DaubsNU1

I feel like "technique specific" is just good marketing by manufacturers to drive more sales. Up until two years ago I had exactly ten fishing rods, all purchased between 1991 and 2005. All but one are Cabela's branded rods. The other is Berkeley. The six spinning rods were all medium-light to medium. The four casting rods were medium-light to medium heavy. Fished everything from sunfish, crappie, LMB's, SMB's, to pike and Musky. In the past two years I have added three spinning rods, four casting rods, and three heavy Pike/Musky rods. Scheels and Fenwick's...the Pike/Musky are Cabela's/BPS. My boat holds ten rods. I mix and match based on what lures I want to throw that day. Two of my favorites -- I have an old Cabela's C44x CDH 602 medium light casting rod that I absolutely LOVE for spinnerbaits. Purchased in 1992. It has spiral guides. Cabela's Tourney Trail IM7 two piece medium light spinning rod...I broke the tip off this rod years ago...probably the first two inches. Added another tip. This rod is great for drop shotting or a NED rig. This rod is from 1995.

Both my finders have side and down imaging. They are networked. I rarely, if ever, use the side scan on the bow mounted finder. Console / transom to side scan when I'm idling around the lake, marking spots. I then head back to the mark and use the front finder on the TM to get close, or right over the spot.

Then time travel we shall! It is so great to see him catch fish!

I'd head back to the Churchill River system in Canada to chase big Pike. And catch eater-sized walleye...on pike lures! Brother and I made this trip last summer...we are slated to head that way again in 2026. Wish we could take my Dad...but at 83 years old, it's too much of a trip for him. I gotta get my brother to hone his photography skills : )

I would have to say a bluegill colored spinnerbait was my top lure of 2024. Broke the 5lb barrier here in Nebraska on a SB.

This is encouraging! Weather last week was below zero...this week we are looking at a third straight day sunny and above 50...yet the lakes are still completely frozen over. Ugh.

I'm not a huge fan of Nebraska Game and Parks (don't get me started on Rainwater Basin marshes...ugh!)...but I must admit, they have hit the mark when it comes to lakes and reservoirs, especially in the Omaha metro area. There is no private access to these lakes, no homes, no docks. All public. There is no horsepower restriction...just a 5 MPH / no-wake rule. Kayaks and boats exist peacefully with canoes and paddle boards.

This. Is. OUTSTANDING!

It is crap about your management and leadership @DitchPanda! Ugh! Good quote from an old mentor...."People aren't against you...they are for themselves." I did not fully understand that quote 30 years ago...it has become more clear...but still baffles me to no end. It's all about the bottom line...is the company making money? When people leave, do others pick up their slack and work harder, for the same pay? And still make money? Am I going to make more money if I work harder? Nope. I get to work @7 AM daily. I work hard and do my best. Used to eat lunch at my desk...now I leave work during lunch...walk around a lake...relax...sometimes I even wet a line. At the end of the day, around 4:30 PM, I walk out to my car with long-time friend and co-worker. I listen to his re-cap of the day's drama. I jump in my little Honda and make the 40 minute drive home, listening to an audiobook, or sports-talk, or music...or just think about how lucky I am to have my health, my wife, my family, my doggos...fishing, hunting, etc., etc., etc. I don't think about work at all when I'm not there. If I died tomorrow, they would have my job posted before my obituary hit the internet. The business doesn't care about me. Thankfully I have great boss, co-workers, and a team that I have hired, train and supervise...they know me, know my expectations. It works well. Godspeed to you @DitchPanda! Good luck!

Super fortunate to have a great boss who deals with 90% of the workplace politics and BS so I don't have to. Years ago I started as a manager...she was on another team...then she was promoted to manager and we worked well together. I was then promoted to her boss...few years later she got moved to another department...then she got promoted...now she's my boss. She is GREAT! I cannot complain one bit. I supervise eleven people...three of which are remote in other states. The remainder are right in the office...a few work remote certain days of the week. Wonderful work environment -- the usual complaints and whining about trivial things. Overall it's a good gig...figure I have about 5-7 more years before retirement. Crossing my fingers and counting my blessings...

Welcome back from Nebraska.

Two spinning rods...one medium, and one medium light. Two casting rods...one medium, and one medium heavy. Most of my rods fit in to these four categories. I do have a few light spinning rods, and a few heavy and extra heavy casting rods (for pike).

@woolleyfooley Cabela's jackets tend to run a little large. Give it a shot...you can always return them if the size is not right. Or if it's not light weight enough. I think we are going to start seeing lots of Gore-Tex on clearance. Some states have banned certain chemicals that are used to make Gore-Tex. Manufacturers are rolling out different products.

I had a Garmin Echomap on my old boat, and was fully ready to pull the trigger on a full Garmin networked set up on the new boat back in August of 2023. However... Had spent a few years fishing in my Brothers boat with Minn Kota Ulterra | Humminbird Helix 9's. The down and side imaging on the Helix was, in my opinion, much better than my Garmin unit. I have not been disappointed. I don't have FFS in my future plans. The touch-screen on the Echomap was pretty cool. But after initial set up, I never really used the touch screen all that much. I suppose it's easier to mark waypoints with touch screen...but I have adapted well to using the Helix. I really loved the cable steer trolling motor on my old boat. Took a little while to get used to the Ulterra and electric steer.

I'd say!! I have seen your boat handling youtube videos. Dang!!!

I'm left handed. When I started fishing, spinning rod was an old Mitchell 300. Rod in right hand, reeled with my left. First casting rod...rod in left hand, reeled with my right. I have tried reeling with right hand on a spinning rod...and left hand with a casting rod...It just doesn't work for me. HA!

Was throwing 2+ ounce pike lures on my 30+ year old Shimano Curado last summer. No issues. Send it!!

Don't laugh too hard! : ) I did add a few new rods to my arsenal in the last two years... The gray casting rods are pretty much only used when we head north to chase Pike.

That is a helluva stockpile @GardenStateFishin!!

Old boat had Garmin Echomap. I was going that way...then my brother went Humminbird on his boat...Helis 9's and Ulterra. Fished with him many times...and really grew to like the Humminbird / Minn Kota system. I have had my boat 1-1/2 years and not regret my move to Humminbird / Minn Kota. I don't have FFS...if I add it in the future, will strongly consider stand alone Garmin LiveScope with a Garmin screen to support. I really like the Helix down and side imaging. I found them superior to my Garmin units. I really, REALLY enjoy having it all networked together. It's neat to mark a spot on the graph...drop the trolling motor, and select "go to mark"...the Ulterra will automatically move my boat to that mark, and when get there, automatically spot locks. Neat feature.

Good question. Durable Water Repellent. It's the stuff that makes water bead up on fabric. Instead of soaking in to the material.

Agree 100%. I often order various sizes, and then ship back the items that don't fit. Most places will cover shipping back on returns...but even it if costs me a little $$, it's worth the price to get the right fit.

Chains, crossed. Had to put them on my old boat. Easy to find at Scheels/Cabela's/BPS/Amazon. The new boat had chains on the trailer. Had a Curt coupler lock...lost the key on a trip. What to do? Had a carpenter's claw hammer in the truck. Pretty shocked when I broke this lock with one easy swing : ( Now if I want to lock the trailer to the truck, it is with this. Not 100% theft proof for sure, but will require more than one swipe with a hammer.

Columbia has some jackets on sale: Omni-Tech Ampi-Dry II jacket on sale $160 --> $96 Pit-zips Omni-Tech Mackenzie River Jacket $140 --> $70 A "fishing" jacket...others are hiking Omni-Tech Hikebound II jacket $80 --> $60 Have a "tall" version I have some old Omni-tech stuff. Seems good. Thoughts?