NBR

I guess we are not going to hear the results.

I have both Cocoons and Fitovers. I like the Fitovers better.

Agreed better rods are a pleasure to fish with and the sensitivity is improved. Better reels are also more durable, have improved cast control systems but unless you practise you will be frustrated. A friend was sure he wanted to start bait casting so he bought a mid priced reel and rod for a two week Ontario trip and used it very little and never practised at home. So two years later he bought a Curado and a St. Croix rod in 6 weeks or more of Ontario fishing I'd bet he didn't use either of his bait casters a total of 2 hours and of course never improved his skill level. A mid priced combo from BPS or Cabella's will get you the gear to practise with and catch fish. I've done this for over 60 years and I've never met a reel I couldn't backlash if I had the system set up so I could make long casts. The time and expense are well worth it.

You said she picked up the bait more than once. Maybe she never had it in her mouth and she was just moving it to another place?

I check them at least once a month is the summer and then when I put the boat away for the winter. I don't recharge during the winter or in the spring until I have checked the water level. I don't leave my on-board charger hooked up during the winter because I am not disiplined enough to check the water frequently.

I go with the bite. Without that the others are all non-events.

I also use cranks alot second only to soft plastics. First you will always lose more fish with trebles. I think the reason is the narrower gap on trebles, so a slightly larger treble will help. I don't usually change hooks but when I do Igo up one size maybe two if the new hooks have a lighter gauge wire. I pinch the barbs on all the hooks I use so I am very aware of keeping the line tight. I don't lose many maybe 1 in 10 or more. You don't say what kind of line. Mono is more forgiving and particuarly if your rod is graphite. I have some fiberglass cranking rods but I prefer one of my graphite rods. I have always used a soft easy to cast mono but I am slowly converting to fluro for better depth. Be careful that your hook set is not so hard as to tear a hole in the critters mouth. With sharp hooks I don't think you need to cross their eyes.

You really don't need to respool every year so long as the line and/or reel has not been in the sun light a lot or exposed to really high temperatures. I have spools that approach 10 years old that are just fine. My spools are kept in a closed carton in my boat garage that has no windows. I do check them occasionally with a hand scale for break strength.

My most accurate method is perfectly straight vertical rod arc.To early a release can be corrected with your thumb and too late can be stopped or will fall short of the target. I use this when I'm trying to hit a fork in a lay down or a tiny spot in cover. Most of the time when +/- 6" is close enough though I use a little roll cast. Practice is the key.

And if the spool is not full enough casts will be short. The spool should be full to 1/8" below the lip.Actually, I fill mine a biy more than this but know in advance I might get some problems with line jumping off the spool.

Heavy duty (Class 7 and 8)trucks have used oil for years. ( They called them oil bath hubs. Now there seems to be a switch in the trucks to a system called semi grease. I have no clue to which is better.

From what I have read Marine batteries are built more rugged to stand up to the beating in the boat.

I have a Quantum or so ans they have served me well for about 10 years. If you don't caqre for Quantum don't buy any!

I don't fish beds although I am sure I have caught bedding bass from time to time. Some where I read that bass need to grow to a certain size to servive winters lack of prey. In my opinion this makes a difficult life for young of the year even more difficult so I don't target them. Now if I lived in the south where an earlier spawn and longer growing season was the norm I'd likely change my ways, Based on state seasons this seems to be born out. Usually no seasons in the south and some seasonal restrictions including closing the seasons in the north.

I've seen the same thing with all my reels and I have one or more from several different companies. I tried guiding the line with my finger but later noticed that the line evened out in a fishing application. So I don't let it concernme any more.

Sam, Thanks for the info. What magazine or book had it? I'd like to read in more detail. Thanks

Before I leave the lake my boat is ready for the next trip wexcepr for fuel. If fuel is needed I stop on the way home. As soon as I back the boat into it's garage spot I plug in my on board and take my small cooler in for a refill if I'm going the ner morning or a cleaning if I'm no.

I use my old flipping stick, 60# Power Pro and either a fluoro or mono leader depending on whether I want the lure to have a chance of floating up. I usually use a circle hook with the barb pinched to reduce deep hooking and injury.

BORNTOFISH55, There are thousands who pull their boat to DH every year and thousands more who bring their own tackle and rent a boat so your chances of bringing a heretofor unseen lure are slim and none.

I went through a transducer every year or two until I bought a TM with a built in transducer. That must have been 4 or 5 years ago and it's still fine.

I'd ask the guide for suggestions on lures. Further, I'd question him regarding water temps and where the fish are and in what stage. I would think they would be in prespawn or spawn but I don't have a clue to the current water temps. It's been too long since I fished DH to recall for this time of year. If you are staying in a resort the folks there could also be helpful. Don't hire a local expert (guide) and micromange him. You are paying him to know the fishes stage, where they are and what works. Does the guide know how you want to catch them? Big question particuarly if you desired method is not effective at DH. If he is furnishing the tackle including lures go with it.

I have aged into the geezer class and can tell you that today's reels from top to bottom dollar are far superior to those I from my history. First we had no free spool so the crank windmilled all during the cast, second there was no drag, your thumb on the line provided drag and the backlash control was only the spool tension. If you put spool tension tight enough to prevent backlash you might be able to cast out of the boat but not much farther. Bearings? What's a bearing? You learned to bait cast by practice at home and time on the water. Nothing has changed. You learn to bait cast with practice. The good news is that todays reels when properly adjusted make the learning curve so much shorter but all the controls in the world don't eliminate the need for practice.

Sunny days I'd try some shallow flats near deep water. Cloudy days I'd be at the first drop off and fish parallel to the drop and fan cast to cover a variety of water depths.

Yes the onboard will charge both TM batteries. From personal experience when fishing long hours with not to many long runs your cranking battery may need a shot of charge. Happened to me a few times on week long fishing trips. Either charge the cranking battery every two days or so or carry jumper cables.