VolFan

I think my question would be…are you looking for a reason to upgrade or are you trying to figure out if your daily will be safe? The Ascent would be better but I’d still put brakes on the trailer if you’re going to be pushing 3k. Out of curiosity- what brand/model are you looking at? 2400 just seems heavy for a boat that size.

Daaaang, somebody got lost from SoFla…the traffic on I-95 must have been moving

Something with at least a 3000 lb towing capacity. And I’m adding surge brakes to the trailer. I thought you were getting a 17 or 18 ft aluminum with a 20 hp Merc. So I guess you can use your Suby but you are going to wear it out much, much faster than normal.

Roadrunners in 1/8th and 1/16th oz and then either a curl tail grub, Shad body, or small straight tail. It will catch anything.

Til the sweat drips down…?

So I have a 15’ aluminum with 20 hp, two batteries, two anchors, 8-10 rods, tackle, 55lb bow remote trolling motor, and deck sitting on a single axle trailer. Unless it’s really built out or really full I think your #2400 may be way high, but that depends on the boat build. Mine is conservatively right at #1000 as towed. I tow with a 2006 4Runner with a V8 and have 0% problems going or stopping within reason. It will go through more brakes. I would add that you tow a boat like you drive a boat - safe distance to all obstacles and try to have a safe way to go should an obstacle pop up in front of you. You can’t stop on a dime.

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!