Hey Rowdy,

Looks like a beautiful evening.



Posting that shot up via a link to my Smugmug file.

That's an amazing picture.

Thanks so much for tacking that up for me BCB.

Nicely done.

Rowdy, everything I see you doing here is quite impressive!

I'm with CT though. I'm capable but not willing. I'm a little impatient. All I know for sure is, you've missed some valuable time on the water!!

It's all good man! You are a true DIY guy! Also, that pic with your boat tied up to the dock is absolutely amazing. Great job on everything. Let us know how those rod holders work!

Skeet,

Thanks for the compliments, the pic did turn out really nice, least I thought so, I just didn't get another pic like it with me and a fish lol. There is always next time though. You could not be more right about wasting alot of good time to have been fishing. That is why you guys are better at catching fish and just fish in general than I am...

This all really got all amp'd up back in April when I bought this boat. I have been getting this rig all fixed up with different things, stuff that sort of worked but not like somebody would want it to. Well now I am really much closer. But these rod holders I bought are not anything I would ever be satisfied with. They just don't work smoothly in and out with your sticks, and when you have your sticks in them, I just don't feel all warm and fuzzy trusting the rod to stay in the rack.

So I will be fabricating my own and use them instead, least then if I loose a stick to the lake, it's my on doing...

Awesome pic Rowdy. If you ever get out this way, let us know. I know at least a couple boats that would have a seat in it for you. Tight Lines and God Bless...

CT,

Thanks man, I would like to take you up on ride. I desperately need some schooling on using the sonar as well as using the charts they have. Then if we were to boat bait that would be a blast as well. We would probably need to stop there at the bait. We was to go and score any fish with those bait, heck I would be ruined.

That is saying alot right there as I am rotten all the way to the core already lol. I get much worse I am not sure how I am going to manage myself from one day to the next lol. Coarse long as I have something broken or just in general, not working, that pretty much keeps Rowdy on point and busy, things always come around here all the time like that too, lots of it I will volunteer for, or I get volunteered for, which I will admit I usually happy to see if I can help.

My biggest challenge so far is I live way, way to far from most of the water here in Texas and that all but land locks me. There has been several guys on this forum I could have helped with stuff I do really well. I am just all the way on the other shore of Texas.

5 hour drive Rowdy. Piece a cake. Come see us. We'll have a blast!

^ Rowdy, you should take Tim up on his generous offer!

CFT knows more about Cat'n in his little finger that most of know. Make a trip of it and maybe we can fish a couple of days. I would be more than happy to take you out on my boat, but your odds of catching a whopper would likely be a LOT less lol!

Don't let winter weather put you off. We have our best days on Lake Lavon when the weather sucks (technical phrase).

I see you guys are getting rain over there. I heard you guys have had some bad weather too. The rain is good, but that bad weather we hope no body gets. That is a big frontal line moving across, hope you guys get more run off into all your lakes.

Now far as the going out fishing with any of you guys, sure catching fish is a perk, but Rowdy just likes getting out on the water, and being around boats, ramps, docks and fishing equipment, other people that like these things as I do. Actually catching fish is just an extra add on lol. I really like seeing how guys have their stuff organized and setup and/or just stuffed in every available square inch.

So we don't get so twisted up on catching fish, you can enjoy the company and share the different ways we go about this sport and have a really big time. Least I always do. It's really hard to get around some of that and not, for me anyway.

Looks like we have a bunch in common. I’m a build it myself kinda guy also

I have made 3 baitcaster holders that will mount in this rack, and one bona-fide rocket launcher for open face spinning reel, that I saddle cut the end of the rack at an angle and then welded it on the rack. Everything is still rough and nasty but I do have pix.

Before I do much more I want a on the water test and see what is next. I got 4 little threaded eyes I am going to drill and tap to the rack that might take place tomorrow, just not sure yet though, this up coming arctic blast we have coming is probably going to make me change gears to get things more squared away for near zero degrees around here.

^ nice job, man!



You will know you have done a good job when one of those monsters gets hooked up and starts to turn your boat round, and your rod rest stays intact!

BCB,

You know I made these rod holders out of stainless, with the exception of the rocket launcher which is aluminum. Anyway I am thinking I want to plastic coat these 3 stainless rod holders... I really like the look, durability and feel of just a stainless finish though. The plastic coating won't be so hard on my reels though, the rod and reel holders I made so, so many years ago was made out of carbon steel I had laying around, I never painted them, wasn't anything plastic coated back then lol.

I didn't like the idea of the holders scratching up my reels, but liked the thought of a fish swimming off with one even less. So they are all just as I made them, just older lol, and will probably last forever as they are. I have thought about having them sand blasted and powder coated, but honestly they work just great as they are.

I am going to clear coat all the aluminum rack, that thing being out of raw aluminum is so nasty, you handle much at all it looks like you have rubbed your hands with a pencil lead. I slide that rack over the white gel coat of the boat, it's like drawing with a pencil on the boat. So once I think I am through with it, it's getting clear coated and heavy.

It's just what to do with the stainless rod holders hummm? If I was to plastic coat them, I would'nt have to clean them up as much, which would save lots of time and effort. I just like the stainless finish though, so I leaning more that way and regardless of any extra work lol.

I still have a few holes to drill and tap just yet and this artic cold coming in a few days has me doing other things. Right now it's a coffee break lol. I have been out laying on the cold frigging ground and I am trying to un-thaw my tail. Heck I don't like laying on the ground anymore, when it's nice out. Heck there is still frost all over everything right now...