A-Jay

Good Stuff right there ~ Perhaps the fact that the lad is interested enough to go fishing without you is a good sign. Sounds like you're fairly set on getting him a rig. I guess you could go two ways - spend some money on one rod & reel for him or split that same $$ into purchasing 2 set ups so that he can take (or Bring when with you) a friend - That sounds like a job for the type of gear that comes in plastic / bubble wrap and hangs on a hook. A-Jay

Especially if you're throwing big mono, you'll dump the majority of your spool capacity on the cast. A quick review of the Bait Monkey's guide to swim bait reels will indicate that the 300 D is highly recommended. A-Jay

I hear that - I'd have no problem hooking up the young lad while he's fishing with me but I'm not going to set up the local neighborhood with tackle. Junior will have to save up his dimes and get is own gear. A-Jay

I'm right handed, right eye dominant and I spin the handle of a casting reel with my right hand. However there are no sights on any of my rods, so the eye dominance factor really doesn't come into play . . . . A-Jay

You're a nice guy ~ I guess first thing I'd do out of respect for his Mom, would be to ask if it would be OK to give him the gear. Then, before I purchased a rig, I'd consider "handing down" something I might not use as much any more. You'd be passing on some good mojo. Otherwise, most any quality entry level set up should do it. A-Jay

Sure does - The sad part about it is, I think the "Out of Order" sign could be enough to send some one over the rail. A-Jay

I guess the "Funny" part is this is REAL. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

St Croix Fenwick Lamiglas Shimano G Loomis Quantum Kistler And ........ A-Jay

Stop following me ~ Stalker A-Jay

LOL ~ I was just about to add that for you.. A-Jay

If things go according to plan - you might not get much of a Warm up ~ I've been casting out in the back forty just to keep loose. It's not the same. A-Jay

We'll fish whatever works. And I guess the thought of 2 or 3 Grande bass all hooked on one rig is at least some what intriguing . . . A-Jay

Thank Shane ~ Hope your big fish prognostication is correct. But I hope there is No A-Rig Bite - I hate that thing . . . . A-Jay

Good Stuff. Interesting difference between waves I've seen on the Atlantic and Larger Inland waters ( the Great Lakes in particular) lies in the distinct difference in wave period. The waves in the sweet water are Dramatically closer together. I'd heard about from shipmates before but until I was in it I didn't believe it made that much of a difference - It does. Routinely the waves are so close together that even a 20 ft vessel in a head on or a following sea condition barely fits length wise between them. In these cases, it's often best to quarter the waves and tact diagonally back and forth to your destination. This maneuver still requires a high level of awareness as the boat can be very easily end up broadside in the trough of a wave. Taking a spiller broadside in never a good time. Going up & over steep, close together waves is one rough & violent ride. Ensuring your gear, hatches and especially ropes / lines are secured safely. You do not want any lines to end up trailing over the side which is a sure way to have them end up in tor prop. That is a recipe for big trouble. A-Jay

Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia North Carolina South Carolina A-Jay

Cool Tag ~ A-Jay

Hello Todd and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

Glad you guys where uninjured Shane. Spearing a wave is usually the result of a few things. Wave conditions of course, but boat design, speed and handling will also play a role. Reducing speed will often help but, if the waves are spaced close enough together and of sufficient size, sometimes there will still be some over the bow spillage even at the slowest speeds. Deeper-V style boats with a bow designed that offers more freeboard up front are less prone to spearing (when operated correctly), and the ride is more of an up & over the waves rather than through them. Small vessel maneuvering in a challenging sea state often requires the operator to be on & off the throttle constantly. Maintain the vessels heading, avoiding larger waves, keeping waves from spilling into the boat, keeping the boat from falling off the front or back of waves all takes timing, skill & experience; and can almost never be accomplished by merely setting the boat at a slow speed, holding the wheel, pointing toward the marina and holding on. As the seas state in front of you is changing by the second, you and your boat must do the same. It's taxing to say the least. It's also hard on your boat and especially your engines. Knowing how one's vessel and engines react in these conditions also helps the navigator know what to do and when. Being "Good" at this like most things, only comes with practice, but as you guys learned there is a risk to both you and your equipment. Many of us have at least one Big Water story, and hopefully they all end as this one did with everyone making it back to the dock safely and uninjured. The advice of watching the weather, and trying to stay ahead of it always sounds good, but routinely fails us because eventually we're someplace we shouldn't be and it's always because of the choice we made to either stay out too long or to even go out in the first place. Last year Lake Erie almost had me for lunch. After years of training and after pulling hundreds of lucky and not so lucky boaters out of the same thing, one would think I knew better. But getting caught up in the fishing is so easy to do. When you get caught in something like this there are a few things one needs to do right away. One if it's not already on, put on your life jacket. And two, call someone right away and tell them where you're at, what's going on and where you're headed. Once you're safe let them know that too. A-Jay

Congrats ~ Cool looking specimen. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to BR ~ You've received solid advice regarding reading some basic info here to get you going. I'll add this and you'll thank me later. Make sure that you have a scale and some kind of camera with you every trip. Every one likes fish pictures. Good Luck A-Jay

Dwight's got a 9+ throwing a swim bait and Jeff's got a 10+ on a Huddleston. Both fish came when the conditions were "tough". I'm ready, willing and able to join this "Club" as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Could be this trip. A-Jay

It's a valid question. After thinking about it seriously, this is what I've come up with. Throughout the 50 years plus that I've had the pleasure of inhabiting this world, I've had a few true loves. Parents, Wives, Children, and Family. Besides these there was also a different kind of love; love for my career, brother & sisters in arms, and my service. The sports teams I've "Loved" have changed a little and there is a certain passion there too, but again it's different. And there's no doubt my dogs play a big role too. But Fishing, and I'm talking about the experience not the statistics, grabbed a hold of me as a young boy and just never let go. Through all of life's trials and tribulations, smiles and tears, cross roads & hurdles, it's fishing that has always been there. And it's the Only thing that still brings me back to that very special innocent and carefree feeling of being a boy. A-Jay

Agreed. And as opportunistic feeders who routinely capitalized on their ever changing environment, darkness offers different options. A-Jay