DaubsNU1

Great advice here...especially the ethanol free gas suggestion. I run nothing but ethanol free in all my small engines (ATV's, Lawn Boy, weed eater, blower, chain saw, power washer, generator). No fuel related issues in 30+ years.

Just back from vacation on Friday...got on the water yesterday and water temps were low of 64 and high of 65 (Been in the 70's and 80's here). This time of year I am normally gearing up for hunting seasons (duck, goose, deer, upland), but this year I'm fishing more. Following this thread and watching more youtube videos on fall fishing.

Wise words!!

Pinky behind the stem…butt against my forearm. Gives me good leverage to set the hook.

Well, I’ve only owned Shimano…and Chevy, with one GMC thrown in for good measure. Work well for me!

Credit cards for pretty much everything...flying to Maui today for free...credit card miles : ) I do keep a $100 bill tucked away in my wallet...just in case I need emergency cash. Aside from that, it's all cards.

Great advice from @J Francho! I've only owned one boat...but have purchased and sold many vehicles. You are never getting the full story, period! I will always remember my Dad's advice..."when you are buying used, you are always buying someone else's headache." On wood, it often depends on manufacturing date and products used. When I pulled the transom wood off my 1960 Rich Line, it was surprisingly well preserved. The chemicals used in the 60's were pretty stout...they could get away with it back then. My Dad's house has the original Pella wood framed windows...they are rock solid. Whatever chemicals they used back then worked well. The Pella windows in my house built in 2005 were rotting in side of 5 years : ( Good luck!

Well, after not fishing for the better part of 20 years, I think I did okay. Daughters took priority #1, meaning little to no time fishing from 1998 through last summer. Well, now that they are in college (hell, almost finished with college), I finally got the boat out of storage last summer and dove back in to fishing. Much had changed since I last seriously wet a line. I had never heard of NED, Senko, drop-shot, fluoro, etc. Bassresource.com was a Godsend! Fished last summer and fall, and got a new fish-finder for Christmas...then decided to renovate the boat. That was a fun and frustrating experience all at once. Caught some good numbers of bass, challenged myself to try new techniques, Brother and I took our 80 year old Dad to South Dakota to chase Smallies (first time for any of us!). We had a blast. I concentrated on a local lake just 15 minutes from my door...and caught some good numbers...a few 2 & 3lb LMB's (pretty new lake). Think I figured out that lake. Looking forward to some fall fishing, and waterfowl hunting...stoked for deer season. I am still learning, still watching youtube videos, still asking stupid questions here, still experimenting on the water. And still taking my Dad fishing Thursday nights after work. Good stuff!!

My Dad had a modified V-hull, 16', 50hp Merc, I think it was a Lowe. Casting decks, steering wheel, it did what he and my Brother needed it to do. Didn't handle chop well at all. My Brother got a Lund Alaskan this spring. Dad sold his Lowe shortly thereafter. I would highly recommend getting a V-hull. They are hard to beat. Rather have it and not need it, vs. need it and not have it...

I've fished the lake probably 5 times now...caught a few 3 lb bass, lost a really nice bass...but overall, it hasn't produced. Thoughts, suggestions?? What am I doing wrong? I've tried: Spinner-bait, white (most productive, caught all the big bass on this lure) NED (few smaller bass) Senko, black-blue (hooked a nice largemouth, but broke off), green-pumpkin Buzz-Bait, black Wacky-rig Senko Square bill (bluegill, silver, white, craw) C-rig Plopper Drop-shot Worm Jig-n-craw Jerk-bait Area's I've concentrated on: Boat Docks Rock / Rip-rap in all areas of the lake Reeds Deep holes in Southeast corner Lilly-pads Rock points throughout the lake Found schools of baitfish along North shore...caught nothing Thanks!! Daubs

Yes! I keep the completed logs in a 3-ring binder in my shop. Reference them often.

Blue fleck has been a long time favorite. Been fishing green pumpkin lately with good results. Motor oil has been a producer, and black.

I've been keeping a fishing log since early 1990's...modeled it after a friend's father...he grew up in Wisconsin and fished every day! The top half... Brother recommended we get water-proof paper...works well!

The guy who pulled the big wires for my shop in to the main house box is an electrician for the local power company. Can't remember how big the wires were, but they were as big as my thumb...it was a 250 foot run from house to shop / 125 amp circuit. Anyway, he was pulling those wires behind the big wires coming in to the house(!). I asked if he was going to shut off power...he said, "nope. I have a rule...if I get shocked three times in a day, I call it quits and go home. Ain't been shocked yet today...we are good." Scared the crap out of me! Nope, Nope, NOPE!!!

I recently spooled all my spinning rods with 10lb bright yellow PowerPro braid, then to 10lb fluoro leader. Love it! I run everything from weightless Senko's, to NED, to drop shot and shaky-heads. Good luck!

Oh heck no!!...stand and watch (from a safe distance...and so as not to bother the electrician). My Dad (now retired at 80 years old), built houses from the ground up in the 50's and 60's...he could do it all...lay out foundation, pour footings, to framing, electrical, plumbing, etc. In 1966 their crew split up, and he specialized in the interior trim area of home building...but retained all his knowledge and skills. Electrical isn't all that complicated. I've wired three basements and my shop. Even ran 220 from house to the shop (trenchers are cool!). I did not want any part of getting in the box...so hired a buddy to help with that. Going to be a lot of juice running to that charger! Ask questions, see if he's willing to show you a few things...always good to see how things work, in case something goes wrong down the road.

Love me some buzz-bait! I'll throw a plopper if no snags present.

My day-job is very people intense...supervise a large team, provide support for many customers. Fishing is my quiet time...to relax, re-energize, re-charge. I fish by myself most of the time. No radio, just quiet time in nature. I do love fishing with my 80 year old Dad and brother. And with my daughters when they are home from college. I enjoy catching any fish...size is of no matter... And I do love the process of getting ready for the day, getting the rods, tackle, boat lined up and ready to fish. That is all.

Practice, practice, practice. For some strange reason I prefer to cast my bait-casters with left hand...and reel with the right. And with spinning rods, I prefer to cast with my right hand...and reel with my left. I know...CRAZY! But the plus side...when I get tired of casting with my left hand...just switch to the spinning reel for a while : )

The best bass rod is the one you are fishing with, i.e., the one that you can afford. It's all relative...think of cars...my Accord is a great car for me. Price was right, knocks down 30 MPG all day long, maintenance is easy and inexpensive (I can do it myself), and it gets me to and from work each and every day. A Mercedes, Audi, even Acura could do the same...and cost much more...might not be any better MPG...likely worse. And maintenance costs will be higher. Get what the rod that fits your budget, and fish the heck out of it! Note: I'm still fishing the Cabela's branded rods I picked up in the 1990's. I'm sure there are lighter, more sensitive rods out there...but my old Cabela's rods work for me.

All my reels are 20+ years old. I disassemble, clean, and oil once a year. They all do really well. One of my spinning reels was getting a little grouchy...hanging up when I would start to reel. Took it apart, cleaned, applied good grease & oil....good as new. I like the idea of new bearings, but only if existing were damaged or not working properly. And in that instance, I would likely stick with OEM parts. Good luck...let us know how it goes!

I fish alone most of the time...when the big motor is running, my old-school PDF is on. I have been looking in to auto-inflatable's for when I'm on the front deck and fishing...

I'm still fishing 5:1 and 6:1 bait-casters...they do okay for how I fish. They are all 20+ years old... Good luck!

Outstanding!!!

I was born in 1967, and remember... Black and white TV's (not our primary TV, but we had one) Three channels on the television I remember watching Mohammad Ali fights as a kid...amazing! My first vehicle was a 1971 Chevy C-20, with a 250cid 6cyl, and Three-On-The-Tree Dad, grandpa, and uncle drank beer out of steel cans...then made "Polish-Cannon" out of empties...launching tennis balls 300+ yards! Pepsi and Coke sold in 16oz. glass bottles...that you returned to the store... People smoking everywhere...in stores, in restaurants, in hospitals, at the doctor's office... We lived across street from a public pool...never wore sunblock...would get a wicked sunburn the first few days of summer...wore a white T shirt for a few days... Piling the entire family in the front seat of my Dad's pickup...Dad drove, I sat next to him and got to shift (4spd manual), Mom was next, with brother on her lap. Sister sat by the door...none of us had on seat-belts. Full service gas stations