DaubsNU1

Usually try to be on the water before sunrise. Normally fish until lunch, or sometimes longer...depends on the "honey-do" list I have waiting for me when I get home : )

I'm running a medium power, 6'-6" | 6-12lb | 1/4-5/8oz spinning rod with Shimano Nexave 2500 reel. 10lb yellow Power Pro, 10lb Fluoro leader.

Bait-casters are spooled with braid, and braid only. I was not a fan of braid on my spinning rods, and leaders....well, hard no. Read countless posts here talking the pro's of braid-to-leader...and decided to give it a try. Now all my spinning rods are spooled with high-vis-yellow PowerPro 10lb, to 10lb fluoro leaders, via Alberto knot. LOVE IT!

What brand are your nets? I'd like to get a net big enough for Musky.

This guy! He's 80 now...even after four rotator cuff surgeries, and a shoulder replacement, can still bring it!

Looks good...SEND IT!

I have rods spooled with the following: Fenwick Iron Thread: really old, still works great...think I have a spool or two stashed away. Good stuff. Spiderwire: Have one rod spooled with this...works well. No complaints. PowerPro: Love the 10lb bright yellow braid for my spinning rods. Do have PowerPro on a few bait-casters...works well.

1960 Rich Line with a 1974 20HP Merc.

I have spent most of my life in Nebraska... ^^ This. Is. Truth! ^^ (I'd rather drive Highway 2 through the Sandhills and zone out...much better scenery...) My home lake is a 15 minute drive. Some favorite lakes are within an hour drive. Others are 4-6 hours away. I love listening to an audio book, or cranking up the tunes.

I'm not super picky about getting the perfect rod for a specific technique. All of my rods are 20 years old, all meet my needs in certain ways. I'm actually hesitant to get a new rod and reel...don't know what I don't know when it comes to the latest offerings...afraid once I get a new rod, I'll want to upgrade everything. HA! Checked when I got home...the Berkley is rated 3/8 to 1-1/2 oz. lures. I really like this rod and find myself using it a lot. I'll probably stay in this range...as the Berkley can handle bigger Musky-type baites, and throws a buzz-bait, spinner bait, & jig really well. Appreciate all the words here!

Considering a new baitcasting rod. Will be used for big spinnner-baits, jig-n-craw, musky lures, heavy / big stuff. I am thinking of something in the medium-heavy to heavy range...below are my current rods. Price range below $200 preferably. I will pair with a Shimano reel spooled with braid. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Depends on how much time I have to fish....if it's a limited amount of time, I hit my "home lake," it's just 15 minutes away. If I have more time, I do like to venture out and fish new lakes.

I used marine grade plywood, and reinforced with aluminum angle iron for my bow mounted TM. Also screwed to the boat around perimeter. One battery for the trolling motor, a separate battery for the fish finders, bilge, lighting.

Fishing with bait-caster (hold in left hand), I lip-em with my right. When fishing with spinning rod (hold in right hand), I lip-em with my left. This way I always can quickly grab the reel handle if needed.

Ouch! Bummer...

Been running 2-cycle LawnBoy mowers since I was in grade school...and 2-cycle outboard in my boat for the past 20 years. I've done it both ways...oil first, then gas. Gas first, then oil. Works either way. Preferred method is to go oil first, then fill with gasoline Side note: I always, I mean ALWAYS use ethanol free fuel. This is CRITICAL in my opinion. I have never had a fuel related issue with any of my small engines or outboard motors.

Started fishing NED this spring. Hammered the Smallies in South Dakota on this set up. Been crushing Largemouth in my home lake this summer. Love this set up on my medium power spinning rod, 10lb yellow PowerPro to 10lb fluoro leader. Pumpkin green does the job.

I have two 6.2:1 and two 5.2:1's....they all four work great. I prefer the 5.2's, for what it's worth.

From the lakes of northern Canada, to the gulf of Mexico, where ever fish are biting, that's where we're going to go. There's a lot of exciting country just waiting to be explored. So join us now in the great outdoor, world of Virgil Ward! Loved that show growing up!!!

Old school Cabela's branded rod, Fish Eagle Classic IM6 | 6'-6" | Med | 6-12lb | 1/8-1/2oz with a Cabela's branded spinning reel | 2000a. Line is bright yellow PowerPro 10lb braid, to a 10lb fluoro leader. I have a NED tied on this rod 100% of the time...seems to work well for me.

My brother found a new Lund Alaskan this spring...his dream boat. And talked his wife in to it. His first purchase was the Ulterra...wanted the 80lb / 24v, and Scheels said they had one in stock...when he picked up it was a 112lb / 36v version...he talked them in to giving him the 24v price. His previous TM had autoPilot...this was a HUGE step up. Game changer for the way we fish for sure! This thing kicks @ss! My dad is 80, and we spend a lot of time helping him in the boat. Spot-lock is fantastic, and highly recommended.

Agreed!

Good reads here. I'm okay detecting bites on worms, but suck with jigs. I rarely fish them, partly because my home lake has lots of hydrilla/moss/plant, and partly because I'm not good.

When I first got the boat 20 years ago, pulled the motor, flipped the boat and use some epoxy sticks to seal the seam. You heat the metal...work the stick in as it melts...held up for a while. But after 20 years all that old epoxy was dried, cracked, and most of it fell off. I like the JB weld idea...if this doesn't hold I'll look in to that. Thanks @MN Fisher

Sealed up seams last night with 3M | 4200. Messy, and doesn't look very good...but hopefully water-tight. Picture of the front deck...added the cup and pliers holder recently. Ram mount for my phone was a good addition. And a picture of all the hatches open.