A-Jay

While that's one way to use it. I'll admit that I'm not the most tech savvy user either, but I'm not looking to be quite that precise as far as spots or waypoints are concerned. I'm looking at it as more of a way to locate areas to check when I get there. Experience on the water enables me to take it from there. A-Jay

Poke around on this deal a little and see what you think. https://usa.fishermap.org/depth-map/ I use this one a bunch and it's free. I have Contour Elite btw. Haven't used it since this came out. A-Jay

?????? On casting gear maybe. But when done correctly, not on spinning tackle. Don't make me come over there . . . 🤪 A-Jay

Some early trip seasons I will fish the smallest waters first. As they warm the fastest. Bigger inland lakes IME take 'some time' to warm sufficiently after ice out to where the big fish will set up where I'm looking for them. Every year is different, could be a few days or a couple of weeks. Usually depends on how late open water happens. The later it is, the faster it warms. So I get to scratch the itch and work the dust off a bit while I wait. The smaller lakes offer great numbers and I'll catch the 'biggest' bass I'll see from them all season. But the true trophies are in places that have goby and zebra mussels. And most of the smaller places do not. Finally water temps past 50 make me sad. A-Jay

Take a hike you has been wild bush plane pilot, multi species fishing guide, ocean navigator, Sport fishing freak of nature ! A-Jay

LOL ~ What gave it away ? Light braid is reserved exclusively for my spinning gear. Or as @AlabamaSpothunter calls them, the pixy wands. A-Jay

OK Thanks ~ I was close, sort of. Great Tip btw. Especially when residing with long legged & curious canine companions. A-Jay

When it came to early, early season SMB with the water temps mentioned, for Years I was in the full sized and even slightly Over sized bait camp. And I did OK. Still throw 5 inch jerbaits a lot. But since the 110 +1 Jr was introduced a couple of seasons ago, I have changed my tune. The bait is a hammer on big smb for me. I still throw the old tried & true deals, but I mix that fish catching machine in quite frequently. And more often than not, I'm rewarded. Don't buy the perch pattern. A-Jay https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/233534-megabass-vision-oneten1-jr-~/?do=findComment&comment=3019438

Yup ~ My 'tackle room' has this dark grey carpet that absolutely EATS small parts, springs, even hooks & split rings. Collectively I have spent Literally hours doing the hands & knees with a flash light & a magnet trying to locate anything dropped. It's Never where I think it is. And if I manage to be lucky enough to locate it, it's Always in the last place I would think to be looking. I spread white towels down now. Sometimes it helps. 🤓 A-Jay

I agree with @MN Fisher Having a process is a good thing. And I think @J Francho has mentioned that the Egg carton method (for parts) can be helpful. I use something very similar. Either way, I ALWAYS stay in my lane. Meaning, I'll only break a reel down as far as I "Know" I can reassemble it correctly. No guessing for this hack. Finally @Delaware Valley Tackle has serviced 'several' of my reels every few years for the deep clean. #topnotch Checking and replacing worn parts in advance of failure is an important aspect of that IMO. Between full service visits, I'll Clean and do a 'light' & 'as needed' deal. Oil, grease and a drop or two of fine oil on easily accessed bearings takes care of it. A-Jay

Congrats on a killer day of SMB ~ ! You earned it. A-Jay

Workout Day 3 this morning. Plan was to bump up the weight and perform 3 working sets of 8. Went well, mostly. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

IME, I've had both good & not so good days up this way. Both before & immediately after a front passes through can be banner or bust. I like before a lot but after has proven to be OK for me too. Especially early season. And while the timing is important, location might trump it. This was an 'after' deal. https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?feature=shared&t=323 A-Jay

Keeps me fairly busy ~ A-Jay

The Megabass SV-3 produced a few decent SMB for me last season. However the Megabass V9 Double Willow Spinnerbait has been better, especially on the full grown specimens. A-Jay

I purchased my rig in 2016. I ordered it. Boat, Motor & trailer. Along with EVERYTHING ELSE. Talons, electronics, Trolling motor etc. Just the way I wanted it. My dealer is a LUND, Humminbird & Minn Kota dealer so they installed it all. Before I picked it up (but I was invited to the install, which I took them up on). They allowed me quite a bit of flexibility to get what I wanted right down to the Batteries, Chargers, the Prop and even had custom LED lights installed in the trailer. IMO, It's The best way to start & end up with EXACTLY what you what. Need to know what that is in advance, and I did. This is NOT the cheapest way to go, but in the long run It's the best. Looking for 'the exactly right rig', set up the way you want & need is tough. Going from lot to lot. Like car shopping. BTW, I order my trucks the same way. You'll need TIME and be willing to wait, because they will need to build & outfit your rig. But is there anything better than a turn key Bass Boat ? Not in my world. Just something to think about. Finally, I got A Metric Ton of great help & advice from the very experienced & generous BR forum members here. And I could have not thanked them enough. They saved me a bunch of Money & Time. Here's the thread I did on the whole experience. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/175465-got-a-new-boat-~/ https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/162012-2016-lund-pro-v-bass/?do=findComment&comment=1861087 Hope this helps. A-Jay

A-Jay

Interesting ~ That rig is gone while others remain unsold. Perhaps there's your 'answer'. BTW - I'd try to make the 'shopping' experience fun. A lot of Bassheads would Love to be in your shoes right about now. Continued Good Luck on your quest for the right rig. Thanks for the update. A-Jay

Well, after 'several days' of on & off snow and single digit wind chill temps, Lake Menderchuck is Re-Frozen ! And it looks pretty solid too. Don't think I'd try to land a G6 on it, but I ain't fishing for a while either. So, the countdown has been re-instated. 09 Days ~ Might be close too, especially of it warms up a little. Either way, I'm double trouble ready this time around. A-Jay

I prefer FC - 15 - 17 & sometimes 20 lb. And that is in light to med mostly hard cover. Slop gets 50lb braid but I rarely go there any more. This fatty was on 20lb Tatsu mostly because of where I was fishing. https://youtu.be/1to6ti-tlZY?feature=shared&t=697 A-Jay

Treated myself to Workout Day 2 this morning, making this the 40th training day of the year. Completed 3 working sets of the schedule movements. Showing that here. #borninfiftynine https://youtu.be/R6vqlF4dTn4?feature=shared A-Jay

I think I understand your question. And what I'll say is stop 'watching' your line. Yup. While I might see a small percentage of jig bites where the line jumps or moves in a manner that indicates there's a fish on it. I detect far more jig bites or strikes by feel. Not certain the type of line or even leader matters. Just get used to the gear that you're comfortable with. Knowing what my bait feels like, how it falls on a slack, semi slack or even a tight line is pretty important. Because anything else might be a strike. Clearly doesn't happen as quickly as we'd like, takes time. But the skill pays off and often translates into other baits & presentations as well. Finally, the ultimate teacher / reinforcer of this whole deal IMO, is fishing at night. All there is is feel. Get good at that, and daytime might seem like cheating. Good Luck A-Jay

Isn't that something. How about using the AI and the trolling motor to "Lock On" to a particular 'Big' fish and follow it all over the lake. Oh this might turn into quite the spectacle. I can't wait ! A-Jay

I am a retired enlisted man. My disposable / discretionary income is, let's call it limited. But I love to bass fish. When I admit that there is far less road ahead of me than there is behind me, and then consider the cost of what gets me to & from and then on & off the water, as well as the fuel costs, the price of the baits that catch fish for me becomes a distant after thought. YMMV Fish Hard A-Jay

@cheezyridr I agree with you. I waited a while and then tipped my toe into the DC reel pool with the SHIMANO 17 Scorpion DC. (JDM) https://www.tackletour.com/reviewshim17scorpdc.html Nice reel but after several years of never having it, and then a few season of using it. IMO, it's just another reel; doesn't make me a better or worse caster. Just one who has one loud reel. I may rehome it. A-Jay