J Francho

I use the little ones on Picasso School-E finesse rig, and I'll also drop shot them. The bigger ones get either dart head jig or I use a weed less swimbait hook like an Owner Beast. Don't use too big a hook though - the less hook in the bait, the better the action.

I use the Navionics app.

Clayton, want to hit the slum by me for northerns this weekend? They're in there. Had three on in a short two hour trip, landed one over 32".

Scupper holes make for nice rod holders in a pinch, too.

Get a rubber landing net, and a fish grip. You don't need to lift the fish out of the water, just contain it next to the boat. There's nothing "sporting" about a fish swimming off with a hook in it's face, or you getting a hook in your hand or thy.

Pretty much all my fishing in water < 10' deep is done with the graphs off. Like Speed said, look at the shoreline and visualize what's there.

I don't have a "dominant hand." I write with my right, but otherwise I do many things with my left. Playing drums for over 30 years has probably had an effect. My left is definitely stronger than my right. Like was mentioned, with time you can retrain yourself to use either. I like right ret. for moving baits, and left for contact baits, though either works in a pinch. One thing I cannot do is pitch with my left, hence my preference for a lefty reel or flipping switch.

There used to be a floating Ribbit.

As a rule, the biggest fish are where it's the last convenient to fish, lol.

For spooks and poppers, I use an Avid 6-2 M-XF rod. Reel is an Alphas, which is around 24IPT.

Only 7 lbs.? I broke a 5 power Dobyns Champ X at the grip on a hookset this weekend. Drag was set at about 4.5 lbs. Good luck getting to that claimed max resistance stat.

I use both.

You can. Just hang on. Nothing can stop their initial run.

Might be time for new washers. Carbontex are around $8.

I use a 10' casting rod and Calcutta reel with 12# mono. Go up to the raven fishing site to see the float riggings that work well with bright beads for salmon.

Was at Hemlock last weekend. Lots of fish inside weed line on spinnerbaits, small swimbaits, and plastics in the weeds.

Welcome aboard, Nick. Good to see you up here.

If cameras, bump boards, and identifier are standard and supplied tournament day, I'll play, but not for any substantial $$$. Points, sure. I wonder when the big series will weigh the fish in water, or start using displacement as a measure of size.

The problem with weight conversions is accuracy in weight. You need a girth measurement as well as a length, and getting girth is more inconsistent than a bump board measurement. A 20" bass can be anywhere from 3 lbs to over 6. Which is it? If you're going to judge the winner by mass, then measure mass. Would you measure a long jump based on the velocity, then convert that to length based on some formula?

Probably the only reels I currently use that never seem to screw up and cast consistently well are my TD-X HSDL pitching reels. They are beat to hell, and still tick like new. I'll give a nod to my Chronarch Es and the Optimus hand tuned, though I haven't had them nearly as long as the TD-Xs.

I like to be optimistic, and it works for kayak tournaments, but I don't care for the weight conversions. If you're measuring inches, then you finish by inches. Scales are tricky to document, so weight may not be an option. Even bump boards have issues. It's not always clear if the fish's snout is up against the side. Mouth closed? Fins pinched? Hands in the pic? What about the identifier card? There's also the question of folks mishandling the fish to get the pic. There's issues with this type of contest, beyond the honor system.

You can lock it down, and back reel, old school like.

At least a few pounds worth a year. We pour our own now.

Zebco 33. It served me very well before I knew any better, lol.

I consider the weakest point in the system, irrespective of line type. Think about the hook, hardware, terminal devices, line strength, knot, rod power, reel, etc. and set it it below that.