Catt

@Darnold335 my point isn't about which depth finder is better. It's about spending as much of your budget actually fishing. Perfect example, do you know who Fish Chris Wolfgram is? He was a member here & is probably one of the best Hawg hunters around. His boat is a 14' G3 Vee bottom with an outboard that's under 20 hp I believe. He depth finder is bare basics & according to him it's rarely used. He's thought process is use that budget to be on the water.

We ain't high jacking anything. A Helix 5 would be huge compared to what @Darth-Baiter currently has now.

Humminbird Helix 5 G2 Fishfinders $219.99 - $269.99 Correct but I could probably stay on Toledo Bend for a couple weeks.

If you build me a rod & I don't like it ya gonna build me another one?

Uhh no! Spend 2 or 3 hundred dollars on a unit & spend the other 7-8 hundred going to the lake. Spot lock would be more important to me.

Time on the water ☺️ I didn't think I can or anyone above can even guesstimate the total hours spent on the water. Many of those hours were spent in conditions most anglers would bail on.

I would also take a look at Academy's H2O rods.

Seriously y'all need to get your hands on a Kistler. Especially for a bottom contact technique. Argon $200 on sale $157 KLX $300 on sale $197 Helium $400 on sale $257

@ol'crickety Your comments has done two things. One: spot on with what to look for in a topwater bite. Two: it shows how good a angler you are. You know your strengths & admit your weaknesses. To be a successful angler you only need one topwater, one mid-depth, & one bottom contact lure that you have total confidence in.

Best rods on the market bar none!

In shallow water I sight fish year round. I'm looking for movement under the surface as well as above. I'll see grass, pads, reeds move when there's no wind. Yes I even see fins & tails!

Stable ? Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall I'm looking for stable weather conditions regardless of what they are.

Everything I'm hearing is happening at night.

Your sanity & big bass ?

The eyes of a bass go through a night adaptation cycle beginning at twilight and are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray within an hour after darkness. Contrast is more important by far than color at night.

Saltwater Super Zara Spook

Y'all be surprised how well white works at night especially in Shad fill lakes.

No mention of Kistler ?

With an orange belly...and I have no idea why!

pre·vail·ing wind: a wind from the direction that is predominant at a particular place or season.

Pioneer & Legend ?

My records show 70% of the bass over 6#s were caught during southerly prevailing wind. Those same records show I fish more during the summer when the prevailing winds are from a southerly direction. Was it the wind! Was it because of summer? Was it because of the amount of time on the water? Can't control the wind, if it ain't blowing me off the water, I'm going fishing!