AC870

I had a 3600 full of squarebills and Traps catch the wind and blow out of my boat last year. I saw it happen and turned around immediately and was able to recover it, thank goodness. Good luck. Hope your treasure comes home to you.

I learned a lot about control by standing in the den and pitching in the kitchen with a Rat-L-Trap with no hooks on it. Just little 10-15 foot pitches. It makes you appreciate getting the reel tension set just right. Some reels are easier to set than others. If the tension knob clicks, it makes it easier. You’d be amazed the difference 1 or 2 clicks will make. When I first started, thought I’d never get it. Just a few indoor pitches few nights a week can make a huge difference. I’ve got to learn to skip next. Judicious use of your thumb will save you a lot of misery. That said, I have been pitching and skipping docks this summer with a Lew’s Mach II Speed Spinning combo and a Hammer medium spinning rod and it’s been a lot of fun. You can toss a trick worm or a light Texas rigs in a lot of nooks and crannies with those rigs.

I’m like everyone else. I have one rod with a snap. I can use it to swap between squarebills, Rat-L-Traps and Whopper Plopper.

Texas rig on the Big G.

My job has a policy of no weapons in the building. But I carry in the truck and nearly always when I’m out with the family. I wanted something that would disappear in a pocket. I carry a Kahr CW380.

I did some trading Saturday and picked up this Browning BAR Shortrac in 7mm-08. I’m very excited about this lil gun. I’ve wanted one for woods deer hunting for awhile. I only traded for the rifle. The Leupold on top I already had.

I have a Glock 23 in .40. It points and shoots great. I shot our local PD’s new Glock 17s over the summer. I want one. They’re sweet.

I was disappointed with the Shimano Sahara. Read great reviews on it and just knew it was going to be one of the best reels I owned. Its partially my fault I guess. I took it with me on vacation to Gulf Shores and caught about 50 Spanish and blues off the Gulf State Park Pier. Dunno if it was the saltwater or the load of 2-3 lb fish, but the handle is loose and the bail isn’t as crisp as it was before the trip.

I been putting a Trion through its paces. I’m convinced this is an overlooked value in spinning reels. What are they $29 or $39 reels? They’re decent lil reels. When I have to replace a reel, I’ll probably buy another Trion.

I love it when a thread runs off the tracks! Thanks to all who served. YOU ALL make America great and give us the freedom to enjoy the great outdoors. God bless our warriors - Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines!

Fixed it for ya!

Grew up fishing out of my dad’s 24-Foot pontoon. It was built for pontoon fishing. Had 2 fishing chairs up front, bow-mount trolling motor between them and a giant livewell right behind the seats. It had a 40 or 50/hp on it and was slow as Christmas but we had fun fishing out of it.

I like a ‘Trap. Chunking and winding or yo-yoing. Nothing quite like that “clomp” when one thumps it. I like pitching a T-rigged worm around docks or grass too.

I’d be careful with the Champion. The early ones had some wood in them and there are horror stories out there of rotted transoms and stringers. I like the 18-19 foot range too. Not sure how big the water is you’ll be fishing but the 75-horsepower would scare me off if it was big water. I like 150 hp and up but I think you could get by with a 90 or 115 in a quality aluminum boat.

Awesome catch. Reds are on my “bucket list.” Isn’t October/November a good time to go on Gulf Coast? I’d love to chase them when the weather is comfortable.

I keep a little log on my phone. I keep track of all fish not just bass. Wanted to break 1,000 last year but final tally was 765. So far this year, tally is 410. Weather and work have hindered my outings. Best bass day for me was 27 in 3 hours 2 years ago. They were chasing schooling Shad in a cove in October and it was beautiful.

The rockets’ red glare:

From the lake to the fryer. The wife loves bluegill fishing. Kept some for the first time in a couple years. Fried them the day they were caught. This meal was some count!

I’m on the lower end of Guntersville. Wide open water and wind a lot of afternoons. I got back in the boat business 4 years ago, I had an Xpress H50. I loved that little boat but there were 2 setbacks. No storage to speak of and it was only 16 feet long. I sold it (which I still regret a little because I really did like the boat) and got a Triton TR19. This is a dual console boat. Difference in ride and storage is significant. But it’s not apples to apples comparison since 16 vs 19 feet. I still look at larger aluminum boats and sometimes plot to get another one. The wife is like “No, way. You’re nuts. You’re not trading our fiberglass boat for an aluminum boat.” We fish under bridges some and I never worried about the aluminum like I do the glass under there.

So, how’s the Xpress working out? I bern thinking this same thing. I’d love to pull my Triton to the beach the time or two I go every year but the salt would eat up my painted trailer. Been thinking of going with 18-foot aluminum with an aluminum trailer. No idea when I’ll pull trigger.

It’s a little late for the traditional “bluegill season” here on the Big G but the wife and I got into them and caught well over 100 this a.m. Ol’ Mr. Whiskers tested my ultralight!

Pads are out on Gville. No mats yet. These things were popping like a mat will in the fall. Picked up a bass on the Shim E Stick you see in photo but disappointed I didn’t catch more.

Personally, think building a rod is overkill for this application. I have the Walmart Abu Vendetta 5-6 Light, not ultralight, and it is a fine gill rod. My other panfish rod is a 6-6 medium Shimano Sojourn. I spool both with 6 or 8 lb mono, preferably 8. I got tired of bass hitting my cricket and breaking me off.

I just got the Lew’s Mach II Metal Speed Spin combo from Dick’s for $119 shipped. Hadn’t got to fish it a lot yet but I think I’m really going to like it. There are some solid deals out there on combos if you look.