A-Jay

@Team9nine Dropping the Knowledge ~ Nice. A-Jay

Aim higher than that ! I'm a Hack . . . . . A-Jay

A-Jay

2nd time for me with Covid. No cough for me this time - sore throat, super fatigued and the mother of all headaches that was relentless for 10 straight days. I'm on the back end now I think. Only dealing with the fatigue now. Which is a challenge because otherwise I feel OK. Just run out of gas WAY sooner than I'd like. A-Jay

Kya & Tank any time I'm on the phone with Lynn. A-Jay

Thank you. Apparantly it's still floating around out there. Probably always will be. The media is a complete joke so not hearing or reading about it is IMO meaningless. Stay Healthy A-Jay

I finally see it. I'm not the sharpest tack in the pack sometimes. So I'm going with old bent up hook or this is not a bass. A-Jay

Would love to see what that hook looks like intact. Just to get an idea of what we're dealing with here. #thekracken 😎 A-Jay

I hear ya ~ What is the clip pictured that failed ? I'd eliminate that deal. A-Jay

Update as of Saturday morning, 29 Jun 2024. Lynn's condition has been slow to respond or improve. Accordingly and so she can have the best care available, last night she was transported to https://www.henryford.com/locations/henry-ford-hospital 3.5 hr south down state in Detroit. She's in good hands and I really hope they can help her. I feel like I'm finally on the back end of this Covid deal, but still no where near able to travel like that. It's a pretty helpless feeling. Stay Healthy. A-Jay

Perhaps stop hunting for an elephant with a BB Gun. Gear Up Man ! Life is short and there's no way to tell how many more opportunities you be afforded at this fish. Don't squander the next one, might be your last. Doesn't this feel personal now ? Good Luck A-Jay

What boat do you have? Lund 1875 Pro-V Bass Boat -Does it have precise control when you’re using the trolling motor? Yes I do; with the 112lb trust 36 volt 62" shaft Minn Kota Fortrex, the TM moves my rig with with authority. -Can you hold your spot in the wind without kicking right and left? (not using spot lock) Yes, I am the spot lock. -Does it coast strait when you let off the trolling motor. Not sure why this is an issue. My Trolling motor is specifically designed to allow me to put my rig with where I want it, when I want it. Free drifting without the TM running is like a free fall. I can & do well by anticipating where & when I want to present baits and operate my TM to support that. I can do things with my non-spot lock cable driven Fortrex that no electric steer motor on any "Auto setting" will ever be able to do. Because I have skills and I'm smarter than my motor. Finally having the strength, balance & endurance to operate that foot pedal in challenging conditions so that I can present baits effectively is a skill I'm glad I still have. https://youtu.be/s5YAlFDZ_C4?feature=shared&t=992 A-Jay

How do I prevent my line from getting stuck in the line roller? 7 years later. Placing my line on a Shimano or Diawa reel works well. A-Jay

Nose hook a weightless fluke. A-Jay

You may need a 35 ft kayak to carry them all. Also, that pic is afew years old. Embarrassed to admit that the tool box has seen some growth since. 😎 A-Jay

I'm a bit of a casting reel handle freak. IMO, a correctly matched "handle & knob" set up can & often does transform most any casting reel into something better. Mostly making it more secure feeling in my hand as well as being more comfortable. Chunking & winding all day becomes pleasant rather than like a job. Many quality reels come totally set up and I'll leave them that way. It all starts with the right length and shape handle and finishes with the knobs. After some after market trial & error, and when I feel the need, I'll switch them out. Robert at HawgTech totally hooked me up. https://www.hawgtech.com/ So for 100 and 150 size reels I like the 90mm straight carbon fiber handle and for 200 & 300 size reels I like the 94 mm size; also straight carbon fiber. ALL with Black Septon Knobs with ball bearings. These knobs are what usually come stock on mid & upper tier Shimano units. I have zero problems with these handles & knobs . FYI - I don't use sunscreen on my hands but do wear sun gloves. Colored 'accent' parts are also available which I do use to help identify certain gear ratio reels. For example Red end caps designate high speed reels. A-Jay

Champlain is a monster of a lake at over 271 K acers and 400feet deep. https://usa.fishermap.org/depth-map/champlain-lake/#map Fishing for bass on water like that really does require one to so something I call. "Fishing Small'. Meaning select an area you feel can produce and stay there and fish it. Then move to the next one, and fish that. Unfortunately in the summer, SMB bite windows can be pretty brief, early / late afternoon is often best. Cloudy days can be good. But you'll NEVER fish or even find all the best spots in 2 lifetimes on water like that. If 90 % of the bass are in 10% of the lake, that leaves a ton of unproductive water. Our job is to eliminate it best we can. But it's a process, it takes a while, often a good long while, perhaps a couple of seasons. If you want to get a bit of a head start, think about hiring a guide for a day or two. Good Luck A-Jay

The Tiny Child Rig Eight Trap Method Doodling. A-Jay

I whizz over the side or if conditions don't allow, I keep a large laundry soap bottle with the top cut off. Doubles as an emergency solid waste collector. Dude wipes are a standard item. I wiil say that I am very good at managing my intestinal requirements while on the water. Timing is everything. A healthy diet and lifestyle helps. A-Jay

Situational awareness at all times. There are no details. everything matters. Only go as fast as I want to be going when I hit something Every Body of water is named Lake Menderchuck A,-Jay

Congrats @Mike L In-House / Forum Member moderator selection has, IMO been a big part of the secret sauce to the success and solid reputation of this Great Forum. This is another fine example of that. Don't be too hard on us @Mike L we're all just a little wacky in our own way. Have Fun A-Jay

My dogs are stuck to me like stink on a monkey. I need it too. Which reminds me, I propably could use a shower right about now 🤔 Thank you for the support. This one’s looking like another marathon for all involved. Stay healthy. A-Jay

Either way, you're catching 10 pounders. So it's just a matter of time. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/220718-new-to-fishing-looking-for-recommendations-in-socal/?do=findComment&comment=2716432 Good Luck A-Jay

Not sure the term 'simple' applies to this deal. You'll need to put some time in and do the work. There's no magic bullet. You'll need to find them, present a bait correctly, trigger a strike, hook & land the bass without letting her get you all fouled in the soft cover. If that's your idea of simple then yea, piece of cake. Good Luck A-Jay

Local Emergency Last night. EVAC to more comprehensive facility early this morning. Stabilized for Blood and Platelets this afternoon. IV pain meds just flowing . . . All the while I'm Covid positive and will not be anywhere near where she's at for at Least two more weeks. Stay Healthy my friends. A-Jay