A-Jay

A swivel has adds some weight, depending on size, to your presentation. So depending on what you're doing, that may or may not play a role. Also, you obviously can't reel any connection hardware through your guides, so your leader length will be predicated on how well you can cast with some length of line hanging - may hurt your accuracy a bit. Finally, you mentioned fishing at night. Reeling that swivel too far & up into your tip top guide at night is a real possibility and more importantly may eventually damage it. Usually, if present, the guide insert gets popped out and ends up going out with your casts. Line damage will then ensue followed by the sad face. A-Jay

I have been using the 3520 for about a year I guess now and it's been decent so far. A-Jay

Hello Brett and Thank You for your service ~ Welcome to Bass Resource AJay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello Pat and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Reading from the BR articles section can definitely help you learn what type of gear to select. https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/ A-Jay

Sounds good. But I would go as far as to try and punch a 10XD through any Heavy Mats A-Jay

How about the St Croix Avid X ~ either the AXS68MXF or the AXS70MF. The 6'8" is XF and the 7 footer is F with a little longer handle. Both are rated at 6-12lb test and 3/16 - 5/8 oz baits. A-Jay http://stcroixrods.com/products/freshwater/avid-x/

Hello Harry and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Posting video's is almost always OK. However as a new member it's a good idea to be familiar with the BR (most reasonable) rules. A-Jay https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/guidelines/

Line section for any bait including jigs is dictated by a few factors including but not limited to depth, cover density and perhaps water clarity. Brand preference is just that. Where fluorocarbon is concerned, by purchasing a reputable brand name in the at least mid but preferably upper price range, you'll help yourself out. btw - if you are not fishing your jigs like you're trying to lose them, you're missing out. A-Jay

Yea ~ It's clearly not making me more patient. I guess it's the toughest when it's nice & sunny & in the 50's but I'm looking at hard water. Good thing is I'll be totally ready when it does go out so I can splash either the Old Town or the Lund when it's time. Excited to bring the new GoPro's into the fray as well as the YoloTek Boom stick this spring. Should offer a different and welcome 'big picture' camera angle to any video captures I'm able to get this year. Might be cool. A-Jay

Yup ~ and 3 inches of snow coming Thursday too ~ Just the way we roll. A-Jay

I've been making the annual "check the lakes" milk run once a week for a while now. Still iced in every where. A recent warming trend up here has seen over night air temps above freezing which bodes well for the home team. 10 Day forecast see temps up & down throughout the period. Trying to remain realistic, Id expect to be fishing second week in April, which is pretty much are mean annual average here. But as you might imagine, I'm ready now. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Your hull weight is listed at 2195lbs and is rated for 225hp (max) You're underpowered IMO at 150hp and you may be dissatisfied with it's performance or lack there of. Just for reference, I'm running 200hp on a Lund 1875 that weighs 1475lbs. It'll cost you more but get the 225, you'll be glad you did. That 150 will be a dog. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ I'll just wish you Good Luck with your choice. A-Jay

Detecting bites & strikes while using different techniques & presentations is part if the process of learning how to effectively fish. So simply choosing a bait, tying it on and casting it out there is only part of the process. Fishing it properly to illicit a strike & then actually detecting it, are both something that takes some time for each angler. Some longer than others. I would not call this process of learning “unfortunate” by any means – more like at least half the fun. Don’t rush it – just go fishing and pay attention. The BR members who are kind enough to offer you advice here, many of which have decades of experience & knowledge, have all gone through the same thing at one time or another and manage to somehow put it all together and catch bass. You will too. There's no secret or special 'way', just what works for each basshead. Like KVD always says “It’s all about attitude”. A-Jay

I was able to catch the vast majority of the live broadcast as well, and here's my take: First, I want to say that I am a fan of the whole deal including all the anglers, nothing but respect for their ability & sportsmanship. That said, when the race gets tight and when one considers the $$ that's on the line, it's easy to understand how emotions can run high. So I can see giving a pass here & there but there are limits to it and I’ll end right there on that one. Going into the final day Ehrler & Evers were the two guys I thought had the best chance to win, however both seemed to sort of spin out. Edwin sitting on that bed fish for two hours was IMO a Colossal bad call. Mr Kennedy’s story is a little hard for me to understand. There’s a lot to it and it goes back a ways; well before this derby. His lack of sponsorship is a multifaceted tale that may have contributed to the somewhat strange way that night unfolded for him. Elam could have had a different day had he landed that first one that jumped off early. Lefebre & Pirch both fell off a cliff. Bradley Roy did well and seems to have a bright future ahead of him. KVD’s commitment on the final day to snapping the jerkbait all over the lake for 8 straight hours, although impressive (#cyborg), didn’t come through for him. I think Ott Defoe is a super Class act and although he came up short in this one, I always enjoy watching him. As for the on Air Personalities, the Sanders, Zona, Hite trio kept me entertained & Mike Suuuuch filled in with some decent info on occasion as well. The MC, D Mercer seemed to lose his voice early during the final weigh in – Which is really bad actually. Dave’s voice is his lively hood and is a major part of the show. He needs to take care of it and not strain it in advance of The Biggest Night in Bass Fishing. He knows better and if he doesn’t he should. It’s not the first time it’s happened & it could cost him his job. Btw ~ I thought that was you Jim ~ A-Jay

Couple of Fatties Right There ~ Congrats A-Jay

I am not familiar with the battery charger pictured. I use these ~ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQSIWK/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1#Ask btw - $400 for that blue top seems a little stiff . . . . . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ As all of your reading here has no doubt shown, it's tricky business recommending a rod & reel for another angler. If you've got very limited hands on experience with casting gear, I'd encourage you to get to a tackle or sports shop and handle some rods, and mount a few different reels on them. See how they feel in your hand, what's the balance like. That will give both an experienced & novice basshead a decent idea at least as to what feels good. 6'6" to 7' M & MH casting outfits are both decent all around or general use rigs. One's just a little beefier than the other. If you're only planning on purchasing one rig, select the one that will fish the majority of the baits & techniques you plan on fishing the most the best. A-Jay

First off Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ As for the rods - regardless of the manufacturer, a Medium action rod rarely fishes the same as a Medium Heavy rod; and vice versa. Either one will do what it's designed for well and May be OK for presentations & techniques that are above or below it's designed intensions. Though I have experience with St Croix sticks, how they "feel" or if they are "on the heavy side" is purely subjective. So my ideas on the subject may differ from yours. I happen to like them, but I'm always using them in a manner that allows these rods to perform correctly. I'd say that having reasonable expectations when picking a rod can make the process a bit smoother and allow one to be successful. A-Jay

Check these out ~ CS Quick-Coat Paint Markers TW sells them A-Jay http://csipaint.com/products/markers-dips/quick-coat-paint-markers.php

Yea Z's always entertaining, but I was really cracking up on that one. Don't exactly know why - just hit me I guess. I'll be adding that one to my own personal repertoire' I even got Scrubby's pic at the show ~ A-Jay