scbassin

I have owned 5 Ranger Bass Boats. I have a 2002 185vs with a 150 Mercury which I have no problem with in rough water. The only one I got wet in was my 1st. A 1974 DTR-10. I just bought my 5th a 2008, Z-21 with a 250 Yamaha so for the present I have two. I fish on Santee Cooper which can get pretty nasty. I know this is not the boat you were looking for answers on but there were no other post at the time so I thought the 185vs is close & I have had in some real rough water so what the heck.

After reading your post a couple of times I would think you want to stay home in 20mph winds. That boat has a lot of free board & with just a trolling motor your going to have a problem with that kind of wind. Even with a light wind your going to be fighting it. I would go with a 24v 80 lb thrust trolling motor even though it takes 2 batteries. It is much better to be safe than sorry. Make sure to get at least a 52 inch shaft because in rough water you will need it. I am not sure how you can be sheltered if your having to put up with 15-20 mph winds.

Shimano Calais 201DC $391.50 shipped Shimano Calais 201DC $375 Shipped

I am not surprised to see this happening. I am sure that Gamma will not be the only one cutting back. Wait for round 2 of the mortgage melt down, it will really put a fly in the ointment. It's the ECONOMY & it will get worse as the fall out continues. I am just surprised he quit. As far as there line goes I find it to be pretty good. I like it & find to be priced close to comparable lines.

Be sure to send the warranty card in. They have had some problem with the gearing with that real. That is why they came out with the 200a. If you have the problem send it to Okuma & want it replaced with the 200a. My buddy had a problem with 3 out of 4 he purchased but Okuma stepped up to the plate. He uses & likes his.

I guess it depends on were you live for I use mine 8 or 9 months out of the year. So to me they are worth the money. As for other uses maybe a lure retriever, maybe.

The tech people told me for the best performance the unit should be mounted so the antenna is perpendicular to the sky. With that advice I went with the LMS 520. I flush mounted it so it's also out of the way.

I was fishing when they took that picture.

I still use some that I have had since the late 70', early 80's. Superfloater, Fliptail Creme, Manns. I find they still catch fish.

I have used 12# and its castibility is excellent. However, like many other pline products it has memory up the kazoo. It has not broken on me and I have a buddy who swears by this line. Whenever I read, oh my line broke on the hookset, I take it with a grain of salt. Why? Because more often than knot (pardon the pun Smiley), I am more inclined to think it is more a function of angler neglect or a poorly tied knot. I agree with Islandbass that the line does cast well. I too thought at 1st it must be my knots so I was more careful tying them but still had a problem. I have been fishing for over 60 years & not having a knot problem with Yo-Zuri, Gamma, or Pline CXX so I changed line. I had bought that line when it 1st. came out so I thought a bad spool maybe so I waited about 3 months and bought a 2nd spool from a different store & had the same problem. I also contacted Pline about the problem & never received an answer. They could have at least said Thank You but no one else is having a problem & you need to go to knot tying school 101. So now I no longer use Pline. By the way I have read where quite a few people were having the same problem. This was a while ago & maybe they have changed something. It cast great & you already have a spool so use it. If you have a breaking problem change line. Good Luck.

I had 2 spools of 12# test that I threw away because I had way to many break offs.

There are no set rules. Play with it one time chug it a couple of times & let it sit for a couple of seconds. Then move again maybe move it for 3 or 4 chugs & let it sit longer. Keep changing it up until you get a fish to blow up on it then keep what you were doing when he blew up on your bait.

If your rod is designed to 8 to 17# test then any of those line weights will be just fine. It is just not as easy to use heavier line on spinning gear. I don't use spinning gear much but when I do I use 6# yo zuri ultra soft. Anything heavier I use casting gear.

14# Gamma has a breaking strength of 23.16 pounds. I use a 7' heavy rod with 15# Yo-Zuri hybrid which has a breaking strength of 21.5 pounds and never have had a break off. You should be just fine.

I use a Boze Sumo Frog with a 7' rod and 15# test Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 15# test Gamma Copolymer and have yet to have a break off.

I also use bait casting equipment when fishing flukes. I use a custom rod with an extra fast tip with a Shimano Scorpion Mg spooled with 10# Yo-Zuri ultra soft line. It is no problem to cast the bait or handle the fish.

I have been using it on my crank bait setups for a good while & like it. I use the 10# test.

SHIPPING I heard that the right- handed one in August & the left- handed one in October.

If you crank it slow with a high rod tip it will swim on the surface creating a decent size wake. If you hold your rod tip down it will swim at a couple of feet. You just have to play with it. I like to pull it with the rod reel up the slack & let it sit for a couple of seconds then do it again. I like the bait good luck with it.

Keep it in the refrigerator & it will last a very long time.

That is a good list once you take a peek the bait monkey will move into your wallet forever. ;D

The FLW magazine is a good one also.

The answer to this question will be very subjective. I suggest you pick up a couple of different brands & try them to you find the one you have the most confidence in, then you have the best one. The hollow body frog that I like the best is the Boze Sumo Frog, it has a soft body so when the fish bites down on it you get good hook exposer. This was Dean Rojas frog before he changed sponsors to Spro. For a soft plastic I like the Hog Swamp Toad, it has a loud gurgling sound coming thru the water & when you stop it looks just like a frog swimming toward the bottom.

I had ordered 12 spools Thursday & received them today.

Soft Plastic Raul you do not have enough soft plastics it takes about 500#'s to have enough. ;D