nomolites

Zero. Closed now. Mike

Agreed! I love spooning, but if I was restricted to only ONE technique I would have to go with Slow Death rigging. There are tons of variants and they just can’t resist fresh meat in a death spiral. My fav is a gold Mack’s blade and float held above a Trokar hook with a bead and bobber stop but we go with the flow and try to give them what they want. If that day it’s a spoon I’m a happy fellow! Mike

Pretty funny Mack. Mike

If you have power trim there is a sleeve the slides over the shaft on one side to simply provide support. Mike

Thanks! Will DVR it; I use that approach often and always looking for new twists. Mike

I understand but I would argue that we live in the safest place going. That said, where and how would you draw the line? For example, a bass boat is really just a pointed fiberglass projectile, and that is validated hundreds of times per year. Is risk only unacceptable if you are charging money or is there a number of people that could be harmed that is the threshold? I am not defending these excursions and I would not get on that type of vessel, I just think that too often there are unintended consequences when freedom to choose is gets restricted as a result of reactive legislation. Bottom line is we all need to to accountable for our actions, business or otherwise. Mike

3/4 or 1 oz spoons work well. Gotta put your hook where the fish are... Mike

I have some Cabelas trollmasters that I have boated a ton of fish with from 15# hybrids on down that were $30. They are telescoping 9’, fast enough to take the shock of a viscous strike, but still have enough backbone to work a fish. Longer rods are a plus for fighting big fish and to help keep your baits separated in case one is out of tune(or to get more rods in the setup). There are other brands that are similar, pick your poison. I would spend most of your budget on good line counter reels...the rods are cheap. Diawa and Okuma make a decent reels or I have the high end ones from Cabelas that work as well...stay away from cheap plastic ones as the counters break. i usually run four rods without boards2 - 8 footers out the back and 2 - 9 footers on the side and another pair of 9 footers if I have help and want to put boards out. If I am using lead core I have 2 - 12 footers for the sides for more separation. Mike

Montauk...mainly behind the lodge. My partner today didn’t want to try below the park or I would have been christening the Duane special sculpin jerkbait...I could have gone either way. It was a beautiful day to be out...it’s been way too long. Mike

Had to try out the new fly rod... 2019 first on an olive wooly; picked up a handful more before some midges started to come off and after a number of offerings finally caught a couple on a #20 BWO...went back to a black wooly and picked up a couple more before heading to the house. Mike

We have that in common..I was at both events as well. The galleries around Tiger’s group were nuts..I stayed ahead in the tee shot landing areas for the most part rather than risk being stampeded. Mike

Nah, just don’t have a Diawa Jersey...lol... Mike

I’ll shot a many ducks that fell to the siren song of a pair of Olt DR-115s....two on the lanyard all the time(to alternate)and a Haydel VTM-90 just to add variety. Nothing fancy required. Mike

Same with bows/arrows. Making mathematical projections using data from actual performance is the only way to set up a reliable sighting system. That makes all another variables like anchor points, etc. non issues. Reliable means you can quickly acquire the target and shoot, HITTING your mark - for me a bazillion hash marks or sight pins results in indecision and misses. K.I.S.S. Mike

I spend a lot of time hybrid and striper fishing and my personal experience with hybrids is trying to stop them is going to result in the fish breaking tackle(normally leader) or pulling off a good percentage of the time. I have had great success scaling down (normally 10# flouro leader) and letting the rod and reel do what they are designed to do and wear the fish down. If your drag is too tight, they are gone before you realize what the heck happened. They will make a great run on hook up, fight mightily, and when they see the boat take off again for parts unknown before you can actually consider bringing them to hand - I love catching them and they eat mighty good too. They false spawn(at least in theory) in the spring and will run up tributaries from lakes, but they can be quite easy to catch once a thermocline sets up in the same places one might look for walleye and usually will shallow or surface feed late in the evening where a fly rod could be effective. I have tinkered with bugs and such on an old glass rod all my life but recently purchased a couple decent outfits and plan to spend more time learning....Wrench, you see me out there on LOZ next year chasing your pets. Mike

Throw a few double didgit hybrids in with them and you’ve got summertime on LOZ. I’ve not tried them with the fly rod yet but I will make sure I have plenty of quality backing before I do...... Mike

I had one of those triangulation jobs to start and anything modern is an improvement on that...I recall mine was sensitive to temperature changes and was inaccurate from fall to winter unless recalibrated. Ah, the memories... Your needs are relatively short for range requirements, but I think you would want to be able to paint a soft target and also use in low light so you want lighted data display(typically red). I recommend avoiding Bushnell as I had a unit of theirs that did not deliver on promises - and I would look for a Nikon, Leopold, or other quality unit with angle compensation and adjustable intensity lighted data display. Most of the entry level units start at advertised ranges of 550 yds(hard target) which in reality with a good laser will give slightly less than half of that on a soft target so based on the above any should suit your needs. You will do almost 100% of your ranging for bow hunting on hard fixed targets while in stand but with the air gun being able to pick up a critter on the ground would be ideal. Try them out and adjust the data display reticle, intensity, etc...compare pricing and then start looking for a deal. I’m not sure the Wal-Mart will have much in he way of quality but you gotta start somewhere. I will say

I have a pair of scrip MJ Kahunas with the “Maui Brilliant” lenses; they are simply the best - but sadly priced similar to Costas. I also own other MJs, Costas and Oakley’s and have previously owned Ray Bans, etc. but nothing compares to that pair for comfort and performance. Not even close. Try a pair on. Mike

The new laser rangefinders with angle compensation are the bomb; but a good one that will paint a soft target at a distance is still pricy. That said I did bite the bullet some years back and would gladly spend the money again. Mike

That is a very nice rig for any reasonable water...may not be the right fit for summer on LOZ but nothing short of 40’ is; the center console would be a definite plus. I might rig a bit differently(I have no need for anchors but I DO need rod holders for pullin cranks) if it were me but my next boat may not be too far removed from this one. Mike

I would accept a new boat with a bow on it.....but I ain’t looking out the window waiting for it to be spotted in my driveway. We spend money, but within reason we have it to spend, so it is a blessing all around. These days we play the “steal from your neighbor” gift game with the larger family group every year and keep the spending with those who can afford it and a good time is had by all. Mike

N County, but anyplace is close here...this ain’t Chicago(thankfully). Mike

Not a bad idea sir. Mike

The Scirocco is a great bullet as is the Partition - I tested the Swift’s in my .338 WM but both of my large rifles like the Nosler better and I have to say they’ve never let me down. I have recovered most bullets from under the hide on the far side like yours on bull elk and I once hit a mule deer buck going away in the hip joint with a 160gr at 300+ yds and that Nosler still finished by exiting the chest. Can’t go wrong with either but cheap they are not. Mike

12 points should get you dang near any unit you like! Awesome! Mike