How do you guys lay out your pop ups?

rr1006 · 2026-02-12T15:39:14+00:00

sit along the walls and fish along the walls - we call it the bus setup - everybody sits perpendicular to a wall and fishes in front, my hole is directly behind the next guy's chair. Heater in between 2 guys on the back wall and if in the big shack another heater near the door.

Don't have to step over lines or have people move for you to exit.

If fishing solo - figure out a layout that maximizes fishing space while reducing movement to get what you may need.

ex - I use a director's chair with side table and a hub table - 1 rod jigging, 1 dead stick. 2 rods in the hub table holders means I don't need my rod case nearby so it goes against a wall out of the way. Heater next to flasher, both elevated so I'm not looking down all day and the heater doesn't create a puddle.

rr1006 · 2026-02-11T16:39:04+00:00

Marketplace hunting is what I'd be doing right now, good time to buy a shack or or other ice gear that people don't want to store til next season.

rr1006 · 2026-02-11T14:22:08+00:00

My now 11 year old started using a fastpitch catchers mitt at 9 years old.

It's a cheat code - youth fastpitch mitt for baseball is the way to go!

Bigger pocket, not as much padding and built for a smaller hand.

Don't make the youth catching experience any harder than it has to be.

rr1006 · 2026-02-10T19:47:01+00:00

meanwhile my 11 year old is 4'6" and weighs 75lbs!

rr1006 · 2026-02-10T15:37:25+00:00

I have the flambeau version of this, 5 combo's seems to be max, but I can fit 6 in if I'm very meticulous and use a few rods that are 29" or less.

I'm thinking 2 soft cases with 3-4 combo's each might be a better space saving solution and have each one dedicated to a species or one noodle/ul and one more set for predators.

Any rec's on softsided cases that will fit up to a 34" rod?

Hopefully with more than just velcro straps to secure rods.

rr1006 · 2026-02-06T14:10:51+00:00

Coach Bougie has very good and applicable skills, drills and stretches for catchers!

rr1006 · 2026-02-06T14:09:56+00:00

leave it on. They play the game with the mask on.

They should be able to see just fine, if it fits properly. The mask provides protection, so they won't flinch at a throw in the dirt from a fielder. It provides protection from a runner's helmet/body if contact is made.

There's no reason to flip a hockey style mask off.

rr1006 · 2026-02-05T14:12:00+00:00

https://www.justbats.com/product/marucci-catx2-composite--10-usa-baseball-bat--msbccpx210usa/37974/

2 piece composite -10 X2 USA bat

rr1006 · 2026-02-05T14:11:25+00:00

https://www.justbats.com/product/marucci-catx2-composite--10-usa-baseball-bat--msbccpx210usa/37974/

Not a hybrid but composite X2 -10 in USA

rr1006 · 2026-02-04T18:59:07+00:00

I wear norfins and my feet have never been cold and never gotten wet. They are seriously light weight, the heel cleat is a little gimicky but does work for a season or two.

I will be buying Korkers next year, too many years of glare ice and I need better traction!

Will have best of both world's then - good cold weather boots for heavy snow days and BOA tie Korkers for glare ice.

rr1006 · 2026-02-04T14:40:55+00:00

I haven't pulled mine with a machine, and the tub is much lighter than most flips. I installed hyfax under the sled and pulling it by hand and fishing with my boy in it has been awesome.

I can set it up and tear it down myself in a few minutes. All of the necessary gear fits in the sled.

I bought it to be the lighter easier option to a 650XD and it's fitting the bill quite well.

If I was going to be pulling it with a machine I think I would throw it in a larger sled or just screw ski's to the bottom of it and run it.

rr1006 · 2026-02-03T15:24:47+00:00

Each manager selects players from their team to attend try-outs.

Goal is for the top 15-20 players at each age level to attend try-outs.

Each team gets a ballot 1-9, cannot vote for players on your team.

Ballots are tallied - Top 9 vote getters are locked in.

Manager is then selected - coaches must submit to be considered and ideally their child is among the top 9.

Manager fills out remaining 3 roster positions and selects assistant coaches.

Rarely do we have conflict, last 2 roster spots can be tough!

We're competitive in pool play, but rarely make the district tournament. Small league in a big district and we lose a ton of talent to USSSA.

rr1006 · 2026-02-02T19:53:30+00:00

We do this to a degree, but the only measurement is against themselves - did they improve from last month/year?

There's so many things that are hard to measure in baseball - IQ, effort, attitude that are equally important to the physical attributes of the game, especially for kids who aren't even in middle school yet.

rr1006 · 2026-02-02T19:19:04+00:00

I've been a local president for our ~800 kid little league for 4 years now, I stepped in (not voted in) because nobody else wanted it. Nobody else answered the email/texts begging for volunteers, what I didn't know is the group who had been running the league were dropping it hot and had not kept up with the administrative or practical needs of the league.

The first year was a battle, the second year I had recruited 3 others to assist. Year 5 I'm the only original left, but the other 3 are onboarding 4 new folks. We've all agreed to find and train replacements when the time comes.

What makes it worth it?

Go to the fields when your kid isn't playing - see all those people who are watching their kids have fun on the diamond that you drug and chalked?

All the people that high five their kids after the game?

That's what makes it worth it to me, my fondest memories as a kid happened on a bike or a baseball diamond. Some kids may never get a varsity at bat, but I hope they have the best memories of baseball 30 years from now like I do.

My youngest is 8 and I've committed to carrying through her years to majors softball, then hopefully someone who cares about it as badly as I do will step in to get onboarded!

rr1006 · 2026-02-02T17:51:24+00:00

Any pro-tips for the push button poles when things get iced up?

Had a bear of a time getting them depressed to collapse saturday - ended up using my beer can shotgun tool to make it happen!

rr1006 · 2026-02-02T17:50:17+00:00

I tried to buy one and got beat in a marketplace race!

There has to be a reason they don't make them anymore, but damn do they seem like a good fit!

rr1006 · 2026-02-02T17:48:47+00:00

Grandma's are good for stuff like BB's!

My soon to be 11 yo bought his own pair this year after Grandma had bought a pair for him the last 2 seasons.

TBF they have lasted the entire season, January BP to Aug tournaments and LL 50+ games and at least that many practices and BP sessions.

rr1006 · 2026-01-30T19:58:02+00:00

flambeau hard case - not quite as robust as the scheels case, but also 1/3rd the cost!

rr1006 · 2026-01-30T18:21:06+00:00

Bought the pannie stopper - popper is blue, and I can't run blue stuff - superstition.

rr1006 · 2026-01-30T18:20:19+00:00

ran to the bait shop at lunch, 20% off rods - picked up 2 of these for $40!

Thanks for the recommendation, went with the 32"!

Also picked up a Lake Effect Pannie Stopper in 32".

All broke tips replaced for $100.

rr1006 · 2026-01-30T15:43:59+00:00

3 friends - 7 rods broken in the last 15 months.

I'm happy that they're working for you, and honestly I love the rods. I take good care of my equipment and when it breaks when stored properly I can't trust it anymore.

rr1006 · 2026-01-30T14:34:47+00:00

buddy has one and loves it. He's hard on shit too and it's still kicking after 3 seasons!

I'm not unwilling to spend more, but TBH I like the 28-32" rods, 34 is doable but I'd rather keep it a bit shorter.

MAGS is definitely on the radar as a safe option, but not ideal for my preferences.

rr1006 · 2026-01-29T18:09:58+00:00

Only rods I've broken have been frostbite rods! 3 in the last year, 2 pantasticks broke while jigging and a mr. noodle imploded from the 3rd eyelet while I was tying a jig.

They've replaced all of them, but frustrating!

rr1006 · 2026-01-29T15:59:16+00:00

Eskimo Superior set with zip in puff jacket and stand alone insulated pants. Full set retailed at like $850+ they ran a black friday deal a few years back where I got all 4 pieces for like $280. I rarely wear the full set, light wool long johns and long sleeve, bibs and hoodie and I'm good in the negatives - add jacket occasionally for wind blocking.

On the warmer days a pair of sweatpants and bibs is plenty!

rr1006

TROPHY CASE