dlh2

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll pick up an in-line circuit breaker just to be on the safe side because as far as I can tell neither boat has one in the pre-run wiring.

I have both an old Bass Raider 10E and a new Sundolphin Sportsman. I have always run the motors on the back of the boats but I want to try a 30# on the front of the Sundolphin. Is it absolutely necessary to use a circuit breaker when doing this?

You can't use short screws WITHOUT going all the way thru the plastic because It's only about an 1/8 of an inch thick. But, for mounting light duty stuff just use short screws about a 1/2" long and use 3M marine sealant/adhesive on the screw and flange of whatever you are mounting. You will be fine.

Hey Leftymuk, love your boat, but it's not a Pelican, it's a previous generation Pond Prowler (see pics on page 118 of another nice one). I think I actually like that hull design better than the Pelican!

Probably a dumb question but a buddy and I were fishing with Rage Tail Craws for the first time yesterday rigged with weighted, screw-on "rage rig/swim bait" hooks. Should the BARB be skin-hooked in the hook slot on the lighter color "bottom" of the bait or the darker colored, non-slotted "top" of the bait?

This website has a neat little rudder in their "add on" page. It just slips over the transom. It's a little pricey, but it may give you some ideas if you fabricate one. http://www.pondking.com/product/pond-king-ultra/

I've got some 6'10" Lew's American Hero combos and a H2O Mettle on a H2O Ethos 7' MH rod (not the H2O Mettle combo). I would say it's a toss up. Both are great reels for the money. The Lew's uses a magnetic brake system and the H2O uses a centrifugal brake system. The Lew's is a great feeling, well balanced combo...I really like the rod. Not sure about the rods that come with the H2O combos. I have heard the rod that comes with the Abu Black Max combo leaves a little bit to desired.

The Lew's American Hero 6'10" MH Baitcast rod & reel combo is an excellent all-around combo. Lots of synergy! It won the 2014 ICAST best combo award. I bought one while visiting my son when we decided to go fishing. Wound up buying 2 more when I got home. http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/lew-s-american-hero-6-10-mh-baitcast-rod-and-reel-combo/pid-1060474?color=Black%2fBlue&N=78002898

Thanks everyone. I will go ahead and clean and re-lube it. Rather be safe than sorry because I love these reels!

Knocked my new PQ off the boat into clear water about 5' deep. It was submerged for about 5 minutes before retrieving it. I rinsed it off when I got home. Would you tear it down for a thorough cleaning and re-lubing or just maybe put a little oil on the level wind worm shaft for the time being?

Looks like you could make one with a clothes pin....

I paired up a PQ I bought at the big sale with a 6'6" Berkley Cherrywood M/F from Academy Sports on sale for $19.99. I've been throwing rattle traps,etc, and love this inexpensive, all-purpose combo! Great synergy!

I bought 2 PQs and my neighbor bought one the other day when they went on sale. All 3 reels came from the factory with 4 centrifugal brake pins engaged and 2 disengaged. We left the centrifugal brakes set that way but have been experimenting with the dial-up magnetic brake when throwing different weight lures. A Mag setting of 2 for the heavier crank baits and around 6 for the lighter plastic worms and we are throwing these things a country mile with no problem. Love these reels....quiet and smooth!

I'm convinced. I'll try to snag a couple of PQ's when they go on sale. Any idea what kind of quantities the stores will have and how quick they sell out when they put them on sale?

I'm looking for a couple of "beater" reels in the $50 to $60 price range. Based on reviews, I'm considering the Academy H2O Mettle or the Abu Garcia Black Max. Has anybody tried both and if so, how do they compare?

Here is one I made for my garage... http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/119246-homemade-rod-holder-for-the-garage/

Fishwhittler...thanks for the tip on the sale....gonna run to Academy and grab another Mettle.

Here is a good thread comparing the Menace to the Mettle http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/118002-inside-the-academy-h2o-xpress-menace-2/?hl=%2Bh2o+%2Bmenace#entry1291570

I didn't have enough usable wall space left in my garage to organize my combos either vertically or horizontally so I made this. I wanted to be able to grab a rod without using a stepping stool or ladder when I walk down to the lake. It's a 40" piece of 1x2 mounted above the window with seven 1 1/4" PVC end caps screwed on at a slight upward angle and 6" apart. Above each end cap, I drilled a hole at a slight upward angle and pressed in a piece of 3/16" zinc plated round stock (four 3' pieces from Home Depot) that I cut & shaped to catch the rods in front of the handles.

Nubie here. Brakes don't seem to prevent backlashes. If you set your spool tension knob correctly and train your thumb to feather the spool to prevent overrun during lure flight and when it hits the water, what's the purpose of magnetic or centrifugal brakes? You still have to use your thumb to prevent backlashes. What don't I understand?

I forgot to mention, I had Academy Sports load the reel with 12# Big Game line. Here are the links to the outfit I bought..... http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_133325_-1__?N=274871093 http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_763257_-1__?N=101394130

Black Knight....same thing here....I've always used closed faced spinning reels (Diawa Gold Casts) but have tried baitcasters a few times, got frustrated and gave them away. Decided the other day to give it one more shot. After reading a ton of reviews and threads on this forum, I zeroed in on the H2O Express Mettle baitcasting reel (maybe the best entry level reel on the market at $50) and the Tournament Choice Premier 6'6" MH casting rod ($20) from Academy Sports. I've watched the videos and am in the process of practicing and teaching myself to use it...wish me luck!!!

The 10' Bass Raider I bought back in 2002 has a drain plug in back end floor. That's the best feature of the boat. I keep my boat in the water tied off to my dock year round and since the floor is above water level, it's self bailing. I never put the plug in, even when using the boat...the floor is always above water level even with 2 adults in the boat. I notice the new boats don't have a drain plug. I can't believe they discontinued that feature. If I was buying a new one today, I would retrofit it with a drain plug.