J Francho

Those are fine as long as you have a matching belt and purse.

Damnit. This sucks.

The word punching already exists. Yes, I punch with heavy jigs, T-rigs, and even make my own 1-2 oz. Jika rigs for this. It's been a staple for at least 30 years for me.

Only on purpose, for every kayak I intend to stand in to fish. A couple of them were very difficult to overturn.

I'm with Mick and Tenn., balance is found only through fishing. Sometimes, a combo just doesn't feel right. Try a different reel, and it's like magic. For me it's a trial and error deal - just like what baits work best. There's no standard for balance point and no standard rod ratings. What works fine for you might be awful for me. Or the other way around.

I use an anchor and trolley all the time. I wrap the line on a piece of 2x2 with two hardwood dowels on each end. This also allows me to use a float and slip system for quick release if necessary.

I use a fish grip attached to a T-Reign retractor. Any fish getting its portrait taken will be big enough to stay under water.

Still don't like any of them. No need for the extra contraption.

Little guys lack accuracy. The big ones are often much quieter, but not always.

Drop offs are an interesting piece of structure. I'm in over 60 fow in this clip. That fish is sitting in 12-15 fow, on the edge of the weed line. Where it strikes the surface is out over 30 feet. The lure is a Popmax, in Python.

Yes, of course it's better, when it is. I love a popper. Took me a while to get comfortable with them - like years - but it's one of my go to baits for the top. I'll throw them before I throw a walking bait.

I'm 90 minutes from all the prime water in the state. The only time go further is out of state or down to NYC to fish the water supply lakes with friends, which is about an 8 hour trip, so might as well be out of state. NY is a big state, full of lakes.

No, I caught mine (LMB) in the dead of summer. It was very fat. I don't think it was a spawner or had fully recovered. I don't think it would have weighed much more during prespawn. My SMB was caught in November, so I guess you could say it was prespawn. It was also well fed and fat.

Texas rig and Jika rig. If I'm out of Rage Chunks, I bite two sections off for a jig trailer.

We've been in the mid 90s for a few days now. Upside, pool was 88 today, so I actually got in today.

You need a 1/4 or 3/8" bolt, around 2" longer than your widest empty spool your line came on. Then you need a bolt, a wide fender, that empty spool, another washer, and finally a wing nut. You only need to be finger tight. Now load that into a cordless drill chuck and you can now slowly strip off the line from your reel with ease. Resist the temptation to go as fast as your drill can spin. Slow and low and guide the line on the filler spool neatly. You shouldn't have any problem.

I see this when it's a new cottage/home owner, unfamiliar with living on waterfront property. It's also a trend with a certain generation that that starts with an M and seems to feel a bit entitled. I grew up on the water and the water is basically like living on a public park. I've made so many friends living the dock life and rarely have I encountered a rude boater. The few I have weren't anglers and weren't residents. If someone wants it all to themselves, then dig a pond.

@Glenn's method to use multiple apps to form a complete picture is a great plan. If you can access some local weather data collecting stations, that's great for narrowing in on what's happening short term and trends for the day. I'll add, Windy is worth its weight in gold. Crucial app if you ask me.

Mental illness, left untreated, can be fatal. Sometimes for others. Very sad situation.

He's not looking to get on plane. He's looking to eliminate the weird splash back.

Can you go up one bolt hole on that mount? Would be simple to try if there's multiple bolt holes.

Standard response to zombie threads. These are more common in spring and usually arise from a google search result by new members. And yes, I need to get on the water. Time is the issue, as always.

Fourscore and a pandemic ago someone wondered what line to put on their reel.

Depends on the reel, but usually around 7:1. My spinnerbait reels are 5.8:1 and 6.2:1.

I personally have some trouble with anything around 30 IPT or faster with spinnerbaits, unless I am really burning one to "make a bulge" type of retrieve.