DaubsNU1

I'm pretty close to @A-Jay's method of 1/3 - 2/3 method. If a spool is running a little shallow, I will peel off line, then tie on new line via Alberto, and spool back up. I think it really helps with casting distance when the spool is darn near full. I did pick up a Shimano Citica used via eBay...pulled off about 1/2 the mono already on there...then spooled up with Braid. But that wasn't enough to fill the spool...so tied on another braid and filled her up. It works.

@10,000 lakes Bassin For the fish this weekend...Brother is speculating. For the two Pike in Canada, he actually saw the fish inhale the bait past the leader...happened right next to the boat(!)

Last summer on our trip to Canada, using 12" steel leaders chasing Pike...Brother had a huge pike inhale his lure past the leader and break off braid right next to the boat. So Brother ties on 18" steel leader. Next day an even bigger Pike did the same thing...inhaling lure past the leader, and breaking him off. Yesterday I get a call from my Brother...he stopped for a quick bank-fishing opportunity on his way home...throwing the big swim-bait with 18" leader...and the same darn thing happens...huge Musky inhales lure past the leader, and breaks him off(!) Dang! Time to order up some 24 and 36" leaders.

I don't remember making a guess...but yesterday, 22-March-2025, I landed my first LMB of the season. Water temp was 46 degrees. Fish was on a flat near some standing timber in 3' of water...right next to a creek channel that drops to 12'. Bluegill colored 3/8 oz. spinner bait. Fourteen inches long, 1lb-8oz. Three casts later I had another strike, but failed to hook up.

You don't need to break the bank. Head to your local BPS/Cabela's/Scheels/outdoor store, and find a medium light spinning rod that fits and feels good. If you are not close to outdoor retailer, order up some rods via Tackle warehouse/Amazon/etc, (preferable someplace with a good return policy). I have recently found some Fenwick spinning reels on clearance that are quite good. Pair it up with a Shimano spinning reel that fits your budget, and you are just about there. I went from Mono to Braid-to-Fluorocarbon on all my spinning rods. PowerPro 10lb bright yellow, Alberto knotted to either 8 or 10lb. Fluorocarbon. I use this for NEDs, Senkos, cranks, jigs, etc.

Ouch @FryDog62! In Canada last summer, the Pike would occasionally get us. Hurt a little, but the next day seemed to be worse. We picked up some fishing gloves and solved that problem quickly. You are smart to get after that early.

We have lived on acreage for 8 years. I've mentioned a whole home generator, but the wife resisted, as we had never lost power in this house. Whelp...Lost power last summer for about 6 hours. No big deal, as it was mid 70's. Fast forward to Wednesday...blizzard like conditions here in Nebraska, wind gusts to 65 MPH. Temps in the 30's. We lost power around 10 AM. House was getting pretty chilly yesterday afternoon. Neighbor is an HVAC guy, and helped me temporarily connect our 4500 watt portable generator to the furnace so we had heat last night. Power just came back on at 3:30 AM. Wife looked at me and said, "start looking at home generators." Suggestions? We have propane heat-pump. Do your thing Bass Resource brethren...share your wisdom!

Thanks for the update @NorthernBasser. Strength to you friend! Thoughts and prayers!!!

Takes me about an hour to remove the mower deck, install the snowblower, hydraulic lines, wheel weights and chains. Picture from last winter when I had to snow-blow lanes in the yard so the little dog could get out and do his business.

Outstanding post @Swamp Girl!

Had my boat on the water on the 8th of March this year. Air temps were in the 60's...water temps were 39-42 degrees. No fish caught. The wife joined me on this sunny afternoon...and brought snacks! I am not good catching fish when water temps are below 50 degrees. I need to work on that! I used to switch my focus to waterfowl and mule deer hunting in the fall. But with the new boat, I ahve been fishing more longer in to the season. Will generally fish through the fall until the weather gets too cold, or ice up.

Last two days have been in the upper 70's and low 80's here in Nebraska. Tomorrow, blizzard warning. I may get to run my snowblower for the first time this season(?!!) Then it's back to 64 degrees and sunny on Saturday.

I really believe all the "technique" specific rod designations is just a clever marketing tool to get us to buy more stuff. I am still fishing Cabela's branded rods purchased 30+ years ago...they still catch fish. My favorite is a Cabela's C44x, CDH 602. It's 6' casting rod I would call medium light. It's rated for 8-17lb test, 1/4-5/8 oz lures. It is undoubtedly my FAVORITE fishing rod! It has a spiral guide system. My most versatile rod is a Cabela's C44x CDH 704T. Seven foot casting rod with the spiral guides, last section telescopes in to the handle to save space. I would call it medium-heavy...it's rated 10-25lb test, 3/8-1oz. lures. Fish that "walleye" rod in any way you see fit!

Paper log since the 1990's. Here is the top 1/3.

I'm curious how you handled this situation...what were the details and the outcome? My Dad is 84 years old, lives at home, on his own. He is slowing down physically and mentally. Few weeks back he got in to a fender bender with another driver...then 20 minutes later ran his car in to a short post in a parking lot. It was totaled. We are waiting on final numbers from insurance. My younger brother thinks Dad should not be driving at all, and wants to take his keys away. My older sister is a nurse, and thinks he's okay to drive and live alone. I'm torn, and did some research: Uber: Dad really wants to get to three places -- the Mall to walk with friends, the grocery store, and menards. I excelled it all out, cost of Uber vs. cost of new car, insurance etc. Bottom line, Dad does not want to be without a car. He's pushing back hard. Insurance Agent: His insurance was locked in first of March, so no increase in premium. The two accidents will not impact his insurance until March of 2026. County Sheriff: Nothing legally stopping him from driving. If we take away the keys, Dad can ask Sheriff to get them back...it's his car. State Department of Motor Vehicles: Nothing stopping him from driving. Someone could complete a "Citizens ReExamination Report." His license will be suspended until he comes in and successfully completes a written and in-person driving exam. He could get license back, or with restrictions. Driver Evaluation and Training Program: Voluntary program through local hospital, and the option I'm leaning towards. "The Hospital Driver Rehabilitation Program offers specialized evaluation, driver training and vehicle modification recommendations. This comprehensive program is designed to help put individuals in the driver’s seat and help current drivers determine if continued driving is appropriate."

5 foot, 11 & 15/16ths. Nope, never hit the magic 6 foot mark, dang it! German ancestry. There are others mixed in there, but I refuse to submit my DNA to 23&me so they can sell my information.

In spring and summer, when I'm not fishing at the butt-crack of dawn, I like to get eggs in my belly first thing in the morning. On the water is usually raisins, almonds, an apple, and bunches of water. I'm usually only fishing until just after noon...and a short 10 minute drive home for some good eats for lunch. In the summer, when the weather is hot, I'm up and out of the house 4:30-5 AM. I'm not stirring around the kitchen cooking eggs...don't want to wake up Mrs. Daubs. I'll add some protein into the mix above... ...but sometimes Mrs. Daubs joins me on the water...and brings SNACKS! Last weekend... Last summer she surprised me with homemade Jalapeno poppers(!)

With LMB and SMB's, I generally "lip" them to get in the boat, and hold vertically while removing the hook. Try not to lay them in my boat on the carpet, and try not to touch too much. I do support under the belly and hold horizontally for a quick picture. When I'm fishing locally, I generally do not have my net ready (it's a Frabill Hiber-net). If I hook in to a small-ish Pike or Walleye, I grab them behind the gills to land. Or use the fish grip if needed. Note: posted picture below on a FB Musky page, and got absolutely blasted for 1.) holding fish vertically, 2.) using the grip. ** the small Musky was released unharmed...and was quite grouchy on it's return to the water : ) **

Nebraska (home), Iowa, and South Dakota.

I have a small tackle bag that holds three 3700 Plano's. It has a long strap I throw over my shoulder. I do cram a lot of stuff in there -- plastics, cranks, jigs, c-rig stuff, chatter baits, square bills, more plastic, scissors, digital scale, pliers, extra line, towel, sunglasses, soap, sunscreen, etc. Medium light two piece spinning rod with 10lb bright yellow braid, Alberto-knotted to 8lb fluorocarbon. I keep this set up in trunk of my car, in case I get some time during lunch, or after work to make a few casts. It's also the setup I take when on my Brother's boat fishing with him and my Dad.

Hang in there @Darren71. I was a bit like you...stopped fishing when life happened, early 2000's. Got back in to fishing when my last kiddos went off to college. Thankfully found this site and all the GREAT people here! I struggled finding fish, watched a crap ton of youtube videos, asked lots of questions here, upgraded my old boat, started catching a few fish, got new lures, tried new techniques, got a few new rods and reels, learned more, asked more questions, posted pictures, asked even more questions, got a new boat. I don't use FFS. I made switch from Garmin to Humminbird with my new boat. Felt the Helix was better and side and down imaging vs. Garmin. The Ulterra with spot-lock, auto pilot, cruise control, etc., has really been a game changer for me. Allows me to fish off-shore more...I'm still learning. Keep reading, keep asking questions, and keep fishing!!!

I changed jobs four times supporting first wife through medical school. We also up and moved to new cities four times. Our last move was back "home" to Nebraska after she landed a great job with partnership opportunity. We decided I would be stay-at-home Dad to our two daughters. Four years later, I discovered she was not being faithful. Divorced, and I was back in the work-force soon after in a local private, not-for-profit University. That was in 2009. Happy to report I met a wonderful Woman with two boys...we married, merged families in our own little Brady Bunch way...my daughters are now both engaged, her boys are doing great. I've promoted three times since then, and now run a department of eleven. Times are not great in higher education...I really, REALLY like my team, my co-workers, and my boss! If cuts come, and I'm forced to look elsewhere, I have faith in God's plan that it will all work out. I'm 57 years old and looking to retire in ~8 years. Good luck in your search @Randy Price! When one door closes, another door opens...new opportunities!!

@A-Jay

I hopped back in to bluesky and was going to screen shot some messages (and bleep out the expletives), but apparently I have been blocked...so those message are gone. That's a good thing! So I'm back here at BR, looking to hone my pre-spawn techniques. Oh, two of the three Shimano Citica CI-200's purchased via eBay have arrived this week. Just waiting on the third : ) Love me some old bait-casters!

My starting and electronics battery compartment is pretty small. here is what I store in that area: Spare TM prop Block of wood in case need to remove the Mercury prop Backup baseball cap My wedge for the Mercury (backup to my transom saver) I just have one live well. I keep the Lindy bait tamer in there