VolFan

Check to make sure you went through the eyelets on all the guides. Sometimes it gets through the frame and can do exactly what you’re describing.

My mom had a stroke a little over two weeks ago. It’s her second but recovering has been similar - little improvements each day. Little things like feeding herself are huge milestones, and very much not insignificant so don’t ever apologize for being excited about that. Hopefully she is on a good road to recovery. When you see them the first few days/week after it’s very jarring, and hard to deal with. Congratulations on her progress!

Nah I think it’s right about that time… I had some chuck eye steak on the grill Thursday - it was really good and $4.99/lb on sale.

Yeah no - I actually had some wins in that area in the last 20 years…

I caught many many fish on and around that area while at school there - I fished around the creeks, mostly 2nd and 3rd, and upstream by Ijams and Forks of the River WMA. Hunted rabbits up there too. It’s really a great fairly urban fishery.

I had that happen on Calderwood Lake in East Tennessee while I was in a kayak. Line just seemed to be floating. I dunked the rod and beat paddle for shore and had to hide in a little cave while the thunderstorms hit. Also had it hiking in Colorado on a 14er. Basically everything metal (pack frame, ice ax, etc) started a buzzing or zinging noise and my outer shell starting fluffing out as though it was being inflated…ran down the trail as fast as I think I’ve ever run to get below treeline and get low

I give, what’s the difference in a trolling bag vs a drift sock?

I use a 55 Ah with my 55 lb Minnkota and have never killed it across a day of fishing. Unless you’re constantly making long runs at high speed (and who wants to do ‘high speed’ with a trolling motor) you should do great with the 55 Ah.

Maybe a drift sock or two first? I have a similar setup and if you under pitch your prop it’s going to really undermine what little speed you get

Somewhere way back on here is a 40 lb plus blue cat I caught in the Potomac right by Reagan National Airport one spring. It took at least 30 min to get to the bank and there were only pieces of the spinner bait left at the end. I thought it was some chain link until it took off. I wish I’d had a scale but I measured it with my rod (M spinning btw) and line. 40 lbs was conservative. Probably one of the best fish fights I’ve ever had.

‘Tis but a flesh wound!

The above is true, but losing weight, gaining flexibility and strengthening your core will core will remedy many, many back problems without need for surgery. Not all of them mind you, but removing and/or fusing things in your spine should be an absolute last resort.

Never easy, they never live as long as you want them to. So sorry AJ

It’s hard to believe that disappointment was almost 14 years ago… that area isn’t a sleeper for big smallmouth but it’s probably underrated.

I think you need to get with @roadwarrior about Pickwick.

Go to the 2” and not have to worry.

While not this severe, I have pared my bass tackle way back. I use 3 rods 95% of the time now.

Are you in a river or on a lake(flat water)?

That’s the only way I eat the little ones! Way easier to clean that way and the fins get super crispy!

Hard to laugh with you if you’re not laughing…that sucks!

I thought I gave you a great rod for what you’re proposing in the 7’6” or 8’ Battlecat spinning. It’s even a two piece where the handle comes off.

I didn’t even know they were in Cherokee! Nice fish.

Nuts!

I can 100% raise a pint 100+ times over two hours, and just get better looking… No problems the next day either as long as I’m properly hydrated.

Depending on what action you are looking for, I have some Okuma Battle Cat rods in the spinning model. Great rods for fishing big baits. Slower action as well.Definitely not feathers though.