TOXIC

The one I linked is for a Trolling Motor. You can get a Dual Purpose for cranking that is for starting and also deep cycle. When it comes to powering your boat, move with purpose with this EverStart Maxx Group Size 29 Marine Battery. Specifically designed for use on a trolling motor, it provides long-lasting power, allowing you to enjoy more time on the water. This EverStart Marine Battery boasts 30 percent more cycling capability than standard marine batteries. More cycling allows you to run accessories and electronics even while the engine is shut off. Whether you are fishing or cruising the river, this battery is sure to make an efficient and practical addition to your boat.

Ever wonder why bank fishermen try to throw to the middle of the lake and boat fishermen try to throw as close to the bank as possible? ? Seriously though even though I now spend the majority of my time in my 21 foot floating tackle box, some of my best fishing and memorable fishing came from wading the Shenandoah river and the rappahanock river headwaters. We have state parks where access isn’t a problem and once in the water you can go miles zig zagging in between rock formations and deep pools. I did it year round and had many 100 fish days.

Koi are just brightly colored carp....basically....We see a lot of them on the Potomac every year. Unless they are breeding, they are of no consequence. Take some dough balls out there and see if you can catch it. I know to most people it is counter intuitive to try and understand why harvesting makes the pond healthier but it is a fact. Maybe show your buddy some articles or even see if your local DNR will come out and take a look. I saved a small pond that was over run with panfish and bass by taking large numbers out. The bass and panfish got bigger and healthier which in a couple of years.

Interesting discussion. Science aside, my conclusions were drawn from actually watching him set the hook on fish with the different length of rods. The longer rod while seated loaded up quickly and lost the snap of the hook set. He also had much less of his body to use for leverage on the hook set. When sitting it is waist up only and mostly isolated to his arms. He was fishing a senko weightless on mono so there was slack line. I saw that his hookset from the 3 o’clock position up to the 12 o’clock position was much quicker and stronger with the shorter rod. I could have worked on his hookset technique and had him take up more slack before setting the hook or switched him to braid.....not my choice for a weightless senko.....but by simply shortening the rod length, his hookup ratio much improved. Science be damned.?

Let me make clear I do not fish from a yak. I have but I do not do it on a regular basis. I tutored my brother in law on bass fishing and he uses a yak only. I set him up with 7 foot plus rods because that is what I use. After a while he complained of lost fish. I followed him in my boat to get a better idea of how he was fishing. His yak is a sit-on style, he does not stand up. When I watched him it was obvious that the longer rods really weakened his hookset. Especially with a t-rigged senko where you need to move the hook through a lot of the bait. Re-outfitted him with much shorter rods and his catch rate went up dramatically.

DShads in Pearl White, Blue Pearl and..........................

Regular fishing. Not so much. During the spawn. A lot.

AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat or Advanced Glass Matting) lead acid batteries (also known as Valve Regulated Lead Acid or VLRA)This type of battery uses a fiberglass like material to hold the electrolyte between the plates. The bonding between the plates, fibrous material, and the case make the AGM virtually spill-proof. These batteries can be mounted in virtually any position. Since they are sealed, the charging has to be carefully controlled or the battery can be damaged. The AGM requires the charging rate and the charge voltage to be controlled. Also, if battery temperature exceeds 77 degrees F, the charging values need to be adjusted accordingly. With an unregulated charging system common on older engines, there is no control of the charge rate or amperage. This unregulated system can cause damage to the battery and any electronics connected to the battery. It is not uncommon to see voltages approaching 20 volts on the battery with an unregulated charging system. Such high voltage can cause severe damage to depth finders, radios, etc. The AGM batteries are also limited in the charging amperage rate because the outboard engines typically (without a belt driven alternator) have a charging system similar to a battery charger. The AGM batteries typically require a charge rate (from a battery charger) of approximately 13.8-15 volts with a maximum of 10 amps for up to 12 hours as a limitation. Please refer to the individual battery manufacturers instructions regarding your battery. The AGM battery restrictions are totally different when using a belt driven alternator charging system. Older engines typically used only a stator and rectifier to charge the battery and the battery acted as the regulator. Keep in mind that these engines usually had a battery powered ignition system which was susceptible to damage if the battery voltage exceeded 16 volts or if the voltage dropped below 9.5 volts during cranking.

My first choice is a Yamamoto DShad either walking it near the surface or in a dead fall mimicking an injured shad. First choice in color is to match the shad but if that doesn't work, I'll put on a color that is in contrast to the shad. The contrasting color gives them something to key on besides the massive school of bait. That usually works when they are actively feeding. If you have ever thrown an A-Rig, most put 1 bait that is a different color on the spread and that bait many times is the one that will get hit.

Everything that needs to be fixed needs to be reflected in price. Wiring can be a nightmare especially if you have to pull wires.

Some big motor manufacturers have stated that an AGM can damage the stator or rectifier in some models of their motors. You also need a charger specifically designed for AGM's or they will not charge properly.

All I know is that according to my grandfather, the fish won't bite if the cows are laying down.

There are Lithium options out there if you want to spend the $$. Lithium Pro's and Relion are 2 makers.

No, you need the Marine version. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Everstart-Maxx-Lead-Acid-Marine-Battery-Group-29DC/49988415?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=5968&adid=22222222227039166482&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=80432035009&wl4=pla-177673336129&wl5=9008162&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=49988415&wl13=5968&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3vnCl6Ku3wIVyFmGCh2ahAL4EAQYAyABEgJk3_D_BwE

At some point when we "turn that corner" in life, material things don't stack up like they used to.

Not to mention the huge disappointment looking at all of the fish that you can't catch or get to bite. Seriously, we used an AquaView on crystal clear Lake St Clair and dropped it down on a deep rock pile and saw some monster smallmouth that we couldn't catch!! Another negative is that when you are in the boat that is rocking in the waves and you look at the camera screen..... I came as close to getting seasick as I ever have and I have been out for extended periods in very rough water. I got dizzy and felt like I had vertigo after a few minutes looking at the fish on the bottom. But as has been said, you need very, very clear water to really see anything.

The difference is when you load up a jersey with logos you look like you are sponsored but when you buy a company's branded product or the company's branded merchandise (yes even jerseys) you look like you support the company. By purchasing the company's branded product, the manufacturer can make sure the logo is correct and 2. Branded merchandise sold to the public is normally a single product garment. ABU for example on a Jersey manufactured by ABU and sold by ABU won't have Yamamoto, Gamakatsu, Strike King, etc., on it as well. I have no problem with the product branded and sold by the manufacturers. Buy it and wear it proudly!! It's when those products get lumped together in a single jersey that makes the difference. You might think you are doing a good thing for the manufacturer but when somebody comes up to you and asks about a technical question about a product or about the company since you are sporting them on your jersey and you can't answer the question, then you have made a negative impression. "Branding" is a tricky subject and you really don't want negative impressions. I have studied Yamamoto for example, I know the company and it's executives, I've been to the manufacturing plant, I know their entire product line and if I get asked a question I can't answer, I can ask someone who knows. I know some of the Pro's have complained about rampant advertising by low level anglers but I really don't agree with their point that it takes sponsorship deals away from them. I do agree with the manufacturers that they need to control who "represents" their brand. Not all press is good press.

Not to be an arse but the companies that sponsor me require a written approval (and they supply the logo file) to have their name or logo placed on a jersey. They also have final say on the jersey design. Most manufacturers know this. Quality companies want to have control over who is parading around with their name plastered all over their jersey. I'm sure some are fine but I'm also sure there are some that most companies wouldn't want the perception they represent the brand. Wearing logos just because you use the product should be limited to the logo gear you can buy direct from the manufacturer. If you like them and want to support them buy their merchandise. That way the logo is correct and you are not making a "perceived" statement that you are a spokesman for the company.

We have had record rains and since most of my crappie fishing is done in the upper reaches of a big creek on a bigger river, I have not been out. It's killing me!! We've got a friend coming from Michigan for the week after Christmas and we want to get him out for some of our banner Crappie fishing but we are due for another big rain this weekend. Hopefully it will settle down when he is here. I do have access to a private lake that is the discharge for a nuke power plant but it is not known for its Crappie. We go there for Largemouth in the winter because it never freezes. I did take my daughter out over there last year just to see if we could catch some and we did. Good size but the numbers were down.

Look for them on Ebay and swap and sell forums. They show up all the time.

I'll let the local tin guys chime in but where you indicated you want to fish (the James, the Chick River/Lake) be advised you will have to pick your days with tin unless you get up in size to the big water boats. If you stay in the Tracker size boats, you'll have no problem pulling them with your rig and they come up for sale often. Just make sure you get a good one.

Yes, go here and have a read. Your boat is actually listed as one that you can mount a KeelShield to. https://www.gator-guards.com/tips-install-keelshield-aluminum-boats/

Well, you covered PCB's and Mercury. Add to that prescription drugs and hormones from women's birth control through water treatment plants. Overflows from those same waste treatment plants. Agricultural, industrial and residential chemical runoff. Around here there's also chicken houses dumping litter into some major rivers. Coal Ash from power plant operations (heavy metals). The list goes on and on. Then you read about what get's fed to the "Farm" raised fish and that's totally disgusting. There's a lot of concern about our fish supply to me. I'm 61 as well and would like to make it to 62. I do enjoy a good fish fry though. I really do.

I agree Tom but you have to take it one step further. You could do a whole another comparison on Smallmouth from different locations....Northern Lakes vs Southern Lakes, Lakes vs River Smallmouth as well. It's amazing how much different a Smallmouth from Lake St Clair looks compared to a Lake Erie Smallmouth. There are distinct differences. I would love to weigh in on your comparison to the Spotted Bass but the one trip we took to Lanier, we came in right after an ice storm and the lake offered me 1 crappie and 1 Bluegill in 3 days of fishing and I had to spoon the Crappie out of 70 feet of water.

First decide if you want glass or tin. Then we'll go from there.