Goose52

WOW ! Great score indeed !!!!

You might want to review this thread from 2 weeks ago that posed the identical question: Metanium or Metanium DC To answer your question, it depends on the type of presentations that you prefer and the conditions that you typically fish in. The standard Metanium is an outstanding reel - suitable for just about any presentation. The Met DC has the edge when fishing a lot in windy conditions, especially when using baits that catch the wind like spinnerbaits. Plus, fishing a DC reel is just fun - see this current thread What's So Good About DC. I have both the standard Met and the Met DC and like them both. However, only you can decide if the Met DC is worth the extra bucks for you. As part of your decision - you might want to read this review of the Met DC: Shimano Metanium Dc Reel - Initial Review / Impressions

I see it every winter - usually starting when the surface water temp gets into the 40s...

For those reading this, the JDM Calcutta D's that are the subject of this thread DO have opening sideplates for brake access on the 100 & 200 sizes. USDM Calcutta D's in those sizes do NOT have the opening sideplate as mentioned by Poolshark.

I have my TM mounted on the right side...............because I'm right-handed. As such, I prefer controlling the motor with my right hand, but the main reason is that since I am right-handed I prefer to cast to the left/port side of the boat and bring fish back to the left side. Having the motor on the right side means less chance for the fish to wrap around the TM.

Yep.

WOW ! I.....must.....resist.....the.....bait.....monkey....!

48 pounds, 10 lb test line, stock drag, $80.00 reel...

Yeah - the offset line-tie is somewhat unique. I haven't bought a Shyster since the '60s but still have a couple left from back then. That line-tie design actually does reduce/eliminate line twist. I buy Rooster Tails now and the first thing I do is to bend over the line-tie to somewhat simulate a Shyster. The bait in this photo is a Shyster (look at the blade). A genuine Abu Reflex inline spinner looks like this (the only one I have left from the '60s):

Outstanding ! Looks like I need to make up a shopping list !

YEAH BABY - I wants me some NIB Ambassadeur 1500Cs and 2500Cs ... ...and why did a 1500C cost a whopping $16 more than the 2500C !

A big X2. I was in a storm up north once where 3 feet of snow fell overnight - not anything I want to see again. Fortunately here on the Cumberland Plateau we only caught a tiny bit of the storm and only had about 6-8 inches of snow and some icing. The snow is mostly all gone this morning and the lakes have almost all iced-out. It's good to live in "the south"...

Regarding the hand paddle...the only time I touch my big paddle is when I'm in skinny water, or in heavy slop, and have the TM up. The rest of the time I'm on the TM exclusively. Since I stand nearly the entire time I'm on the water (unless I'm just motoring from point A to B), I'm too high in the boat for a hand paddle anyway. Since you are looking for aluminum canoes, take note of A-Jays recommendation about a floor. Aluminum canoes, like jon boats, are noisy suckers without some type of floor or lining. In my case, my boat comes from the factory with the entire interior surface of the hull lined with a foam similar to what A-Jay used on his boat so I have no noise issue. Good luck on the canoe search !

If you haven't yet, you might want to check out the 54 posts in this recent thread: New Shimano Products 2016 It includes photos of the new reels as well...

For me, the big news on the new Antares DC was the two gear ratios being offered - continuing a trend (for the good) of Shimano expanding gear ratio offerings in both low-profile and round reels. I have a practically new Calais 200DC that is really a niche reel for me so I think I have my bases covered for this size & type of reel. Unless there is some earth-shattering improvement in the 4x8 DC system on this new Antares, the X-Ship, Micro-module gears, and somewhat lighter weight of the new Antares DC won't be enough for me to replace the Calais DC. Let's see once the new reel is actually released.

Thanks again guys ! Many of my lakes started to ice-out today, including the area where I caught this bass; BUT, no takers there today...

I've thought about it - it would be nice to have for the reason you mention. BUT, the traditional bow mount TM apparatus is a bit too much for a 34 pound, 11'6" canoe. Plus, not sure the foot control cable would reach far enough back to where I stand. At the end of the day - too much trouble to mess with - especially since I car-top and all the gear has to be removable. Not quite as good, but better than a stern-mounted motor would be to get the smallest, lightest transom mount TM I could find and just clamp it to a reinforced area on the gunwale near the bow, with the handle pointed rearward (with extension handle if necessary). There are still issues with deploying and stowing the unit however. BUT, in my little boat I don't want my primary propulsion up there (issues with turning radius) and I don't want to run two TMs. WPCfishing runs two TMs on his canoe I believe and might chime in on his rigging. The only other solution I had thought of was to somehow make a bow thruster. Primary propulsion would still be aft, but directional control at low speeds could be with the bow thruster. So, I've given the matter some thought...but after six seasons and about 2,000 hours in the boat I've gotten pretty good at boat control using my current motor and mounting position and I think about bow mounting less and less each season. Make sure you guys post up pics if you figure out a bow mount !

Yeah - but you have the nifty motor control box !

I took a different approach than A-Jay and Fishing Rhino. My boat is only 11'6" and very light at a bare hull weight of 34 pounds. All the mods have to be modular and removable since I car-top it. It takes about 10-15 minutes to rig / de-rig. X2 on A-Jay's TM recommendation. I started with a 45 lb MK variable speed (Traxxis) and it ran my little boat fine...except for those times when I'd have a storm roll in and all of a sudden I'm heading into heavy headwinds and having a hard time making it back to the launch point. Moved up to the 55 lb Traxxis - much better. I still have the 45 lb and still use it on my smallest lakes...but always run the 55 lb on the bigger lakes.' Like A-Jay, I ran extension cables (6 gauge for me) to the front of the boat and they connect to a Minn Kota battery box. Since my boat is so small/light, I only run a Group 24 battery and have never run out of juice...but I'll admit that I get a bit of range anxiety on my largest lake. I keep saying I'm going to get a Group U1 battery as my limp-home battery but haven't yet. At the aft end of the TM cables, I have a quick disconnect with the same disconnect on both TMs: On the TM - consider a Bullnose rudder - clamps on the TM and gives a significant amount of rudder control. You can search this forum for a couple threads on the Bullnose. On your question of stability - I have to run outriggers since my boat is so short/light. A-Jay and Fishing Rhino don't and seem to have all the stability they need. Your call on how your stable YOUR boat is for you. You asked about wind. In my case, my little boat floats like a cork and catches wind like a sail. BUT, I can deal with it. I either anchor, or hold position with the TM if necessary. If the wind gets really bad, it's time to either find some sheltered water or to call it a day. Canoes are not known for being "wind-cheaters"... Here's some other file photos around the boat (it's a little messy as I had just landed and starting to de-rig): Bow area showing forward mounted trolling motor battery, 6 gauge extension cables, sonar, tackle trays. Amidships - showing the dashboard with Scotty rod holder, tackle trays, sonar, and (partially) the transducer deployment arm. Also in view is the gray conduit for the battery cables. View looking aft - showing another rod holder mount to the side of the seat (another has since been added on the other side), the seat, outrigger bracket with trolling motor mount, Scotty anchor lock, anchor rope can. The anchor rope can has been upgraded to a plastic job that doesn't rust... Stern - showing rod holders, another view of the outrigger bracket and the Scotty anchor lock. I would LOVE to have a rod system like Fishing Rhino but I just don't have the length for it. I can carry up to six rods in the boat without much trouble but usually limit it to 5. So, you have some good ideas from Fishing Rhino, A-Jay, and me. Perhaps WPCfishing will be along with some info as well. Have fun !

Whiners - That sound is music to the ears...!

OP - gonna drift OT for a bit... Mike - there is no MBR 844 in the NRX series so you don't really have a decision to make - if you want the best current model MBR 844...then it's the GLX. However, if you are intending to use it for mostly bottom contact - why not consider the JWR series where you have more choices in length and power ? The MBRs are certainly great, all-around rods and that soft tip that you mentioned is part of what gives them that versatility. But if you are dedicating the rod to bottom contact, the JWR series might be what you want.

Yes - discontinued. A number of sellers have had them on clearance for a while, including Monster. Some green models are sold out (like the 894C), at least at the places that I checked. If you like green...you better shop and buy SOON...

Thanks again guys! It's always good to be "catching" in January and not staring at an iced-over lake. I've had mostly hard water for 6 days now but did find some little open pockets to cast into on a couple of those days. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow and I expect I'll have some bigger holes in the ice by tomorrow afternoon - INCLUDING the spillway where I caught this bass. Wanna guess where I'll be tomorrow afternoon, rain jacket on and rod in hand... Thanks - and you have a good memory ! I posted up pics of some of those winter RES bass over in the Tackle Forum in the "Orange Belly" thread including that 8.4 I caught on New Years Eve a while back.

I've always been part of the "color usually doesn't matter" crowd...but I'll have to admit that when I look at a bait and it has some orange on the bottom it always raises my confidence level a bit. "Brim" (misc. sunfish) are the primary bass forage in my water, and usually have that flash of orange under their chin, and I guess I attribute it to that. Then, in winter I often tend to shift over to craw-colored baits - most often of an orange color. Of note is the orange belly craw Red Eye Shad: Orange seems to work - catch fish. BUT, under the same conditions as when I caught the fish above...would another color have done just as well ? I didn't want to cut off the orange belly craw bait and tie on another color to experiment...I just wanted to keep catchin' fish... Even snapping turtles like orange...