Crappiebasser

A guy I fish with had one that wouldn't retract either but mine comes back super fast. I guess it depends on the brand.

I use a 30' retractable dog leash for mine. I think the retriever came from BPS. It's the kind with the chains.

I would run it long shaft too unless you run in really shallow water. I have a long shaft on a jon boat and never had an issue. I would try to adapt the electric start to the 77.

In my experience a shaky head works better than a jig. Fishing for spots down here we tie a few sun flies above the ds bait. It's a blast catching 2 at a time.

Why not just run wiring to your starting battery?

Down here you can find spots, smallies, coosa and shoal bass with red eyes.

15-17 lb mono should be fine. Flouro will kill your top water baits because it sinks. I would use braid with a leader, mono for top water, fluorocarbon for everything else but if you're dead set against the leader mono will work.

X2 I'm glad it works for you. I'm too lazy for all that. One knot is enough.

When I fished as a co angler I bought a rod tote em and it works pretty good. It came with a mount to attach it to a wall, truck bed, or whatever. You pul a lynch pin and it comes off. I added a Velcro strap to the bottom of mine to hold the handle to my tackle bag. It makes it easy to carry all my gear from the truck to the boat. It wouldn't be too hard to cut one out on a scroll saw for a cheaper option. http://www.amazon.com/Taco-Metals-Poly-Reel-White/dp/B0000AXW7H

It is a fly rod. It has a reel seat at the end of the handle. A spinning rod with a Tennessee handle would have a solid handle.

Why wouldn't they change that handle? I love my CI4 but the handle is awkward. The FJ has a better handle.

You have to use a backing line or the braid will spin on the spool.

X2 4WD is worth it's weight in gold when you need it. Our lakes are drawn down in the winter so if you back off the ramp there's a good chance you'll need a 4x4 o get your trailer out.

At what point do we put down the rods and break out gill nets?

I don't throw a rigs much but I use a Cardiff 200. If I used it more I would probably get a Calcutta 300.

The hooks on the KVDs aren't too good IMO. I swap mine with Owner STX 58s.

If you need a hunting ground let me know. I have offered a $1 bounty for each one my nephew and his friends kill in my yard. I have paid out over $60 so far. These kids my start a college fund with their pellet guns. On the plus side all the dead chipmunks thrown over my sea wall have made cat fishing great.

I feel the same way about my 7' MM rod. I bought it for the same baits as you but it was too flimsy. I actually hit myself in the back with a 3Xd when I first got it. I still use it for small shad raps. I use a MH for all cranks under 1/2 oz now.

After reading Goose's post I checked mine. I have the 72M, 72MHXF, 610MHXF, and 711HXF (pictured). All 4 do rub the blank. I don't have the A-rig so I can't speak to it though. One thing I've noticed of all of them is they seem over rated power wise. As a loyal St Croix fan I'm used to a medium rod that will handle a 1/2 oz spinnerbait and heavy you can shoot pool with. These rods are not that way. They are very light and sensitive though. Also the rear grip only bothers me on the spinnerbait rod and I attribute it to the 200 series reel. The other 3 have 50 series reels.

Lately I have been using a spinning rod for Sammy's and poppers and I like it better. I tend to fish too fast with a bc plus it's easier to skip them under docks on a spinning rig. I use a snap swivel to stop wind knots. JMO

Not sure if its the best way but I did one once. I just took the motor off, cut the shaft down, drilled a new whole for the bolt, and sealed it with 3M 5200. It worked several years until I sold the boat. I didn't shorten the wires because the tucked into the shaft easily and zip ties kept them tight.

Y'all are crazy. The only snake I will handle is one with about a foot missing from the front due to the 12 gauge blast.

I have a 16' Fisher with a 40 Johnson. Today I stopped to fish and when I started it up to move I found the prop had fallen off in 50 FOW. I figure the cotter pin corroded and came out since it hasn't been out of the water in a couple years. My question is what pitch prop to replace it with. I have no idea what pitch the old prop was and checking it now isn't an option.

IMO anything with a fiberglass transom is a good one. I think they started glass transoms in 1989. If you can find a 300 series that has been repowered with an EFI motor you would have a great boat.

The Caenan is not a bad starter reel but I'd go for the Citica if you can get one. Citicard in the US can be had on EBay for less than $100 so that's only €77. I would look for an belayer here that will ship international.