DaubsNU1

Just got back in to fishing this summer after 15+ of not fishing much. Great to get the boat / rods / reels / tackle squared away. This weekend brother and I made the trip to our waterfowl spot, got the blind moved to the river, all camouflaged, decoys moved, etc. Four inches of snow on Sunday, and temps are going to hover in the low 30s to mid 40s for rest of the week. Nebraska : ) Chasing ducks and geese is my undisputed #1 out door activity...followed closely by chasing Mule Deer. It is time for me to transition to hunting season... When do you typically shut fishing down for the year (I fully understand some in more southern areas fish year round...)

I've been looking at fish finders for my 14v for a while now. Thought I had a good deal lined up, but Cabela's/BPS web site was "out of stock" for the great clearance deals they had listed (well then TAKE THEM OFF the web site and don't tease me!) HA! They lakes I fish aren't huge, so no need for pre-loaded maps. I like the idea of traditional sonar plus the more details of down imaging. Sideview seemed overkill, until friend mentioned what J Francho said above: "sweep your trolling motor head to peek under a dock or overhang" VERY COOL! Okay, gotta have it now : ) Originally thinking of a nice unit that I could have a mount on transom, and another back by the motor...and move as needed. But the way I fish, moving the finder every time I go back and run the 25hp, not a good idea. I've pretty much decided I'm going to go with the Garmin Striker Plus 7sv up front, and either the Striker 4 or Striker Plus 4cv on the back of the boat. Will keep me around $700 total.

Strength to you friend!

Caught my PB largemouth (8lbs) in a small 2 acre pond in NE Missouri. Rainbow trout colored Slug-Go rigged on 4/0 worm hook, weightless. Don't be afraid to try something new...

Best bass: drop shot, pumpkin green fry Best pike: chartreuse spinnerbait Best crappie: white power grub, 1/4 lead-head

Fished local lake today...500+ acres, lots of standing timber, rip-rap, lilly-pads. I feel pretty confident in shallow water. Deep water is a challenge. Today the bite was tough...only managed one small bass and a 13" crappie. This lake has trees in 8-10 feet of water, next to creek channel that drops to 13-20 feet. Talked to an old fishing buddy today while I was on the water...great to hear from him! We talked for over an hour -- family, life, jobs, and of course fishing. I was complaining about troubles fishing deep water...he suggested drop-shotting. I read up on it, but never tried until today. Full disclosure, I had to pull a youtube video and learn how to tie the knot. Rigged it up on my light spinning rod with 6lb Trilene XL. Threw on an old FLW french-fry. Was not expecting much...first two casts...nothing. It was a bit windy, so I positioned myself in the creek channel, facing in to the wind. Cast the drop-shot in to 9 feet of water near some trees...shook the rod tip on cast #3 and I felt something on the line. Have to admit, that's a whole new strike sensation. Set the hook and this nice bass was on the other end. 17", 3 pounds, 9 ounces. Immediately sent my buddy the picture...he was stoked! This 53 year old dog learned a new trick : )

You might explore building your own. I had a buddy back in the 90's who was obsessed with building his own fishing rods. Researching back then was much more difficult -- no YouTube or internet. Give it a try. I've been teaching myself to weld...working on this...

@ 500 yards...I got two things to say.... 1. WOW! 2. Stop while you are ahead That is all.

I find myself over-thinking this very topic a lot. I do have favorite colors and lure. When fishing is good, I tend to stick with my favorite colors... When fishing is not so good, I try different colors...throw everything but the kitchen sink... I'm trying to flip that paradigm...and fish different colors when things are going well...to see what different / non-favorite colors I can gain confidence in. ** yes, I'm over-thinking this AGAIN! **

Some wise words in cartoons....

Just connected with an old fishing buddy yesterday via phone. He pretty much taught me everything I know about fishing...this was in 1992-94. We last talked in about 10 years ago. Great man! Great friend! It was good to connect again, and remember past fishing days. I think about the past a lot as well. Some good stuff, some not so good stuff. I'm glad to be where I am here and now.

I'm a lefty, so my options were limited when I was shopping for a rifle 20 years ago. Funds were tight, so I wanted one gun that could do it all...opted for Browning A-bolt in 30-06. It has served me well for many years. A few years later I won two fantasy football leagues, and had $700 burning a hole in my pocket....found a beatuiful left handed Winchester model 70, stainless with wood stock on gun-broker. It was chambered 7MM Rem Mag...couldn't pass it up. I hunt the Sandhills of Nebraska...very open, long shots. The -06 does well. First deer with the 7MAG is below. Some pics to show the landscape...

I've caught four Musky while bass fishing in Missouri. Chrome/Blue rattle trap, chartreuse spinner bait, and even one on a jig-n-pig. All were in the 40" size range. I'm just getting back in to fishing...and realized there is a lake stocked with Musky just 30 minutes from my house....guess where I'm fishing this weekend??

I started logging my fishing trips 20 years ago. Modeled my fishing log after an outfitter in Canada and an old family friend. Amazing how much I forget about fishing trips, number of fish caught, mishaps, locations, what worked and what didn't.

Just back in to fishing after 15+ year layoff...MVP was the tried and true lead-head with white power grub. It just put fish in the boat. New to me this year were the Senko, Whopper Plopper, square bill, swimming jig+paddle tail. Still learning how and when to fish these... Spinner bait boated the biggest fish of the year, 36" | 8lb, 11oz. pike. Good fun!

Fished a Plopper for the first time last weekend...caught pike on the darn thing! Bone colored. They hit on a steady retrieve consistently. One time the pike smacked it in to the air...I sped up the retrieve as fast as I could and triggered a follow up strike. Fun!

Went to Valentine, NE last weekend for a family wedding -- decided to pull the boat along and sneak in some fishing. Got on the Refuge around 11 AM Friday and was able to fish until 5 PM. Watts Lake is very shallow (4' max), with lots of weed beds and reeds surrounding the lake. I had not fished the Refuge in 7+ years, but my brother was just up there this summer. He recommended some spots and lures. Caught a nice mix of bass and pike, 26 total, on the following lures: - Chartreuse spinner bait: top producer of the weekend - Bone colored Whopper Plopper: first time fishing this...it caught pike! - Black buzz bait: always love me some top water buzz baits - Blue fleck senko: just a few fish on this lure...good to work it Crazy to be in the middle of the lake, in 4' of water, and throwing my lures in to pockets between weed beds. Fun to have the pike and bass come up and slam lures within eye sight. Saturday I had a small window to fish. My brother was in town, but didn't want to fish...but his daughter was up for the task. This time we fished Clear Lake (which is a bit of an oxymoron...carp in this lake churn up the bottom...it's pretty silty. Wind was 20-30 that morning, so we found some spots back in the reeds...again, 3-4' of water...overcast...the pike bite was on. Caught a few small pike (17-21") on the chartreuse spinner bait, and then hooked in to a big pike! Niece had thrown her lure over mine, and we got tangled...but the fish was still on. Stupid me didn't have a net in the boat...so I was trying to finess the big pike and not get lines tangled any more than they already were. Lost the fish just a few feet from the boat : ) We fished the area more and I hooked in to another large pike...this time no line tangles...but still no net. So I tried to wear her down a little...didn't work as it threw the bait near the boat again. Strike two! We were pressing up against our predetermined "departure" time, when a big swirl followed my spinner bait...then BANG! Fish On! this time the fight was short and the big pike looked lethargic. I kept it's head above water and maneuvered in close...put the grip behind gills and boated it. Thirty six inches long, 8 pounds, 11 ounces. Might have been the same fish...think I wore it out...when I returned to the water it was slow to recover...but did recover after a few minutes and swam off. Pictures of the fun...

1. How often do you go fishing? - Once or twice a week 2. What type of fishing do you usually do? (fresh, salt, target species) - Fresh water, bass, pike/musky, panfish 3. How do you hear about new products? Social media? Friends? Online? - On-line forums and message boards 4. When buying a new product what makes you finally decide to purchase it? Reviews? Friends Recommendations? - Recommendations primarily 5. Where did you usually shop pre covid-19? In stores? Online? - Scheels, Cabela's, Bass Pro 6. Does the fishing industry have enough gadgets? - Yep...probably too many! 7. How much do you spend yearly on fishing equipment - ~$1,200

Cabela's has this...

Grew up hunting ducks in the Rainwater Basin marshes and Platte River of Nebraska. Uncle had a ranch in the Sandhills...started chasing deer up there in 2011. Not much better than a morning in the blind with my Dad, Brother and our dogs. Or watching the sunrise over the Sandhills... No question, I'd rather be hunting.

I've only replaced hooks when they break and/or fall off. Been fishing 40+ years.

Very cool! I'm contemplating a new fish finder...the Garmin Echomaps look good...especially when you can map lakes.

"Essential oils" is just another way of separating you from your money : )

Still have a few reels spooled with Fenwick Ironthread...got it way back in the day. Good stuff, can't wear it out. I do have some Power Pro and Spiderwire, but Ironthread is my favorite. I think I have one new spool left in storage now.

This. Is. GOLD!