OkobojiEagle

The key point to your question is that you called him your "friend", presumably you and he came to the pond together... and intend to leave together. I'd consider that friendship more important than the bass. Enjoy the experience and don't worry about the bass. (Come back alone next time.) oe

As a meal it's not wasted... oe

I wish he'd step forward and claim his place... ties count here. I'm surprised nobody has a large spotted bass... oe

I'd like to know which board member has claim to the heaviest bass caught by a board member... Not looking for everyone's personal best, not wanting to know about the one your wife caught, or your dad, or uncle Ned's best friend 7 years ago. Only the absolute heaviest largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass caught and weighed by a current BassResource member. Don't even think of posting unless you can beat the last posted weight! Honor system will have to apply, but remember, Saint Peter was a fisherman and he'll know! largemouth -- 19lb 3oz -- WRB smallmouth -- 9lb 7oz -- Brian Schram spotted bass -- 8.2 lb -- LTBAndrew Guadalupe -- 1lb -- OCdockskipper Who'll chime in quickly with a really impressive number! (This could be a really short thread) oe

Good old crimped on split shot above your favorite wacky hook... oe

It appears you now have an opportunity to buy a new spinnerbait... oe

A vast collection of various styles/weights of jig heads will be far more helpful with catching bass than a vast collection of rods/reels... and considerably cheaper as well. oe

A season or two... then I often bring it back out after a couple of years being left at home oe

You'll have less "walk overs" (bait walking over the line and tangling in the treble hooks) while walking top water lures and suspending jerkbaits using a nylon/fluoro leader. Depth and retrieve speed of weighted plastics are more easily controlled using a nylon/fluoro leader. oe

Considerably farther than I'd push it... thank you. oe

Scott... my motor drops along side of the trailer winch bracket and only has a couple inches to turn in either direction. I wouldn't want to do something dumb with the remote and damage the motor. Ice out is not far away and I'll get on the water soon. oe

A relaxing winter evening project while watching your favorite boob-tube program... use a bodkin to ream a guide hole through the center of your plastic baits. Much easier to thread the plastics on your jigs straight when in a hurry on the water. oe

I'm sure 100' is farther than I'd actually trust it. Thanks oe

Thanks for the reply Scott. Except for my young grand daughters, I haven't had another person in my boat with me for quite a few years. I guess people don't like fishing with me. Short of someone coming forward with their experience, I'll have to find a non-fishing friend to experiment with me after the ice melts. I launch my boat before I would deploy the trolling motor. Normally I launch, drive the boat to a dock next to but not in the way of others waiting to launch, tie up and park my vehicle/trailer, then return to the boat. I'm contemplating eliminating the 2nd dock by remotely anchoring the boat out of the way. Just was wondering how far "away" the remote would reach. Thanks oe

I'd like to know the effective maximum operating distance from the trolling motor head of the I-pilot remote. If I spot lock anchor the boat away from the launch dock while I park the trailer I'd like to feel secure that I'll be able to remotely retrieve it... What distance from the dock can I safely count on? Anyone willing to share their experience? oe

hoosierbass07... thanks for the link oe

Be able to back your vehicle + boat accurately and do it in one try... oe

OP... I recommend you pick up a handful of Charlie Brewer's classic Spider jig heads in 1/8oz, 3/16oz and 1/4oz. along with a few of your favorite green pumpkin or black 4" finesse worms. Practice Charlie's suggested retrieves, find some of your Wisconsin smallmouth and enjoy. If need be you can pinch off an inch of the worm. oe

sometimes gravity's a b*tch... oe

I not only considered it, but I spent last night reading completely through it... Thanks for pointing me to the specific spot I didn't assimilate. oe Update: Wayne... I had downloaded and studied the wrong I-pilot manual. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. oe

Has anyone had a new version of the I-pilot on the water and used the "jog" feature? I've been reading the manual for my "just arrived" Terrova w/I-pilot and can't find any mention of the jog feature or how it is accomplished? I appreciate the help with what is probably an obvious task I'm overlooking! oe

My thought process 15 years ago when I bought both transducers was to reduce the sonar "hidden zone" tight to steep drop offs and near large boulders. I was also looking to "see through" the weed canopy a little better with a tighter cone angle which condensed and increased the power slightly. The science still holds true, I'm not sure it's worth the effort though. oe

I've got both an 8 degree transducer and a 20 degree transducer for a Lowrance X85 sonar. I haven't had the 8 degree on the boat for several years. For bass/walleye fishing over <40' of water with plenty of rock reefs/points and scattered coontail/pondweed beds is there any reason I should re-install the 8 degree transducer? Does anyone on this board use an 8 degree over a 20 degree... anyone?, anyone?... Bueller?... anyone? oe '

I'm tired of reading bait color threads... does the ping/tic of your transducer alert and put off bass from feeding on your lure? Are some sonar brands better/worse in this regard than others? oe

OP... I fish with a Pixy, Premier, Morrum sx1601 and Chronarch 51e; all have a pretty good track record with lighter weight lures. My opinion for what you're asking is you need a med. light spinning rod. oe