padlin

For just the butt I tried different thicknesses of the foam hunting style seat cushions, while they work some I still got uncomfortable after 4 or so hours, plus they slide around. The best I found is the ROYAL seat Cushion from Purple. It’s plenty thick and stays in place fairly well, needs a few minor moves while in use. I went with the royal as the top edges are rounded. I also built a removable back to my seat that bolts to the existing seat similar to this, except the back pulls out. Which means the mod is pretty much permanent and not the easiest thing to build. I had tried one of the ones that straps around the bottom of the seat but didn’t care for it at all. If I remember correctly, it didn’t give much support. The one in the photo may work, it’s from Old Town. Mine works best if I wear or put my foam PFD over it as a cushion. Purple now makes a back cushion that straps around the back, that would probably work. A seat doesn’t help when you need to stand to stretch out the back and legs, got to get out of the canoe for that. A gas backpacking stove for a coffee break on the tailgate of the truck works for that. Now that you’ve graduated to senior status you’ll need bathroom breaks anyway.

I never found a way, when from having 20 techs, down to 3 the day I retired, early. Early as I knew the stress would be over the top. If I hadn’t had good management over me I would not have lasted 35 years, 20 as a supervisor. Don’t know what kind of stress you have but I learned to deal with issues fast, I couldn’t leave things to stew, that stewing kept me up at night. Dealing with people issues is the worst.

To make this a real bait monkey post we should debate the best cordless drill to drive the stripper.

When I remember I do the same minus the fan, if it’s nice they sit out in the sun a bit. It helps.

This all seems vaguely familiar. The wife and I are lifelong hikers, when mountain bikes first came on the scene we despised them, they left deep ruts on the curves and widened the trials considerably, even had bikers come through and purposely clear the close in undergrowth. Then the dirt bikes, the 3 wheelers, 4x4 trucks, and lastly quads. Some of the trails we used to hike are now unhikeable, they are now 15’ wide boulder filled roads. We now stick to State Parks, Game Refuges, and the like. And I complained about mountain bikes.

Is a Boga grip accurate enough? No digital here.

Just came in from 90 minutes clearing the driveway yet again, the way this winter is going I’m going with getting out April 14th, which is about what it used to be before the warm winters we’ve gotten used to. First bass April 21st, never had much luck when the water is too cold.

The only things I worry about are falling out of the boat and the truck not starting when I’m done. Where I fish the only motors I see are the occasional trolling motor, so slim chance of getting cut in half. For falling out, other then the cold, I worry about trying to get to the side through solid weeds, also trying to stand in the muck, however deep that crud is. There’s no cell service where I fish, so a dead truck means a long walk.

I use Mepps too and have tried both snipping and replacing a couple years ago, neither worked great. I was unable to find hooks the right sizes so they ended up with oversized. I use mostly #1 and 2’s. Snipping was easier but didn’t run well, try it and see what you think. I have all 3 with me when I fish and end up with the trebles more often than not. Cushing the barbs helps, if you don’t mind missing a few fish.

That’s too easy.

I know a 10’ Bass Raider type will fit the need, no idea if it’s the “best choice”. A 10’ is fine for 2 whereas an 8’ works well for a single, I have both. If you go this route I’d flip it over to keep the water out, no need for a cover upside down. They weight about 100 lbs and can fairly easily be drug around or flipped by a 70 year old, I have one of those too. One trolling motor with a bull nose rudder works well, also need an anchor as the wind blows them around. A newer boat comes with webbed seats that are plenty comfortable, older ones are plastic and this 70 year old needs a cushion if one has these.

If you are talking about reversing the line, first off I have a home made line spooler, you could manage without but it helps. Remove line from reel onto an empty spool, one you buy line on as opposed to a reel spool, the spool is mounted on a bolt with nut in a drill. As I use backing I stop when I get to it and cut the line. I can either toss the backing or leave it on for use again. I then mount the now loaded spool onto the spooler, which at this point is just a long bolt that holds a line spool under a little pressure, mount a 2nd empty in the drill and transfer the line to the 2nd empty, it’s now ready to go back on the reel. Move the 2nd loaded spool to the spooler, tie to the backing if that’s reused or replaced and crank the line back on the reel. You need to go slow with the drill to keep the line going correctly, if you look away the line wraps around the bolt. yes, there re a few steps to it, but I have all winter.

I do not cut any off on purpose, I do lose a decent amount, like a foot or 2, when tying on the new leader. I do also reverse my line over the winter on my more used reels and replace same every other year.

I love fishing skinny waters like those.

That’s a heck of a garage, cars nice too.

Good show. My wife started doing the same when Covid hit, except crocheted, that she gives to the local ICU. Gives her something to do thru the winter, along with hats for the homeless via church.

I wish my WileyX only cost $250. Try $400+ for the same ones in polarized progressives. If they were only for fishing where no one saw me I’d go the Cocoon route, although those slide down too much.

So, was there any consensus or 81 different answers to the “best all around Texas rig”?

Tying knots has gotten a bit tougher, between the vision and a little dexterity loss. Getting more contrast between the line and a background helps some with the vision side, but the fingers only do what they will do.

I use Blue, no complaints, it does what I bought it for. I use it in spring when the water is crystal clear, and the rest of the year in pickerel waters. 8, 15, and 20, mostly the 15 and 20.

An OG uses all my reels so I guess they all count.

Some of yours pertain, I can add. Going to the gym to try and improve my flagging strength and balance. Went to bait casters as arthritis in the fingers prevents casting heavier baits from spinning gear, at least for more than a handful of casts. I now sit on a Purple seat cushion, cane seat in the canoe is too hard now. For the first time in my life I wear more than a ball cap to avoid the sun. I’m talking long T shirts, long pants, and actual sunscreen. I tell my wife where I’ll be. Make pit stops. The biggie is always having on the life vest, and yes, I tried swimming at the Y a couple months ago, no way would I make it out if I were in the middle of the pond. I do carry a whistle for all the good it might do. No homes where I fish and luckily few if anyone else on the water.

Senko’s sink too fast for the depths I want to fish, I’d need to use a bobber. That and the blunt nose catches in the weeds more then I want.

As in all fishing, what works one hour might not the next, but after ordering year after year I can tell you I go thru the most Pearl and Green Pumpkin Rage craws, size 2/0 and 3/0 Owner J hooks, 1/16and 1/8 Neko worm weights, Freedom Tackle bobber stops, and 20 lb floro leader. I fish mostly shallow weedy water, leaders due to pickerel.

I worked with a guy from Pelham that fished the shore a lot, but always at night, actually it was wade fishing. FWIW, you need a night pass for such, I think it’s for gate access, whether that’s for parking or some such I don’t know.