desmobob

I have three Shimano spinning reels in the 500 size and have had good service from them (Sahara and Symetre). They are small, and a good match for most ultralight spinning rods. Tight lines, Bob

I've had good luck with the inexpensive Cordell Super Spots and good ol' Rat-L-Traps, but seem to do better with the Strike King Red Eye Shads. I keep a variety of colors on hand and along with the traditional favorites, have had good luck with some of the firetiger-type colors and especially the Bill Lewis "Chartreuse Crawdad" color. Tight lines, Bob

+3 Tight lines, Bob

Kind of scary really... do realize what could happen if you used your Ronco Pocket Fisherman to cast a mule-rigged Banjo Minnow/Helicopter Lure next to a floating Fishcall? I shudder at the thought. Tight lines, Bob

Priceless photo... Tight lines, Bob

Thanks for the heads-up JT. I just blew another hundred bucks on fishing lures and I'm blaming you this time! Tight lines, Bob

I use a plug that has a small t-handle for tightening instead of the type with the big lever. It works great and lessens my worry about it being loosened if I drift transom-first into some button bush or brush. My Tracker Pro170 never takes on any water and I leave the plug in all the time. After reading this thread, I understand why there are laws requiring the plug be removed when trailering; I was never aware of these rules. I'm so used to leaving the plug in all the time, I'm afraid I'll forget to put it in if I start removing it! (Anyone have any clever tips for always remembering to put the plug in?) Tight lines, Bob

I have one of the orange plastic Fish Grips that I really like, but it seems its only fault is that it's not always secure on big fish. I've had a few large pike shake off, as well as a big carp I caught this weekend. Is there an inexpensive Boca-style gripper that is more secure? I see that Bass Pro offers a pistol grip version for about $15.00. I don't need a scale... Thanks for any recommendations, Bob

I decided to try a few different lines last year and the year before. I have Yo-Zuri Hybrid spooled on a couple of reels, as well as at least two varieties of P-Line. I later realized that testing lines to find your favorite is largely pointless if you neglect to label your reels with which line they are filled with. When they were handing out heads, I thought they said "sheds," and I said I'd like a great big wooden one... Tight lines, Bob

Thanks! I don't have any problem being optimistic with early-season fishing. Heck... I spend the winter ice-fishing. I figure the bite only gets better from then on! I hope you're able to get out soon. The most painful time of the year for northern fishermen is that horrible time when there's not enough ice to ice fish and too much ice to put the boat in! Tight lines, Bob

After an exceptionally mild winter, we had an exceptionally early ice-out here on southern Lake Champlain in upstate NY. I got out for the first time today to give the boat a check-out ride and maybe do a little fishing. I was excited about the early launch, but lost some enthusiasm when I found the water surface temperature was 38*. A strong, cold north wind kept me from fishing where I wanted to so I decided to get out the ultralight spinning rod and try for some panfish. I tied on a 1/16 oz. Roadrunner and hooked up to something big on my third cast. I was hoping it was a walleye. Maybe it was a big channel cat. Nope. Carp. It was quite a struggle on the light gear. Luckily, the cold water temperature had the carp acting a little sluggish. I got her on the scale... 13 lbs. 11 oz. Her rubbery lip slipped out of the fish-gripper before I could get her photo. :-( Next fish was a little bitty smallmouth and, a little later on, after switching to a Beetle Spin, I hooked a nice largemouth; 4 lbs. 2 oz. (way back in a shallow bay where the water temp was 45*) The boat ran perfectly and all gear functioned well, so it's "game on" for the 2016 season! Tight lines, Bob

Same here. My Tracker Pro170's original front seat blocked my view when motoring and was a safety hazard. I replaced it with a small leaning seat and longer pedestal and all's good now Tight lines, Bob

Aqua-Bound "Surge." Big, powerful, and light! Tight lines, Bob

I have a bunch of Lew's TPs and every one of them ended up with two brakes on. Tight lines, Bob

This is also what I do and have never felt the need for any special rigging. Simple and easy! Tight lines, Bob

My fishing buddy is severely dyslexic and very paranoid... he always thinks he's following someone. :-) Thank you... thank you... I'll be here all week! Be generous to your waiters and waitresses, Bob

And I'm sure that was not the interpretation he intended, but my own personal first thought when I read it was as I posted above: "I use mono because I know what I'm doing. Hence, braid is for people who don't." As I said, I may be the only one who saw it that way. (Hopefully!) But again, I think it's curious this thread this thread became so passionate. I guess it IS February... ;-) I agree with the points you make and I'm a firm believer in doing things in the way you enjoy doing them. When I'm fishing, my intent is not to win money, put food on the table, or impress people; I'm out there to have fun! Being more successful can make it more fun, and asking advice from a group of fellow enthusiasts with an absolutely enormous amount of collective experience is certainly a way to learn to be more successful -- and have more fun! Tight lines, Bob

I believe they add some appeal. I tie my own and use marabou rather than saddle hackle. I don't think there's much of anything that looks more "alive" than marabou feathers in water. Tight lines, Bob

That is a very clever ad! Thanks for posting the video. I LOL'ed when they pulled out to pass traffic. I can back a trailer like a boss, provided I can see out the back windows. I have yet to take the time to practice using just mirrors. I feel like I have severe brain damage when attempting that.... Tight lines, Bob

I guess I didn't make my thoughts clear... I prefer small diameter braid for frogging because it doesn't usually bring in a 20 lb. mess of weeds like larger diameter mono sometimes does. It seems to me to saw/slice through the weeds better than mono. That's pretty much the only reason I prefer it. I use mono for all my other topwater fishing. I'm not sure why this thread has become so negative. The OP asked if anyone used mono for frogging and I guess .ghoti's first response set the tone. I'm sure it wasn't his intention, but I read it as, "I use mono because I know what I'm doing. Hence, braid is for people who don't." I may be the only one who interpreted it that way... Anyway, I hope the OP has gained something form this thread! :-) Think Spring, Bob

When a very slowly-worked frog won't get any action in the pads, I've had some wild times throwing those huge 7" Senkos, T-rigged and weightless. Tight lines, Bob

I prefer braid of just 30 or 40 lb. test for its smaller diameter and ability to slice through heavy weeds better than mono. It sucks winching in a 20 lb. mass of weeds with an unknown size bass in the middle of it.... ;-) Tight lines, Bob

I fish in very muddy water and have had good luck with the 1 Minus in chartreuse/blue and fire tiger. I also have a couple of the Storm Arashi wake baits that I haven't tried yet. Tight lines, Bob

I bought a Kastking Royale Legend a few weeks ago because I couldn't resist trying one for the price (<$40). It seems OK, but the "centrifugal" brakes are mounted in the side plate and don't spin with the spool, so I don't know how they can possible be activated by centrifugal force. There are four brake shoes that look like they can be turned on or off, but one of mine stays on all the time and the others are very sketchy as far as staying in the "on" or "off" position. The magnetic braking seems effective. Like PennBass mentioned, there is a little bit of backplay in the anti-reverse bearing, but nothing major. The spool tension adjustment is very touchy on my reel but it casts and functions well so far. I've only spent a few minutes out in the yard messing around with it... it's the "off season" here in the Northeast. I figure it will make an OK loaner or back-up to my back-up reels. :-) Tight lines, Bob

This particular boat has been known to burp gas back out the filler when fueling it up, but it was doing that long before the recent stalling issue. You really have to baby it when filling the tank, putting the gas in very slowly. But I guess this can be a common problem with modern closed fuel systems. Does anyone know what year boats started shipping with closed fuel systems? My 2014 has a "clicker" type gas cap just like the one on my car. Tight lines, Bob