jdw174

+1 here. I use them on all my spinnerbaits and I throw into bushes/blowdowns, etc. I even like to pitch them into spots just like a jig. Will they hang up? Yeah, OCCASIONALLY, but the rewards outweigh the losses IMO. I've caught far too many fish on the trailer to discount their use. Gammakatsu makes trailer hooks and that's what I use, usually 2/0.

That's funny.....I thought I just said all that I second the crimp connectors, then wrap those tightly with electrical tape.

That motor looks really rough. Hard to tell what you might be getting into with the engine. Most marine shops will hit you for almost $60/hr labor plus parts. Something to consider.

The dealer may have fine tuned the jackplate, but with a hydraulic setup you can SUPERTUNE IT . Aside from that, it will allow you to jump on plane in shallower water and raise or lower the engine in the rough stuff as you need it.

When I see my spools getting low from re-tying, or having to break off a snag, etc., then I'll splice in fresh line and fill it back up. Usually I pull off enough so that I can add about 50 yards of fresh. Other than that, I don't bother. I use nothing but Silver Thread Co-polymer.

Been a LONG time since I ran a hand controlled TM. Back then I purchased a switch that was actually used to turn a sewing maching on/off (it was sold by the marina). What your instructions are telling you is to splice in the wiring from the switch to your negative wire. (Cut the neg. and splice it using the leads from the switch). Then just hook your wires in the normal manner to the battery. When you step on the switch, it will complete the circuit and the TM will run.

Sounds like a major case of "Launch Ramp Rage" to me

Posts on another site regarding this were, with one or two exceptions, outraged at this behavior. Many have emailed the UMF website voicing their opinions.

You've got some friend there . There are tons of posts here on using a baitcaster that you might want to look up. Start out working a sidearm cast at first. Practice practice practice 8-)

I used them this year t-rigged and pitched around stumps/brush/blowdowns. A killer bait used like that.

Never fished one weightless, but have t and c-rigged them. The t-rig is my favorite. One of my favorite flippin' baits.

This pretty much covers it. I call it "feathering" the lure into the water. Comes with mucho practice. I watched Dan Morehead during a BASS tx casting spinnerbaits into holes in bushes that weren't hardly bigger than the lure itself, and there was never so much as a drop of water made a splash. Now THAT'S CASTING!

Are you perhaps setting the hook on the explosion? As with any topwater, wait until you actually feel the fish before swinging on them.

In-Fisherman has several excellent tapes/dvd's on bass fishing. BPS has a bunch of dvd's on just about any technique you want.

I have a bass boat. If that qualifies as a "speed" boat, then that's what I fish out of. (You maybe ought to add/modify the choices to include bass boat )

I decide where I'm going to fish on the way to the lake. Launch, make the run there, fish, and seldom leave that area (although I do on occasion.). Since I always start early AM, I'll make the run down the banks first, then move out if necessary.

With Kentucky lake practically on my back door.....hasn't changed a bit As for boat gas, I may run a few miles to get where I'm going to fish, but once I'm there......I FISH!!! I don't run all over the place. I get quite a few trips out of one tank of boat gas.

In short, no. If you're willing to spend a C-Note on a reel, I'd go for the new AbuGarcia Revo at $99.

For jigs and worm hooks........Palomar Knot. For Crankbaits......................Palomar Knot on the DuoLock snap. For Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits........a "Jimmy Houston Knot". (Nothing more than a Trilene knot but tied with the line doubled) Never had one break. Note: A Palomar doesn't seem to work well on line smaller than 10lb test. Some slippage involved.

+1 for what Cart7 and Catt said. When the water is kicking up you'll be glad you have that Champion

You're obviously referring to Tru-Turn hooks, and yes, they're still available. Haven't used them for a long time. They always seemed to me to require a good sharpening before using them. Check WalMart's fishing dept. Also available thru some catalog outlets.

A lake is just a really BIG pond , although with possibly a few more added attractions like creek channels, etc.. Welcome to the board.

If you mean like laying on it's side, I've found that some BB's will do that if you're really burning them across the water. Try slowing your retrieve a bit. If you mean running off to one side or another, make sure the prop is in line with the hook...just like with a spinnerbait.

I tried Chantix for 3 months.......the only thing I got out of it was a case of the "Hong Kong Hop" about once a day, just after lunch : For those of you wanting to help with quitting chewing, go to the tobacco shop and get a can of "Bacc Off". It has no tobacco whatsoever, so there's no nicotine. It's made out of flavored tea leaves or peppermint leaves. It definitely helped me drop off the chewing. Haven't dipped since 10/11 last year. The down side is that now I have to quit smoking one of these days >

Absolutely!!! I think it has one of the most erratic movements of any jerkbait. I use both the regular model and the one with the tailspinner for fishing topwater. I find they create more drag on the retrieve, allowing you to literally dance that tailspinner in one spot almost forever 8-) . I also use the suspending long-A's. My favorite color is the Jim Bitter shiner. Also have chrome/blue, clown, and a couple of other colors. I have a Mark Sosin version that's chartreuse/black that's great in off color water.