Joedodge

You will win more not thinking about it. Like @Pat Brown said and @casts_by_fly. That’s solid advice for sure. If it’s not a treble bait and I feel a good solid thump I’m reeling up slack and thumping them back. If it seems like they are short striking. I’ll Be a lil more conservative. Just let instinct take care of it. Don’t overthink it. It’s about enjoyment.

There doesn’t seem to be a ton out there about these reels. I’ve been fishing it a while now. palms very well for me Casts well at about 5/16 and up Excellent spool capacity Good casting knob control The way I palm the reel though I unknowingly constantly make small adjustments to the casting brake dial. All of a sudden how ever many casts later my casts lose a ton of distance. I check in at max. So i periodically have to check it and re adjust. That’s my biggest gripe with the reel honestly.

Kayaks gonna be lighter. But man I loved my aluminum canoe I fished from for years. I paddled and later added a trolling motor. I had that thing all over pond and lakes and the intercoastal waters of Florida. Was like a baby aluminum boat.

@Pat Brown nailed this. Use what you like and have confidence in. I don’t care what the pros use. They are there to sell tackle. They don’t make their money winning they make money selling products through endorsement. They will switch what they think is best as soon as the money stops and someone starts paying them. I love pro bass fishing. And love watching the tournament results. But they are salesman plain and simple.

That was my thoughts. I was making it a 4 hour trip on the Milwaukee battery’s and wasn’t even at half charge when I hit home so this will be perfect for any amount of time I may be out. And the connection is a lot better

Amazon had a deal so I upgraded the battery for my graph. Amazon had a deal for $29 for a 2 pack of lifep04 lithium 8amp hour battery’s. So I snagged it. Little bit better than my 5 amp hour Milwaukee 12 volt battery’s. And it still fits in my battery box under the bow cap.

I grew up in Florida and bank fished and canoe and kayak fished. When on the bank never turn you’re back to the water.

Got out early today on the lake. The grass has gotten insane and so thick. Air temp was 37 degrees and water was about 60. Had one bite in 3 hours. Was running a buzzbait along a bank leading into a pocket. She hit it probably 5 feet from the boat and in 5 feet of water.

I guess I don’t get the BFS deal. I considered it. And looked into it. It’s basically crappie and pan fishing lol. I’m not a purist with a baitcaster. I don’t mind a spinning rod at all. So I guess maybe that’s why it’s not a big deal to me

It really is a shame. And half or better don’t even want to fish who live in those kind of places lol

Ma I’m noticing this as well. Every crappie boat out there is loaded down with electronics and FFS. And I’ve also noticed out on my lakes and some of the local guys with YouTube channels. Boats ain’t no joke anymore. Idk where the money comes from to have something like that you are willing to park for 5 months of the year lol. The biggest change for me I’ve seen though. Is kids fishing. Since moving to the Midwest. I actually se kids walking or riding bikes with fishing poles. Headed to local ponds and stuff. We lost that where I was in Florida. So I think that’s really cool.

Nice to see ya back man. And we always called the fish that got off at the bank. If ya could see them it was a sportsman’s release lol

I’m a firm believer in once fish reach that size. They aren’t caught often. They get smart and didn’t get that big by being dumb. Big fish don’t feed like small fish. Smaller fish feed on instinct and aggression. A large fish doesn’t eat as much or strike as much. I fish pond regular. That I just got my 6.5 pounder out of. And I mean I’ve caught a ton of fish in this pond. Over the last year. All small 1-2 pounder fish the big ones aren’t dumb and are a lot more selective. That big girl I caught may not bite again this year.

I’ll be 38 in June. I’ve fished my whole life since about 7 or 8. Grew up in Florida pier and surf fishing and pond fishing. Moved on to canoes then kayaks. Had a couple short lived really crappy boats. I’ve caught gator trout, bull reds, huge flounder. Canoe fished for sharks at night on channels and wrestled 6 foot sharks on large spinning tackle. But bass fishing found me about 12-13 years ago or so. And I love it more than any of that. I think about it constantly and fish constantly. But my prime? Idk I have so much to learn and a lot of years ahead of me hopefully. But I’ve got a trashed elbow and a messed up neck from 20 years of work and not being very nice to myself. My trips aren’t all day long. And my arm wears out after a few hours. But time Is the only currency we spend with out ever knowing the balance. So I fish a lot wear my arm out. Buy tackle bought a crappy little boat and fish like it’s the classic every time. So I’d say my prime is still ahead of me I hope.

You sure?

Hose was off the motor but still on the can. I left the vent closed. I probably should have left it cracked but I didn’t want fumes or smell to build up under the cover my own stupid fault. I’m So mad lol But how can ya not laugh. Lesson learned

definitely don’t plan on doing this project this evening. Went out to tinker with the boat. The gas can built pressure and blew the primer/fuel Jose off and blew about a gallon or gallon and a half of gas all over the bottom of the boat under the floors. Spent a while pouring water in up front and washing it out into a tub. I noticed something wrong as soon as I lifted the cover. I’m glad I came out to tinker. What a dang mess. Back of the boats cleaner than ever. Washed all the paint right off lol. Hopefully the boat doesn’t leak now haha

Thanks everyone this is a fun topic. What’s yalls preferred depth? I’ve had success from 1-6 foot

Chopo and poppers killed it for me last year. But I don’t think I was trying this early in the year honestly. I threw a buzzbait and chopo last weekend with no bites. But our water temp is 60s and air is 40s early in the morning.

Waters warming up. Broke 60 degrees. Mornings are still chilly. What’s your favorite top water? Popper, buzzbait, frog, plopper, walking bait? What do you like to throw

Also gotta make a new board to cover the back compartment. There is that giant rectangle hole in it because the gas can they had was to tall and poked out the top. I only have a 3 gallon and it sits well below flush.

Thank you. It isn’t a show queen but I love it

This became a good thread!!! Wow good stuff and experiences. I guess I run around that $100-150 on rods and reels as a diminishing return deal. That’s what works for my price range and feeling ok with it to go have fun and catch fish lol

Thank you so much! I enjoy fishing it. It’s really the only structure this lake has besides a small field of lay downs. I know bass don’t love the curly tail pond weed from what I’ve read. But it’s the majority of the cover in this lake. And I’ve caught them out of it. I’ve basically been throwing a buzz bait and chopo early. Then a swim jig and uv worm with a 1/4 ounce weight. I’m gonna up that to 5/16 or 3/8. And probably rig up a punch rig also with a creature bait.

Yes they have. But for some reason everyone flips out about it lol. I get it rots eventually if not properly maintained. And it can be heavy. But still Thank you. And exactly that’s how I’ve been trying to do this whole project