A-Jay

After providing us more info - It seems like you are hammering a square peg into a round hole and trying to use what works for other anglers. My advice is cut your losses now, sell the craft you current own and start again. For your fishing, as you have described it here, you need a whole system. One that all works together, the way you want / need it to. Do the research, check out what's out there. Then match the type of boat you purchase to suit your needs. The water and type of fishing you do, how you transport the craft, if you fish alone or with a fellow angler; these factors all come into play and if they are addressed in advance of your purchase, the entire evolution will actually be fun. Good Luck A-Jay

Nice Job Jeff . . . . And that's why we're heading back . . . . . A-Jay

I fish from an Old Town Predator square back (15 ft) myself and most of it is solo. Not knowing how committed to hoisting it on/off your vehicle you are or what your storage situation is, I highly recommend you consider a small trailer. At around 115lbs boosting this thing over my head alone is not happening. But with the trailer, Loading & unloading could not be any easier - especially alone. Mine is going on 5 years of service and has been one of the best purchases I've made. They cost quite a bit more than a "Roof rack system" (@ 1K) but in the long run (like many things) it's well worth it. I know it sounds like a lot but look at it this way - I've had this one for 5 years - my open water season is 7 months or so. I fish on average 18 days a month (I'm semi- retired). So that's 126 trips a year - for the 5 years, it cost me approx $1.50 a trip. Think about that every time you're hoisting it over your head to get it on & off your ride - or invest 6 quarters a day now and have the luxury of not having to deal with it. You can tow this with just about anything so you should be good there. You will assemble it yourself - so you'll know how it works and how to repair it if needed. I took my time and did it on the floor of the garage over a weekend. Here the link - http://www.castlecraft.com/canoe_trailer.htm A-Jay

I have not - but I fish a couple of Glass crankbait rods - and really prefer them. A Fast Action spec for a glass rod might be more of a relative term and not one that could really compare to a rod build using a different material. Interesting none the less. A-Jay

Cool ~ Once your "Project" is completed - how about posting up a photo or two - A-Jay

Very Futuristic Appearance ~ At the bottom of the page of the attached link - there seems to be two spool options for the reel. Both a shallow and a deep spool; really like having the choice. The flexibility to use the same reel for a couple of different applications is nice. Clearly I do realize that I one of the few here who are unable to read Japanese, so I'm simply going by the pictures. A-Jay

I hear that but - our Bug season might be brief - But It's INTENSE ~ ! Might be what's spread out over a year for you guys has to be jammed into like 10 weeks here - and they do not taste very good either . . . A-Jay

No - not really whatever is available locally and reasonably priced - SK & VMC mostly - I've even started to use jig paint and color coat a few - we'll see how it goes. A-Jay

That's a first for me. Pretty cool stuff. I liked the way it looked before he pulled it off . . . . . . A-Jay

OK - well what ever you do - do not fish the same technique I described using a hollow belly swim bait on a 1/2 or 3/4 oz jighead - it simply doesn't work . . . . . . A-Jay

Yes Sir - As soon as the Lobster came out, I was on it. The lobster is what I start with now almost exclusively. But there are times especially, early and late season that a "average" craw size bait does better, even on the bigger bass. Something that I'll add - it's important to match the skirt length to the plastic. Meaning, you do not want the skirt to impede the action of the plastic (especially a craw). So either use a pre-trimmed shirt or trim it if need be. When using a "gliding" type trailer, the longer skirt seems to be a good thing . . . A-Jay

Yes I do - all the time. I use this skirt and plastic rig instead of a jig. (Pictured below) What I do like about this rig over a Standard Fixed hook jig: ~ First and fore most, the fish eat it. ~The hook-up ratio is the same as a standard Jig or maybe even a bit better. ~It comes through cover better. ~I can modify / customize the rig any way I want. By switching the weight, the skirt color or type, the hook size or type and the plastic trailer of my choosing - the options are endless. With very little chance of hanging up, I Fish it through lily pad fields, milfoil patches, cabbage patches, stump/log jams, and open water ~ All on One Cast ! So, instead of carrying a ton of different color and size jigs, I can be ready for anything (including punching through the slop) with a hand full of weights, skirts, hooks and a small assortment of plastics. Beavers, Beasts, Grubs, Craws and creature baits have all taken fish. I have even recently re-homed more than half of my standard jigs as they were hardly ever getting wet. Here's the rig, from the main line to the hook: -A stopped knot (I use a double uni-knot made from left over braided line) - A small bead to keep the knot from slipping through the weight. - A 1/2 oz tungsten weight - a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar - The skirt of your choice - A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook) - A 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook) - Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast Hope this helps A-Jay

I know these are touted as Smallmouth rods but the green bass don't really know the difference. And for the price, you really get a whole lot of rod. A-Jay http://www.fenwickfishing.com/prod.php?k=472253&sk=472009&p=PURESMC610M-F%20(1238603)#ESMC610M-F (1238603)

Me too - and there was probably some poop in my pants - I mean more than there is now . . . I had to say that before one of you guys did - and you know who you are . . . A-Jay

Yes sir, and I am take notes . . . A-Jay

Something to try - Go to spot where you've caught fish (highlighted in red above) Anchor your boat right where the fish were caught. Not where your boat was when you caught them, actually anchor right on those fish. Then turn around and cast your jig out into the open water. Let it go to the bottom and work it back S L O W L Y - up what ever drop there is. In fact, fan cast that whole area. I bet if you do this in enough of the "Spots" where you've taken fish before, eventually you'll make contact with the size fish you're looking for, as you'll be fishing the water they frequent. Doesn't work every where or every time but it does work. Good Luck A-Jay

Yup - there's only one way to put it - That fish was really lost . . . . A-Jay

You know, they say it will fix anything . . . A-Jay

A few seasons ago, while fishing for the Brown Bass, I stumbled upon a decent mayfly hatch, though I was not prepared for it. Each summer, I ready for it now - and have been pretty lucky - a fly caster - I am not. But these fish are as close to "suicidal" as they get all year. I tend to enjoy it when it's like that. A-Jay

Well - genetics has kindly vanquished that option for me . . . A-Jay

It's funny you chose that video - I was in high school when old Barry was doing his thing there - With long hair being the thing then - and my stunning good looks, (and shall we say full sized proboscis) I was getting Called "Barry" quite a bit - though I can't sing at all. A-Jay

Shooter - I always thought you were a David Hasselhoff fan ~ A-Jay

Nice ~ That's what comes from living Right ~ A-Jay

Is this going to be your new Avatar ? If not, then can I use it ? A-Jay

I would imagine that it's only a matter of time before an entire clothing line will be introduced to support this newest human evolution . . . . A-Jay