BrettD

Like I tell everyone make sure you get one with variable speed the 5 speed trolling motors can be a pain getting the right speed 4 is to slow and 5 is to much.

This happened to me last weekend on lake Okeechobee. The manatee snuck under the boat and started scratching his back on the bottom of the boat.

sac au lait if your in Lousiana

This is the exact reason I have a few loaner rods.

Pull the prop off and make sure there is no line wrapped around the shaft behind the prop.

specks

Different gears the tournament has brass gears and the pro has duralumin gears which saves most of the weight.

I definitely think he should have lost his fishing and hunting license for life.

I don't think it makes any difference at all personally but some people swear by red hooks. Its what ever makes you feel confident.

Like others said a 6.4 or 7:1 I prefer the 6.4 gear ratio because I have hard time slowing down and the 6.4 keeps me from retrieving the bait to fast. Some people like the 7:1 and they just slow there reeling down to control the retrieval speed.

I use a dobyns 766 its a 7'6" heavy fast rod 65# braid 1.5oz tungsten weight 80% of the time sometimes a 1oz sometimes 2oz. I use the 6th sense bobbers tops I have tried the cheaper ones and didn't have good luck. I use a 4/0 straight shank mustad Denny Brauer flipping hook with a beaver or craw type bait.

I have both and like the pro more the only real notable difference is the weight.

Braid: 40# or 65# power pro slick 8 or diawa samurai braid. Mono 12# big game I only have one rod with mono on it. Flouro and leaders: Don't use them.

Lamiglass, castaway, st.croix, and falcon are American made rods. Well actually assembled in the USA. Most of the components are Fuji and from Japan.

What crank baits are planning on using?

I use a 6.4 revo gen 3 stx with a falcon bucoo 7'3" heavy fast falcons are little under powered so its more like a stout MH. My dad uses a 7:1 lews tp with a powell endurance 764 which is a 7'6" fast I think its a heavy action. A big ez is pretty heavy by itself then when you had a big hook with a 1/4oz weight it probably weighs close to 5/8 or 3/4oz all together. We both use 40# braid with no leader.

I would guess around 6# its a pretty short fish.

Depends on how fast your reel them, rod angle, and how far you let it sink before you start reeling. I've caught fish skimming them on the surface and in 20' of water working them on the bottom.

My #1 bait is a gambler big EZ. I only use the big ez's I rig them with davis baits 1/4oz 6/0 hooks with owner screw locks. Owner beast swimbait hooks are also good hooks for them. The slower you can swim them and keep the tail going the better. You can also yo-yo them off the bottom like a jig.

The drive shaft bushing is 5x9x3 and you can find them for around $10. I installed them on 2 of my citica e's and didn't really think it made that much of a difference. Switching to the curado E handle with bearings and bigger knobs was the best upgrade.

Nice fish. Looks like your fishing out of a gheenoe.

Soft plastic swimbait rigged weedless with a belly weighted hook.

A 21" bass is usually only around 6# that's about what I would guess it would be by looking at the pics. Find a length to weight converter for bass online it will give you a better idea.

I fish in grass a lot so I use 40# braid the braid allows you to rip the braid out of the grass.

I have a gen 3 stx and haven't had a problem except its a little loud. I also have a few lews TP and they are more refined and smoother.