Todd2

After you all mark something (fish/brush) how do you stay on it? Even with the HB casting rings set at 30 feet, that's over 700 sq ft in area (if my math is right) to try to hit your spot..and stay on it. I'm struggling with SI. I do a little better when I mark something with the bank as a reference but out deep I don't feel I'm even hitting my spot. Any suggestions?

I switched to left hand over 10 years ago, it took about one full day of casting a crankbait if my memory serves me correct. I've never looked back.

For years I used another line, I won't go into bashing it by name here but after two bad spools (bought at different times) with unexplained breakoffs and no resolution when I contacted the company, I made the move to Big Game earlier this Spring. I use 15 lb for jigs/worms. On 15lb, I'll bend hooks, pull up trees, and throw a shoulder out of joint before it breaks....lol I use 8lb for deep cranks and spinning gear.

1/8, 3/16, 3/8 are the 3 I use. 3/16 is by far my favorite. I don't decide based on depth but on what is working.

I've done a little night fishing, not like some of you guys but does anyone else feel that every little sound you make at night would put the bass on alert? In the day, there are boaters zipping by everywhere....lots of ambient noise. At night, I'll see a light or two across the way but total silence except for a distant Barred Owl, insects, frogs.... It's probably mental, but I try to be quieter at night.

I recently joined the Big Game fan club, so I'd go 15lb BG in the color of your choice. 900 yards for like $7....

I bought my Tracker used, but the cover that came with it has the thicker material at the end, but it doesn't go the whole length of the trolling motor. I don't use it much, I normally just go on on day trips and it's back in the garage when I'm home. On overnight trips, I put a big beach towel over the TM before I cover it.

Interesting Catt....you had me out in my garage with my morning coffee looking at hooks...lol. What straight shank do you use for 10 inch worms?

Mono for everything....

I've recently switched to Big Game and I'm loving it. I always thought it was catfish line but it's some good stuff. I've got some in clear and some in solar collector which is high viz for line watching, which would be perfect for muddy water. I bought 15lb, but could easily go down in size. 15lb will bend hooks before breaking.

I immediately thought Roostertail. My second pick would be a Beetle Spin.

I started mixing in a Plum worm last summer and honestly couldn't tell much of a difference over Green Pumpkin or Black.

Most of the time for me, when it's a slow bite others I talk to at the ramp say the same thing. But every now and then I'll struggle and some guy will say "I crushed them on a red blah blah blah". Those days I usually look back and think that I was trying to force feed them something they didn't want that day. Don't be afraid to change up what you're throwing. But, if I get skunked, I don't get too torn up about it...lol

I never crimp any weight anymore...not that it doesn't work. Grab a couple packs of Carolina Keepers, throw on a light bullet weight. Not sure if there is a major advantage but I like it. You can do a slow roll, drag it, mix it up. You can adjust your leader length on the fly, just make sure to always squeeze with some pliers, don't slide by hand.

Tom, would you still target that hump in the summer if the thermocline setup at let's say 12-16 feet? In other words, would 20 feet be too deep in that situation?

I went with a used Tracker last year and I like it, if I were going new, I think the Ranger blows away the Tracker and Lowe. I can't speak for Xpress or anything else.

I use Mccoy exclusively on all my reels but it really shines on spinning gear.

McCoy CBF is on every reel I own. Absolutely the best in my opinion.

3/8 Arkie Jig in Bluegill color. Various trailers.

I've got a stash of jars in my basement. Now I've gotta convince the family that we guard it 24/7 in shifts.

Makes sense and simplifies the screen toggling...thanks.

Wayne, I think I get what you're saying. I need to get home and put it in simulation mode. I have the three presets as 1.)Full SI 2.)DI/Maps 3.)Full DI It's very much a work in progress. Wayne, can u give a quick overview of how you manage the screens? Here's how I did it the first day. I SI some areas until I found some spots around cover. I then froze the screen, set my waypoints, switched to screen two to go to WP. When I got close to WP, I went to screen 3 (Full DI), found my spots and dropped a buoy. Yeah, I still use those, I just like that visual reference. I had cold, high, muddy water but I did drop a jig on one spot and got a thump but missed. I only cast a few times so I'm already a believer...I just need to work on it. Thanks....

It's working for me...but I've got a lot to learn with side imaging. I've watched a lot of videos but I think it will take another day or two of just graphing to start to grasp what it can do. I'm still struggling with what screens to toggle back and forth to...lol

I ended up going with the Ram horizontal swing arm mount. Two knobbed swivel points, no ball. It's built like a tank. I got out on Sunday for the first time. I left the rods in the box for the most part. I had extremely high and muddy water but for my purposes it didn't matter.

Got it....thanks