Tim Kelly

For casting distance, probably the braid. I use 6lb CXX and really like it for the job. Not as good in cold weather though as the line stiffens and casting is a bit reduced, but in warmer weather it suits me perfectly.

Good choice. A friend of mine, who also lives in Danville PA, has one and we spent a great week fishing off it last summer up at his cottage in Ontario. Very good fishing platform and will go amazingly shallow. Very stable, comfortable boat.

For that 17ft boat size I think the G3 Eagle Talon DLX is the best thought out in the class. 90hp rating, 9ft rod box, cooler in step. Compared to the others in that size class it would probably be my choice.

Hawg wobbler

Probably because they've sold all the broadcasting rights to whoever it's being broadcast by. Real shame for me as I don't live in the US and have no other way of watching. Really enjoyed the e casts and was happy to spend $30 a year to watch it. It's a business decision, but possibly not a brilliant one. Time will tell.

Most likely the release arm is worn. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/timkelly/lasreel%20maintanence2.html

The optional step on the RT188 doesn't open bizarrely. It's just a box to stand on and a bit of a weak afterthought. I think you'd have to have the dealer fit any TM that the factory don't option.

I can't say I've ever had one unravel. I tie three half hitches, then clip the leader material off and tie three more half hitches to smooth the transition. The last half hitch I go through the knot twice with the tag and that seems to lock it all down well so the half hitches don't work themselves loose.

If you can cast that bait on your other reels it's likely to be the reel that's the problem. Daiwa spools have springs that move the inductor in and out, if the inductor is stuck it might explain your difficulty.

On Bluebasser's recommendation I ordered a couple of sizes of Lil' Nasty hooks. Had a few weeks with them so far, mainly size 2 for ned rig jigs. Have to say, I'm impressed. The inward curving points give them a degree of protection frpm the rocks, so they are less prone to getting the hook point dulled, and they've been strong so far. So much better than the Matzuo versions.

You've been casting them into the wet bit, not up the bank right?

Works well. Vary the length of the drop so you can bring it back without too much fouling on the bait. Start at about 12" and see where you go from there.

Drag a drop shot around. The weight will get the muck and the worm will be just above it.

A friend of mine absolutely loves the 5" slim senkos on a texas rig and 1/8 sinker and they're his go to weenie worm. They are heavy and sink, like a normal senko. I fished behind him with a zman 4" finesse worm and caught similar amounts and that worm is buoyant. Not sure what that tells you, but I know my worm lasted all day while he went through packets of senkos LOL

You can get a quick release plate to mount a Minn Kota on, so you can remove the whole motor easily.

I think Stringease, the company that came up with the system, are Canadian. Here's their website. See where the Canadian dealers are. http://www.stringease.com/products.php?cat=weights&id=fastach_football_weights

I don't think Daiwa claim the SV spools to be particularly long casting. The idea is that they cast usual casting ranges with ease. "Stress free versatile". The HLC spools and other designations on the various reel series are designed for long casting with heavier weights. I find my SV105 and SS SV to be very easy casting.

Stunning in many ways, but to me it looks a little like an elephant on a uni cycle. The wheels look too small for the body. I would like a little less lowering and a little more rubber for a better balance, but that's just me.

I have that MHX popping blank too. Built it as a spiral wrapped casting rod, and it's great, but just stripped it and waiting for the bits to arrive to turn it into a spinning rod. I think it is a superb blank, That said, the St Croix MXF rod is fantastic too, especially in the SCV version. Just hate the way St Croix put them together and paint them!

I remember reading an article years ago about lure shape research they did at the Berkeley lab. The description of the bait they discovered the bass were most likely to hit was a non-descript stumpy cylindrical shape they made by taking the pincers off one of their craw baits. They decided that they would never sell any baits made to that shape though as it wouldn't sell to anglers who wanted to see some realism and action in their baits. Kind of sounds familiar doesn't it? Who was it who didn't sign the Beatles? LOL

If a rod can roll cast a bait, it can overhead cast it. It's all about practice.

It's all about practice, not reel settings.

Thank you, I hadn't seen that mould before.

I use a 1/16 football head quite a lot and it works well. I think the mushroom is handy because it gives you a good large surface to glue the bait to. Other than that I don't think it fishes particularly differently to a ball head or football head. I use a 1/16 football head, because I have a mould for it and my mushroom jig mould only goes down to 3/32.

I assume you're not a fisherman yourself and it's your son who is? The idea of the side finder in the bottomline units sounds appealing to a non angler as they imagine it will reveal where to cast and make the fishing easier, but in reality they were cheap units aimed at occasional anglers and the advertised technology wasn't that useful. If you aim a normal transducer sideways, rather than down you'd get similar results. Getting a standard modern inexpensive unit, like one of those suggested above, will be far more useful for your son really. That's the same technology that every pro and every charter captain use every day on the water, just in a smaller package. Sonar is great at telling you about the structure you're fishing over and will often spot fish for you, especially in deeper water, but in shallow water you're less likely to see fish, or need to see fish as you're fishing visible structure most of the time, so the value of sonar is lower anyway.