JestersHK

Pats neck must get sore with all the medals she gets for hanging out with you! A true saint! Keep her happy Marty! Glad you guys had a successful hunt buddy.

Seth we need a food report today as well as a fishing report! Good luck out there today guys.

Jerk baits... Darn trebbles are a pain at night. Jigs I usually just pop them off, I'll net them too if it's a decent fish or if it has really pretty colors so I can take a quick pic. QB that's a great choose your own adventure story LOL. Prolly not too far off the mark of what will happen either I don't think I'll end up running both at the same time, just getting a feel for it if I decided to. You never know though, you can never have enough net...

Maybe we can hit one up again next week. Take a long lunch or something.

Yeah if you can get a bit of chop in the surface that's the ticket. If not just slow down that retrieve a bit too. Never been to that park, but there's one off Midland that stocks them too! Hope you catch em next time buddy!

Some size comparison lol

Finally got her back together today... Did 3 coats of boiled linseed and it got to where it didn't want to drink anymore. Did some test fitting on my vest and I think it's gonna work out just perfect. I'll roll my little butterfly net for normal size fish and use the big one for the real sea monsters lol. Thanks again Duane buddy. Was a great winter project for me! Can't wait to get a fish in her.

You ain't lying there buddy! Funnel cake sundae for the win. All that sugar keeps me going later into the next night too lol.

Can't catch em from the couch. Don't make excuses to not go fishing, life is short, just go fish. You'll never remember what you did at work or the day you spent on the couch, but you'll always remember a good fishing trip. Taneycomo requires adaptability and versatility. Once you stop waiting for the perfect flow or conditions and just learn to fish all the different kinds of water you will be enlightened. There's a whole nuther half of the day once the sun goes down. Bring a headlamp, extra batteries, a BIG non butterfly net, and a buddy or two and get out there. Sleeps overrated.

Seth if we were to throw one of those in trout pattern I bet we could get ya over that 20in mark! I think allot of it comes down to right place and right time. Plus you have to be out there. I made it down at least once a month, and I'm hoping to repeat that for next year. Can't catch em at home... Also this later part of the year once the run started I committed to almost 100% throwing jerk baits. I think as others stated you have to go for quality over quantity. Line size is a crucial part of it, but it's still just a piece of the larger puzzle.

Yep, That company ruined everything. Destroyed Oakley's brand and it's a shame. Their lenses are garbage now... I am still wearing my x metal Juliet's which I've had for almost 10 years now. Luckily I have a buddy who owns a glasses shop who takes care of me on lenses... If I had to buy a new pair today I'd prolly go with Costa's.

Hahahaha just woke the wife up with that one! Guess I better go to sleep...

Heck of a shot buddy! You're getting your money's worth out of all your equipment too!

Yikes! I'm glad you mentioned that. I'll soak them until I can burn them. And I figured multiple light coats is mostly what I'm hearing so that's gonna be the method. Thanks!

Ok, Busy day today so didn't get to oiling but I did pick up one of these... One of the big issues we encountered that night besides having too small of a net was having the net tethered to me... Brandon couldn't get enough reach when he was trying to net her, and the clasp type connector was not cooperating in the dark and cold on getting the net fully unhooked from me. Like I said it was a circus lol So I'm going to do a slight mod to the bottom of the net and add a QD cup plate so I can attach the old tried and true quick disconnect sling loop. They are easy to use under pressure and I'm already familiar with them on my rifles... I removed the screwed in loop so there's a hole there already which I'm going to counter sink the mounting plate so it sits flush in the bottom of the handle. Going to just take it real slow with a dremel and a small set of files until I get the desired shape and depth. I'll secure with 2 hex head wood screws, and I'm going to use just a bit of wood glue or epoxy in there as well to keep everything sealed up along with the linseed oil. Ordered a new magnetic release as well. The old one was attached with just a nylon piece with two holes in it and a slip ring through it. I'm going to look at some alternatives to mounting the top magnet up there so it's not in the way or beating up the wood. Oiling will commence in the a.m. if I have enough time tomorrow I'm going to work on restringing the net too!

Got some boiled linseed. I finished up with a touch more light sanding and some steel wool. Cleaned up a bit of water damage as best I could and got most of it out. Wood is supposed to have character though so didn't get to crazy. First I did a super light coat of just a base stain. Just wanted to bring out the grain and give just a little color to it. Turned out great so far. Have it setting up now to dry and tomorrow I'll be getting set to do the linseed oiling. I've heard multi coat, and others have said just lather it on there then wipe it down. Should I really work it in there? What's everyone's favorite method? Instructions are for smart guys, not me lol Oh and some new pics... Can't wait to get the net back on this and get a fish in it!

That's awesome man! You def passed on the fishing genes! Congrats to you both.

I'll shoot ya a PM. I'll at least get ya going in the right direction.

Ok, that does make more sense with the oil versus epoxy. I'll see what I can find local tomorrow before I hit up Amazon. Def want something that will hold up.

Rick my dad suggested that too just a little while ago. You guys keep the suggestions coming. My brain is entering the learning zone!

Ok, so no to the epoxy? Like I said I'm a total noobie here when it comes to waterproofing these things. I did get the really super elasticy epoxy, but I'll run with the watco oil if that's best.

So after the night of circus wrangling that occurred with @fmcbrandon and I's Taney seamonster @duckydoty gifted me an old guide net from up north. We joked about strapping this big honking net on my back, how it may get some odd looks from other anglers that don't know what lies beneath the dark waters, but after losing the big ol girl to my wimpy little butterfly net I promised myself never again. So I've taken my gracious gift, and I'm giving it a makeover and some TLC over my winter break to ensure I can extend her life for many moons to come. I'm not sure what the heck I'm doing though, and I know Duane's got more wood working talent in his pinky toe than I have in my whole body, but I know how to sand and finish so I'm giving it my best. I did find some good info on the web. First on disassembly of nets. I found the finishing knot and got started breaking her down. Wasn't too long and I had the net and wire removed leaving me just the loop. I also found some good info on finishing and water proofing wooden nets. There's a ton of different types of epoxy and coatings out there, and I ordered some west systems epoxy which will give her a new water proof layer of protection, as well as provide UV protection too. But I'm getting ahead of myself... Tonight I ended up with just the first round of sanding the old coating off and getting down to the bare wood. Didn't take much and the original beautiful wood was showing through already. I've thought of staining it, but I think I'll leave it raw with maybe just a touch of tung oil, or if anything a very light stain to bring out the different grain. And that's where this first post ends. I have a few more additions that I'll cover and I'll keep this updated of my progress. Thanks again Duane! Can't wait to get her back in the water!

Nice job buddy. I've been out bow hunting twice and should just shoot those instead of deer...

Nice job and some beautiful fish there. I admire your grit and determination to keep after them. I've learned ya can't catch them from the couch... def some nice results, and looks like 2 days of great memories. Thanks for sharing.

Technically I had a hand on her tail and her head in my net lol. Just couldn't hold on to get her to shore... And it was maybe a bit over 5 minutes later that brandon caught her again rainbow in the mouth and all... We were both using 10lb braid though with the jerk baits. I run 4lb on jigs at night and still feel that if I hook a big one jigging its got a good chance of breaking me off.