NBR

If you have on automatic set to manual and adjust depth and gain. I've had strange things happen on auto in shallower area with a soft bottom.

You really don't need a special bracket. Until I bought a TM with a built in transducer I ran my depth sounder secureed to the TM with radiator clamps.

As Jig Man said drag might be too loose or if you put on braid without mono under it the line might just be slipping on the spool.

My fishing buddy is also a spinning enthusiast who had a Quantum bait casterreel and an Ugly stick for a rod. He never practiced with it and decided he needed to up grade so he bought a new Curado and a St. Croix rod. He never practiced with the new outfit for any time so in the last 2 years in 28 days of fishing together he used his new bait caster a total of less than 4 hours. What I am saying if you aren't going to commit to learning to use the bait caster with back yard practice and lots of it don't waste your money.

If the lights are getting water in unplugging does a world of good since it is cold water hitting a hot bulb that pops the light bulb. Corrossion from the water is a longer term problem.

I wish someone would explain to me how ball bearings in a spinning reel improves reel performance over reels with just bushings? I agree that ball bearings make spinning reels smoother but since nothing rotates very fast I can't see how the bearings improve spinning reel performance. Baitcasting reels are a different matter but beyond 2 maybe 3 bearings and the anti reverse roller bearing I don't believe more bearings in a baitcaster do anything but make the reel smoother, semi justify a higher price and give the reel manufacturer's marketing folks some thing to put in their literature.

Above post should have said spin-cast reels aren't made to be used on spinning rods. Sorry about that. It must have been a senior moment!

Spin-cast reels aren't made to be used on spinning reels. Bait cast reels are but resign your self to a longer learning curve with a baitcaster.

Installing is pretty simple you shouldn't have any trouble. I would guess you have one battery that cranks the motor and runs the electronics(sounders, live wells, bilge pump etc) and one that powers the trolling motor. If your not set up this way you should be although the on board charger does't care.

As said lead acid batteries have no memory. I have both a specific gravity tested and a voltmeter to check the batteries. Both work but I find the VM easier and I'm not dripping battery acid over everthing. Have the batteries load tested which they can do at Sears, Wall Mart or most any automotive supply house. Are you connections clean and corrosion free? Corrosion can impede charging and rob power to the motor.

Sometime back there was a discussion on whether to keep your motor down in the water or up out of the water. I looked for this with a search but found nothing. I recognize the need to keep the motor (and anode) in the water for salt water use but is it necessary in fresh water and why? My boat is on a trailer 95 % of the time but I noticed a friends boat that is docked 95% of the time with the motor up and I want to suggest to him to put it down if there is a valid reason in fresh water.

I fish where the water is ultraclear and don't use PP. For a good multipurpose line it is hard to beat mono.

I close my bail by hand but Idon't think this prevents twist but it does prevent those loops that jump off the spool with a big snarl. Another way to twist spinning gear line is to crank against a slipping drag and I think this is the biggest cause following putting the line on the reel with twist!

This one really boggles my mind since I often fish the same way often and have never had a line twist issue. I do use an EWG hook which might provide a bit of a keel effect.

If they are suspended it is tough. Then what Catt said plus jigging spoons like Silver Buddies or Cicadas and Littlr George. Don't forget ypu can put a crank bait on a CRig.

Mine is located through hull right over the pad and it reads at full throttle unless it gets very deep, i.e. over 100'.

I would suggest you search the web for fileting instructions that include skinning the fish so you don't need to scale. I also would suggest not using an electric filet knife until you your wife gain some skills. While the electric knives are super they could have you cut deep before you know it.

I have had 3 friends that have had private ponds on their farms. Both worked with state DNR's to manage the ponds. The first and last were in Illinois and the second was a Michigan farm. As I recall all the ponds had bluegills and largemouths The first had a larger pond that I would guestimate in the range of 20 acres. We fished from the owners boat on weekdays since it did not interfere with any of their family outings. We did call their home phone instead of the lake cabin to be sure we weren't infringing on others. There was little or no pressure on the fish in the pond and we were asked to keep all we caught. I can't recall ever catching a LM over about 2# but we did git some nice hand sized gills. The second had 2 or 3 small ponds and the family were more active fisherfolks. We bank fished only. They had a figure from the DNR as to how many pounds of fish should be taken each year from each. These folks would suggest you take some quanity of fish from each pond, estimate the pound weight to be consistant with the needed harvest and give them a rough count by pond. The third was owned by a nonfisher familyand was not managed that I can recall. We also bank fished there. I can't recall ever catching a fish out of pond 3. We caught several from farm 2 but always gave the owners the fish they wanted harvested. Farm 1 provided several nice fish fries although they didn't care what you did with the fish just get them out of the pond. I am sure farms 1 and 2 monitored the harvest and altered it to suit their management program. Farm pond management can be difficult and without some expert advice you could destroy a good fishery by creating too many or too few for the existing forage. I can't comment on the law re limits but taking 30 or even more fish could be necessary to maintain a healthy population.

In the Georgian Bay area the season for bass opens the fourth Saturday in June. They can and will ticket you for fishing for bass or any other species out of season. I went to western Ontario for years. The season is open year around and liked the second or third week in June so you might have prespawn, spawners and post spawn fish. I don't bed fish but I have caught my share of spawners that go right back unless hurt very bad. Last year I went to eastern Ontario near Georgian Bay the fourth Saturday in June and we did well. Last year the season was the last Saturday in June which was also the fourth Saturday.

LAO162, Having used a baitcaster since before spinning out fits were available in the US I am quite comfortable making the switch. I palm the reel in my left hand during the retrieve and often make the switch as or before the bait hits the water. I am very uncomfortable cranking a bait caster with my left hand. At the same time I crank spinning out fits with my left hand and am uncomfortable even thinking about cranking a spinning outfit right handed. Having said all that drivel I really think palming the baitcaster in your left hand has advantages, you can place the rod handle along your arm for leverage, the reel is very manuverable when needed and your thumb is easily put on the spool if you need more pressure on the fish. While it may seem awkward to start it will work out. I throw almost everything from 1/8 ounce up on bait casters for lighter lures I switch to spinnning gear with 4 to 6# line.

You might want to take a safe boating course. Get PFD's for all and wear them. Check the capacity of your boat. Many 12 footers will not safely support the weight of 4 peopleand fishing gear.

So much depends on the boat, motor, what you will fish for and the water you will fish. Tell us about your rig, are you trailering to the water and what type/size water you will ususally fish and we can give you some appropriate suggestions. I have fished little pot hole lake, farm ponds, large impoundments, large natural lakes and several of the great lakes and you approach varies considerably.

My fishing buddy's father preferred them over everything else!

WhenI read "finesse fishing" I think small lures-less than 1/8 oz., spinning gear, light line, tough bite. I fish weightless plastics with baitcasting gear until I think I need to go finesse.

For those who are avid fisherfolks and show up without equipment I let them use either some of my baitcasting or spinning gear, their choice. Those who are not fisherfolks get a baitcasting rod with a spincast reel.