Wayne P.

I agree with roadwarrior, a 5/0 Gammy offset round bend is plenty big for a little 10"-12" worm. The diameter of those worms doesn't warrant anything bigger.

I've done quite well with the floating Traps on the Potomac River.

jax, there are only two things you need for it to work. The transducer has to be wet and the bottom of it has to be parallel with the bottom of the lake/river. If you choose that model, it has to reach from the clamping area of your boat to just below the water's surface. If none of those are long enough, you can just extend the reach with a piece of metal or wood. Some guys I know have that setup on the bow of their v-hull aluminum multi-species boats using the Power Drive motors. They had to make an extension for them.

Kurlee, PM sent

Kurlee, for my fishing needs, yes. When I don't need the extra strength of a braid and want a fast fall rate, I will use just fluorocarbon (fishing Super Flukes deep is one). For spinning gear, no other line type beats braid for trouble free fishing. I fish weightless finesse presentations in heavy cover a lot and braid fits that application, but the braid's floatation limits the proper depth control by itself. A leader of about 4' of 20# is my weight to get that depth control. Water color has no affect on my choice of lines. The presentaton along with the amount of cover and potential catch size determines the line I use. ww2farmer, I've never experienced any fluorocarbon line that I would classify as manageable, tolerable would be a more appropriate description.

There are federal laws governing lights on boats. http://www.nyss.com/federal.html#3G

Its either this one or a version of it with a T handle---- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_97116____SearchResults

Good job with the fiberglass, BUT you will find the loop carpet to be a nightmare with hooks.

The best producing smallmouth spinnerbait for me is a 3/16 or 3/8 oz. with chartreuse skirt and tandem chartreuse willow blades. I use a treble hook as a trailer because they smack it so hard that they will miss getting hooked with the single hook or a single trailer hook.

SkeeterZX225, unfortunately the Power Drive motors are not very transducer mounting friendly due to management of the wire. The universal sonar motors in that line are the most practical for front sonar use. jax, I have seen boats with your motor type rigged with this or a version of it ---http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_387_250003004_250000000_250003000_250-3-4

Another with a metal blade-

I use a custom jointed buzzbait that is difficult for the bass to throw. I have the most success with the 3/8 oz.

I haven't noticed a decrease in strikes when using just braid as opposed to just fluorocarbon. Adding a leader of fluorocarbon on braid has no affect on the number of strike either other than getting the lure deeper faster since the braid floats and I use a fluorocarbon leader with some presentations to make the braid sink .

I sent an e-mail to the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce letting them know of the concern of many on the internet on several web sites. The majority of opinions state it is a bad idea and it may restult in BASS not wanting to return. That would greatly affect the efforts of the Chamber to get similar national events there to help their small economy. The answer I got back was "Thanks"

It is just a renamed Maxxum with some changes like a different tilt mechanism and a longer handle.

Yes, you can use two head units with one transducer but not at the same time. You can also have two transducers with just one head unit, but can only use one transducer at any time. Lowrance/Eagle, and Humminbird have transfer switches and/or networking for that purpose. Most boating fishermen use two sonar units and two transducers with one unit up front with the transducer on the trolling motor and the other unit on the boat console with the transducer on the transom or in-hull for shoot thru. The bassboat I just sold had two sonar units up front with two transducers on the trolling motor and two sonar units on the console with two transducers in-hull with one on a transfer switch and one transom mounted.

On a jointed Shad Rap:

I'm not familiar with his seat mount, but this is one of the models that tilts--- http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0030641.shtml

madbass, you may want to delay the purchase of the Motor Guide aluminum prop for the new one being introduced at the Classic I'm getting one as soon as they are available.

From the battery to the trolling motor plug, use the largest you can afford. The ideal situation is zero voltage loss due to wire length. Some is acceptable or tolerated, but keep it as low as you can. Most bass boats are rigged with 6 guage wire from the transom to the trolling motor plug at the bow. My 2009 Bass Tracker was rigged with 8 gauge and I changed it to 6 gauge to improve the length to voltage drop ratio.

The purpose of using the 6 gauge wire is to reduce voltage drop over the distance of the boat length. Once the end point is reached (plug) then you have the max voltage available at the plug minus the small loss of the 6 gauge wire. Using a smaller gauge wire (8 or 10) for the run from battery to plug will result in a higher voltage loss. A wire larger than 6 gauge will be even better- like welding cable, but may be cost prohibitive. The short 8 or 10 guage wire on the receptacle will not result in any more voltage loss to the trolling motor plug.

I attended a seminar held by Dean Rojas recently and he was demonstrating the new popping frog. He said it may be his top choice this year (could have been as sales pitch). He recommended that the hooks be opened up a little, but only slightly so the points will still be covered.

Shad_Master, the Norman Speed Clips are very difficult to attach and disconnect to lures with cold fingers. I don't remove split rings on baits to use them though.

Sam, in recent years, I only use/used lead/acid size 27 deep cycle batteries and the brand depends on which has the best price. I've used Deka, Diehards, Delco, Everstarts, Stowaways, Interstate and several others and most last about the same. I've used the group 31 batteries before for single 12V use, but the weight and/or size became prohibitive. Yes, you can parallel batteries to get more capacity, but your best usage of two 12V batteries for a 12V motor is just using one until it runs down too much and then use the other. For electric waters, it may save you from paddling back to the ramp some day if you use the backup method. You can venture as far as one battery will take you and have some assurance that you will have enough battery power in reserve to get you back. That is particularly advantageous on a cold, windy day. Most of the waters I fish are electric only so battery capacity is important to me and that carries over to bodies of water where gas outboards are allowed. Even when I fish gas outboard waters, I tend to fish a selected area all day with the trolling motor rather than run around with the gas motor. If I decide to fish for 15+ hours (I do that a lot in the summer), I know I have the battery power to do so. My present aluminum bass boat has 4 Everstart batteries and one Interstate battery (came with the boat) and all are size 27 because that's all I had room for. If you have ever tried to fish Diascund Reservoir for a long day, you should know how important having some power left at the end of the day is. That is no small pond.

During April and May, its hard to tell what day of the week it is judging by the parking lots. Possibly Mondays and Tuesdays might be the least crowded.