stratos4me

In 20 years I might have to resort to bushcraft.

Looks like you had fun. Light line is fine.. until it's not...

Ill add that boat problems are extra common on the first run of the year. If you break down in heavy wind you likely will end up on the rocks even if you throw an anchor. Other than that, it all depends on your boat's design and your experience. I, personally wouldn't be out in 30mph in any bassboat on any lake. Besides the obvious risks, launching and retrieving can be difficult in wind and waves.

I know this is an old thread, but I've owned both rods and have fished both extensively. Here's what I learned. The XH is a pool cue. I found it lacked sensitivity when flippin and made accuracy with a frog difficult. It also made it hard to keep the rod loaded when fighting small fish in my light boat (lots of guys overlook this). The result was a lot of lost fish. I consider the XH to be a one trick pony. That is, heavy frogin by a large, physically powerful angler in a heavy boat. Smaller, less powerful anglers will have difficulty getting into the backbone for a good hookset. The 7'2 H on the other hand is a great light to medium frog rod, far more sensitive than the XH, lighter, and super versatile. Also, you don't need to be Hulk Hogan to get into the backbone on a hookset. The lighter tip also makes walking a frog and casting easier. The 7'2" H is a far more refined rod and just more fun to fish IMO. For the OPs use case in moderate to light cover, it is no contest. The 7'2" H is the winner by a country mile.

Upsize your baits, use traditional big bass baits for your area, and fish for 5 bites rather than 25. Trying for a limit before targeting big fish is often a bad strategy. Go all or nothing!

Of course. I'll help anybody who asks until they give me a reason not to. Teaching someone to fish is far more rewarding than any tournament win. New fishermen often see bass as almost unattainable. The look on their face while thumbing a solid fish like they saw on TV is priceless! It also is a good opportunity to teach ethical angling right from the getgo. Believe it or not I've even seen people radically and permanently change their lives for the better after a single fishing trip. One guy was a super screwed up tweaker who credited a half day deep sea trip with turning his life around. I don't think stories like that are unusual. Teach someone to fish. It's good.

Fishfinders aren't necessary for many techniques, especially if you have a topo map or know the lake. If you're fishing near shore just assume that whatever you see on shore continues underwater. Concentrate on good structure, changes, etc.

How often do people point it at the outboard?

Blade bait, Underspin

Go back in a few weeks and do exactly the same thing. I've been throwing an umbrella rig a few times off my dock every few days for the last couple weeks just waiting for the season to start. The water is 45. Today I finally got bit and it was a 7-14. Tomorrow I'll launch my boat for the season. I changed nothing from day to day. Have confidence! It's just too early. There is a phenomenon where the warmer, windblown surface layer skates across the cooler, deeper water and piles up on the wind blown bank.

I've owned one Diawa and a couple dozen Shimanos. If it ain't broke...

Shimano SLX. Curado is better if you can find it under 200.

Toad? How is that not a swimbait?

The bird way will work...if you've got 10,000 years.

My friend grew up near Section, AL just across the river from Scottsboro. I guarantee you will never experience a traffic jam in Section. It's small town livin for sure. I haven't been there in 20 years but I seriously doubt it has changed much.

I lived in Huntsville 20 years ago and it was great. I went back a couple years ago and it was way overcrowded. The area around Lake Guntersville is totally different than Huntsville. Towns like Scottsboro are downright sleepy on most days. I spent one spring in my RV at Goosepond a couple years ago and crowded is not a word I would use. I'm sure holiday weekends during summer are a little crowded but nothing unmanageable. There are tons of options for boating in the area. It's not like there is one marina that everyone has to fight over. The locals around Big G are very friendly. It definitely ain't Jersey!!!

I fish from work, but I also work from home. Sneak in at night and start stocking that sucker!!! That's what livewells are for! Then keep it a secret and you'll have your very own bass pond in a couple years.

I fished about 200 days last year from February to November. I keep my boat in the water and just do 3-4 hour low impact trips. It took me 46 years to live on a good bass lake, and I'm lovin it! When I get bored I just step out the back door, onto the dock, and onto the boat. It's easy to rack up 200 days when fishing is so convenient. Oh, the things that are possible for the unmarried...

Love it! Sign me up.

I would fish 10-14lb fluorocarbon. Remember: High quality Fluorocarbon is a full line size smaller than mono. Also, always use fluorocarbon that is marketed as leader. The large bulk spools not marked as leader tend to have inadequate stretch and less abrasion resistance.

Always be sure that your leader strength is less than the expected strength of your leader knot, NOT the strength of the main line. Using the main line as the guage is a common mistake even among experienced fishermen. People get away with it because braid is generally stronger than stated, but it can bite you good at just the wrong time.

With recent advancements in recreational sonar tech and the large investment it requires, I find myself wondering what comes next. Specifically, concerning forward facing what do you think the technology will look like over the next couple generations? Will we just see incremental increases in resolution, or do you think there is a gamechanger in the works? One thing I would love to see is a wireless or internal transducer for terrova/XI style trolling motors. What do you think comes next?

The JDM metanium can be had for a little more than a domestic Curado last I checked.

Bingo! That would also be my choice. In stock at Digitaka last I checked.

He literally said "Everyone thinks the curado and scorpion have the same parts but everything's different." I have no idea what that means, and I don't even know if he's right. Now, the lack of a factory warranty on most JDM reels is indisputable. Some retailers offer various parts or short term guarantees, but factory warrantees are virtually non-existent. I fish mostly shimano, and since issues from the factory are extremely rare, trading the factory warranty for a great price is a good risk/reward.