dag623

I will just add to the confusion lol... 17lb fc for me ;-)

I feel your pain lol... I spent a good part of my day yesterday pondering these same choices. In the end I went with the vmc mentioned in size 2, and the sunline sniper 7lb. Also ordered myself a pro qualifier size 20, and a fenwick elite tech smallmouth 6'9 MXF. Being pretty new to dropshot, and having never thrown a shakyhead, all I can do now is hope the homework paid off lol...

Monkey got us too... Definitely a huge plus when ur significant other gets it too! We fish team tourneys and she is ultra competitive so anything to help us put more in the livewell is a green light with her all the way ;-). I am truly a blessed man having a wife that I can share the joy of fishing with, and sounds like you are too!

Just checked order details of mine, shows lss, no hd. Due to arrive this week so i assume it is lss1. Oh well, such is my luck lol. Hey can't complain, got a sweet $300 rebate so...

Lol that's too funny! Yup, had a few of those days as well ;-)

Nice... One day after I order my hds with structurescan. Lol

Was actually my thought as well. Could use the second reel for sure! Didn't think of the drag upgrade. Thanks for the input all!

Noticed that the Pro Qualifier is on sale for 80 bucks, which happens to be half the price of the JM Signature. Just wondering if anyone has used these both and if so, is the Signature that much better than the pq???

Picking one up myself this yr, looking at the pfluger trion combo at bps, in 6'6 medium.

I remember u saying u grabbed 2. Ideally would have liked to do the same, but can make due til next yr, or at least til I can convince my teammate (my wife), that it would be most beneficial to us to have lol! Be sure and let us all know when u get them in and how u like.

Just ordered the new finder after 2 wks of deliberation. Went with hds7 mainly for the rebate being offered right now. Just want to say thanks to everyone for the much needed info, which was abundantly plentiful here! I am sure I will be callin on ya again when it comes time to install!!! :-P

Been looking at shakeyheads... Recommend one in particular?

So true ;-)

Lol, I just said to my wife the other night that the next thing would be infrared :-P

I am actually about to buy one of these units, and I can definitely understand the points made. However, my wife and I began our venture into tournament fishing last yr, and couldn't help but notice the huge displays mounted on consoles of the boats that consistently held full livewells at weigh in. I am not saying this is the sole reason that our competitors produced, far from it... However, I would be foolish to not recognize the advantages that these units provide.

I noticed that as well jf, they do have over an inch and a half more screen size, as the 7 is actually only 6.4". Jm, the soft keys would be nice as well, especially considering I have never owned a lowrance, and the 4 screens would come in quite handy I'm sure. I am actually leaning toward the 7, as it seems to have the key features, and is quite a bit easier on the wallet! Thanks for the feedback guys, it is huge to have knowledgeable input from the guys who know the product!

Oh I hear ya there... Everything I've read and heard says that same thing about the processor speeds. My dilemma is the difference between the hds 7 and hds 8, both being gen 2. I am wondering if there is anything that makes the hds 8 worth 650-800 more than the 7... Oh and yeah, the structuremap looks sweet!

Besides screen size and soft keys, is there a major difference between the 2 to warrant the price difference?

Thanks for the info. Definitely could see where it would be quite rewarding to catch fish on your creation. Glad to hear that there are also advantages to it as well.

Interested in doing this, as it seems like a pretty cool hobby. Do you find that your baits perform better than the big names? Would love to get into this, would really love if it outperforms! Thanks...

Similar story here... Moved to New Hampshire lol

Funny to see u guys describe spinnerbait bites being so violent. Having fished largemouth waters exclusively until recently, I could only describe the smallie hit on it just as u... Violent! Started a tourney last yr throwing c-rigged sticks, followed by jerkbait, which had been the top two producers of the yr, but nothing that day. Threw the spinner on, and first cast... WHAP, rod nearly flew from my hands! Brought that one in, and followed it up with 2 more, and one lost. All three were over 3 lbs, one at 4. I still remember comparing those hits to those of a largemouth, and realized there was no comparing the 2. I will gladly take a well full of largemouth to weigh in, but when it comes to the sport of it, there is no contest, bronzeback takes the title in my book ;-)...

Thx for the info! So what are your thoughts on that model? Mapping similar to newer model?

my mistake... 798ci si lol

Thanks for the tip wayne! Man they make this complicated lol! I did as u said and double checked, it is the 798si combo. Like I said... Complicated!!! Lmao