Choporoz

I have Lowrance Hook4x. The transducer shoots through my hull. I attached it to inside of my yak using duct seal (about 4 bucks at Home Depot.) Works great. Takes maybe 15 minutes to get accurate surface temp, but sonar is flawless.

Pollution sucks....and polluters must be held accountable. But my totally uneducated sense is that things are much, much better nearly everywhere than they were a couple/few decades ago. Even this article seems to suggest not that pollution is any worse, but that detection is better....and that, I think, is good news

You were wrong about the bass, too. That's not small.

I use 9Ah batteries I got off Amazon. I started with Cabelas 8Ah pair of batteries that came with wall charger. I don't know if it was the batteries or the cheap charger, but they didn't last too long. I'm now using the NoCo charger that I use for larger 12V batteries - its a smart charger and has special setting for smaller batteries. I don't think they've lost anything in a year. Inside my front hatch, I used Goop to attach some small Styrofoam packing pieces that 'block' the battery so it doesn't shift around.

No dog in the fight....but its been fun to watch and root for UCF. Wish they'd have won. It was a good run. I wish them well. And I wish Scott Frost well...except when the Huskers are playing Wisconsin. Go Badgers.

Another great report. Thank you! Especially liked the part about not even waiting to get one rig in before deciding to cast another....I've done it when snagged, but don't recall quitting on the retrieve....lol....hope you got it back. I lost an a-rig to the bottom of SML the first day I tried it and said to heck with that nonsense...haven't thrown another since. Also loved hearing about South Holston. Wife and I've talked about a walleye trip there, but didn't realize the smallmouth fishing was so good.

Thanks. Interesting. And useful. I'd MUCH rather know the distance between the back (or middle?) of the reel seat and the butt cap. Overall handle length means little to me if you don't know where the reel sits.

I'd guess that either (with well matched line) can cast a 3/16 oz jig farther than I can detect a bite AND set the hook.

Keitech SI Fat 4.3 white on 1/8 oz. weighted hook

Whenever I fish with my brother in law I am reminded how much I envy his colorblindness.

If you don't like it, don't write off YZH completely. I use Yo Zuri Hybrid, but I don't use 15 anymore...it's just too stiff. 12 is as high as I'll go. I highly recommend KVD Line conditioner with all YZH.

Because fishing is better than 'not fishing'. There's a rare occasion when I might make an extra effort to rearrange my life in order to fish on a remarkable weather day....and just maybe a slight consideration of season/moon/rain/frontal patterns could enter my thought process. But really, I fish when the opportunity presents itself and won't ever turn down that opportunity because the fishing might be slow. I guess I'm just taking the long way to saying that I don't understand the question....or at least the reason behind the question.

-I throw all nearly all 3-10" crankbaits and all lipless under 3/4oz on MF graphite. -I like glass OK for larger crankbaits, but not smaller ones. I throw 1 footers on spinning gear. -I use YZH 6-12#, liberally doused with KVD line conditioner. -Sensitivity and control around grass and wood are just better for me with graphite; ESPECIALLY when throwing lipless. I generally dislike glass for lipless. -I wouldn't use any of those rods for spinnerbaits or chatterbaits. Sounds like your frustrated with this decision. As an boss of mine used to say, "In confusion, there's opportunity." You need two new rods Or three, maybe

Any soft water fishing in late December is good, in my book

Doesn't appear to be on my FIOS. How do you watch? Does he stream it from his web page?

Sorry....I was unclear. I agree it is much easier to tie without a weed guard. I just meant that I would rather purchase jigs with weed guards and tie them -- over buying jigs without guards, tie them and then glue in guards. Me and glue get along like Charlie Brown and scotch tape...I can do it...just not consistently well and don't enjoy it

Just curious why you'd rather not tie around a weed guard? it can be a little fussy, but to me, seems easier than gluing guards in.

First thing I thought of when I saw it, too. But then I remembered that we're not allowed to use walleye tackle for bass. :)

I put some backing on....usually until I can't see the spool....and then some more. Then I tie braid with an alberto knot and turn the crank until the braid is about ....oh, IDK...a little bit below the edge of the spool. I'll flip the braid on occasion, usually when I want it on a different reel. When I can cast down to the connection knot, I toss the braid and start over.

Tides Near Me Weather Channel Navionics

Was it broke before you started?

Need a beefy rod, though

Thanks! Hadn't really looked into HIT's, yet. The hydrostatic release we had on Navy life ratfts needed to go down a couple/few feet, so I mentally may have discounted HIT's without doing the research. Sounds pretty appealing.

Not a discussion unique to bass lures. Most every new 'thing' is somehow derivative...each of us decides for ourselves how 'unique' a new idea is. For example, I got some Dark Sleepers for Christmas. Never seen one before and I thought they were very unique...new and exciting....to me, anyway. But, lead weighted lures been around for a couple years.....fish looking plastic lures, too.....'hidden' hooks?....yep. And still, I am impressed....but they better catch me some fish, or it doesn't really matter how innovative they are/were....:)

@J Francho, I like the idea of not going off in rain, but I'm a little bit skeptical. I fish through downpours routinely and that's one thing that's put me off from inflatables. Another is that I imagine many scenarios where I'll really need my PFD could involve getting knocked out -- rocks in rivers, rogue jet skiers, etc. So, auto inflate would be a necessity, but I'm leery of accidental inflation...not to mention, I'm a bit sloppy with preventative maintenance at times. I'd guess that if you do have an accidental inflation during an outing, you'd have to leave it inflated all day ? My Stholquist is a little bulky, but I rarely notice it much....considering I wear it 100% of the time when in kayaks.