J Francho

Play them gently, do not horse them in. Use an appropriate power rod, not usually anything more than a MH. Don't just swing on them and high stick them. Holding the rod to a 90* angle to them, but horizontally to apply what I call "side pressure" usually helps a lot. All bets are off if the can get to the surface. They have an advantage on you in shaking the bait free, and they try, so don't encourage them to do so, by pulling them up to the surface. Use sharp hooks. I don't have an issue with round bends, but many here use gripper style KVD hooks. For line, I like some stretch, so I don't use braid. I'm currently using 10 or 12# Tatsu on my crankers. I personally like moderate taper rods, but that's debatable. I think rod taper has more to do with how the bait reacts after a deflection than actually playing a fish back to shore/boat. If tearing hooks out was an issue, why don't we hear about losing fish on other baits more frequently? I think we often go too heavy a power. I think losing crank fish has to do with bad hooks, poor fish playing skills, wrong power rod, and no stretch line. A bit of bad luck plays into it as well.

Treble, treble, treble, treble, treble, treble, treble. I've switched trebles on some baits for trout and salmon, but not for bass. The reason was to reduce hang ups in the pebble rocks that are crusted up with zebra mussels. I wouldn't think of doing for any of my bass lures, though I have caught smallmouth while trout fishing. I don't think it's going to affect hookup positively.

Braid?

Just want to add, catching that slammer on a Tiny Torpedo must have been a blast.

That actually isn't what they were designed for. It just worked out that most use them that way. It was designed to be a jerk bait. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/gary-yamamoto.html Maybe one day, yes. Another, no.

Fishing a senko on a Texas rig using a light, pegged weight causes them to do loopty-loops when skipped under docks. Pete Guzik won a few bucks doing this on Cayuga.

Only if you straight arm them

Ranger 70 mph = GPS 45 mph

That's for Canada, they use the metric system.

My Bullet required a jack plate to mount a motor. That boat (21 XDC) had a 15" set back from TH Marine.

Seems like this will be the update to an already great, but aging Avid line. The Avid X series didn't really turn my screws, but these look like something I'd add to my collection.

If you use braid, pick a highly visible color like yellow or pink so you can watch the line. Some vicious strikes look like just a small twitch of the line where it enters the water.

I don't know why they stopped, but it was only set back, and not like a jackplate that allows you to adjust engine height. That splashwell was always stained on the boats that I rode in. Looked like a pain to keep clean.

2.5 Oak leaves 3-4 lbs. is my guess.

Haven't test drove a Scout, but I've been in similar style boats. I'm not new to boating. The dealer that tested the Whaler with carries Scout as well, so I'm sure they can set something up with a demo, or a customer boat.

251 XSS. I don't think I could bass fish off the sport fish very easily.

I'd just tape the backing down, and tie an arbor knot.

I bet I have a few reels that I left the drag set over several winters. It's not as devastating as some make it out to be. I'd compare it to not making the bed when you get up in the morning. Not really a big deal if no one knows.

They put cameras in my local pub too.

You can mail it to Berkley. https://www.boatus.org/monofilament/

If I was simply launching directly in the main lake, I'd agree. We mostly drop into one of the protected bays, which are small lakes unto themselves. You pick your days when you head out to the big lake. This is Port Bay, where I grew up and learned to fish. Pretty typical largemouth fishing there. It's only ever "rough" when we get a south wind which is rare. On nice days, you can run the lake, and even head to other bays. Sodus (the crown jewel of Lake Ontario) is just a 40-60 minute boat ride away.

I put 210,000 miles on a 87 Jeep Cherokee Chief and it only cost me a screwdriver and a water pump. I paid $500 for that car, and sold it for $500 when I was done. It had around 450,000. Another true story, I had a set of DW Collectors that I bought a month old, used. I used them for half a dozen tours, five albums and sold them 17 years later for more than I paid for those drums. Resale of this boat will happen after they read my will.

I eliminate most of the work by using straight fluorocarbon line. One knot with a long tag and I'm done.

CONGRATS!!!!!!