padlin

Has anyone tried a robomower? More manufacturers like Husqvarna are turning them out. Be fun to try, for a mere $2k, but you need a small yard. They need one you can drive from a game boy.

A wild guess for the last 50 or so years is $30k. Currently I spend roughly $300 a year for rods, reels, tackle, and lures.

I too like having a nice yard and don't mind at all doing yard work, especially since I retired and have time to do whatever needs doing. Just so happens my 20 yo tractor's deck is shot so I ordered what is likely to be my last mower this afternoon, a Bad Boy Zero Turn. Be interesting to see how much I run over with it.

Power Pro moss green, 10 and 15 lb., haven't had a reason to try anything else.

I've eaten 3 bass, roughly 20 years ago. My 1st 1 lb'er, 1st 2 lb'er, and the 1st 3 lb'er. Decided it wasn't worth the effort and mess to clean them as opposed to buying a pound of salmon at the market. Don't have a problem if others keep them as long as they follow the rules. It does tick me off when I see the guys on TV with a cooler full of anything they can catch.

I thought of that after I posted, different world from when I worked.

Thanks folks, the Albright with the Trilene seems to work well on the braid Used the same for a 4 lb mono setup, the wire may be too sharp, broke off the mono on my first try. 2nd attempt worked, will see how it does on the water. Think I'll to pickup some 8 lb FC, the 4 might just be too small when running into pickerel.

Long commute from N Adams. Had a coworker who worked downtown Boston, commuted from Pittsfield.

I was trying out 6 lb mono on a light rod, I could try FC instead. Would still like to know how to tie the wire.

This is just my opinion... You mention the "best time", for me it's anytime the bass are biting. I've had good runs at midnight and good runs at noon, and any time in between. So to me, the best time is whenever I can get out and the weather cooperates, but I prefer early am. I do prefer to fish when it's cloudy, as opposed to bright sun. A light rain or a light breeze is fine too. Mostly I go by the weather. As far as the months, I'm in New England so we're not the same, but any month the temps are in the 50's and up. We don't get scorching hot here, so don't know if it can be too hot to fish.

Monday, small shallow pond in the southern Berkshires. Got there about 9am, tried the south side 1st, water temp 50, roughly 5-10 mph winds, got a couple pickerel. Moved to the north side around 11, water 53/54, a little more wind. Got a mix of more pickerel and some mid size bass, maybe 4 of each on Rage Craws, biggest was 3 lb. Not a bad few hours but it was cold. It's nice to get out before the weeds take over.

Going to try out this product after losing 4 sets of terminal tackle last week to early season pickerel. Says you can tie it so I tried an FG to join the 13 lb wire to 15 lb braid, at first it seemed to hold fine till it relaxed awhile, then the wire pulled right out of the braid. Also tried a Palomar and a uni for the hook, neither tightened worth a darn. If anyone has successfully used this product can you let me know what knots you used?

I have a 5" but need to squint to see it, forget it if the sun is out.

I fish a solo canoe and this year added a 10' pond hopper plastic boat w/55 lb TM. Went out Monday, got to the pond up in the mts and found 10-15 mph winds. Normally with the canoe I would forget it and head home. This time I had the plastic boat and figured I'd give it a try as I'd driven the hour+ to get there @ $4 a gallon. Worked out surprisingly well with 2 anchors. Other then having trouble tying knots and keeping my hat on, the wind wasn't much of a factor. So now I have an option for the windy days, other then going home. Just have to take the right one.

New to a TM powered boat... How about the folks that use their TM to putz around the shore while they fish? Is there a speed where the TM scares fish away? Would a stock prop be less intrusive then a weedless?

Same happens to pretty much anyone that has such a large weight differential. My wife weighs half of me and we get it to some extent. The rear paddler can keep it straight/er if there is little or no wind. I usually have to tell my wife which side to paddle on, any breeze at all and she pretty much has to stay on the down wind side while I swap back and forth as needed. I had thought about adding sand bags or some such to the front, but it's really not practical. We just make due. In your case a canoe may just not work. My SIL @ 250 took out his 7 year old son last summer and gave up pretty quick.

In the past, like 20 years ago, I paddled all the waters I could get to, many I fished, some I didn't. I now have a few I frequent, all small no motor ponds with no development. The closest is 30 min away, absolutely beautiful spot, with small bass. 2 spots are an hour away, one has the biggest bass but hardest to fish, solid weeds. The other has many 2-3 lbs, fairly easy to fish. Where I go just depends on how I feel on any given day. I live about 2 miles from a 3 lake chain, I've never fished or even paddled it. Cottages all around, jet skis, many many pleasure boats.

Talked to SC, the rod is 20 years old, they will replace it for $70 after I send in some pictures. So $70 for a $160 rod, of course it was $120 when I got it. Thanks all for the ideas, not crazy about the new straight grip but this is the route I'm going.

Closer to 20 years then 5.

Broke my ML St Croix Premier yesterday and need a replacement. Before I go looking for another of the same I thought I'd ask for suggestions. All my rods are Premiers, all are general purpose, haven't tried anything else for longer then I can remember. Would want a 6'6"-7', Fast, 1 pc, general purpose in the sub $200 range.

I use Weather Underground, I do however find it's wind predictions anything but accurate. For those who use Windy, are theirs any better?

I've had 3 fishing buddies over the years, the 1st moved to Vero Beach, the 2nd is now chair bound due to health issues, and the 3rd was my brother who passed a few years ago. Had one of the ponds to myself last week, other then a bald eagle who had better luck then I. I like fishing by myself but do miss being with others too. Going to try and get out with my grandson for the 1st time this week, hopefully the wind will cooperate. This does bring up the issue of always fishing with another in poor conditions for safety reasons. I think about it when I'm out there by myself in my canoe, the only one on the pond with 50 degree water. The whistle isn't going to help much.

I've seen this chart before, can anyone define "loss of dexterity"? would it mean you can't swim, or not be able to use your fingers?

I'm an early person. In the summer I try to be on the water when it's light enough to see. Being a canoe fisherman I avoid the wind, which kicks up as the day heats up. I'm usually off the water by 11am. Later is better this time of year, but it's also more likely to be too windy to launch.

How about this baby to replace my little side cutters. Seriously, I should get some SS cutters, mine keep rusting.