Fishin Dad

I have seen it in both open water and ice fishing. Many of my buddies have it. It is incredible. Ice fishing with it is just ridiculous. It makes catching fish easier for sure. You can learn a lot using it as well. I just can’t bring myself to get it. Nothing to do with cost, I just enjoy the excitement, anticipation, strategy, and surprise of fishing without staring at a screen. I am even willing to sacrifice the advantage while fishing in tournaments. Just not my style. It is fun to see it though like Bird said.

I must be getting old, I have a stereo in my boat, but I like to fish in the peace and quiet. I only have it on if my girls are in the boat and we are just cruising and looking at houses, etc. I have just always loved the sounds and smells of being outside. Hunting, fishing, golfing, etc.

Those emergency jump packs are unreal! I bought one as my tournament partner burned up the batteries during an event once. He luckily had cables, but that took a while to get stuff moved and hooked up. I bought a jump pack after that. I used it twice this winter for my daughters car and WOW! They are awesome. It stays in boat all summer and truck all winter. Way easier than jumper cables.

Yeah, the metro also got hit with the last storm that we avoided. I am actually heading south of the border, which is only 15 minutes, to hit a couple Iowa lakes. The crappies will be going here as well when the weather cooperates. I have my first tournament April 23, I need to knock the rust off!!

Finally Seeing a lot of water around here! The weekend forecast is a huge buzz kill!! Was planning on the first voyage of 2023, but not in 46 degrees and rain. Oh well, it is here!!

I have not had that surgery, but good luck getting things repaired and getting back to the woods and water!!

I have been very fortunate to not have had any bad interactions yet, and we skip docks A LOT. I feel very fortunate. If people are around their dock, I am respectful and move past with a nice greeting. Most of the time they ask how the fishing is. I have stopped and dropped my poles and had great conversations with people for a long time. Knock on wood. Must be Minnesota nice or something.

My first baitcaster reel was the Lew’s BB1 Pro. It is still going almost 10 years later. I have 4-5 Lews and I agree they are great reels. I have mostly Daiwa now and that is because I really like the SV spools. I have Tatulas and Zillions for that reason. I would not hesitate for a second to buy all Lews that I wouldn’t use for skipping or pitching. I have never owned a Shimano reel. Don’t know why. I know they make a great product. I have just stuck mostly with Daiwa, Lews, and a few Abu’s and Okuma.

I do believe the Daiwa Tatula SV is the most versatile reel available. It is the easiest to manage and dial in (not backlash), can cast moving baits well, and most importantly skip and flip without a trained thumb. This reel can do everything. I agree a lower level Daiwa or Lews are great reels that can be learned easily, but the SV offers everything you need to do as a beginner with one reel.

I used to have an 18’ Alumacraft Competitor with a windshield and a little higher sides. That thing would blow around in the wind like crazy. It drove me nuts. I now have a Lund Pro V bass XS . Both are aluminum, but NOT the same at all. The pro V bass does not get affected by the wind even close to the same. The lower sides, no windshield, and heavier boat make a big difference. It is still not quite a glass boat, but a very good trade off. I have a family and the XS layout sold me on a bass boat with 4 seats. I really enjoyed it last year. This will be my 2nd year with it.

I had a Suzuki on my last boat and loved it. I would not hesitate a minute to get another one.

Retirement is getting closer for me as well. I have had summers off my whole career, so I fish a lot right now. I don’t see myself ever without some sort of job. I have become a lot less social and have no problem just chilling on the couch sometimes, but I think I want a purpose and to have some social time. I am looking forward to getting out of my current career and having a “job” that is more fun than stressful and not full time. I also look forward to getting out of Minnesota winters and having some sun for January and February. I am very much looking forward to retirement! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I would sell it. There are a lot of high end reels you may like. You will get good money for that reel. Especially if you got a good deal it, which it sounds like you may have. Good luck!

That was my thought. These go on sale often too. Gamakatsu also has a version if you prefer them. They are priced way below the beast hooks that you don’t need for that size bait.

That is what I thought too. I liked the fact that the Tanuki is 5/8 oz and it looked like great action. Easy to fish weightless. Hook slots should make it weedless too.

I saw those last night when I was looking for the Yamatanuki. What do you think of the Neko Macho? Does it seem roughly the same size? Thanks!

At the beginning of each season, it takes a little while to get dialed back in, but once I get a day or two of good fish catches, I get pretty close. It helps in tournaments when you get on them and need to make an assessment quick if you even need to weigh a fish. Bird, those are some solid fish in Virginia! I am jealous.

Once I installed the Drotto, using the lever to release the boat made is slide off effortlessly, especially in shallow water ramps. Driving the boat up and having it latch, made it foolproof and very safe. That made me love the fact that the rollers were loose and allowed the boat to move so easily. It would be my first purchase if I had another roller trailer. My buddy, who has the same current boat and trailer as mine, put his Drotto on it and loves it. I just don’t see the need for it with the bunks.

I had read this earlier and thought I was close. I was down in the shop this afternoon and counted 56. Those are multi species and techniques.

I have some for golf clubs left over from my club building days. I trim it to what I want and it works great.

Lund pro v bass XS.

That is pretty B.A.!! I want you on my side.

My last boat was an Alumacraft with roller trailer. The rollers worked almost too well. The boat would roll right back into the water. I would have to leave my big motor pushing while I would run up and hook the boat. Not safe. The Drotto was the best purchase I made for that boat. It made loading and unloading amazing. I have bunks on the new boat. I did keep the Drotto when I traded in my last boat, but haven’t put it on yet. The bunks hold the boat just fine once on the trailer.

When we are able to get on the water, fishing is amazing here. We have so many lakes that our pressure is very low, we have incredible numbers of fish, but our size is smaller because of the shortened growing season. Our tournaments typically take between 16-22 lbs. to win and some take more. 50+ fish days happen many times per season. I feel very fortunate………from May-October!! ??. I will be moving that way in a few years to borrow your January, February, and March weather!! The snake thread the other day threatened that thought for a minute however. ??

Lol. It is a horrible separation anxiety for us northern fellas. I am always jealous of the southern boys year round fishing and big bass. I am missing the old gal. She will be in the garage next week so my family can have dad separation anxiety. I will be living in the garage getting her ready.