DaubsNU1

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.

Talking the talk, and not walking the walk. Life is simple. Say what you are going to do. Do what you say. When you don't, admit it. Nuff said.

Cool advice here @MickD! I'll keep that in mind going forward. I have an old Cabela's Tourney Trail IM7 spinning rod that is one of my favorites. It was originally a 7' rod...but always seemed a little to "whispy" or "buggy-whip" for my taste. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the tip got broken. So I added a new tip...the rod is now 6'-8", and is a really great rod for drop-shot and a lead-head and gulp minnow. Just the right amount of flex...and enough backbone to horse in a nice LMB when needed. The rod is 30 years old, and a two piece (I purchased a lot of two piece rods back then)...but it's still a go-to and one of my favorites.

I'm right there with you @gim. I should probably get a rider for equipment...my Progressive insurance is $100 per year, just renewed today. I do most of the maintenance myself: Three year boat registration in Nebraska is $55 Oil change kit with filter, $56 I change lower unit oil every other year, $20 Fuel filter, $17 New plugs, $16 Fog the cylinders, $17 for the whole can...should last me a few years Fuel stabilizer, $16 Put two new tires on the trailer this year, $210 (will likely get new tires every 5 years as well) Nebraska 5 year fishing license is $132 Not sure how much fuel I run through the Lund Hot Sauce, two 128oz @ $48 each = $96 I would say ~$500 a year is about right. Empty nest, only two doggos to worry about. And yes, owning a boat is much less expensive than any kids(!)

@gim, sounds similar to Nebraska. G&P introduced 28 Merriam's to Pine Ridge area in 1959. Growing up we drove 5 hours to hunt Turkeys. Now they are running through my village.

Outstanding! Good luck!

Ribeye! Growing up a neighbor ran a beef packing house...got my family side or 1/4 of aged beef on the regular. Amazing. I worked in that packing house summers while in college...earned a crap ton of $$. These days we have a friend who runs cattle over in Iowa. He says, "they aren't 100% organic...I need to keep them healthy, so they get some meds...but I do sing to them!" HA! Calculated it out one year, I think we are paying ~$7 per pound. That's factoring in beef, processing, driving an hour to pick up.

Get the biggest, best, most well equipped boat you can afford. Buy once, cry once. I've never run in to a fisherman who said, "man, I just got too much boat...need to downsize." HA! Always do your best to max out HP on a given boat. Under-powered boats stink. I like the v-hulls...especially nice when getting on bigger water. I really looked hard at Alumacraft when searching for a boat. Really liked their layout. But went with Lund for a few reasons: Brother got a Lund Alaskan few years back, had many opportunities to fish it...really liked the layout, build quality, etc. Lots of Lund dealers around these parts. Pretty easy to get it serviced if needed Loved the little things...the travel cover goes on and off super easy. I outfitted my electronics to mirror my Brother's boat. If I'm fishing in his boat, it feels very much like fishing in mine...and vice versa. We are very fortunate to have found two excellent boats. Good luck in your search. Spend the time to research, and get behind the wheel if you can. Take your time...this boat will be with you for a long while.

I like to start the day with a buzz-bait. Then move to cranks and spinnerbaits and see if the power fishing is producing. Home lake has a few spots that produce on 7" and 10" worms, texas rigged. Haven't tossed a NED in a while, thanks for the reminder @gim. I do like a texas rigged Senko and drop shot for finesse. If all else fails, I'll tie on a 1/16th ounce crappie jig, with a 2.5" gulp minnow. And then proceed to catch crappie, sunnies, and bass. When my wife's boy or my daughter fish with me, we start with the gulp minnow on a jig-head. I want them catching fish right away, and all day. I landed a 3lb LMB a few weeks back on this set up. If the gulp minnow ain't producing, it's time to head back to the ramp.

Riddle me this: I've had three skin cancers removed from my bald head in the last 5 years. No issues with face, arms or backs. Grew up right across street from public pool. Each and every summer we would get a wicked sunburn, wear a white t-shirt for a few days, then turned a nice golden brown for the remainder of the summer. No sunblock, no shirts. When we weren't at the pool, went to family cabin on the river...more sun, more swimming, ZERO sublock. Summer job in college years was inside a beef packing house. Brother and sister were lifeguards every summer. Non skin cancer for them. 3x for me. As I got older, and with less hair, I religiously applied sunblock to my head...all the time. Remember, that's where I have had skin cancer removed. I don't wear sunblock any more...cover totally with synthetic SPF 50 clothing, hats, face gaiters, etc.

Most of my rods are 6'-6" to 7'. Favorite rod is an old Cabela's 6' casting rod, medium weight with spiral guide system. Great balance, just an overall wonderful rod to fish. My boat can accommodate up to 7'-4" rods.

@gim, that's a great question. My garage is big enough that I don't need to swing the tongue away...so I just cranked down on those bolts. Strangely there is a little up-and-down play / slack to the tongue.

Like @gim I'm replacing trailer tires every 5 years on my boat trailer, 5th wheel, and utility trailer. It's cheap insurance vs. a blowout and disaster. I do a walk-around of my boat trailer pretty much ever time it's hitched to my truck. Checking to make sure lights work, all hardware is solid, etc. Earlier this spring I noticed one of the bolts on the swing away was missing(!) Good thing I caught that when I did... I replaced them both with grade 8 hardware

First years I left batteries in my boat (lead acid) and kept boat on-board charger plugged in. Unheated, uninsulated pole-barn / shop. I keep John Deere lawn tractor and two ATV's in the same shop...they all have trickle chargers attached 24/7/365. It gets below zero down there...all start with no issues. Last years I pulled the Lund boat batteries, and kept them in the attached garage up at the house, on trickle chargers. Both options seemed to have worked well.

Buddy from Texas taught me this "air-dry" method many years ago -- works well with spinner baits, jigs, etc. When I'm done fishing a spinnerbait...I let out about 7-8' of line. Then twirl / spin the lure over my head 5-6 times really fast. Drys them out pretty well...then back in storage for another day. We fished out of a canoe back in the day...always good to give each other a heads-up on the aid-dry spin. Sometimes I would dry my lure...then miss coming back and dunk in the water...oops...time to dry again.

Not running FFS / LifeScope currently... I'm very particular about floor space in my boat. I might have an extra rod laying along the shelf to the left (you can barely see the reel), and sometimes put a few on the floor. I'm paranoid about stepping on or breaking a rod. I like the clean floor plan option. The rest are tucked away in the center rod-locker. It's pretty easy to get them in and out. And when it's time to run, or pack up and head to the ramp...I'm already most of the way there with this layout.

@gim Holy cow!!! That's nuts!

One of the many reasons I frequent this forum -- thanks for the reminder @IYAOYAS, and the words of wisdom @A-Jay! Thankfully almost all of my local lakes are 5MPH max, no wake. I do get kayakers roaming by as @gim experiences.

Dad was a finish carpenter for many, many years. He started in the early 1960's building houses from the ground up. He was a magician with a Sawzall (and a whole bunch of other tools). I picked up a corded DeWalt version probably 20 years ago. Still going strong!

Had not fished in a couple of weeks...moved Dad to assisted living. Got out on the home lake today...and broke out the oldest rod in my stable...a Cabela's C44x, CDH 602 casting rod, purchased in 1992. Tied on one of my old favorites, a blue fleck power worm. And proceeded to slay them. Nice 18-1/2" | 3lb LMB. Good times!

That's awesome @Jar11591!! We have BPS, Cabela's and Scheels in the Omaha area. I very much like them all.

All of my casting reels are wither Curado or Citica...from this era... If I had to chose one, it would be the Citica.

Outstanding!!! Thanks for sharing this story @Kirtley Howe!!

I'm super jealous @Darth-Baiter!!! I wear size 11-1/2, EEEE (4E) width. Cannot tell you the last time I walked in to any store and purchased shoes. Always on-line for this prairie dog. Enjoy your new kicks!

Wow @TOXIC, good on you for helping out!! I grew up in the city, Dad was a finish carpenter. We would help him unload lumber at times, and helped move big projects here and there. Not hard work...and not very often. Uncle had a farm (no livestock), and another Uncle had a Ranch in the Sandhills. As a kid we LOVED going to the farm and the ranch! Great times! But we never had to "work" per say. Having livestock is a 24/7/365 gig for sure! Buddy is a service manager for local GM dealer...has been for 30 years. Got his son in the door...but he hated it. Always wanted to head west and work a ranch in the Sandhills (he grew up in the city as well). He finally pulled the trigger...and is a ranch-hand on a 20,000 acre set up about 5 hours west of here. Loves it!! Again, good on you for helping out! Hang in there!!