Dwight Hottle

Great outing & description.

There were a few mentioned here. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/123907-whos-your-all-time-favorite-guitarist-of-your-generation/

Beautiful rod. Seriously fun blank for your purpose. Enjoy.

Works on a siebert jig too, right Mike.

Crude but it works. Attach the transducer to a wood board then C-clamp it to the transom.

I remember my first largemouth caught as a kid using a red worm under a bobber with a cane pole. First bass was probably 13-14 inches long & healthy looking. I also remember my first bass on a top water hula popper after I graduated from the cane pole to my first spinning rod & reel. That fish just blew me away. Probably 2.5-3lbs caught among the lily pads near shore. I was stoked with catching that one.

They really appreciate their customers & their customer service shows that appreciation.

Sweet. Congratulations to you both.

Heck of a nice first bass!

Nice one.

Sent you a pm.

Old school theory was that cats only bit chicken livers & cut bait. As a kid I baited a trot line with bluegills & liver & caught them on both. As an adult fishing for bass I have caught them on plastics, cranks, jerkbaits & spinnerbaits. Flatheads & channel cats are especially aggressive with most moving baits. I have had some serious tussles with channel cats on smallie tackle between 15-20 lbs hitting jerkbaits in 20-30 feet of water. They are serious predators.

Oh well. That photo doesn't show 22" girth. The biggest girth I have measured was 17.5" for a smallie.

Deep Cranking & Slow Rollin

Happy birthday in advance sir. Would a picture do?

Exactly. Last rod I bought was intended for deep cranking & slow rolling. I specifically bought it to use for jerkbaits & really like for that function. I'm sure it will make a fine frog rod as well. The manufacture may be selling it to the public for one specific technique but it could handle several techniques based on the rods specs.

I did. $407.68 on the reel & $14.70 EMS shipping.

Wayne check these out. The snap ends allow you change the snap to whatever you want to use. The fluoro leaders are nail knots plus a crimp with rubber heat shrink material thats keeps the ends from picking up weeds. I used to make up my own leaders but these are so durable I just buy them & change up the snaps as needed. The titanium leaders in single stand 30lb test are very thin. http://www.jacksonlures.com/Commerce2/FinnLeaders.htm http://www.jacksonlures.com/Commerce2/Stealth.htm

55 years old when I got my first boat.

You would not be the first guy to remove a trigger because it's in the way or uncomfortable.

I would suggest adding a scale to your list.

Yes your current rods will work. Most guys trolling for walleye use line counters reels with dedicated rods but it is not necessary. The only rod holders I have used are based on a track system which requires drilling to secure. I use cisco alm rod holders on berts tracks. If you have metal rails mounted on your boat there are holders that will adapt to the rail. Google down east rod holders. The better systems are either stainless or alm. The plastic or lexan holders will work but are not very durable when much stress is placed on the system.

On the first day after his divorce, he sadly packed his belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases. On the second day, he had the movers come and collect his things. On the third day, he sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining-room table, by candle-light; he put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, a bottle of spring-water, 3 cans of sardines. When he'd finished, he went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimps dipped in caviar, and some sardines into the hollow center of the curtain rods. He then cleaned up the kitchen and left. On the fourth day, the wife came back with her new boyfriend, and at first all was bliss. Then, slowly, the house began to smell. They tried everythi! ng; cleaning, mopping, and airing-out the place. Vents were checked for dead rodents, and carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which time the two had to move out for a few days, and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting. Nothing worked!...People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house...The maid quit. Finally, they couldn't take the stench any longer, and decided they had to move, but a month later - even though they'd cut their price in half - they couldn't find a buyer for such a stinky house. Word got out, and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls. Finally, unable to wait any longer for a purchaser, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place. Then the ex-called the woman and asked how things were g! oing. She told him the saga of the rotting house. He listened politely and said that he missed his old home terribly and would be willing to reduce his divorce settlement in exchange for having the house. Knowing he could have no idea how bad the smell really was, she agreed on a price that was only 1/10 nth of what the house had been worth ... but only if he would sign the papers that very day. He agreed, and within two hours her lawyers delivered the completed paperwork. A week later the woman and her boyfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home and to spite the ex-husband... they even took the curtain rods! I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING, DON'T YOU? =

Sent you a PM.

Sweet fish & picture.