Yes Virginia, I did It! New tackle and gadgets from the shop...

Here's some of the stuff Ive been fiddling with lately-

Vexilar Deptherm

This is a Vexilar Deptherm. It is stored in the cigar tube, to which I've added an old reel for fast retrieval. This gadget is supposed to be lowered to a given depth, where the water temperature registers on the thermometer. It also takes on water due to pressure equalization, the amount of which is calibrated to show the same depth on a scale opposite the thermo. I dunno how well it works - only time will tell.

Here are some small minnow sized crank baits, larger broken-back minnows and my "secret" gar lure. The latter is really just a bassin' prop bait, with a skirt of unraveled woven poly rope added. The gar, whose mouth is hard and bony, is notorious for bad hook ups. With this lure, the fishes needle like teeth get entangled in the rope "hair" - and it cannot escape until released. Just HOW you release a big, pissed off gar from this thing, well... I haven't figured th