Scott F

There isn't a braided line made that holds it's color. They all fade. The fraying isn't much of a problem either. It doesn't lose much strength. Fireline is just as bad and I've been using it happily for years. No line is perfect. You just have to decide which of the shortcomings you can live with, and which you can't. I can't live with lines that stretch, so I put up with the issues braided line has.

Those larger Whopper Plopper 190's were designed to be used as musky lures by Larry Dahlberg. They have caught small and largemouth bass as well.

The only difference between the units is the screen size. When you have multiple views open, each one will be bigger on the larger screen. It’s up to you to determine if the bigger screen is worth the extra cash.

Beware, some of the line that you see on auction sites is counterfeit and may be real junk. What caused you to rate Power Pro as only fair? Most braids are pretty similar. Some are 4 strands, some 8, some have the fibers fused instead of braided, but in most cases are actually the same fibers. I’d be careful about buying cheap line from an auction site.

Same temps as Chicago is expecting tomorrow.

A lake I fish has a large, weedy flat that I often fish on windy days. I start a drift and let the wind carry me across while fan casting spinner baits, swim jigs, or lipless crank baits. When I get to the end, I motor back and make another pass covering a different part of the flat.

The only way to know is to try them on. ALWAYS buy a pair larger than you think you need. You don’t want to stress the seams when climbing over trees or crawling down an embankment. Extra room also gives you room for added layers underneath for when the weather and water get cold.

For the stocked trout I’ve caught in the past, what you are wanting to do is way more complicated than I’ve ever had to do. The trout released in our lakes stayed schooled up and swam in a big group going around the lake. With fisherman positioned around the lake, you could easily see where the school was by watching who was catching. I used a slip float, adding just enough lead split shot to balance the float. A single hook, about 4 feet down with a ball of Powerbait on the hook I’d get a trout every time the school passed by my position.

Use a bigger minnow.

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the new Bass Tracker Classic boat that replaces the 40th Anniversary Heritage boat from last year. It’s selling for $10,995, just a grand more than last year’s. It’s in their new catalog and showing at outdoor shows. Grey carpet instead of the brown.

I like 10 pound also. It’s plenty strong but not so strong you can’t break it off when you need too. For those of us who sometimes like to make long casts, 10 will cast farther than 15-25 pound test will.

I’m not sure a kayak, no matter how it’s colored, is going to sneak by a bass unnoticed.

Not necessarily while bass fishing, but... On canoe trips, if I'm paddling from the back seat, and my fishing partner who is up front, isn't paying too much attention, I'll slap the water hard with the flat part of the canoe paddle. It sounds like a gunshot and scares the heck out of the guy in front. Another trick I used to play on my fishing partners while on fly-in fishing trips. We used to frequently troll from the small boats provided by the outfitter. Sometimes, while I am driving the tiller motor, the guys in front might fall asleep while holding his rod while trolling. I'd slowly turn the boat so his line would cross over the transom and I could reach it. I'd grab his line and give a hard tug making him think he'd gotten a fish. Wakes him up real fast. My fishing partners learn not to fall asleep while I'm operating the boat.

Never found a color that didn't work as well as every other color I threw.

Have you plugged in the transducer?

I’ve been to Manderchuck. It’s very near to my favorite lake, Lake Nunya.

Check out Current River Marine in Donaphin, MO. They specialize in river boats in southern Missouri

Outdoor shows have taken a huge hit from the internet in the last several years. Near Chicago, a new player has a pretty good show in Schaumburg IL, that is gaining momentum. My fishing club, the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance will have a booth there that I will be working all 4 days. They aren’t for everyone anymore. I like working the booth because I get to talk fishing with old friends, current and future club members in the middle of winter. I get to see new boats, electronics, gear, and last year, I met Larry Dahlberg. The club also works a smaller local show held in a high school (Tinley Park) that is more like a flea market. It’s cheap to get in and pretty popular. I’d be going even if I wasn’t working the show.

I put zero stock in solunar tables. I believe you will get just as accurate information from your Ouija board.

Check the local regulations. In my area, they close the stocked lake to fishing for a few days after the fish are released.

Jointed Rapalas were one of my go to baits I used when we trolled for pike and walleyes on Canadian fly-in trips. I still have them with all their teeth marks.

Side imaging doesn't work above trolling speeds no matter how you mount the transducer. I'd recheck your manual about mounting the transducer on the inside of an aluminum hull. They make a thru-hull transducer, but you have to drill a hole in the bottom of the boat to mount it.

I guess I should’ve waited before buying that Cody Parkey jersey.

Several years ago, when Quantum Energy spinning reels had that titanium/ rainbow finish, I had a custom rod made that had the guides, reel seat and thread wrap that matched the reel body. the rod was still black.

Go find a store that specializes in kayaks that will let you try them out so you can find the one you are most comfortable in. There are more brands making excellent products than the ones you listed. Don't forget to check out Jackson, Wilderness systems and Native