That’s why I still keep my GX2 in the truck. Anyone who makes fun of how much I spend on rods can get whacked with ol cheapo 😂

3 hours ago, PBBrandon said:

That’s why I still keep my GX2 in the truck. Anyone who makes fun of how much I spend on rods can get whacked with ol cheapo 😂

The GX2 is the only rod up for the task, my local shop guy (well one of them) said his buddies used to run around hit each other with them and then smack them into the trees a bunch of times.

 

I get around the expensive gear snobs, and the jealous budget fisherman by putting a $150 Shimano reel on a $55 Daiwa rod, or a $40 reel on a $130 Dobyns rod. It usually keeps everybody happy, except the few that give me dirty looks for the interesting pairings.

@A-Jay  I got you bro. You could be my big brother. You know adult adoption is a thing. I’m a  100% service connected disabled vet, and I could use you as my dependent 😂😂

 

Only issue I see is that you’ll have to learn to eat boiled peanuts, fried okra and fried green tomatoes…

 

at least the fishing is good in this area…

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

My '94 GMC was a good truck, but I replaced Every peripheral, including the A/C after 100k - it was Dead Do Not Revive at 218k - window lifts worked.  

My '05 F150 made 256k without a single repair or replacing a single peripheral - ok, I had to repair a window lift - it's Ford - finally drove it the back roads slipping 3rd for $1000 trade-in.  

Ford dealer waved, "See you again in 18 years."  

Was it a 4.6 because the 5.4 3v on that gen are cursed.  I know, I own one.  At 149k I went to have my cam phasers replaced as preventable maintenence and no one would do the job despite having no CEL or issues but they all would sell me an engine if I wanted.  I gave up and went with the cheapest engine swap option knowing the design flaw with these engines and had them pull the timing cover off the old good engine out of curiosity.  The timing chain guides were gone and in the oil pan.  The timing chain had also eaten groves into the metal from cold start timing slap and missing guides.  It drove just fine without any CEL and I was none the wiser with only the cam phaser tick its had its whole life being the only noise/issue.  I wonder how long I could have kept racking up milage before the timing jumped and I got a CEL.  I'll never know.  

@TnRiver46 those old window lifts were manual crank - @Bigbox99 4.6-l V-8

- new truck has power window lifts, though it's already had a window lift warranty repair.  The price you pay with Ford - I'll take it for the rest I get.  

new 3.3-l base V-6 w/ 10-sp auto (same power and torque as the older 4.6-l V-8) - people don't believe when I tell them this variable-cam, dual-injection V-6 reminds me so much of my '84 hemi V-6 Alfa, but it does...

 

I get 22 mpg and 750-mi range in normal driving (long wait to watch for cheap gas), and it handled a coast run hauling my buddy's 7000-lb travel trailer.  

To get everything I wanted, split bench for my gibbon-like limbs, dry storage + jump seats, and bed long enough to legally haul my kayaks on bed extender, I had to buy a fleet truck, but I love the rubber floors.  Another reason to get the normally aspirated engine was not to have a turbo repair.  Hate being a prophet - right after I bought my truck, my buddy Josh with '15 2.7-l eco-boost twin turbo - at 180k, his block and turbos were spraying oil - $15k repair, and of course, he bought a new vehicle instead.  

45 minutes ago, Smirak said:

@A-Jay  I got you bro. You could be my big brother. You know adult adoption is a thing. I’m a  100% service connected disabled vet, and I could use you as my dependent 😂😂

Only issue I see is that you’ll have to learn to eat boiled peanuts, fried okra and fried green tomatoes…at least the fishing is good in this area…

While that dietary modification may take a few months to adapt to,

in the mean time I'm hoping you're OK with all the Gas . . . . 

A-Jay

Dude - I raised 4 children. Gas is nothing to me 😂😂

Well this thread certainly progressed  

For anyone not named @A-Jay, the same applies. Will ship boiled peanuts.

8 minutes ago, Smirak said:

For anyone not named @A-Jay, the same applies. Will ship boiled peanuts.

Throw in @A-Jay's Ricky Nelson's greatest hits 8 track and you're on  

If only there were a surefire way to diagnose cabin fever....

Great….now I’m humming “Garden Party”.  

4 hours ago, Glenn said:

If only there were a surefire way to diagnose cabin fever....

Not from a diagnosis standpoint, but in my house, the best way to fight cabin fever is spend all day long on TW, ALF, TheHookup, digitaka, Japan lure shop and telling the bait monkey “tomorrow, I promise”

THis HolE tHred iZ FlAtteRing

I get the opposite, people tell me I should spend more. I kindly remind them…. It’s my wallet just fish. People worry too much about other peoples opinions. If you find joy in the nicer thing's guess what they should be happy for you. I don’t care what someone else uses. Most of us are here

to enjoy what we do. No matter the cost….if it ain’t your wife don’t sweat what others say about your spending habits. Unless you have to borrow $70 to fill up the truck for them to get to the lake.

On 1/7/2025 at 7:51 AM, ArcForce said:

Anyways, I just got my gear in the mail, and everyone I talk about my new setup to seems to be hating on the fact that I spent some money on it.

 

Has anyone else experienced this?

Nope. But none of my fishing pals are ice holes, so that helps.

 

Besides that, nobody in passing has ever commented on my gear cost/quality whether lower budget or at the higher end. 

 

However, I did have one mouth breathing dufus try to impress his even dumber sidekick by commenting about the number of rods I had slung over my shoulder while walking to my spot. I think there were 8 that day. He asked with some snark in his tone if I was going Tuna fishing. I just stared at him blankly. He then commented as if I wasn't even there that he didn't understand why I needed so many rods to go fishing. I simply asked; Does that make you angry? I could see that I'd short circuited his 85 IQ mind as he said nothing and chuffed as he ambled away.

Anytime someone comments on my spending habits I always reply, gotta have priorities.

On 1/7/2025 at 11:18 PM, bulldog1935 said:

@TnRiver46 those old window lifts were manual crank - @Bigbox99 4.6-l V-8

- new truck has power window lifts, though it's already had a window lift warranty repair.  The price you pay with Ford - I'll take it for the rest I get.  

new 3.3-l base V-6 w/ 10-sp auto (same power and torque as the older 4.6-l V-8) - people don't believe when I tell them this variable-cam, dual-injection V-6 reminds me so much of my '84 hemi V-6 Alfa, but it does...

 

I get 22 mpg and 750-mi range in normal driving (long wait to watch for cheap gas), and it handled a coast run hauling my buddy's 7000-lb travel trailer.  

To get everything I wanted, split bench for my gibbon-like limbs, dry storage + jump seats, and bed long enough to legally haul my kayaks on bed extender, I had to buy a fleet truck, but I love the rubber floors.  Another reason to get the normally aspirated engine was not to have a turbo repair.  Hate being a prophet - right after I bought my truck, my buddy Josh with '15 2.7-l eco-boost twin turbo - at 180k, his block and turbos were spraying oil - $15k repair, and of course, he bought a new vehicle instead.  

Glad to see another 3.3L owner, and a supercab at that!

 

On 1/8/2025 at 10:14 AM, Glenn said:

If only there were a surefire way to diagnose cabin fever....

Well the cabin fever has been taken to a new level, we now have a Facts of Life trivia in the Winter thread. Head on over and place your guess  

aw, come on, 

all fishermen love trucks

Used to get it...and used to give it out. 

 

Now, when someone gets something new, my standard response is, "Good for you! Enjoy!" And I go about my business. 
 

When I get something new, or find a good deal on eBay/Craigslist/FB Marketplace, and someone makes a comment...I just say, "Thanks" and go about my business. 

 

Holy smokes! How did I miss this thread? 😂

i've never gotten hate on my gear
i also cast pretty far so generally people want to know what i'm using (the best answer is good technique)

i wouldn't cast hate on someone's gear, i have stuff i think is best but whatever gets the job done is great

Where did the OP go? All this fine advice just waiting to change his life forever and he runs away..🤣

3 hours ago, F14A-B said:

Where did the OP go? All this fine advice just waiting to change his life forever and he runs away..🤣

Seems to be pretty typical in a lot of threads lately.