Gator_Bait

website shows $600...?

Abu Garcia Veritas 6'6" M F Shimano Sahara 2500FE 6.2:1 Different lines

Sounds like a great setup. I use a Sahara 2500 also, have it on a Veritas 6'6" M F now. Really like it. Got a new Diawa Fuego CT 8.1:1 coming and am looking hard at the Dobyns Fury 734C or 735C. I'm hearing a lot of really good things about the Dobyns line. If I get one and like it I may have to switch the Sahara over to the rod you got!

I've only broken one, I think. Don't remember just how it happened, may have been carrying it into the shop after fishing. But I don't count that one...it was the wife's...?

I think I'll try the Diawa Fuego CT 8.1:1 Ordered it this morning. Most places had them for $99.99 - 109.99 but, in a You Tube video I was watching last night the guy said you could find them on sale a lot. He showed a few adds on the screen and I saw one was Walmart! So I checked, being there are a lot of Memorial Day sales, and they had 4 left at 74.99! Well...with a little leftover on an old gift card I ended up getting one of the four for 56 bucks out of pocket! I hope the reel is as good as the deal I got. It'll be here Monday...maybe with some luck it'll stop raining. I could have literally run my boat in the ditch behind my house last night. Water in the backyard was about halfway from the fence to the house. And there's a 2+ ft. drop from the house to the back fence! Now for a rod to put it on!!!

Interesting collection of rigs you have. 3 Aird-X you must really like them. How do you like the Dobyns Fury? 2 Diawa Fuego CT, I think the 8.1:1 would be the hot ticket. Don't have anything like it. I have a President spinning reel on a crappie setup. Had it for 7-8 yrs, love it. How are the casting reels?

Yup...that's what I am going to try. If I like it I'll put that on other reels.

What are you using for line?

Setup for Froggin, Pitching, Flipping, larger jigs...? Any type of baits / techniques I would need a longer, heavier duty rod and faster reel than I have listed above. OK...after looking some more I've narrowed it down some. What are your thoughts on brand? Rod : 7'3-4" - Heavy - Fast Reel : 7.3:1 or 8.1:1 which is better? Also... if you were setting up this combo, and trying to stay around $150 or so max, would you spend more on a better reel...or rod...why? Would you try to match brands of rod & reel or not? Is there an advantage? Some contenders : Lew's Speed Stick Mach 7'4" H F and Classic Pro SLP 7.5:1 Kastking Perigee II 7'4" H F and Royal Legend 7.3:1 or 8.1:1 Diawa Aird X 7'0" H F (shorter) or 7'3" MH F (lighter) and Fuego CT 7.3:1 or 8.1:1 What combos would you add at best quality available and comparable price ?

We live in Lamar MO now. Haven't lived in Louisiana for several years, I said when we lived... The bayou and Atchafalaya are still my favorite places to fish in the world though! When all this COVID crap blows over I'll go back and spend a month or so fishing all my old spots.

I've mainly been a Crappie fisherman, especially when we lived in Louisiana. I do fish Bass, Catfish, and saltwater fish of all kinds though. That being said, I want to up my Bass game. The chart shows my Bass rods. These I've picked up over the years, kind of haphazard...whatever was on sale at the time. I may need to "thin the heard" or change line and/or rod and reel combo. I would appreciate some advice from the "ain't nothing but Bass" guys out there...LOL Carbonlite - BPS reel 6.4:1 - some type of monofilament...no idea which one maybe Trilene of some type Berkley (haven't used in years) - Could go with Prodigy (I just found in a box) 6.3:1 - Cajun Red line 12# H2O Xpress - H2O Express 6.3:1 - Cajun Red line 12# Veritos - Sahara 6.2:1 - some type of monofilament...no idea which one maybe Trilene of some type I've caught 95% of my bass on a worm...mainly a Speed Worm. I want to learn to catch, often, on jigs, spinners, frogs, maybe even a few crank baits. Also want to get good at Pitching and flipping. I really want to lessen the frequency of "bird nests" too!! So I'm thinking a long rod...heavy...fast tip...7.0:1 or faster reel. I will not, and can not afford to spend a bunch on a rod/reel I use for fun. I'm thinking maybe $ 150 (less if possible) for rod and reel! Would kind of like a manufacture I can switch to, if I like the first setup, and cull the present stock. Not sure which brands are the best quality in that price range...Kastking, Lews, Abu Garcia ( didn't know they made the Prodigy...it's stamped in the reel foot), or other. Also best type of line for each setup...as all my line is several years old. I'll be changing (and buying fresh) line on all my reels. I do this every spring on all my Crappie reels.

What line are you using?

I use to see that type of motor all over when I lived in Baton Rouge. I fished the swamps and bayou 2 sometimes 3 days a week. They had two main types, long tail (like yours) and surface drive. Most up to 40HP Vanguard Marine motors. Go Devil, Gator Tail, Havoc and Pro Drive. They would run them through open water, weeds, heavy vegetation, mud, over logs, short pieces of land...just whatever was in the way! ? Veg-O-Matic Boat !!

Has anyone put a set of steps on their trailer? I have a 2012 Tracker 175TF. How do you like them? do they really help getting in and out, especially when loading it on the trailer? I think the picture is Trick Step, but I think there are several companies that make them.

OK, I don't have a little boat yet so I'm doing research and asking a LOT of questions! Some of the pictures and videos I've seen look like the stern of those boats are barely above water. Looks like a small wave could pot water in the boat. BUT...it could be the camera angle, or stupid loading everything against the back of the boat. Does your Pro 102 have higher sides and sit up in the water more than the 10E and it's clones? Or is that an optical illusion? Sorry for the ton of questions...I'm trying not to make a stupid, and expensive, mistake!

Does it drive in so much it pulls the back of the boat down coming out? How deep can you anchor?

" So far, my pontoon has done everything I have asked of it. It could be faster. These days, I'm in no hurry to get anywhere. " When we lived in Baton Rouge I would fish the rivers and bayou 2+ days a week. There's a bunch of fancy houses on the Blood River with canals to each one. One that I fished regular had a lift with a Bennington Tritoon in it...two 300 HP Yamaha motors on it! That was very rare 8-10 years ago, Don't know how fast it was...plenty...but I wouldn't want to feed that thing!

Sweet lookin rig! Have you had time to use the power pole more? How well does it work?

Interesting thread. I'm thinking about one of these small boats also. Will be watching ? with great interest!

Love your setup Lonnie! I've been looking at these small boats lately, and that's how I want to set one up. Getting too old and fat to be crawling over the nose of my boat putting it back on the trailer. And places without a dock beside the ramp are a real PIA! The flat utility trailer is what I'm thinking also.

Get a Bug-A-Salt gun and go hunting before you go fishing...LOL.

stable, electric... Have you looked at something like this? https://pondking.com/ There are several companies that make these. There should be some used around also. You can also add a gas motor to some models. Looks like a cool idea.

You Tube is your friend! Search "Jon Boat To Bass Boat" and there are a ton of videos. There's sure to be one with answers, or at least a bunch of ideas.

I was talking to a guy about setting up a little 10ft. boat. He said in Missouri there was a minimum 12ft. length to be legal...? I have never heard of anything like that. What about you guys? Fact...or call BS!

Yea...the ears weren't bent up all the way either! You can have the rain! It's been raining so much if it stops it'll be a week later till I can get the mower on it...then I'll need to bail it! ?