Kevin22

+1 on what Wayne said. Has to have the capability to handle the high amp load. And make sure you get one for 12V and not 110-120V. Just make sure you do not slow it down to the point the motor is trying to turn but doesn't have enough power to spin the prop, that is where problems will arise. You may think about putting an extension on your control knob so you can easily turn it on/off, then you do not have to leave it running and won't have to mess with the electrical side of the issue.

berkley trilene XL (red packaging) in 8#. If you think you need it, you can go up to 10# but be aware this will limit your casting distance. Good luck and happy fishing!

That is freaking smart. Never would have thought of that.

By the way, power pro slick 8 in 65# breaks at 102#.

A lot. I'll take you to a place where you'll give up on that 15# braid and spinning gear after 3 or 4 hits. After you lose $30 in frogs you'll see why we use 50-80.

If its pitch black out still, you'll need a dark colored topwater with a rattle of some sort. As soon as it starts to get light you can use whatever topwater you normally would. When its still dark out I use two lures. 1. a black hollow body frog. This has no rattles so its not quite as effective.. but I can throw it anywhere and not have to worry about hitting a tree, dock, or boat. 2. Black buzzbait. This one is also pretty forgiving when hitting the accidental tree or dock, and has a ton of noise to draw them up. But, when its open water I will go ahead and use a dark gray popper. I don't normally get more than 1 or 2 bites before it starts to get light.

That shallow, I'd just stick a regular round head 1/16 to 1/8 jig up in it. No need to use tube heads until you get into 3/16+ from my experience. A plain shakey head (no screw lock) works good, or any round jig with a 3/0 or 4/0 hook.

Most aggressive strikes for me usually come on walkers, because the fish see it as something they need to hurry up and grab and come up from the deep to take it. By the time they get to it they have built up some speed. I've seen quite a few do the tarpon dance when hitting a walker in open water.

You should contact your local DNR, Maryland state record is only 6.5lbs. If you are catching 7-9# then you are catching state records. 7# 3oz for Delaware.

retrofit the weedless prop to your 45!

I have used, and still do use quantum energy reels. Solid reels.

6'6 MXF team daiwa fuego shimano 2500 series reel 6# sufix 832 (breaking strength of 19-21#) 4' 8# seaguar leader if I need it 1/8 pegged bullet weight and 3/0 EWG gama hook if fishing around brush or snags 1/8 tube head when fishing open water, up to 1/4oz if there is current 3.5" KVD tube, green pumpkin usually.

I've tried red label in 6 and 8 for spinning rods. It managed well, I didnt think there was a lot of stretch, but the abrasion resistance stunk. Every time I hit a dock post, twig, or anything else I'd have to re-tie 5-6 feet of line. I think I got 3 days of hard fishing out of it before I had to respool, wasnt enough line left to cast.

Look on ebay and buy a used one.

I'd rather fish a pond with no weeds than a weed choked one. On weed choked ones there are really only 2 lures you can use.. weightless senko in the holes or frog above the grass. On an open pond you can use anything in your arsenal to figure them out and put fish on shore.

I'd say they are on a different forage and are schooled up wherever that is. Water temp has been upper 70's for over a month here and I've been catching fish up shallow. Power fishing shallow early and late, and cloudy days. Finessing (sight fishing) when its sunny and they are up sunning themselves mid-day. Fish are hitting good as long as you get the correct bait in front of them.

I have a weedless wedge 2 on a 70# maxxum. Its weedless alright, if you are on 100% and never take your foot off it. Otherwise I'm pulling the d**n thing out of the water and cleaning it off every 15 feet.

American shad get huge. 12"er would be a young one. 20-24" is an adult and they can weigh up to 6lbs+ We have tons of gizzard shad here on the Miss river and a lot of them die off during harsh winters. I've snagged them up to 15" or so. Ours mostly have a deep gray body with a dark blue back. http://fish101.community.uaf.edu/files/2013/03/gizzard-shad.jpg

I've heard that so often, and even had people try to call me ignorant for using 50-65# line. One guy told me that he has fished with 10# stren on his baitcasters for 50 years, and flat out told me I was unethical for using such thick line. some people just do not understand! If you throw a frog back into the thick weeds with 10# line you are not getting that frog back. Even 30# is weak in the thick stuff. Around pads? forget about it with 30# unless they are very sparse pads. 50# is okay but I've still broken it in pads/reeds on fish that wrap me up. 65# is where its at for froggin.

Sounds like you are lob casting heavy baits. I never have the breaks turned on when catfishing and tossing heavier weights (1oz+).. just not needed. Tie on a medium crank such as a strike king series 3 and see how far you can cast it with no breaks, I will bet everything in my bank account that with a quality reel and good breaks you can gain at least 50% more over casting with no breaks. With my lews I can cast all day without thumbing the spool, and get more distance than I need... Usually, unless im throwing into a head wind I will not use my thumb other than to hold the spool while switching hands in case I get a hit.

IL requires it unless you are the owner, owner's spouse/children, or legal tenant of the land the pond is located. If you get caught with a cooler full of bass on the road or a freezer full at home and you try to explain that you are just fixing a pond then you'll find yourself in a courtroom explaining that to the judge.

I would try pads or cattails before adding any grass. Grass will take over. Make some fish cribs, sink x-mas trees, drop a couple dead trees as laydowns.. do stuff like that as long as the property owner does not mind.

You want a skirted 1/8 jig head for affixing a yellow twister tail? Strike king bitsy jig is about your only answer.

Topwater. Walkers, buzzbaits.. just cover water. Slow down with a popper if you need to. A wakebait or a weightless fluke would be my only other options. Water that shallow I would not finesse fish, I'd just make long casts and keep covering water.

look at the picture on the right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_gizzard_shad http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishfacts/americangizzardshad.asp http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=492