Humminbird Lakemaster premium Dakotas and Nebraska SD cards in each Helix unit. Few local lakes are not included on the Lakemaster premium cards. Started mapping my favorite lake...and filled the on-board memory. Visited my local Scheels telling them I want to map my favorite lakes and share the auto chart between the two units. They suggested getting two 32GB blank SD cards...that should do it. But it's not working...and buddy said I need to get two auto chart zero line cards (one for each unit). Do I need the auto chart pro PC software as well? I'm confused. Help me understand. I want to auto chart my local lakes, and share that charting between both Helix units.

That's rough for sure! Picture of my then brand new 1999 Silverado...sticker right around $30k. Parents could not believe it cost more than their first house in the 1960's. The 1986 GMC on the right was purchased by my Dad new at cost right around $14k. I like my Brother's quote: "Buy the boat...get it now...before the price goes up...you aren't getting any younger, and that boat ain't getting any cheaper. Get it now, while you are healthy and can enjoy it. Buy the boat." So I did : )

The only other way I would consider is ordering up a bunch or different rods, and shipping back the ones I do not like. I do that with shoes...I'm an 11.5 | EEEE (4e) width, so my options are limited in stores.

Added a new rod to the stable this week, a Scheels Outfitters Pro Classic [6'6" Medium Heavy Fast 8-15 lb 3/16 - 5/8 oz] Looked at quite a few at my local BP, Cabela's and Scheels, including Loomis, St. Croix, Fenwick, Shimano, etc. For $79 the Scheels rod fills a need, fit well in my hand, and balanced with the Shimano Miravel MIR2500HG. Look forward to wetting some line this weekend.

@Stratocat_Joe, I really like being able to control the TM from anywhere in the boat. Spot-lock is great when I'm tying on a new lure. Or just want to pick apart an area. Remote and spot-lock are GREAT when loading and unloading the boat. Wife sits in the boat...I launch...deploy, spot lock...then park the truck. Then I remote drive the boat to the dock and hop on.

For what it’s worth…I fished an old Minn Kota All Terrain 40 lb cable steer trolling motor with no spot lock for 23 years. It fished well for what I did. I was dead set on getting another cable steer trolling motor with spot lock when I upgraded boats. Here is where life thew me a curve ball. Three years ago my brother got his dream boat, and put a Minn Kota Ulterra on the bow. Initially I did not like it, preferring the quick response to the cable steer foot pedals. Well, three years later, guess what is sitting on my bow…yep, Ulterra. It is networked to two Helix 9’s and I am still trying to figure it all out. I bass fish mostly and the Ulterra has been great. I set the auto-pilot on a path using the remote that is hanging from my belt. It’s quick and easy, and out of the way when I want to cast. I use the foot pedal to make minor corrections as I go along. If I get a snag, or hook a good fish, I can easily tap the spot-lock with my foot. And I’m stopped. Brother’s Ulterra has been rock solid, no issues. You have some decisions to make — repair or replace. Good luck!!