J Francho

I like them for smaller worms. Retrieve any way you want. They are fairly weedless/snagless. An actual pegged Texas Rig will protect the knot better, if that's important to you.

There's a few boats where you can remove the second console, even though it's not billed as a convertible console boat. My friend had an Xpress X19, and once it warmed up, he'd unbolt it from the cockpit. It wasn't super pretty, but it offered more room. Other boats like Nitro, Lund, and Crestliner have convertible models.

I bet you don't see a bunch of threads up here, with pro staffers talking about their "sponsors." There's a reason for that.

Mepps are well made spinners. There's nothing accidental about catching using them. If you're working fish in current, and casting upstream or making quartering casts, Panther Martins spin better at slower speeds. Steelhead are goofy for rainbow trout pattern. Go figure.

For now, I'd say you are just fine. I wouldn't over complicate the system, or change anything until you've become familiar enough with a few techniques that you want to try another type of line, a new reel or rod. I caught a TON of fish of all species using a 7' Ugly Stik and Penn reel spooled up with 6# Trilene. If you get a chance to fish with others, see if you can try their gear, to get a feel of more specialized setups.

Yep. It's called a jig worm. Tearing is optional. It's been around longer than I've been alive. My grandfather taught me how to rig it. He liked it better than a pre-rigged worm.

Don't use your fingers, or any other body part, to cinch knots.

One fish per bait purchased is a dream.

Most of the Shimano reels I've worked on come with Permalub grease on the worm shaft from the factory. I've seen some with the Star Drag grease as well, but can't confirm it was a factory job. Like most others here, I prefer to oil this, and Bantam oil works great for it. I've tried many things, such as ATF, 3 in 1, TSI 321, Remoil, and pretty much anything slippery works fine. It comes down to what attracts and holds less grime and is easier to clean.

I types "map" into the article search, and got a ton of results. Here is a start: https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Reading_Maps.html

Pretty sure you guys have quarantitus. A symptom is arguing over thing that do not matter. OP's question is asked and answered.

I'm okay with that!

I thought this was gonna be a thread about getting likes, lol. You get this a lot with big swimbaits. For me, the bait did it's job, and confirmed my bias: there is a big fish living there that wants to eat. I'm already that far ahead of blindly casting any old lure.

Pretty sure a Dauntless is in my future. It satisfies my requirements, and hers, and doesn't feel like a compromise.

I think "see" is the wrong question, or assumption. Can the fish sense any line in the water? Based on shallow water observations, I've seen plenty of evidence they can, even so called invisible line. Does it matter that they can sense it's there? Sometimes, not always. I get plenty of bites not using a leader. I also get plenty of bites when fishing toothy waters using a coated steel leader. Go figure. Occasionally, I'll try a fluoro leader if I'm not getting bites and others are using a leader, but that's slow moving contact baits. Moving baits don't seem to matter as much. Look at an umbrella rig. There's a ton of metal there.

Great news!

150 is underpowered, too. Xpress is a good hull, though.

I've done plenty of boat shopping recently, and brakes are a common option to single and tandem axle trailers for many brands.

SAME!!!!!

His highest finish since 2011 is 14th. You have to go back to the 90s to find any top 5 finishes. If you enjoy braid and crankbaits and have success, that's a good enough reason to use it.

You have all the cool toys! I like the hidden countersunk mounting screws on the stabilizer. The pocket holes are a nice touch - hidden and strong!

I didn't like braid for cranking back in 2011, and I still don't.

I've only seen it once - Keuka Lake, Penn Yan launch. They were able to connect a winching strap to the trailer, and reconnect the stern tie downs. I remember them being worried it might float the truck down the launch. Not a good way to start off a tournament. Luckily that launch had more than one ramp. I don't think anyone had to go in the water, but they got it out. It was a case of a new non boater backing down to far to dump his boater in.

I do not think one exists, but there are a ton of Raider mods in this thread:

Incredible milestone!