Gear talk

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Let’s do it!

[Digs]

I took it o e step further and started brewing my own

Almost went that route but I'm impatient.

[meatandmetal]

Almost went that route but I'm impatient.

I couldn't brew it fast enough.

[george_l]

I used to brew back in the early 90's.  Ales in the summer, lagers aging in carboys in my garage in the winter.  But when the craft brew explosion occurred I stopped.  It became easier to get good beer.  I was using soda kegs back then, and sold/gave my equipment to a friend.  But I kept the kegerator.  Early on I was a big fan of Redhook and Anchor Steam.  Can't get AS in 1/2 kegs anymore though.

Currently I have the Moat's Scotties IPA on tap.

[Roccus]

I couldn't brew it fast enough.

I do 5 gallon batches, I managed to get 21 done before I wrapped it up a few weeks back...should be enough to get me through to the spring..

Digs... it's definitely a patient mans ( or woman's) game, average brew take about 6 weeks to be good , and the longer  it is in the bottle the better it gets.. IPA's  mature pretty fast, most are "drinkable" in 4 weeks, Stouts ( my favorite) need 6, and are best at 8 and beyond... average brew day is about 5 hours... and it seems most of that is cleaning and sanitizing...or waiting/watching the boil...

George... I hear that a lot, a lot of people jumped in during the "craze"  and stopped when the micro breweries started  making fine craft beers... it definitely becomes a labor of love, I didn't need another hobby, fishing, plug and lure building and my fish tanks ( 4 of them plus a Koi pond) take enough time, and I still work 45 to 50 hours a week, my fear was the state was going to shut down the beer store...now I've got a nice investment for when I retire in a year or two..

[Coffin Dodger]

Joe, I appreciate your hobby (ies) and the effort and perfection you put in to them!
That said, I wouldn't lose a second of sleep worrying about the beer and liquor stores shutting down.
It will take a lot more than a pandemic for that to happen. 

[Roccus]

Joe, I appreciate your hobby (ies) and the effort and perfection you put in to them!
That said, I wouldn't lose a second of sleep worrying about the beer and liquor stores shutting down.
It will take a lot more than a pandemic for that to happen. 

yup, as per usual .. you are correct.. ( my wife said the same thing, that nothing would start a coup quicker).. the only regret I have, is my wood working shop shrunk!

[800stealth]

New project... bigger woodshop lol

[Roccus]

New project... bigger woodshop lol

I've got the whole basement taken up, I'd have to add a huge addition, I mainly lost my drafting table and my charging station.. and my big lathe nad drop box for the dust collctor  are  blocked off, but I mainly use that big hardinge for drilling plugs or if I have to turn something made of steel..most of the wood working equipment is available.

[Coffin Dodger]

Good to hear you can get by, Joe.
Nothing handier than a shop.

[Roccus]

Good to hear you can get by, Joe.
Nothing handier than a shop.

still making a few Christmas presents

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Ohhhh! Man, I love those!

[Coffin Dodger]

Absolutely, Gorgeous, Joe...and producers!
You'll have some very appreciative, friends. 

[800stealth]

Wow, art work!

[Roccus]

Ohhhh! Man, I love those!

The A 40. brown bomber , is made with mahogany as a nod to Bob ponds original, thus  the paint scheme
The jointed Pike is a "Roccus" remake of the 6" striper Pike,made famous by Creek Chub, it is fatter than the original and waddles on the top like a fat man doing the dog paddle.that sucker WILL NOT  dive..but creates a wake like a seal running from a great white, it also has a very distinct "clack clack" that seems to infuriate bass..I've had them swap ends on that thing 4 or 5 times before deciding eating it was the only option to kill it.

the chubby 5" darter is made of Alaskan yellow cedar, and is fatter than most, I fish this one mainly like a surface plug, giving short pulls, and pauses, that causes it to dive and act like a dieing bait fish... It's surprising how many fish snag that thing when it's sitting still.

the last one is a standard Gibbs style darter, made of maple, it's at home in ripping currents  and weighs 4 ounces... the parrot paint job has always been my most productive darter color.

I'm going to be the Anchor speaker for the plum island surf casters late march( depending on the pandemic status) I'll be donating  a trio of pikie swimmers to their  raffle table.. I haven't decided the color scheme yet, probably go with the pike scale green/gold..

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I’ll tell ya Joe, you are a talented individual at many things and I for one hold you on a pedestal. Continue being remarkable my friend.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I have 6 of your artworks and all are gems

[Guinea]

I've got a Belgian dubel aging right now..I found a recipe for a black IPA, best IPA Ive ever had..
Huge difference between home brew and store bought.

I love a good dubbel! Smuttynose had a nice one, but I haven't seen it in a couple of years. But you're right, a homebrew is the way to go!

[Lv2hunt]

Those are some fantastic looking plugs you definitely are a master craftsman keep up the good work.

[meatandmetal]

Joe, I appreciate your hobby (ies) and the effort and perfection you put in to them!
That said, I wouldn't lose a second of sleep worrying about the beer and liquor stores shutting down.
It will take a lot more than a pandemic for that to happen. 

Hell would freeze over before they closed the liquor stores and stop selling beer. The economy will shut down too.

[Digs]

Hell would freeze over before they closed the liquor stores and stop selling beer. The economy will shut down too.

The state makes too much money on liquor and the hospitals can't fit a bunch of people going through detox and the rona at the same time. They won't close them

[PoolGuy]

The state makes too much money on liquor and the hospitals can't fit a bunch of people going through detox and the rona at the same time. They won't close them

“ Fact”

[Roccus]

Hey Joe, I might have to start ice fishing a new lake.  IPA is my favorite 3 letters.

Just poured this beauty after 14 1/2 hours of fighting snow.. probably knock me out cold.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Just poured this beauty after 14 1/2 hours of fighting snow.. probably knock me out cold.

That with a nice Lobster stew after your summer of hauling sounds well deserved

[Roccus]

That with a nice Lobster stew after your summer of hauling sounds well deserved

Close, venison stew

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Close, venison stew

That’ll do

[PoolGuy]

Just poured this beauty after 14 1/2 hours of fighting snow.. probably knock me out cold.

That’s a good looking ale Joe......wish I had the patience to make some......I do like visiting brew pubs around the areas I fish in the summer.   1766 in Plymouth and Twin Barns in Meredith were my two favorites this year...both places good food and ales

[Tony Thunder]

Even better, look at the head on that thing lol

That’s what she said

[AQUAASSASSIN]

That’s what she said

It’s a gift worth sharing

[DrummerManDrew]

I finished my sled for the season Today and I’m super excited about that. I am looking for a good spud to take with me on the ice, any recommendations?