J Francho

Arron Martens (RIP) gave back to the community in the form of sharing how he operates without really doing any hard sales pitch. While I didn't always share his preferences, his openness and creativeness, as well as his ability to explain why he did something is rare. I'd say that type of relationship to the forum would be well received.

Seems like there's a lot of misconception about the materials. My mother has a CF pack boat that weighs about 15 lbs. Not a chance I'd be worried about it. That thing is a tank. The resins and fabric used are way stronger than any plastic or fiberglass boat. I had a Bullet that was a Kevlar layup hull and that was pretty indestructible. I have a full carbon paddle, and while I wouldn't use it in white water just due to the wear on the blades, no bounce off rocks is going to make it shatter. One of the advantages of CF, Kevlar, and composite layups is in the strength. They aren't fragile.

Wildy made a CF version of their Commander around a decade ago. That was a thing of beauty, and was FAR LESS money. I can speak from my C120, it is very fishable, so a light version would be pretty cool. I can't understand where the $11k is in this Apex. If Bill Swift can build a carbon Kevlar pack boat for under $4k, why is this thing so much?

Use a flipping stick and 65# braid, NO LEADER. You will lose them from shore. I absolutely crush smallies in the Oneida River in fall tournaments with an A-rig. It is exhausting to throw for 8 hours, but was never out of the money in club tournaments there throwing it. And yes, the strike is vicious and intoxicating.

It's ugly.

Automatic door locks ruined my acid test. Unlock and open the passenger door for her. If she didn't lean over and unlock the driver side door, no second date.

I'd rather use something waterproof, less delicate, and purpose built. Granted budget is a concern, but I already a Helix 5 and a 7. Do you SI/DI with a castable?

I was using a Helix 7. I need a bigger display than my phone.

For rentals, I mounted a graph to a plastic lunch cooler. Put the battery inside. I attached the TD to a 1x3 scrap about 30" long. Then I c clamped that to the transom and there you go - SI/DI/GPS in a rental.

Parts, paper weight, wheel chock, weapon.

Ain't that the truth!

The word for that is bathe

Get a fish gripper and a better net. Keep at it.

Spinnerbaits are one of the baits I introduce to my students first. I always start with moving baits. They get bit, and require zero bite detection and fish almost never come unpinned. They're a huge confidence builder for them and they're easy to learn. Not sure what is difficult about cast a spinnerbait. Tie a 1/2 oz bait and let it rip. There's no nuance there until you decide there is. In the meantime, chuck and wind.

If you're catching coelacanth, you might want to alert the scientific community, lol. Anyway, durability isn't much an issue. If the skirt gets that bad, it's probably time to abandon that bait.

This spec in any St. Croix is my go to for spinnerbaits, every time. As mentioned, it excels in many other applications.

Yep, edit your profile and cut that way down and the space goes away.

Me too, and it is THE BEST.

Thank goodness they tell me to like and subscribe. I would have forgotten to do that. I'm seeing a big shift to Patreon, for basically a few bucks a month. If you like a channel, and they have one, it's a much cleaner environment to enjoy good content. I follow Drum! w/ Mike and Eddy and Hawk vs. Wolf.

Okay, thanks. I appreciate your advice a lot. This is all new to me. Whatever it takes to keep me on my skateboard. I'll take all the other benefits too.

I've got a pretty severe cold that started yesterday. Not too much coughing, mostly just weak, snotty, and sore throat. I'm due to work out tonight. What's your move here? Grind through it? Also, I just started noticing I have lats, lol. So that's working.

I try to meet people where they are. If that means hearing or saying words, or hugging over handshakes, then so be it.

Isn't a ground hog the same as a wood chuck?

A typical journalist probably doesn't know the difference between a walleye boat and a bass boat. That's probably their boat in the picture. It would be too difficult to find stock photo of a Ranger walleye boat and a DNR pickup.

Takes a couple weeks, but yes it changes everything in the gut for the better.