Wayne P.

To get satisfactory performance of the SI feature, you need to be moving faster than trolling motor speed. In addition to that is the transducer needs to be more or less non rotating to keep from getting a distorted recording of the SI image. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/

I like them for another reason. My hand doesn't have contact with cold plastic and the rough texture of threads and locking rings like most spinning rod handles have.

I use the MinnKota temp guage. I has a 23' cord with probe for water temp, an air temp sensor and a clock. It is powered by a single AAA battery. I also have two spares. It is model #MKA-38

Use U.S. Post Office parcel post. It's cheaper.

A video of pro angler Clay Dyer.

I'll still old school. I have color units and monochrome units and prefer the color units for GPS mapping and the monochrome for sonar.

I'm having my favorite 5'6" pistol grip rod re-built now. New guides and finish. Used for spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits.

The X96 is a good unit in the same price range but lacking in resolution (320X320) as compared to the before mentioned units.

The uni-knot (6 turns) works for me, I use 20# fluorocarbon on lots of my rigs.

This is part of a guide's fishing report for Guntersville on 2/11-------- "All fish were caught on a Trap(Red), but a lot shallower than I've been fishing (2-5ft).Tried a few different things ,but mostly the Trap ,because it's so good for covering a lot of water."

Did you fish the shallow 58 degree water? I read a few fishing reports for Guntersville and some were catching bass in less than 5' before the cold weather came back early this week.

If you want to get technical about it, a true bass is a striped bass and a white perch. Maybe we should just choose what species the poll asks about and not criticize it.

Thanks, T-rig. It looks like a better option.

Thanks T-rig, will the Mattlures Bluegill sit upright on the bottom on slack line? I have a similar bait (not sure what mfg) that lays on it's side on the bottom. I'm not worried about getting hung up since I wouldn't use it for anything but a verticle presentation to a visible target.

Thanks for the replies. I watched the video. I'm not interested in it's swimming motion or how well it casts. What interested me was the way it suspended just above the treble hooks that were on the bottom. It looks like a prefect bait for bed fishing, especially the bluegill model.

The Eagle Fishmark 480 or the Humminbird 565 would be your best choice in that price range with the HB having the edge with a higher verticle pixel count of 640, a little more power, and a dual beam transducer.

I find fluorocarbon to be more abraison resistant than nylon or co-polymer monos and I am re-tying less often.

The Activate is similar to the old Fish Formula with flakes.

It was nice to meet you too, Mrs.M. Not only are you a sucessful domentic engineer, you are a successful fisherperson too.

Stren Magnathin in 16#.

Has anyone fished with the GIRON Sinking baits? I saw one in a demo water tank that was on the bottom but resting on the treble hooks and staying upright.

Here is another: http://pages.videotron.com/fishing/estretch.htm

Here is one test: http://www.shallowwaterangler.com/features/line_stretch_test/index.html

I just talked to the Va. B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Casting Kids director. Not only is 7 the minumum age, the kids just needs to be 7 by March 31 of 2009. As a preface to that statement, he added that kids with birthdays between April 1, 1998 and March 31, 2002 are eligable to participate in the qualifiing events. Hopefully I'll see you there.

According to the Federation Nation website, there are two age groups, 7-10 and 11-14. I left a message with someone involved with it and will confirm it when I hear back.