A-Jay

Thanks The cap on my rig now was purchase new and put on my 2015 Sierra when I bought it. When I traded that truck in for the then new 2018, this cap was like still like new. Also the 2018 GMC's body style hadn't changed for 2015, so rather than buy a whole new cap, when I traded in the 2015, I had the GMC Dealer install that cap on the 2018 truck. The new AT4's body styling is not close so besides getting the new topper (a month after I get the truck), I'd been nice if I could find a buyer for this one. My GMC dealer doesn't want it and I don't blame him. And there's no 'companies' up here that deal in used caps, (not driving to Detroit) so it'll most likely need to be a private sale. May use the local FB market place and/or E-Bay for a local pick up. Still have to figure out how to get if off my rig and onto a potential buys rig without jacking either one up. Either way, someone's going to get a very sweet deal on a looks-like-new onyx black cap. A-Jay

Follow up ~ With the new GMC's build date locked in and delivery date fast approaching - approx 4 weeks, I hit up the 'local' A.R.E. dealer and ordered the new topper today. Went with the CX Revo as the molded back glass appeals to me. Unfortunately delivery is not until the first week of April. So the new AT4 Family Truckest will not have a turtle back for a month or so. More to follow. A-Jay

I can relate to this - we called it Mid-Watch Mud Nothing like the getting that last cup in the pot before going on watch at 4 am. You know the one, it's been baking in there with the burner on high for so many hours that it's more like a by product of coal tar than a cup a Joe. But it's good. Thank You for your Service A-Jay

I like D & D Columbia - Offers me a little taste of the Mother Land every morning. And that's the Dunkin Donuts part - not the Columbia for anyone who might be wondering. Prefer it black however I have been known to deposit a jigger or two of Makers into that mug. You know, for those special occasions. A-Jay

Hello Jim and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Seems every trip down to Mexico is most memorable. However we could never expect to surpass the Oct 2018 trip. For numbers of giants - this one's pretty close to top of the mountain. The small plane flight to the lodge never disappoints offering breath taking view of Lake Baccarac. But it's the on the water action that easily stole the show on this trip. A-Jay

I'm an old weight-pegger from way back; at least 50% of the time. Weight size varies in accordance with depth, cover density, bottom composition and on scene weather conditions at the time of said presentation. All that said, my absolute favorite bullet weights, regardless of size, all have plenty of teeth marks in them . . . . A-Jay

Sorry. Lynn was outside and I got a few off without 'clearance'. I'll consider myself counseled and go straight to bed with No Supper Mister ! ? A-Jay

Yes - it's a very versatile product. With it's own distinct kind of odor. Sort of a mix between sea weed, sweat socks & Megastrike (original formula). Of course that's before it's applied . . . . . . A-Jay

Strips & Dots. A-Jay

A-Jay

Me too my friend @Team9nine - Me too. Between the drag, back reeling & 'where's my order' threads I'm hoping for a blizzard up here just to give me something to do . . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Don't think you can go wrong either way as long as you're hooking / landing fish. Personally, I prefer EWG. A-Jay

Such a creative and yet oh so effective combo ~ ? A-Jay

Just One ? ? A-Jay

Whenever this topic comes up, my response will always be the same, including now. If your prop does not look and feel new, it is not performing like new. So scratches, dings, dents, bends, missing paint and or blemishes of any kind often indicate this. My advice is to save yourself some time / money. Get with your dealer and purchase a new ss prop. Don't bother testing the old one, just retain it for an emergency spare. Also this is a perfect time to check and ensure that your prop shaft is clean and running true. A-Jay

But Back reeling is winging it ~ ? A-Jay

This is a little tricky to describe 'accurately' enough to allow another basshead to duplicate it exactly the same. But my point is, that might not be needed. My method is by feel. @J Francho describes it nicely above. Clearly experience plays a role and I do not recommend anyone go by feel, if they do not know what that means. Breaking gear or parting ones line should not be part of the learning process, but there certainly is one. In my fishing, unless I am in very heavy cover, where I use very heavy drag, (almost locked, but my gear is capable of dealing with those forces) the most pressure I put on a bass is during the hookset. So I want to get a good one with whatever gear I'm using, and then I Do Not Ever need to put that much pressure on a fish again. I've mentioned this before but especially on spinning gear, I will OFTEN, back off my drag on a good bass, during the fight. (usually right after the hookset or when the fish gets close to the boat). Line stretch and a rod that actually bends is part of my system. Happens in at least half the videos I post I bet. How do I know how much to adjust it, I can't tell you for sure. I just know. Watch my left hand in this clip as the bass gets close to my rig . . A-Jay

Rarely ever hear of anyone complaining about a drop in performance when going from aluminum to Stainless steel. Usually the other way around. Also, and there will no doubt be some different opinions on this, however, "still in good shape, has a couple scratches and missing some paint" actually means that at some point you hit something with your prop, probably more than once. While it may not be 'obvious' to you, your prop is most likely damaged enough that it's performance is suffering. I'd get a new one just for that reason alone. IMO, SS is the superior performer and you may like a three blade better. Contacting your Ranger/Mercury dealer for accurate prop application information is a solid plan. Good Luck. A-Jay

Perhaps also consider that unless one is fishing from a dock or the bank, any & all forces applied to one's gear might not be the same a when fishing from a boat. The waves and vessel movement might have something to say about all of this. And when in a smaller craft (canoe, kayak) which often moves toward the fish on both the hookset and while fighting a bass, is less or more drag an advantage ? I do not back reel on spinning gear, and of course that's not an option on casting gear, so I rely on my reels drag to do it's job. Which is help me land bass - whatever that takes. Can't say what percentage of my line's test I use each time, but I rarely have line failure; do pull a few hooks now & then. But I HATE breaking my line. There's nothing more final and I always feel that it's on me. I do not use a scale - too many variables IMO to have a 'set it & forget it' approach. Sort of like swinging a ball bat on the same plane every time. One might hit a few but being adaptable to the conditions, could be the way to go. YMMV A-Jay

Got the "Build Date" from the dealer this morning ~ the 18th. Right on schedule. Hope that keeps up. A-Jay

Hope you get it ~ And the was a late edit . . . just for you. A little something to perhaps brighten up your day. A-Jay

A-Jay

Mend-it is a Must Have on our trips south of the border. Since TW doesn't do overnight shipping to the Sierra Marde Mountain range of Mexico, we need to make every swimbait last as long as we can for the week we're there. Mend-it helps us do that. Every night our room looks like a bait repair shop. Ripped, torn & tattered baits laying all over (next to the Margaritas) all glued back up. Let them dry over night and as long as they run right, we are golden. @NHBull FYI A-Jay