DaubsNU1

I started logging my fishing trips 20 years ago. Modeled my fishing log after an outfitter in Canada and an old family friend. Amazing how much I forget about fishing trips, number of fish caught, mishaps, locations, what worked and what didn't.

Just back in to fishing after 15+ year layoff...MVP was the tried and true lead-head with white power grub. It just put fish in the boat. New to me this year were the Senko, Whopper Plopper, square bill, swimming jig+paddle tail. Still learning how and when to fish these... Spinner bait boated the biggest fish of the year, 36" | 8lb, 11oz. pike. Good fun!

Fished a Plopper for the first time last weekend...caught pike on the darn thing! Bone colored. They hit on a steady retrieve consistently. One time the pike smacked it in to the air...I sped up the retrieve as fast as I could and triggered a follow up strike. Fun!

Went to Valentine, NE last weekend for a family wedding -- decided to pull the boat along and sneak in some fishing. Got on the Refuge around 11 AM Friday and was able to fish until 5 PM. Watts Lake is very shallow (4' max), with lots of weed beds and reeds surrounding the lake. I had not fished the Refuge in 7+ years, but my brother was just up there this summer. He recommended some spots and lures. Caught a nice mix of bass and pike, 26 total, on the following lures: - Chartreuse spinner bait: top producer of the weekend - Bone colored Whopper Plopper: first time fishing this...it caught pike! - Black buzz bait: always love me some top water buzz baits - Blue fleck senko: just a few fish on this lure...good to work it Crazy to be in the middle of the lake, in 4' of water, and throwing my lures in to pockets between weed beds. Fun to have the pike and bass come up and slam lures within eye sight. Saturday I had a small window to fish. My brother was in town, but didn't want to fish...but his daughter was up for the task. This time we fished Clear Lake (which is a bit of an oxymoron...carp in this lake churn up the bottom...it's pretty silty. Wind was 20-30 that morning, so we found some spots back in the reeds...again, 3-4' of water...overcast...the pike bite was on. Caught a few small pike (17-21") on the chartreuse spinner bait, and then hooked in to a big pike! Niece had thrown her lure over mine, and we got tangled...but the fish was still on. Stupid me didn't have a net in the boat...so I was trying to finess the big pike and not get lines tangled any more than they already were. Lost the fish just a few feet from the boat : ) We fished the area more and I hooked in to another large pike...this time no line tangles...but still no net. So I tried to wear her down a little...didn't work as it threw the bait near the boat again. Strike two! We were pressing up against our predetermined "departure" time, when a big swirl followed my spinner bait...then BANG! Fish On! this time the fight was short and the big pike looked lethargic. I kept it's head above water and maneuvered in close...put the grip behind gills and boated it. Thirty six inches long, 8 pounds, 11 ounces. Might have been the same fish...think I wore it out...when I returned to the water it was slow to recover...but did recover after a few minutes and swam off. Pictures of the fun...

1. How often do you go fishing? - Once or twice a week 2. What type of fishing do you usually do? (fresh, salt, target species) - Fresh water, bass, pike/musky, panfish 3. How do you hear about new products? Social media? Friends? Online? - On-line forums and message boards 4. When buying a new product what makes you finally decide to purchase it? Reviews? Friends Recommendations? - Recommendations primarily 5. Where did you usually shop pre covid-19? In stores? Online? - Scheels, Cabela's, Bass Pro 6. Does the fishing industry have enough gadgets? - Yep...probably too many! 7. How much do you spend yearly on fishing equipment - ~$1,200

Cabela's has this...

Grew up hunting ducks in the Rainwater Basin marshes and Platte River of Nebraska. Uncle had a ranch in the Sandhills...started chasing deer up there in 2011. Not much better than a morning in the blind with my Dad, Brother and our dogs. Or watching the sunrise over the Sandhills... No question, I'd rather be hunting.

I've only replaced hooks when they break and/or fall off. Been fishing 40+ years.

Very cool! I'm contemplating a new fish finder...the Garmin Echomaps look good...especially when you can map lakes.

"Essential oils" is just another way of separating you from your money : )

Still have a few reels spooled with Fenwick Ironthread...got it way back in the day. Good stuff, can't wear it out. I do have some Power Pro and Spiderwire, but Ironthread is my favorite. I think I have one new spool left in storage now.

This. Is. GOLD!

....and the other end of the spectrum... Ordered this from factory...2004 2500HD with the 8.1/496 V8. City was 10 MPG, and highway was 12 MPG...daily driver for many years... Much better than my Dad's 1976 K-20 4x4, 350 with 4 spd manual...he got...wait for it...6 MPG...city or highway...up hill or downhill...wind at back...wind in face. He thought I was crazy to order the 8.1...I was happy to get 10 MPG.

My Dad was smart...I wanted a truck so he found me a 1971 Chevy C-20 3/4 ton 2wd. It had a 250cid straight six and "three-on-the-tree" manual transmission. That thing was sooooooo slooooooow! But it was mine! Loved it! Brother in law helped me paint it. Drove it three years in HS, then my first year in college. Driving home from college one day and the engine grumbled...I stepped on the clutch and the tach went to zero...luckily I was right at en exit and coasted off the interstate. Valve in #2 cylinder broke, disintegrated the piston, rod punched hole through the block -- DONE! I talked Dad in to a new truck, 4x4 this time. He found a 250/6 used out of a Nova for $50...we transplanted it in to the old 1971 and got it running. My brother drove that truck for two more years! I always loved the 67-72 Chevy's...managed to find this one back in 2005...little bit better than my first -- 1972 K-20 3/4 ton 4x4, 350 v8, 4spd manual. I'm restoring... : )

First memories fishing was when my Dad took brother and me to stocked trout pond at Two Rivers SRA. We used Mepps and Rooster Tails on ultra-light spinning rigs. Great times, great memories!