A-Jay

Faster than I can paddle without it. A-Jay

From the Minn Kota Web Site ~ "Digital Maximizer™ Motors with Digital Maximizer provide up to five times longer run time on a single charge by drawing only as much power as you need, so they don't waste any energy. These motors are variable speed, so dial in your precise speed and let Digital Maximizer deliver the right amount of power, while conserving your battery - extending your time on the water." Like I mentioned previously - IMO, it's a plus not a minus. A-Jay

Simply copy & paste a FB photo right into your thread draft. Good to go. A-Jay

Interesting Idea ~ A-Jay

The 'tube' rod for me is a Fenwick EliteTECH Smallmouth rod 7'4" Med Fast rod 6 - 12 lb line & 1/8 - 3/4 oz baits. I'm usually on one on big clear water lakes, where I'm making long casts with 3/8 - 3/4 oz heads because of the depths I'm fishing, the winds is up or both. The rod is light enough to detect the bite and stout enough to deliver a heavy weighted cast & drive home a hook from a long distance. I'm usually using an 8-10 lb leader on the front end of a 10lb braid mainline with this one. The Fenwick rod is no longer in production but if I had to replace it, I'd be looking at the Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rods. Hope this helps A-Jay

Whichever model you choose you WANT the digital Maximizer - will save your battery life and increase time on the water. I've had motors both with it and without it. There is a Noticeable difference with it - Big Time. You also WANT variable speed rather than set speeds (5 forward & 3 reverse) The set speeds ALWAY either seem a tick to slow or too fast and it WILL cause Frustration. Again, had them both and the variable speed IS The Way To Go. Something I Do Not recommend you get - is the TILT/EXTEND TILLER that Tilts (up to 45⁰) and extends (up to 6"). Like on the TRAXXIS The extend portion is fine but the tilt feature design on these is very poor. EVERYTIME the handle is tilted either way, the internal control / power cable is PINCHED. In short order it will FAIL. I replaced two myself in years passed and at $100 a whack - I've given up on that feature which by and large - I do not miss. A-Jay

I use a 55 lb on this Old Town Square Back. Plenty of power - speed not really a concern as regardless of the application, no one's going any where fast in these type of rigs. A-Jay

A-Jay

What a perfect picture ~ and his first girlfriend as well as college admissions will love to see this one a few years from now. A-Jay

Looks good. Only modification I'd recommend is on your 'swimbait' designated rig. If you're hurling full size swimbaits, that rods might be a little under gunned. And regardless of swimbait size, I'd definitely boost your line test up on that rig to 20 lb. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Started out on this pretty morning looking (more like hoping) for a topwater bite over some shallow grass. Didn't happen. (too soon, need another 2 weeks or so). Switched up to swimming a jig through the grass - got a few keeper green bass. Relocated to drop shot some deep cover I found last trip. There were fish on it then and I was hoping they were still there. They were. Got to sit right on top of them and use the electronics to 'feed' a few. It was fun and something I don't get to do nearly enough of. Later, on a mid-day cruise (while eating my lunch) I found a very promising hard bottom area (rock) that didn't have fish but was covered up with bait (perch). WP 558 Locked In ! I'll be hitting that potential honey hole again very soon. A-Jay

Hello Steve and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

PayCheck Baits Repo Man topwater walking bait. It's like a SK Sexy Dawg. A-Jay

Given the usual & current market price for a quality tungsten weight, which runs in the vicinity of $6-7 per ounce or something close to $100 a pound, I probably should have an armed guard 24/7 on my terminal tackle bag. Or at the very least have it booby trapped with some kind of Improvised Explosive Device. . . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Oh sure - tell everyone why don't cha ! A-Jay (they really are pretty good though)

Hello Tom and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

While looking to get bit on any surface presentation, I'd encourage you to find a different location that's less than 30 ft deep. If you look through all the reports here, going back many, many years, there aren't a whole lot of bass caught on the surface in 30 feet. Not saying that it can't or doesn't happen, but you'll stand a much better chance of success if you're in 8-10 or even less, especially with 4 ft of vis. Something shallower but near some deeper water might be a good place to start. Just say'in. A-Jay

No - It's been reinforced. Owner Hyper Wire rings are all I use and I've also been replacing the front ring / line ties on many baits with Owner Oval Split Ring and Owner Tear Drop Split Ring. Both eliminate all concern regarding the line getting into the split ring 'split'. A-Jay

Buff sun gaitor and the Talon shallow water anchors. A-Jay

Me too. A-Jay

Everyone's happy in Mr. Denver's neighborhood. A-Jay

Historically, September sees the bass in your area start thinking about being shallower as well as being in the mood to eat. Both often make surface baits an effective option. A-Jay