@A-Jay & @MN Fisher, yep, 100% agree...wife is smartest move I ever made.
Okay, to be honest, divorcing Mrs. Daubs #1 was a super smart move, considering all the facts involved...and marrying Mrs. Daubs #2 is still tops on my list.
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Always. Sometimes a simple twister tail. Sometimes a split tail. But always something.
I remember breaking three tips on rods:
I've never had a rod blow up on me from a "magnum opus hook-set"....although I keep trying : )
Watched a friend fighting a snag...grabbed his rod about two feet from the tip and started to pull....he snapped that rod before I could get the words out of my mouth. Ugh.
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Brother and I are always looking for ways to do things easier, tips, tricks, etc.
Know I have hit on something when Brother sends me this...
Been thinking about ways to load the B&H companion 5th wheel hitch and generator in to the back of my truck.
I'm 57 and can still muscle them in there...but those days are numbered. I do have an engine hoist, but it's down in the shop, and cannot take it with me.
Stumbled across this today. Genius Gump!
What's are some of your "Genius Gump" moments?
((Note: the first time I witnessed my Brother's Minn Kota Ulterra....yep, Genius-Gump moment for sure!))
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Last night, watched Nebraska dominate Iowa for most of the game. Just a few plays turned victory in to defeat...and yet again, a last second field goal spells doom. Ugh.
If you would have told me Nebraska makes a bowl, beats Colorado and Wisconsin...I would have taken that. So I need to shut my yapper and stop complaining.
Now I'm just rooting for chaos.
What I really want see is southern / SEC teams travel north for playoff games ; )
Moved to house on a few acres in 2018....and it had 40x30 building. I've been slowly and steadily making improvements through the years...walls, loft, power, lights, workbench...etc.
Took this...
In to this...
Wife has done amazing things in the house, kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, basement...she's pretty amazing!
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Last year the goals were to learn my boat, TM and electronics, fish off-shore, catch a 5lb LMB, catch 40" Pike in Canada, and most of all, get my 83 year old Dad on the water as much as possible. He landed a sweet 22" Eye early last spring.
Thankful to have hit all the goals for 2024.
Goals for 2025:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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@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.
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12 hours ago, gimruis said:(unless you consider Nebraska a quality opponent, which I do not).
@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!
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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
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@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!!
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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.
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Autopilot trailer loading / unloading
in Bass Boats, Canoes, Kayaks and more
Posted
Yep, I went swimming a couple of summer's ago when the auto-deploy on Ulterra got hung up. Thankfully it was late June, and water temps were in the mid 70's. But still...
When there are other boaters around, I use auto-deploy and spot lock to minimize my time blocking the ramp.
When there is no one else around, it's the tried-and-true rope method.