J Francho

See my post above. Tape the backer and tie an arbor knot. It literally as simple as that. I don't know why we feel the need to complicate something that won't ever see the light of day until you strip off the top shot.

The heavier the bait and the thinner the line, the better it slices weeds. I don't find 4- or 8- carrier or roughness of the line makes as much difference as I once thought. I use 50# Smackdown. It won't break and you'll get through weeds fine.

Your three points above as well as as you should hear anything when the rod is loaded with line through the guides. Any creaking or cracking, walk away. I usually prefer to buy my rods in person, but the past few years that isn't possible since all the stores carry are entry level gear or the inventory has been handles by three thousand people. It's okay to whip a $400 rod around like a swashbuckler, apparently.

The issue isn't shooting the knot through snake guides, it's the bump it puts on the spool that you can feel through 100 yards of line.

I have two Eyecon spinners and I really like the handles too.

I like that spinning handle. I like full grips too.

When I cleaned out the basement last spring, I found a box of JDM reel boxes I didn't own anymore. Tossed them.

I've seen C&C at least 20 times, lol. This is from summer of '90 - lien and mean:

Judging by all the PA plates in the lot, I always thought the opener was April 1st in NY for PA anglers. ?

I'm not doing tres any time soon. Tranny is a bit easier on my 48 yo body, though I still hit some hand rails and banks. I love a nice beat up parking block as well. Forgot to mention that these things swim in ever ditch along the lake. Another fun winter activity:

The bunk covers on my Xpress were NOT AT ALL the same as the composite bunks A-Jay has. These looked like a cheap and simply alternative to carpet. They were literally stapled to the boards in the channels. This looks like the product I had: http://www.loadrite.com/trailer-parts/bunks-rollers-and-pivot-bars/plastic-bunk-cover-2x4x48/ As far as the sliding, it was these that created the problem I see with slippery bunks. Launching was never a problem, but retrieving would often be a problem. Many of the ramps here are steep, and short. You can get half the bunk in the water, maybe a little more before you go off the end of the ramp into the blow out hole. I'd load the boat, throttle up the to the bow tie, kill the motor, and the boat would slide back in. I'd have to leave it in gear, or have a second person attach the bow. Neither are my preference.

The picture isn't from SC, as far as I know.

Here's mine:

I'm not sure what these were made of, but my Xpress came with plastic covered bunks. They made a mess of the hull. It was hard to polish out the streaks. I replaced them with carpeted bunks eventually. I'm still on fence about A-Jay's bunks. I wish there was a product that was resistant to rot like those, but behaved like normal carpeted bunks. I prefer the boat NOT slide off. To answer the original question, mine were attached with carriage bolts on my last two boats. The smaller boats in the past used lag screws.

I'd go as far as retiring in VA, but that's about as south as I'd want to go. Really, it's only intolerable a couple weeks a year in western NY. I also enjoy driving through devastating snow. It's the annoying 2-3" you have to brush off the car every morning that gets to me. I've driven all over the east coast to fish, and honestly, where I live is as beautiful a place as any. Way prettier than Florida, that's for sure. Plus aside from the rare earthquake or tornado, there's really no deadly forces of nature, unless you count tax season. It's still pretty inexpensive in my part of the state, though.

I would max out HP and get the highest power TM I could get. The boat will never sell used with a 25 on it. Skip the jack plate. There's no reason to ever skimp on the TM, get an 80. It worked great on my 18' Xpress and 22' Bullet. You're not financing, so I'd shop elsewhere for electronics - they're way overpriced through the dealer and easy to install on an aluminum boat. I'd want at least a 7" screen at the console and a 9" or larger at the bow. SI and GPS are must haves. After owning an 18' aluminum, I'd pony up for power poles, but I fish in the wind quite a bit. Other tips, the folding chairs were never used in any of my boats, always go with bike seats. Pro Pole seat post upgrades are meh, nice to have. Retractable tie downs are not even negotiable for me. I don't know what every trailer doesn't have them. Absolutely get the cover and use it every time. Good luck and post it when you get it!

I always save the boxes.

It sounds like you'd like the OG Avids, then. The Victory are a split cork grip with EVA over the the threads. The Avid full cork:

I knew it! Glad you figured it out.

I just drag it through the grass, and reel it back up with tension.

https://sundolphin.com/parts-support/

Something isn't right with the reel, or it's slipping. Are you sure it's not slipping? We have a thread like this about every two weeks. It's ALWAYS the line slipping on the spool and you couldn't tell. Put a little black dot on the spool with a dry erase marker, and check to see if it's moving with the line when pull line off. Otherwise, it sounds like it may be defective, and need to be returned.

Almost any non chuck and wind bait - frogs, jigs, plastics, jerkbaits, topwaters, etc.

Whatever you guys down there do, be careful with any heaters. Been hearing about CO poisoning and fires from space heaters. Stay warm, but be safe.