At 62 I still like learning new techniques and technologies. Back in the late spring I added Active Target 2, a new HDS Live and a Ghost trolling motor to my boat, a retirement gift to myself. Before live sonar I two poled (12' rods) and cast for crappie. Now that I have it, I find myself casting 99% of the time, I enjoy it more than two or single poling. I did buy a 14' rod to single pole with this summer though. Normally I fish from late November until early-mid March when the terrorist start arriving. I did fish on through June or so and have fished some late summer and early fall too trying to tame this animal. Seeing fish on live sonar and catching them is two different deals. I've learned several things with live sonar, I'm not good at finding fish that want to bite, that I spend too much time in one place and just how slow I have to reel to keep my jigs down, especially in deep water. Braided line sinks slower than mono and requires a slower retrieve. I'm looking forward to winter and the crappie getting out into the deep water where I like to fish.

I enjoy my time on the lake just as much as I did 40 years ago and still marvel at Gods creation.