A-Jay

How about a Quantum Smoke PT 151 6.6:1 with 30 pound braid on it. You could use it for every thing. A-Jay

Can you help me tie a UNi-Knot ? A-Jay

And there you go ~ You've been a Night Time Bassing Ninja for a while. To add to your most comprehensive post, any night, Bright or Dark - a Jig & Craw is a very good option. Especially on a night with a little wind where the sweet sound of your buzzbait or other topwater may be obscured - a jig / swimjig can be money. I'll acknowledge that a jig from shore can be a challenge at times but there are a couple of ways to over come them. First, try using a Texas rigged skirt & plastic rig (essentially a punch rig) - the Texas rigged plastic is much better at coming through shallow cover than a standard jig with a brush guard. Second, if conditions permit, using a lighter weight in front will help prevent the bait plunging deep into cover & snagging AND because it's lighter, in order to keep bottom contact, it will force you to fish it slower. This is a good thing. Another option for night time bank bassing is to rig your plastics with a lighter keel weighted (swimbait) style hook which again makes you fish slower to stay lower and you'll get a sweet glide to the presentation that is often very effective. Here's a few options ~ A-Jay

I hate when reels don't work at all ~ A-Jay

Sweet ~ Congrats A-Jay

Hello and welcome to Bass Resource ~ This Whole site is Nothing But Help ~ Check out the articles section on bassing for beginners and then go from there. A-Jay http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

Despite not having added any of my results here to The Research, I've caught pike at night. They've hit spinnerbaits, jigs and yes even some topwater. As sight feeders, night may not be the best time to target them but they are still predators & opportunists - so strike they do. A-Jay

A-Jay

That being as it may - I will offer the following observation in support of your initial thought - This winter while at the Detroit Outdoors's show - of the let's say 300 outboard motors on display at the show that were over 150 horse power - perhaps 10 were 2 stroke ! To that's screams - "We are All In on the 4 Stroke" - I am however - not. A-Jay

Well, here's a new boat with a new 200 Optimax (25 inch shaft) bought last month. The 200 Pro XS shaft length of 20 inches is too short for the Lund's transom height. A-Jay

Thanks ~ Ok so to answer your questions; At least Half of my night operations are in search of Smallmouth - but never in a river. Like I mentioned in the OP - "I do not recommend fishing at night on rivers, tidal water or any place with a moderate to heavy current. It certainly can be done, but Is No Place for a beginner." Walking the bank at night in & around venomous snakes is not an activity I'd participate in, but hey, that's just me. Yes Pike bite at night - I've had many a spinner bait crushed & mangled beyond recognition at night. Good Luck A-Jay Good Luck ~ crystal clear nights are often a great time to be out on the water. And sometimes on the blackest of star lite and flat calm nights, one of my all time favorite scenario's plays out. It's when the flat calm lake perfectly reflects the black but star light sky on the surface of the water. When conditions are right it's hard to tell what's up & what's down - always makes me a little dizzy - (I mean more than usual.) It's very cool. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ I use Braided lines for a few applications - The strength & no stretch properties come in very handy. Bass Resource has a great articles section that does include a ton of information on using & selecting the appropriate line for bass fishing. Check it out. https://www.bassresource.com/fishing-gear-tips/ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ I do not own any Diawa gear so I can't comment there I do have quite a bit of experience with Pflueger Reels Spinning ~ At that price point the Supreme Spinning Reel is a Solid Product A-Jay

Cool looking Bait A-Jay

New line time ~ A-Jay

Hello Tim and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello Tyler and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Sorry ~ I got Nothing. That place is way too busy for me. The only time I'm in there is to Fly in & out of conus . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

St Croix Legend Tournament Bass ~ either the TBC69MHMF / SNIPER SPINNERBAIT: Ideal rod for pinpoint-accurate casts of spinnerbaits at shorter distances. or TBC72MM / SMALL CRANKER: This rod is awesome for fishing small-size and shallow running crankbaits because of its moderate action. Both are a little longer than you've indicated you're looking for . . . . A-Jay

Hello Bill and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Thanks. The Base model boat comes with decent standard features. However, I had a fairly specific set of add-ons I wanted and was willing to pay for. Boat prices vary with location, what you & I pay for the same thing could vary quite a bit. Check out the Lund Website or contact your Local Lund Dealer for the most accurate pricing information for your area. Posting my specific $$ numbers is inappropriate and not happening. I will say the pricing information provided on the website was a bit higher than what my dealer quoted me. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource. Are you asking or telling ? If you're asking, I'll ask you at what price ? A-Jay