Woody B

My tracker had a group 24 cranking battery that was always going dead. I had 2 sonar units on it, but usually no pumps, lights ect. I bought a lithium trolling motor battery and use my the group 24, and group 27 Interstates that came in my boat for cranking now. I understand budget considerations. However, the sting from the price on my lithium battery is gone by now. When my group 24/group 27 cranking combo goes bad I'll go with lithium for cranking too.

I use 12 to 14 pound stren on my baitcasters. It becomes a twisted up mess on my wife's spinning reel after a couple trips. Due to the recommendation of a friend I put trilene xl on it, and it seems to be better.

I'll take a picture tomorrow when I'm in the boat. Last weekend my Wife and Daughter went to a yard sell. My Wife said "I got you some kind of plug at the yard sell". It was a Devils Horse (my favorite top water lure) in the old original packaging. She said she paid 50 cents for it. The price tag on the box was $1.79. I wonder how old it is.

Not a backlash(at first), but a couple months ago I threw out a Devils Horse (topwater propeller bait) over a submerged tree. Right about the time it hit the water my phone rang. I answered my phone, then a 14 inch bass hit the 'horse. It sounded like someone threw a concrete block in the water. I set the hook but hadn't engaged my reel. I keep my drag kinda loose so I have my thumb on or close to the spool when I set the hook. I got a good hookset, but got a pretty bad backlash from it. The backlash was bad enough to keep me from reeling it in. I horsed it away from the tree with the trolling motor, and hand lined in to the boat kinda like you do with a fly rod. It would have made a really good video. Had it been a bigger bass I doubt I would have gotten it in the boat. I laughed for several minutes after I got it in the boat, and still laugh about it now.

I clocked out today at 5. I don't have to be back at work until the 4th. (Yes, I have to work on the 4th) I'll be fishing every day for the next 9 days. My Wife will go with me several times, as well as my Grandsons and probably my Son in Law for a few hours.

I was going to step off how far I was casting....but I fell out of my boat

I got some "O'Rageous Men's Aqua III Water Shoes" (copied from my receipt) They're OK. I can walk just fine in them, even on rocks and stuff. They dry quickly, and I don't have the foot stank like I get with regular shoes with on socks. I usually kick them off once I'm in the boat, at least until the deck gets hot from the sun.

If I'm reading correctly it's an aluminum "plant" that's shutting down, not an aluminum boat factory? I wonder how much aluminum used for boats comes from overseas. Many....or maybe even most of the boat factories shut down during covid. They may all have stockpiles of aluminum.

There's a few local places I'd like to fish with a Kayak, but I've decided I'm too old for one.

I'm an automotive technician. I work ~50 hours a week with my hands/arms/upper body. It would take a really rod to wear me out. If an additional ounce is wearing someone out I'd recommend an exercise program.

My Dad (87 years old) had a similar problem about this time last year. He got his leg caught on a swing while mowing his grass. It stretched his leg way behind him as he struggled to get the mower stopped. His Doctor said it was just strained. They didn't do cortisone because it messes up his blood sugar. He Dr recommended ice, followed with heat for 15 minutes each, 2 times in a row.....ice/heat/ice/ heat, 3 times a day. He also told him to apply "Voltaren" 3 times a day. Hope you get well soon.

I broke one a few weeks ago but it wasn't the rods fault. I had a lure stuck on something a couple feet under the surface near the edge of a dock. Like an idiot (can I refer to myself as that) I reeled the rod all the way up to the lure to try to shake it loose. I ended up breaking off the lure. When I went to tie on another the last 6 inches or so of the rod was missing. Again, not the rods fault.

Go lithium. The price sting will be gone after a while. I was getting 4 hours out of my 88 amp hour Interstate. (that came in my boat new). I can fish all day with my 125 amp hour lithium and still be at 70%. Lead acid batteries (conventional or AGM) lose voltage as they discharge. The lower voltage slows the trolling motor, and causes amp draw to go up....discharging them even faster. There's very little voltage drop with lithium. You only "really" get 50% with lead acid batteries. You get it all with lithium.

I keep my DC on 1 most of the time, 2 when I'm casting into the wind, 4 when I'm skipping. I adjust the tension just like any other reel. I can cast light or heavy stuff further with my DC than any other reel. (but not much). I use my thumb at the end of the cast. Normally ,except at night I cast hard enough to go further than I want to, and thumb the lure down on my target. My Daughter got me a Tatula SV TW for Fathers day. (I picked it out) I hate it so far. Even if I set the control really low I get literally no distance. It "will" backlash at the first of the cast if I sling the lure really hard, but it cut's off every cast really short. I do occasionally get backlashes with every reel, but they always happen during the first part of the cast.

Has your allergies been keeping you from sleeping good? I had a pinched nerve in my neck a few years ago. Dr. administered a steroid shot. It was pretty much instant relief but I had weird vivid dreams for a few days. I mentioned it to my Dr. He said the neck problem had been keeping me from going into a deep sleep. The dreams were my body "catching up" on sleep stuff.

Regarding Flonase, I've used it for years. At times it would make the inside of my nose too dry. Flonase Sensimist won't do that. I was told it's the same active ingredients, but with less other "stuff".

Claritin and Flonase for me. Recommended by a Doctor a few years ago.

A breaker or fuse is a good idea for ANY electrical circuit.

I'm 58 and work 45 to 50 hours per week. I make really good money....would work only 40 hours a week if I had a choice. I fish pretty much every Saturday and Sunday, and sneak in a few hours after work once every week or 2. I quit fishing, and sold the boat I had 30 years ago due to "life" and not having time to fish. I bought a boat in December and I've caught at least 1 bass every week since then. I've got a weeks vacation coming up. I'll fish every day that week. My Wife enjoys fishing and goes with me 1/2 the time or so. She doesn't like to go at night, or when it's really hot or really cold. So...why did I buy a boat now, instead of waiting a few years until I retire? I was pinching pennies, saving every single dime I could....basically not doing anything "fun" that cost money. My Dad is 87, still in decent health, but not in good enough shape to do much of anything. He can't hardly walk. He's got more money than he'll ever spend, even if he lives to be 130. He just sits at home basically doing nothing. My Wife and I decided we were going to spend some of our money while we could still enjoy it. We bought a camper and a boat. We occasionally spend a 3 day weekend at a lakeside campground now. No one should neglect their family to go fishing but if you're meeting or have met all of your family responsibilities go fishing.

My PB came at night, around 11PM decades ago during a full moon. I've been at night a couple times this year, but with my current work schedule I prefer to go really early. I guess that's still night, just the other end of it. I've been getting to the landing around 4am. Sunrise is a little after 6. I'll fish until the lake get's crazy with wake boats, then go home. NC (and SC) law requires lights be on between sunset and sunrise. The big bright white light at the rear of the boat in a killer. I concentrate not looking toward the rear of the boat. I've got a light with a really tall mast that helps some. The light is actually above my line of vision.

I love my Terrova. I notice no lag with the pedal even when compared to my old Edge. (cable). The pedal has traditional heel/toe operation, as well as left and right buttons at the back of the pedal.

THE way "they're" coming after our guns is with red flag laws. All the other stuff is just a smoke screen. Anything anyone says online boasting about what laws they'll break when certain stuff is outlawed will be use as evidence in these red flag gun grabs.

Just use Mono.

I don't really have a favorite. My oldest is a Ambassador 5500C from the 70's. My Dad was a building contractor. I worked for him cleaning up job sites for $1 per hour to save up and buy that reel when I was 12. I still use it for worms and deep cranks. I've got a couple modern Shimano's I like too. I got a Curado DC and a SLX MGL 70 from a co worker who decided he hated baitcasters. They're both great. I didn't/don't see the "magic" with the DC, but will admit if I use the DC for a while I'll get a backlash or 2 the first couple cast when I switch to another reel.

I've heard all the talk before about interference from a trolling motor. I don't know if this isn't true, or if lithium batteries keeping a more constant voltage eliminates it. My front sonar(Garmin 7 something) is spliced into my trolling motor battery, at the trolling motor. It works great. Try it before you buy another battery.