DaubsNU1

Could not agree more! My lottery-pick college roommate in 1987 was from Sidney, Nebraska...he started at Cabela's on the phones. We are still best friends 30+ years later. He and his wife worked their way up at Cabela's corporate HQ...he was a buyer and she became VP...it was great times. I got to know several good friends who worked for Cabela's through the years... Back in the day, it was fantastic. I've even met Jim Cabela, a long, long time ago. Things started to change when they went public. It has been a gradual down-hill slide ever since. Getting purchased by BP changed things even more : ( Sadly, my buddy and his wife no longer work for BP/Cabela's. They are both doing well now...no regrets. Makes me sad to visit a Cabela's now...customer service is crap, never seem to have the items I want in stock, or even on their web-site, quality has gone down-hill fast. I still have loads and loads of Cabela's branded rods, clothing, gloves, boots, hats, etc. from back in the day. I am very careful, knowing that I cannot get that quality any more. I do visit BP and Cabela's every once and a while...they sometimes have lures / line that I need.

I still have a few bait-casters spooled with Fenwick Iron-Thread from the 1990's. I don't think it matters much which brand you choose. Since I cannot find Iron-Thread any more, I have a few spooled with Power Pro. Seems to work just fine. All are in the 20-40 lb test. Anything more seems to be over-kill in my opinion.

I would check with the school...they should be able to give you minimum recommendations, and maybe even suggested brand / model. Taxes are high here in Nebraska...my wife's boys both got school issued lap-tops (not Chrome books), from public school district. Schools and roads are good here...but taxes kick my tail. Good luck with your search.

Put the word out locally, search FB market place, Craigslist, etc. Check rural areas... I didn't have much $$ back in the day...found this boat, trailer and 20hp Merc used when I lived in northeast / rural Missouri...guy's Dad has passed away and he was looking to unload. Paid $600. Granted, that was in 2000. It was a solid platform for me to add casting deck, seats and trolling motor up front. It ain't much to look at, but serves me well. I fish lots of flooded timber, and don't mind banging in to things with this old Rich Line, built in 1960. Good luck in your search!

I am with you @MN Fisher. My first vehicle was a 1971 Chevy C-20 two wheel drive...it had 250cid 6-cylinder with "three-on-the-tree" and open differential. Getting around in the snow was not a big problem...you learned quickly, and learned what to avoid. I managed to get in to 4x4 in college...and was surprised how little I used it. I've always had 4x4's since then...would rather have it an not need it, than need and not have. That said, my current truck sits 95% of the time...I drive the Accord for the 65+ mile round trip to work and back. Probably once or twice a year I actually "need" the truck and 4x4. It's nice to have 4x4 when I'm out chasing deer, or need to pull someone out of the ditch, or want to blast around in a snowstorm.

Seen lots of people fishing the Pelican Bass Raider, and yaks, and canoes. I even had a belly-boat back when I first started fishing. If my trolling motor and outboard shot craps, I'd have a difficult time paddling my boat back to the ramp in any kind of wind. And would likely need a tow. I'm 54 and can't stand to sit all day...really prefer being able to fish standing up, and like having swivel seats and ability to move around in my 14" v-hull. When I first got in to fishing, all we had was a canoe. Couldn't do it by myself (we carried it on top of my buddy's Crown Victoria). One of us was always paddling and trying to keep the canoe in the right place. Seems like one person could load, unload, work a Raider or Yak as needed. Belly-boat was pretty d**n fun, I have to admit! Easy to maneuver and fish at the same time. But limited in the areas we could fish...d**n legs got tired trying to kick across the lake. I will tell you, I was pretty d**n happy the day I scored my boat and trailer. Made fishing MUCH easier, and more productive.

Not a fan of running boards, but generally get them so the wife and kids can get in and out. OEM boards look pretty good on the 3/4 ton diesel.

Wife needed new wheels in summer of 2016. We spent two weeks test-driving 10+ different make and models (Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Infinity, Mazda, Subaru). Ended up getting her a 2017 Outback 3.6 (6 cylinder). She loves it! I've done all the routine maintenance myself, including installing new brake pads. It's got 76k miles on it as of today...no major issues...only time it has been in to the dealership was for a computer system software update. About the only negative was the buying experience...that dealership was completely old-school... "I'm going to write a number on this piece of paper...would you agree to buy the vehicle at this price today???" Um, nope... We did opt for an extended warranty, which was a bit shady...but I negotiated the price down from the initial $3,500 to $1,500. Covers bumper to bumper, $0 deductible for up to 7 years, 100k miles.

When I lived in Missouri, fished more cranks for sure. Less moss / weeds / vegitation, more rocks / rip-rap. Here in Nebraska, less rocks / rip-rap, way more vegetation...making cranks a no-go for much of my season. I would much rather fish a T-rig, NED, spinner bait. There is just too much to get hung on where I fish.

I'm no expert...but have watched a ton of documentaries and researched Chernobyl. Lots of information out there on the reactor design, test that led to the explosions, the first responders, the "bio-robots," elephant's foot, etc. Scary stuff for sure. I grew up just just 30 miles from a nuclear power station here in Eastern Nebraska. Honestly, we were never afraid of the plant, even after Three-Mile-Island. We were far more concerned about nuclear war...the Strategic Air Command (SAC) was here. Our teachers joked..."if there ever is a nuclear war, we won't know...all we will see is a bright light...then the pearly gates of Heaven...SAC is likely one of the Soviet's first targets..."

It's been an unusual winter here in Eastern Nebraska. I've fired up the diesel just once : ( 70's last week...26 degree right now...with light snow expected Wed-Thursday. My friends down in Missouri have been hammered this year. We will likely get a blizzard in late March, early April...

Wife said I need to keep the Goat... Said I look like uncle fester with a shaved face.

Love 'em. Texas rigged worms were my favorite for a long, LONG time. Recently got in to Senkos and NED rigs.

Green Pumpkin every time.

Has to be a jig-n-trailer for me. When I was first getting in to bass fishing while living in Missouri in the 1990's, a buddy was teaching me everything he knew. We fished jigs a lot, and I had some success. I'll never forget fishing flooded timber in my belly-boat with a jig. Pitched it in next to the trunk...watched my braid closely as the jig dropped to the bottom (probably 15-16 feet down). Line went slack...then started to move to the right...I set the hook and swore I hooked a stump...then it moved...and started fighting back...wasn't a bass...but a nice Musky! On a Jig-n-craw! Fun battle as he pulled me in circles with that belly-boat. I kicked to the shore and managed to get the jig out and release him. After moving to Nebraska, I stopped fishing jigs as much...mossy lakes make it messy. I should probably tie one on more often...but it's hard to beat a Senko and NED these days.

Used to be a white power-grub on a lead-head. This past year the go-to has been a pumpkin green NED rig. Hard to argue with success....

All my rods, save for one Berkeley, are Cabela's branded...purchased in the 1990's. Several buddies worked at Cabela's corporate in Sidney, NE. I'm told this generation rods were made at same factory as Loomis, with same blanks...just branded Cabela's. They have served me well for 25+ years.

Got in to baseball when our family got cable in the 80's. As a middle-school kid, lots of free time on my hands...there were basically three teams I could watch every day: NY Mets: these were the great teams of Doc Gooden, Straw, etc. I hated the Yankees, and the Mets were not far behind. Nope Cubs: They were very good, with Ryne Sandberg and Harry Caray. All my friends love the Cubs...there were THE team at the time. Pass. Atlanta Braves: They were bottom-dwellers in the NL West for years, but had the great Dale Murphy. So I started following the Braves, even named my first yellow lab, Murphy. Followed closely until my kids were born...then I had too much other stuff going on to pay attention. Nice to see the Braves bring home a World Series last fall...although I have to admit I probably watched less than 5 innings of the entire series. Again, too much other things going on. I do catch youtube highlights at work.

My brother got a Lund Alaskan last summer...Lund was pretty proud ($$$) of their covers...but he found a local guy who would custom build a cover for him...and warranty for life. It will be 1/2 the price. Look around.

A few of my buddies worked for Cabela's here in Nebraska years ago (corporate HQ). They were all die-hard walleye fishermen. One of those guys actually purchased a lodge in Canada, and we still get up there now and then. It's a trophy walleye fishery...and they absolutely slay the "Eyes." I like to eat walleye, but fishing for them bores the hell out of me. I'll go, and it's great to hang with friends, but I'd rather be chasing bass, or even Musky / Pike. To each his own. Doesn't bother me a bit. Brother and I took my Dad to South Dakota last spring to chase smallies. We had a BLAST! Caught tons of fish.

Agreed, I am not a fan of fluoro. Agree again, technique specific rods are a sham. Just another clever marketing ploy by marketing folks to get us to spend more $$. Agree on the booze...in the middle ages, people fermented their own beer / alcohol...it was safer to drink than water. Everyone drank beer : )

I've cut out the following, and feel much better: No fast food, save the occasional salad if I'm really in a pinch No soda / pop or caffeine (stopped in high school, 30+ years ago). Have been gluten free for 4+ years (never realized it caused issues until quit...my wife had to because of health reasons...I did along with her...results have been pretty amazing) Recently stopped eating vegetable oils (google the bad oils...). They are in pretty much all processed foods, chips, dressings, etc. Again, I feel much better. What I do eat? Drink lots and lots of water Three eggs every morning, along with some riced vegetables. Or a protein shake. Protein / vegetables / fruits for lunch nuts and natural peanut butter for snacks, along with veggies. Protein / vegetables / fruits for dinner Additional: Some dairy (love me some cheese), and will indulge in ice cream here and there. Can really tell when I do... Wife is an amazing cook, and cooks up great meals that are gluten free, pretty darn healthy. We will eat the occasional gluten free frozen pizza...aside from that...pretty boring diet. Can't stress this enough...I feel MUCH better eating this way! Every person is different...finally feel like I have cracked the code with my nutrition. I've lost body fat since cutting out vegetable oils...need to get back to consistent work-outs.

I'd rather have it and not need it...than need and not have. When buying a trolling motor, outboard, ATV, tractor, car, truck, etc...always opt for the most power you can afford. You will not regret it. Exceptions: I opted for the 550 Polaris vs. the 850's...mainly because my wife loves to go fast...and the 550's are plenty fast enough. And I opted for the 4cylinder Accord on my "to-work-every-day" driver...cause it gets 32 MPG, vs the V6's 24 mpg...and maintenance is considerably easier / less costly.

Tried braid back in the 1990's...still have a few bait-casters spooled with Fenwick Iron threadit's lasted THAT long. Rest have Power Pro spooled. Made the move to braid-to-leader on all my spinning rods last spring, after reading many posts here. Hated it at first...but now the spinning | braid-to-leader is my favorite way to fish. Casts like a dream. No line memory. Long-lasting. Super sensitive. No shells, and not many rocks in my area...so it's a good set up for me.

I've never been huge. 215 in high school...200's through college and 20's. ~215 in my 30's, 220s in my 40's...and hit my max of 235 last spring @ 54 years old. Decided I needed to get back after it. Down to 220 now. Still refining and adjusting my work out and nutrition. One thing that really made a HUGE difference in how I feel is cutting out vegetable oils(!) Google bad oils...they are in a ton of processed foods, fast foods, dressings, condiments, etc. I eat lots of hole foods -- beef, chicken, fish, pork, vegetables, fruits. My one Achilles heel is cheese. I really need to cut back on dairy. I don't drink caffeine, coffee, soda (I know, I'm crazy!). Hang in there!! Think of this as a journey...not a destination.