Traveler2586

I think you got off easy my friend. Stay safe out on the road & post many, many, pic's of your fish.

I can see why the called him Home Depot..... Don't know that would work on a boat; if I fell in I'd go strait to the bottom I did see this one that looked interesting http://www.amazon.com/McGuire-Nicholas-804-Organizer-Mini-Work/dp/B0026SSGXM and it's cheep enough to play with and put to the side if it didn't work out.

Ouch...... I've looked on-line but would like to see and feel what I'm buying I may go with a tool pouch on my hip like in my old days as a telephone man (Person); I don't know yet. I do know that I'll make a change of some sort, I'm tired of kicking or tripping over stuff. BTW, after seeing Kim Strickers Hook n' Look episode where he put a jig through his finger; I now carry a small pair of bolt cutters on the boat. Of course I had to test them on a jig, and I'm glad I did, I don't think the bolt cutter will last more than a few more operations before its jaws are shot; jig hooks are HARD..........

What is with all the mechanical problems????

Well the good news is it did it while your home and not on the road. You and Tom will have a lot of vehicle tails to share on this trip. Stay dry

I went shopping yesterday and again today at local tackle shops, and larger stores like Dick's and WM. I wanted to look at pedestal tool keepers but there were none. To my dismay, none carried any type of fishing tool organizers other than tackle boxes. I'll keep looking.

LOL, don't fall overboard I don't think your PFD could support that load. Sounds like your setup as a pit crew at a race or something. I would have expected a Camel Pack full of your favorite beverage... I've got my small "Fish" tools hanging around my neck and the larger ones at my feet on the casting deck. What a pain in the butt; if I step back to set the hook I'll step on something; when I bend down to lip a fish the crap around my neck gets in the way. I've got to do better. I keep my mechanical tool kit in a locker; but seldom need it for a fish.

Looks like while you guys are partying on Pickwick, I'll be working the back creeks on Smith Mountain Lake. Tight lines everyone.

X2, IMHO, don't waist your time trying to clean old blades, you won't be happy with the results after the effort. Just go to http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/Content/Parts_Sizing.htm and download their sizing chart PDF file and then print it out. Lay your existing blades on the chart to see what size you need and order accordingly. when everything is said and done your bait will look like new.

I also tried the Velcro but it ended up pulling off the boat. I also goofed big time and had it on top of the deck in the sun - not good at all. So I switched to rubber mag strips and put it on the under side of a locker lid; the mag strips weren't strong enough to hold it for long though. By "hip pack" do you mean a tool pouch on a belt, or the zippered bag some tourist wear on vacation (I think it's called a "fanny pack"? In my earlier years I was a telephone installer repairman and wore a tool pouch on my hip all day long. I could pull the tool I wanted without even looking. I have seen anglers out on the water with them and have wondered how well they work for fishing; I haven't seen anyone with the fanny pack.

X3 - baking soda

How many times have we landed a fish and then looked around the deck for the needle-nosed pliers or hook extractor and they’re nowhere in sight? And then there are the line clippers, hook sharpeners, forceps, or whatever you have hanging around your neck, in your pockets, or clipped to your clothing - that should be there but aren’t. It can be a real pain in the arce at times; especially if you stuff the wrong thing in the back pocket of your jeans. I have seen tool caddy’s on seat pedestals that have compartments for various tools and fish attractants; and I’ve seen these tools go flying while running and gunning through rough water; I’ve also seen anglers wearing tool belts on their hips like a telephone or electrical technicians. But what really works under most conditions? Question: What tools do you use the most, and how do you organize them so they’re handy when needed?

One Saturday morning Sam gets up early, dresses quietly, gets his lunch made, puts on his long johns, grabs his dog and goes to the garage to hook up his boat to the truck and down to the driveway he will go. Coming out of his garage the rain is pouring down; it is like a torrential downpour, there is snow and sleet mixed in with the rain, the wind is blowing at over 50mph. So much for that he thinks as he comes back into the house, turns the TV to the weather channel and finds it is going to be very bad weather all day long, so he quietly undresses and slips back into bed. There he cuddles up to his wife's back, now with a different anticipation and whispers, "The weather out there is terrible". To which she sleepily replies, "Yeah, can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in it?"

I am so sorry to hear that Steezy, my prayers and thoughts are with you and your wife.

I don't know that is a valid statement, I take you as a fairly capable person (despite the fact you live in VA) If I can use a yak and only get my feet wet, I think you'll do just fine.

Congratulations. Stay safe up there.....

X2 to all of the above. When we're having a wet period I'll run a small fan on the LOW setting with a light timer that is programed to run on an hour, off an hour. I'll also take some 2X4 blocks to prop all lockers open. I did use a spray that worked very well and let the cover breath; it called 303 Aerospace Protectant from 303 Products, Inc. P.O. Box 966, Palo Cedro, CA 96073; www.303products.com. 32oz spray bottle cost me $24.99 + tax But it worked.

Ranger Parts Dept. 1-800-724-7273. Give them your boats serial number, they should still have your 92 on record. My old one lasted ten years and started getting thread-bear from the sun's UV on the stitching so I just got a new one this past December and it was made to meet my boats spec's, trolling motor, seats, etc. They're made to meet the order, not an off the rack item. It's well worth the cost.

X2 on sharpen conservatively, it only takes a lick with a good tool; I seen guys really work at sharpening hooks and it's not necessary, just do the very tip of the point so it'll easily bite into your thumb nail and not skip off. BTW, change out any rusty hooks for your own safety.

X2, start at the point and stroke to the barb. Here's the one I've used for decades http://www.amazon.com/EZE-Lap-Eze-Lap-Shirt-Pocket-Diamond/dp/B00AQ69NOM/ref=sr_1_20?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1366658947&sr=1-20&keywords=eze-lap

I think that can also be filed under "if it's not one thing, it's another" dept. It's good you noticed it and didn't ignore it. Safe trip my friend.

OMG, I'd probably cut my thumb off But I am thinking about a cutting board like you have on the yak; although I'm on the fence about using a machete, I'd probably loose an arm. The mess on the carpet was a headache, but what really freaked me out was washing the blood into the bilge, so I would flush a 5 gal bucket of soapy water in there and after it drained, I'd run the hose for a while. But the trash bag is helping to control most of the mess. It's really nuts, instead of diving for the net, when I get a SH I go diving for the box of trash bags

QUOTE: "After I started catching them with regularity I dedicated an old cooler specifically for Snakeheads, I've started carrying heavy duty plastic kitchen trash bags that I put the fish in as soon as possible before dispatching it; this helps contain most of the mess now. I then place the bag in an unused boat locker which usually (if I close the bag properly) stays clean. Maybe a bag used as a cooler liner would help keep the cooler clean also.

The only way I get fish at home is from the supermarket, I stopped eating anything out of the Potomac a long time ago after getting many Bass, Perch, Rock with parasites in their flesh; then I learned of the fish consumption advisory and the problem with PC B's in the older, larger, fatty fish and that cinched it for me and I became a die-hard C&R angler. I haven't seen anything yet listing the SH on the consumption advisory, but did see a statement that they were similar to other fish of the same size. Are they a fatty fish, i.e. have areas of fat that need to be trimmed away? QUOTE: "After I started catching them with regularity I dedicated an old cooler specifically for Snakeheads, as they're huge and bleed a lot. I clean it with bleach, but it's still pretty disgusting in there" I agree their a bloody mess, they do a job on my carpet, so it's the first thing I work on when I get home. I was spot checked by the DNR one day after I had caught three in and near Little Hunting Creek; the DNR officer looked at my deck and said "Snakeheads?" after taking care of business he tells me I had a "nasty crime scene there" as he looked at my deck. So, if I find someone that wants them, OK; otherwise their going back into the food chain.

I am looking forward to trying some at the VA Meet & greet this year; it'll probably be my only chance to do so. I just had a stranger in a local store tell me he fixes SH using all the standard methods, even fish balls (round balls of fish meat deep fried) for TV snacks. If I can find people that want them I'll do what I can to meet their request, but I'm not looking forward to worrying about keeping ice on the boat. How long do you think I can go between the catch and the fridge; and how do you properly freeze the fish?