J Francho

How old are the kids? I've taken my boys out in bass boats since they could walk.

Try tossing a #20 black midge on a flippin' stick.

I like a spinnerbait for this situation.

Good grief!

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/winterize-boat-ethanol.html https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Winter_boat.html

I kill 'em on the goby. Rig on a DS.

I carry a set of drug store 2x readers when fishing. For sunglasses, I wear Maui Jim's.

Should have used the sarcasm font...:P

I use braid in weeds and fluoro or copoly near rocks, docks, and laydowns.

It is easier, but you still have to put in the hours. The discussions at the old timers session at the skate park often center around this, too. We didn't have YouTube to learn a trick, just B&W stills. Sometimes they would do a detailed sequence with instructions, but that was rare. It was best if you went out and skated with others, and learned from each other. I think that still rings true, even with fishing. I've seen some pretty good sticks come out of n00bs in the club I fished with.

An inflatable sounds like the best solution for you, given your constraints. I know there is a guy that lives in NYC, and transports his gear on the subway. He's totally portable.

Clean setup!

I have a 5 and a 7, and a Compass. I use the 5 more often than the 7. It's just less clutter for me. I opted for the arm from Yakattack. I keep the battery in a dry bag under the seat. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-zzWV7q6/0/X2/i-zzWV7q6-X2.jpg

That is tiny compared to what I was thinking. Looks pretty much like a sit inside bass raider, but nicer. This is what I had in mind when you said drift boat: https://www.pavatimarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pavati-17x61-Model-1.jpg

Don't use fluoro as a leader for topwater baits. Either tie direct (this is what I do) or use something that floats, like mono.

Cool, now I have something to try when I run out. I hope it acts like mono and isn't soft like most braids.

Who is going to row? The time is was in one, it was all the good things you talked about, but the guide was on the oars the whole time. Most of the ones I see up here are aluminum. If you're fishing a river, then I could see it, if you had someone to row while you fish. On a lake, in anything other than completely still air, I'd think you'd get blown all over the place. I'm still hung up on the rowing thing, too. I've fished the NYC reservoirs, and it's rowboats only. Getting to spots, and getting into and holding position is hard work. Usually the way we did it is one rows for a bit, and keeps position for the other person. Switch off after some fish. Anchoring is rarely a great plan when bass fishing, unless you on a school. It may very well be the right choice for you, but I don't think it's some silver bullet no one thought of before.

Shhhh. This is the internet, everyone will hear my secret! ? Kidding side, flat side up seems to help the bait align itself in current, and wiggle without any help from the rod tip.

The first ones I saw were on Daiwa flipping sticks, in the early 90s. Cork was in short supply, and expensive, so they went to split rear grip to save material. That's the way I remember In-Fisherman reporting it in their annual equipment guide. I don't really know of any pros or cons regarding weight or sensitivity, but i will say I like a full rear grip for moving baits, and have no preference on other rods. What I don't like is exposed threads and a rough locking nut in front of the reel. Dobyns smooth locking nut is one of the best. Otherwise, I don't dare if there is a fore grip or not.

That's an awesome report. Chemo must be exhausting for you both. I hope she gets well.

Yeah, I'd love to give one a spin. Did you get any seat time in it?

I had a bamboo rod and green Zebco 404. Long gone at this point, almost 45 years later.

Yes, a snap-swivel is the wrong piece of terminal gear. They are for mixing and matching trolling weights to your line, and were never designed to manage fighting a fish.

Does it float?

Tell me the benefits of a drift boat on a lake. I've only been in one once, on the Salmon River. Doesn't seem like an ideal vessel for tooling around a lake.