Bass Turd

Wayne P.- You are correct.... sort of.... While DI isn't in the actual name of the product... the unit does have Down Imaging along with Side Imaging and GPS. Thank you for the other tips.

I have the Helix 5 DI SI GPS and it's fantastic for finding structure you didn't know was there. I have yet to see any fish on the side imaging it but I'm still learning. If you buy it thinking you can cruse buy a cove and see if there are any bass there I would skip it. Maybe the screen on the 5 is just too small to see bass size fish.. I don't know. The down imaging is very very good and I see fish in deeper water with no problem. I've even identified a catfish on a hump, dropped a line and caught him. The GPS is needed to mark a spot and be able to return to it exactly. I've used it a lot. Humminbird has come out with two larger versions and there's already been a price drop on the 5. You might be able to pick one up used as people upgrade if you are patient in the flea market. Hope this helps. -Danny

Also be aware there are different speed and weight ratings for different tires. You might not want to tow a $50,000 rig at 80 mph on tires rated not to exceed 55.

Hi group, One of my shift cables broke on my mid 80's Mercury 50. Budget demands I try to do it myself before paying a professional. I've looked at a few videos on YouTube and found enough information on ordering the right length and fittings for my Mercury but no detailed step by step. I understand the sifter side of the replacement my questions are on the engine side. I can't see how to reach the screws to remove the cables. Do I remove the large black hex nut in the middle of the photo to lift the shifters out so I can reach everything? Any hidden springs I need to worry about? Any advice is much appreciated. -Danny

Zman products are made from a different material... Elaztech. It's much more stretchy and resilient. After you fish it for a while and work out the salt they actually float. The only caution is you have to store them in their original packs and keep them away from other plastics but you might want to try one of their offerings. Most of them end in Z. For instance Wormz or Shadz. A very interesting side note that when they do get fished a bunch the elaztech will actually stick like Velcro to a bass's teeth. Good luck!

That's awesome on many levels.

Hi group. My name is Danny and I'm addicted to fishing. Is this where I come for therapy....? Or to get my fix....? I've been fishing since I was 5 so 40+ years now. I started with Trout and Redfish in the Laguna Madre on the coast but for the past two years I've been trying my hand at bass fishing. I love learning about new techniques and that's mainly why I joined the forum. I started with a lipless crank bait and now have learned drop-shot, split-shot, Neko Rig, Ned Rig, Carolina Rig, Shakey Head, Texas Rig, and Wacky Worm. We also have a great freshwater lake that Texas Parks and Wildlife stock with Redfish fingerlings they have transitioned to freshwater. I learned to down-rig this year for them. Thanks for all the great posts. I've been reading them for a while now. I suppose I found out about the forum through Glenn May's videos on YouTube. Thanks Glenn.

Another vote for the Curado I. Be aware that there are two different types of breaking systems on bait casters. Magnetic and Centrifugal. Modern bait casters can have one, the other or both. I learned to cast a bait caster on a Curado so I know the centrifugal breaks work for me. Tackle Warehouse has a program that you can try out the reels they sell. I'd look into that option and it might help you decide. Good luck.

HI, I live in San Antonio Texas and I understand that Canyon Lake has a decent Smallmouth population. The beauty of it is the fish are not pressured because few people know how to fish for them so I'm looking for advice. I just read an article that was 12 years old that said the fish are usually 30-50 deep most of the year. The lake is usually very clear and is made entirely from a limestone canyon. No docks or other visible cover but there are submerges trees and of course rock everywhere. I've got decent sonar (Helix 5 with Side Imaging). Is it simply a matter of searching sonar for groups of fish in that depth range and drop shot for them under the boat? Are there any other features or groups of features I should look for? Are points better? There is a small river that feeds the lake at the north end and the creek channel snakes its way to the dam where the water is up to 150 feet deep. What would their seasonal movements look like? Forage would be shad and crawfish. Thanks in advance for any and all advice. -Danny

I had this problem with a few Bantam Curados and chased it forever. I finally found the spool ends were dry and it created some kind of awful screeching during casting. I guess it chatters back and forth. Add a drop of oil on the copper plate under the spool tension knob and one on the other side where the end of the spool shaft rests and it should solve the problem.