Scott F

Did you happen to look at the lines after they'd been stretched? Fluoro supposedly does dot return to it's original shape after it's been stretched. I'm curious as to your observations.

I fished in one several years ago. They are not that stable. Probably a bit more than a canoe or kayak, but not as stable as an aluminum jon boat. A good boat wake could probably flip one. If you already have a kayak, this is not that much of a step up but you can carry more gear if that's what you are looking for. I'm sure others here have spent more time in one than I have.

Boat dealers generally don't sell big numbers of boats and motors. In order to stay in business, they need to make a profit. If everybody had a boat like they do cars, there would be more sales. More sales means it would get cheaper to build each motor. More sales also means they could live with a lower profit margin on each motor which would bring the price down.

I'm in the same situation, looking at retirement a few years down the road with a similar budget for my home. My solution because I hate the heat and humidity of Southern summers as much as I hate the cold is to get a Northwoods cabin in Wisconsin to live in from May 1 to November 1. The summers in Wisconsin are great not too hot, you can fish comfortably all day long on your choice of thousands of lakes. Homes right on the water, with a dock right out your back door are everywhere. Waterfront property can get a little pricey depending on the lake you choose. But because there are so many lakes, if you choose a property off the water, you save big money on both the house and property taxes and you are just minutes from many many lakes. Come November 1, I'll do the snowbird thing and head to a condo in South Florida. The winters there are pretty much like the summers in Wisconsin.

I guess I should have said that "People who drive with their windows down in cold weather are usually smokers except for the lunatics" I'm driving around the city and suburbs about 4 hours a day and when I notice someone with their windows down or cracked open, a cigarette will usually be tossed out the window or ashes flicked off within a short time.

People who drive with their windows down in cold weather are usually smokers.

I fish mostly for smallmouth in clear, rocky, rivers and lakes. I have never had a need to use a leader in any of the waters I fish. The bass have never shown me they are line shy, and I haver never had any problems with losing baits or fish due to break offs from abrasion. Obviously, my experience is quite different from others who fish in waters that are probably more heavily pressured than those I fish where they find bass that are line shy. Adding leaders to braid is not the easiest way to fish so it's really up to you to determine whether or not you need to take the extra steps needed to add leaders to your line. If I were making the decision, I would start with no leaders and add them when and if you feel the need.

In the fall of 2013, I was fishing alone in my boat when I noticed a guy standing on a dock waving me down. I went over to see what he wanted and he told me his friend was trying to leave his dock by boat and found that someone had stolen the prop while the boat was tied to his dock. I towed his boat across the lake to the boat ramp and helped him get it on the trailer. He tried to offer me some money, but I refused. When you're on the water, you never refuse to help.

Even when you weigh them on the most accurate scale, I find, few people really care and almost nobody believes you anyway!

Cranking.

According to the link above, they'll do it 3 days this year. 6/6/15, 6/13/15 and 9/26/15

There's a guy on another thread who needs a new rope for his trolling motor, maybe you could help him out?

You could get scientific about it and have rods built using different blanks but all having the same handle, reel seat and guides. I doubt I could tell the difference. I don't feel much if any difference between any of the rods I currently own.

It could also be said, If you are too busy to fish....You probably have a job and a family!

Not all clubs are like that. Tournament clubs, probably are like that. I've been in a few fishing clubs (none of them did tournaments) and I always found everyone to be more than willing to share what they know. There are different ways for people to learn things. Some people can read about a subject and understand it. Some do better listening and some need to put their hands on the object to get the full benefit. School teachers are aware of this and employ all 3 methods so everyone in the class can understand. Personally, I do better when I hear someone telling me then when I read about it. Hands on also works better for me than just reading about it. If you can use all 3 methods to learn about fishing methods and tactics, more will probably stick with you. Do what works best for you.

By the way, a stripper is a woman who takes off her clothes for money. A Striper is a fish.

I posted a link that shows every state and the dates of free fishing days. Here it is again. http://takemefishing.org/nfbw/

June 6-7, 2015 in Massachusetts

In bright sunny conditions, I like the grey polarized. When it is overcast, I still need to see into the water so I use the amber polarized lenses and in low light, I use the yellow polarized.

Most of the states do it. It's part of National Fishing and boating week http://takemefishing.org/nfbw/

Ice at right now has no affect on smallmouth in spring and summer. The weather between now and summer will. A warm spell could clear the ice early or continued cold could delay ice out.

My favorite post game interviews always came from this guy.

I've got the Frabil Conservation series net and I hate it. If you fish with crankbaits, it takes forever to get the hooks out. A decent fish rolls in the net and you're done. I liked the handle that came with it so I use it with a rubber net I bought.

I use 8 pound test Fireline on all my spinning reels. It's just slightly thicker than 2 pound test mono. Catch lots of smallmouth, pike, walleye and largemouth.

I never realized how bad a fisherman I was unti I came to BR. I use too light a line, I use fishing rods that are too light, I use braid for EVERYTHING, I NEVER use leaders, and I use pretty much one rod for several different techniques. I am just lucky that I ever catch any fish. I hardly sleep at night anymore because I am so conflicted. Do I scrap the way I fish, buy all new gear and do it the way I am supposed to? Or do I keep on just being contrary and continue to be the rebel I was born to be? I may have to see a shrink.