vernon

C'mon, man! That's just flat wrong......

Well, in golf if you accept cash or prizes with a value equal to or greater than $750 you lose your amateur status, are deemed a "pro" and are no longer allowed to compete in amateur events. Now I and a whole lotta other guys (I'm sure Snagged and Champ are in this group) have won and accepted way more than that in Calcutta events, money games, etc. but still remain "amateurs" simply due to the relatively smalltime nature of the events. However, do that in any "name" event and you WILL forfeit your amateur status and, although it's possible to get reinstated it ain't easy. Technically, a guy or gal that wins a car as a hole in one prize forfeits their amateur status but that's such a blurred line that it is abused and circumvented more often than Babler goes fishing. I don't fish tournaments and could be very wrong about this but it seems to me that the fishing world hasn't done a very good job of establishing what is and isn't a pro vs. amateur or pro/amateur event. But then again golf doesn't do a very good job of enforcing their version of the rules and there's plenty of hotshots running around out there with $400 staff bags with "Titleist" or whatever emblazoned all over their hats and clothes that think they're somebody but can't even beat me. Lots of wannabes in all areas of "sport" I guess is what it comes down to and I find them to be humorous and annoying all at the same time.

With two days to go before we get back down there you got me sitting here shaking like one of those paint mixing machines! Heck, I can't even tie a knot to get any jigs rigged up! Looks like worms and bobbers for me again...... Might even get me a new cane pole for this trip! Thanks for the great report (as always).

Whoa Nellie..... Hold it right there mister - that is WAY outta line! 🙅‍♂️

I didn't take it that way at all. However, "maudlin" is a very good word that I hadn't heard in quite some time! Besides, you don't strike me as the kind of guy that has a mawkish bone in his body. Sorry, the best I could do on short notice.....

Now that's just mean. Y'all could have lost me that day! ⚡ However, (and somewhat ironically) it was around that time that I seemed to acquire my "superpowers" when it comes to negatively affecting the weather. And it's not nice to fool with someone who's so close with Mother Nature! And that now goes double for you Champ! Big meanie.......

I've now completely lost all respect for bass. Seriously, picking on cripples and amputees? Disgusting. Just think if you and I did that? We're talking some serious jail time I'm thinkin'...... Now I'm extra glad that Ned has a hook and can at least bite those hyenas back!

Yep, if the dang sport/activity ain't interesting or enjoyable enough to grow its ownself then maybe it's just time for it to go away. Plus, I'm old and cranky and hate kids anyways....... Did I mention I'm gonna be dead soon?

Gosh, I didn't realize that you were leaving the area. That's gonna leave a considerable hole in the forum as I, too, have always looked forward to reading your posts and feeling as though I was kinda sharing some of your lake life and fishing experiences. As Gomer Pyle so eloquently stated, "All the best to you and yours." Best of luck.....

Boy, now you really ARE looking for trouble! Being out in a boat with me can be Ten Commandments type stuff! If Kathy decides to skip a day I'll let you know!

Man, and to think I'm not even there yet. You think this is bad just wait till next Saturday when I bring the really good stuff. Might even whip up some locusts this year!

Good for you guys I say. Glad it all worked out. Heck, the worst thing that coulda happened woulda still been better than not going at all. Sometimes you just gotta not sweat the details and let 'er rip!

That has to be the most insane thing I've ever seen! I have never, ever, EVER in my entire life wanted anything that bad. Well, maybe that pony when I was eight but that's a whole different deal....... Getting my boat in and out of the garage is an absolute piece of cake compared to that nightmare. And dude says this way he can do maintenance and repairs and wax it during the winter? Exactly how does he do that if he's got like four inches clearance on the other side? I guess he can keep the port side polished up pretty nice though! I didn't really catch on to the reasoning behind the blocks under the tires but this guy obviously likes to create a few "challenges" in everything that he does! Wow. 🤦‍♂️

Those must have been the years that people around here temporarily began to doubt my ability to negatively influence the weather. I'd be at the lake and they'd say, "You must be slipping. You were gone and it rained like crazy here anyways." Now I know it was you!

Guess I forgot that you live way up there with the wolves and crazy people that fish even when you can walk on the water!

You guys are the greatest...... Unfortunately, my "talents" are already booked for August - got a couple drought gigs in SoCal. End of July might be open however. In the meantime consider this to be fair warning - Kathy and I are coming back down a week from Saturday. Now, she doesn't possess the same level of destructive powers that my brother and I do but she has been known to conjure up some pretty impressive stuff nonetheless so just sayin'.......

Wow! It snowed there? That's way worse than all the rain! I do like the innovating thinking - boat guys will do some crazy stuff. Glad I ain't into horses.......

Roger that! I was always nuts but after that? Hide the women and children.......

You have been appropriately added to my personal list of "Local Heroes That Done Good"! In my next life I'm gonna do better. Maybe even the Bill Babler aircraft hangar!

Pretty sure I pay $10 a year for the Radarscope "Pro" version. I'm sure some will think that's ridiculous but if you're outdoors and not near readily available shelter a lot like I am it's well worth it. Just last week it enabled us to stay at least fifteen minutes or so ahead of all the lightning and wind and plan our movements around the lake with more than an educated guess. Lightningmap.org is free website (not app) that's also very valuable and is free. It will alert you to lightning strikes within however many miles you choose to select in the settings (mine's on 30 miles) and even has cool little rings that follow the the thunder from the point of the strike to your location with amazing accuracy. If that sucker goes off on my iPhone you better bet I'm immediately checking Radarscope to see what is or isn't heading my way. Call me paranoid but as a guy that has actually been struck by lightning once before I'm gonna do everything I can to keep it from ever happening again!

When they said “100 year flood” I thought they meant it literally. All six times!

You, sir, are the very definition of the term “Great American”! I’ve long thought that those who design the typical home have some vendetta against the marine industry as a whole. Either that or they are heavily invested in storage facilities!

Heading home in the morning and coming back in two weeks. That is unless the lake decides to come to me first! Man, what a bunch of rain in a short period of time.

The big issue with ours is it has that stupid staggered/offset where the smaller door is set back a couple feet from the bigger one with a load bearing concrete pillar in between. Yet another example of why a good friend of mine calls architects “cartoonists”!

Picked up a six foot long 2 x 6 floating mid channel yesterday about a half mile north of the Kimberling bridge. Looked like it just came straight out of the lumber yard. Not terrible bad out there yet as what we’ve seen is mostly trash and small stuff but you definitely need to pay attention and be careful. And as Browning stated there’s more on the way.