DaubsNU1

Wait a minute @Swamp Girl....have you not caught THOUSANDS of fish...this year(!). Keep doing what you are doing! If they are not biting that day...then slow down. You clearly have cracked the code on your body of water. My Brothers voice is screaming in my head right now...."don't leave fish to find fish!"

Great advice here, and in previous posts. It takes time. I hated baitcasters when first tried them in the 1990's...spooled with mono. They were a mess and I could just not get the hang of it. Then tried braid on my casting rods...touchdown! Yep, there were some backlashes, but easily picked out. Kept experimenting and trying different things. You get the hang of it. All my casting reels are 1990's vintage Shimano Citica or Curado's. I just LOVE them! Yep, they are old school...and yes, I can fling light lures a long, long way...do get some backlashes, but not a ton. I switched to 10lb braid and fluoro leaders on my spinning rods. Game changer! When loading braid on my spinning rods (and even casting rods), I tie on the line, set rod down...then walk out in to my yard letting the line come off the spool...usually walk about 100-120 yards down. Then I cut the line...and walk back to my rod-reel. I apply good tention to the line with my fingers and reel it all in. Helps eliminate line twist. And every once and a while, I make a long cast with spinning rod...then apply tension as I reel braid back.

Never fished a kayak...but fished a canoe many times. Pretty similar. Biggest pet peeves were: Storing and transporting -- Didn't have many resources back then...stored at a friends house, and transported on top of my buddys Crown Victoria. Getting to the fishing spots -- took time, and manual effort. But we were young, and strong Lack of storage -- never seemed to have enough room for rods, tackle, coolers/drinks, etc. in the canoe. Positioning -- one of us was always paddling, moving the canoe, or trying to keep us from floating / drifting in the wind. Comfort -- always sitting. Never able to stand...although we did try a few times. That was funny!

The entire world is out there trying to separate you from your money. Pro fishermen are no different. They are businessmen, salesmen, and fishermen...in that order. Sure, there may be a few independently wealthy peeps out there competing as professionals...with the money and resources to buy the equipment, travel, entrance fees, etc. Likely few and far between. It is all about the money...

Did maintenance | tune-up on the D125 last night -- oil & filter, fuel filter, air filter, plugs. Pretty simple...and the kit was only $55. I just need to sharpen the blades and it's ready to mow! Pretty solid riding mower. Should serve Nephew well for the next 2-3 years.

I also like to mow in different directions. I've even tried some patterns in the yard -- the wavy line didn't look so good...but I have done a circle...picked out a tree in the yard, and simply run a circle around, getting bigger and bigger with each pass. Looked pretty cool. But my preference is trying to get arrow-straight lines, or mimic the outfield of a baseball park. As a kid I remember the first corded grass trimmers / weed eaters. I remember a hand held battery version...but didn't last long. Dad quickly got a gas trimmer. Those Ego Power units look nice. The x750 runs a three cylinder Yanmar diesel. I've read they typically will run up to around 4,000 hours before needing an overhaul. I purchased with 79 hours on the clock...and after 7 years of mowing and snow-blowing, I have ~360 hours. Should last my lifetime...and kids lifetime as well : ) I am pretty sure my lawn is full of crabgrass and dallisgrass, but with 2.5+ acres, Neighbor has a lawn guy come spray...his yard is just under 2 acres...I think he's paying $300 per application...three times a year(?). His lawn looks pretty darn good.

Good reminder @gim! I need to break these out next time on the water. Also need to break out the swimjigs @HawkeyeSmallie. I love me a spinner-bait...but there are times when they just aren't producing.

LawnBoy died? Say it isn't so!! I cannot remember why Dad's old brick-top LawnBoy was put out of service. I think I broke the pull rope and he wanted something newer. When I was in middle school my brother was mowing a yard in the neighborhood to make some cash...ran out of fuel...and a neighbor graciously offered up some gasoline. Yep, you guessed it...straight gasoline...not 2-stroke mix. The mower gradually slowed down and stopped. UGH! He brought it home and explained...Dad knew immediately(!). Completely siezed. Thankfully a close neighbor ran a garden and turf shop...and their son had been to "LawnBoy school" (yep, there was such a thing back then). He bored out the cylinder, replaced the piston and had it running in no time. Those old 2-stroke LawnBoys are like tanks! My 7268 was built in 1979-81 range...still going strong!

Looks good @gim! Those new Toro Recyclers are sweet! Agree, yardwork therapeutic. After dealing with people all day, it's just ear-plugs for me...and silence...and the hum of the little Yanmar diesel. Our place is 2.6 acres total. Takes me about two hours to mow and weed-eat. Don't have any sprinklers to deal with...this is the best our property has looked in the 7 years we have been here. Eastern Nebraska has been above average rainfall all year. Normally this time of year it's all brown and crunchy. Right now I'm mowing every 4 days and may switch to ever 3(!)

Disclaimer: I'm a yard-nerd, love to mow grass. ** Curious to know how you started, and what you are doing these days for turf / lawn care? ** Growing up: Lawn Boy Brick-top, then a Lawn boy 7268, both were 2-stroke mowers. Had an old Wheel Horse as well. Dad would not let me on the riding mower until I pushed the front and back yards with the Lawn Boy (great Jedi-mind-trick!) On my own: Had a Craftsman riding mower...didn't last long...then got in to a John Deere 445 (loved that mower!). Moved to the city, sold the 445 and got another 7268 Lawn Boy, and a Lawn Boy 10797 4 stroke. Today: Moved back an acreage 7 years ago, found a John Deere x750 used, 60" deck. Picked up 54" snow blower the next summer. The last pictures includes a John Deere D125 I picked up last night...Nephew moving in to my Dad's house and needs a riding mower. Still have two Lawn Boy 7268's and the 10797 as well. What's your lawn care story?

I was a big baseball hat guy, but after getting three skin cancers dug off my dome, needed better protection. Would have loved other options, but nothing fit my dome. Stumbled upon Shelta, I have three sun hats, two face gaiters, and two pair of gloves. Will probably get a few more sun hats to have in vehicles and camper. The stiff brim is great when boating...doesn't flap up or down. And they float...I've lost my hat overboard when running up the lake...simply circled back around and picked up out of the water. Very nice! They are pricey, but I'm expecting them to last a while. Bonus, they clean up well. Directions suggest taking a dirty hat in the shower, and using shampoo to clean. I can attest they do clean up well!

The button on the wrist enables you to hold them together...I pair them up, and hang to help dry. I've never had fishing gloves before, so cannot compare with others. I do very much like Shelta products. I really only wear them when it's hot and sticky, and very little wind...and I notice the sun baking down on my hands. Like @gim I'm not a huge fan of gloves...like to have a good feel. I'm no where near as tough as him when hunting...I always seem to have a pair of gloves on, and often have handwarmers tucked in there to help (I must be getting old!). Most times I do take gloves off when it's time to pull the trigger (waterfowl or big game). For pheasant / upland, I looked long and hard to find a good pair of lightly insulated Gore-Tex gloves with the dexterity needed to turn off safety, and pull the trigger. I have a few pair of Upland gloves from Cabela's (way back in the day...) I keep them in storage and ONLY use for upland...as they aren't made any more. Good luck with your search!

I picked up some Shelta fishing gloves. They actually make a hat that is large enough for my giant dome (size 8). Gloves looked pretty good, and since I was ordering...threw in a pair. They work well.

I do all the maintenance myself. Owner's manual makes it pretty straight forward. Every year: engine oil & filter, spark plugs, fog the cylinders, fuel stabilizer for winter (boat spends winter in unheated shop) Every other year: replace lower unit lubricant, fuel filter, pull wheels/hubs, clean bearings and re-pack. Replaced my trailer tires this year...I believe they were 5 years old. Also had to replace bolts in the swing away trailer tongue. Went with grade 8 bolts, just to be safe. First year I left the batteries in and on-board charger plugged in all winter. No issues. Last year I pulled all the batteries and stored in my attached garage (never gets below 40 degrees), and did have them on battery tenders all winter. Again, no issues. ATV's and John Deere all have battery tenders 24/7/365. They do well. I get most of my maintenance supplies via Amazon.

What a great reminder @whitwolf!! Thank you for sharing! Godspeed brother! You are doing great work here!

Installed Ram mount next to console. Angle is not the best, and sometimes I have to wrangle the phone out of my pocket while holding a fish...

Boom Shakalaka!

Got my first casting rod back in 1991...spooled up with mono...and proceeded to get backlash after backlash(!) Fishing buddy from Texas recommended switching over to braid...so I spooled up with Fenwick Iron Thread (on recommendation from buddy who worked at Cabela's). Game changer!! I've been fishing braid on my casting rods exclusive since then. Switched my spinning rods over to braid back in 2020, after finding this site...and getting properly educated. Again, game changer!!

She's a badass! Hang in there!

Welcome! Started off as a youngster on panfish in a sandpit. Dad would take brother and I to stocked trout pond every spring...that was really fun! Never really fished for bass until the early 1990's. Lived in NE Missouri...buddy from work was originally from Alabama and then Texas...he really got me in to bass fishing. Helped that another buddy of mine worked for Cabela's, in the Bargain Cave, no less. I got bunches and BUNCHES of new and slightly used gear. Fishing really slowed down for me when kiddos were born. Got back in to fishing in the last few years.

Fished the home lake for about 4 hours on Sunday. Big storms blew through Saturday morning and evening...did not have high hopes. Started with my usual...spinner bait and a Rapala DT-8. No takers. Switched over to a 7" blue-fleck power worm, texas rigged with 3/16th ounce weight. Started catching fish. Moved over to a pumpkin green with red fleck Senko and landed 19-1/2" | 4lbs-10oz. LMB, and backed up with a 17" LMB soon after. Boated 10 LMB's total, all on the worm and Senko. Finished the day catching a few panfish on gulp minnows.

I have been keeping fishing logs since 1991.

Are TM's and trolling motor covered under the general policy? I should probably ask my insurance lady that question just to be sure.

Get a new guide on that rod and get back to casting. Most of my rods are 30+ year old Cabela's brand. I've replaced a few guides here and there. They still fish.