Master Bait'r

5 rods tomorrow 7'2" HXF cast, 55# FX2 - heavy 5/0 EWG rage rigged smokin rooster 7' MHMF cast, 12# Tatsu - shadow rap deep 7'1" MXF cast, 15# Smackdown - unweighted t-rig 6" Uptons 6'6" MHF spin, 20# 832 - 3/8oz Snagless Sally + trailer 6' MF spin, 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid- Ned rig That oughta get the ball rolling anyways

I use the double palomar just because it's so simple to double up. One more loop, that's it. Why not? Just get it sopping spitty and you're good.

He will likely be fine. Fish are pretty tough, and they're more likely to die from stress than most peripheral trauma like that. In the future, push the hook through if you can, crush the barb with pliers and then try to back it out. Otherwise, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Bobber is a swear word. Of course it'll work, but teach her to reel in a topwater with trebles like a roumba, etc. or t rig her up a craw or worm and let her feel the bite. Bobbed worm dunkin' just isn't something you perpetuate on people you care about over age 6 IMO haha

It's a conspiracy I tells ya. Rapala does it while we sleep.

Double palomar with braid. I mean if you're going to do it once, twice is not hard. Just get 'er real wet before you cinch. It will Never. Ever. Slip.

You're a good son, that's all I can say!

Well I saved so much by finding a smokin' deal on her vitamix that I got myself a 110 to celebrate lol

Thanks for the positive encouragement guys. For a low dollar build it's got me really excited. It's a perfect project for the kids to help with too. I'm going electric only for now. I want to keep it really light, easy and just clean clean clean. I don't have a lot of money to put into it but I'm really good with my hands and have a lot of scrap and machines so I'm looking forward to really doing this right top to bottom but also keeping it as minimalist as possible. It is after all a 12'er. This boat will be for just quietly tiptoeing around the bigger ponds and smaller lakes around here, so it doesn't have to be much. It can't be much, I hope to be able to carry it over short portages with a friend. Speed also means less than nothing in this project as it will be a tool to teach basic boating safety and responsibility to the kids as well- a safe, easy stepping stone if you will. I'm going to take a ton of pictures as things progress and I will definitely keep this thread updated. Hopefully I can get it into the shop this weekend if I have time to start breaking it down and fabbing up the front platform and measuring for the side wire racks. I've even moved all my fishing gear to the shop to make sure everything is accounted for in design and it all fits/works like it should. Oh and before I forget, Slonezp- I've even got big foam beams for flotation that'll be hidden under the front deck and rear seating. Safety first!! Matt

I have been trying to increase my competence in several areas... If I can't get them to work I fall back on my strong suit and can usually shake off the skunk. We can't all be KVD my man, have mercy on us mere mortals who are still learning stuff

They're great! Think of a bigger, meatier and juuuust slightly more durable roboworm but with prettier colors and they smell like candy. They've pretty much taken over my worm stash except for a few specific things.

Thankfully! I have been drooling on the windows for a while but now that there's no cake left I can come sit down and hang out without feeling like I have to have a piece lol

Basically it refers to a non-exposd hook, or one that has a weed guard of some kind on it. Pretty much any effort given to keep stuff off your hook denotes a "weedless" designation. This does not, however, mean that nothing will ever get snagged or caught on it.

OP why must you toy with my emotions so??!?

I have to agree. I mean, the basics in terms of marketing, finance and bare business sense are nice to have when selling yourself, but spending college-type money on it hoping someone will care that you did someday is just insane to me. I have a good amount of college debt left and I honestly just hope people realize what they're getting themselves into. Quite seriously if you don't have a specific list of things you want to learn, you're throwing money right out the window. I honestly know so many people that went to school, are paying for it bigtime and aren't really using their degree for anything constructive- and these aren't Liberul( not getting that changed to Democrat, lol) Arts degrees either. You know how many engineers want to kill themselves after the first 6 weeks in a cubicle? It's crazy how miserable people can really make themselves when they plan out their life as an 18 yo. I went to business school to better learn how to run my family's manufacturing business and it has paid off in spades, but that is far from the norm. Most hope to go to school and figure things out along the way, which is a fool's errand IMO. My most honest advice is to take a year or even two off after high school to really try to get into the life you're thinking you might want to live- unless you want to be a doctor, etc that requires specialized learning there is no way around. Too many people just go because they think that's what they're supposed to do, and they are still way too 'High School' in mentality to really make the most out of a hundred grand worth of information. It's scary to me how that debt is inescapable now too- if you end up going bankrupt, you can clear a million dollar mansion from your credit and start over- but that student loan debt can not be. There is no way to void it aside from paying it along with whatever fees they feel like blasting you with should you befall misfortune or economic meltdown thanks to the industry's creative lobbying and our heavily-bribed reps letting them write their own laws. It's a scary thing! One would be well-served to check themselves before they wreck themselves, because if you thought 'Ol Salvatore Sixfingers down the block has ways of making you pay you've never dealt with Sallie Mae. Instead of asking ourselves "What can I learn with $100k" perhaps we should be asking ourselves "What business could I start for $5k or less".

Thanks guys! It's not everyday I get to apply my trade to something enjoyable, so that will be nice for a change. Considering it's a low-budget project it'll still have a big payout to me in terms of enjoyment. I can't wait to take that little boat from worst to first and enjoy the heck out of it.

No, you don't "need" college unless you specifically need to learn something, like an engineer, accountant or doctor, etc. Most of business school is complete BS anyways- and that's why the naturals will always rise above on their own IMO. It is always a good idea to invest in yourself if you have the grades and expendable income as well as the wherewithal/mentality to actually absorb it all... But to get yourself into ~$100k worth of debt because you think you might need it is a foolish thing. I see tons and tons of people who "thought they needed it" get absolutely bent over a barrel when they couldn't get a job in their field or worse hated it once they were living it- now they're struggling to make ends meet with a crap job when things didn't work out like the story book they wrote as a child said it would. I was "lucky" enough to graduate college juuuuuuuuuust as the economy collapsed. Thankfully just in time for me to lose just about everything, actually... So no. You don't need college. You can also take individual courses to increase your competency in finance or marketing fwiw. What you do need is go get all up in whatever it is you're trying to do- learn every d**n thing you can about how it actually works. Seriously, just go do it. If you find yourself at a level where you're seeing big holes in your game, then by all means pony up to a whiteboard again- but don't think it's a prerequisite by any stretch of the imagination. That's foolish talk. My honest advice is to just bite the bullet and dive in. Go be a pro. I mean, it, just start entering tourneys. If you get to a point where you are missing pieces, then go back and learn them specifically, and maybe even a-la-carte if you can. DO NOT OVER-INVEST IN THE OVERPRICED HIGH SCHOOL SCENE THAT IS COLLEGE UNLESS YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC PLAN OR YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME AND MONEY. You'll be doing yourself a huge favor if you do the figuring first and the learning afterwards than if you were to do it the other way around.

Officially got this aluminum semi-v 12'er + trailer from my brother for a measly $400. I needed a small boat so I could bring out my stepson now that he's old enough to really fish- the 8' fiberglass dinghy I've got now was just a bit too small and is super heavy for it's size. I figured 12' is big enough to spend a day in but small enough to move by hand if need be. The set is extremely solid despite being neglected for a while and the project is set to begin next week. The seats are being taken out immediately, the whole thing is getting power brushed clean as a whistle and then the fun begins. I am a custom metal fabricator, certified TIG welder and have full access to a pretty darn good sized metal shop with a host of sheet metal capabilities so I've made up my mind to create my dream 12er all in-house. The list so far: 1. Delete all seats 2. Create bracing across front to accommodate platform and bracketry for battery holder 3. Create front platform out of diamond plate aluminum that gives *just* enough room underneath for the throw arm of an adjustable shop stool and storage space. (1 lockable storage compartment) 4. Create padded combo racks on sides to hold rods and reels safely and securely (I also want to box out the top and tip end to give a "shelf" along the sides) 5. Probably recreate the rear seat as it was in stock form, but with lockable storage in the middle and seating receivers to either side of it for an adjustable/removable stool topper like the front. 6. Make a carpeted floor and make sure the floor has proper mounts and a pvc runner for battery wiring. 7. Paint the entire boat gloss grey 8. Rhino line the diamond plate surfaces and contact points of the hull 9. Run wiring and install floor 10. Install trolling motor 11. Fish like a maniac with my stepson. I already have everything except the the paint, plywood (for the floor), carpet and stools. I want this to be the cleanest meanest 12'er that ever was... And for a very small budget given that I'm doing all the custom building myself. All said and done it looks like I'll be on the water in a perfect little boat for around $600-$650 and that's if I get really nice carpets and seats. I'm really excited for a good custom project, it's been a while!

I've always gotten them on the screw no problem just by overturning the bait. They don't go on super easy but they do go on. I'll have to try that lighter trick!

I'd go with the Supreme XT. Love mine. That's not to say the Saros isn't a great reel though! I don't think you can make a bad choice given the options.

I'm just kidding. It does make my blood boil, but I always feel better rising above it and just cleaning up even more rather than sinking to their level and making it something worse. You know- turning the eyesore that bothers me into the reason I develop a habit and clean an entire riverside. Much better than bludgeoning some derelict anyways

Nice fish!! Which river did the 7'er come out of? I had a pretty good weekend out myself!

Pop x and pop max. Go ahead, spend extra on a popper since you aren't likely to lose it.

I'd just sit and watch until you see someone leave their crap behind, then brutally murder them with the claw side of a framing hammer. That'll learn 'em.

They're fantastic unless you store them improperly- which may be more of a challenge to those in significantly warmer climates.