Shimano_1

I've done a few of my own boats over the years. Never had any trouble just pulling up the old. I would get all that old residue off. I always used a scraper and then a grinding wheel on the lids. It's not a hard job just time consuming. Quite rewarding thi once it's done. No clue on carpet alternatives tho. I personally love carpet. Good luck with it

I've been using a set of frog toggs for several years. Think it was like 100 bucks for the jacket and bibs. I don't do a lot of cold weather fishing so I didn't want to spend a fortune. These have held up well and do great when its raining or keeping wind off me in the cooler months

I'd suggest maybe a pontoon. Kind of sounds like you're wanting something you can enjoy leisure time on as well as fish. If strictly fishing I agree with the above posts I'd look at something like a bass tracker or any other brands of aluminum bass rigs. Craigslist can also be helpful I've purchased 2 boats from there. I'd keep doing your research and make sure you're getting something that will actually serve your purposes. The 3 originally listed I wouldn't call fishing boats by a long shot and definitely too much boat for half ton trucks. Good luck

Wondering myself?

I prefer a reel that picks up 30 or 31 ipt. Most of the 7.1 or so gear ratios fall into this category. I'll throw it on a faster reel if necessary but my dedicated jerkbait rod has a 7 ratio lews tournament pro lfs on it

I have no problems with the MLF format and I guess I understand why everyone went. However...after this buyout I will be hoping the elite series can continue to grow and succeed. Seems that as big as bass fishing has become there's room for all of it. I never see it as a win for one entity to own everything. As already stated, the classic will always be the super bowl of bass fishing in my eyes and it wont look the same without the guys I've always watched being there. I get it...times change...I'm just old school and absolutely hate change lol.

The daiwa Fuego ct and Garcia revo x can be had for 75 or so. Can't beat for that money and in my opinion it's an investment. Buy a 75 dollar combo and the reel will likely not last years. The Fuego or revo likely will with a lil maintenance. I tried the new pro qualifier this spring and it lasted 4 trips before it crapped out. Still have an older qualifier I've had for 5 or 6 years that's still slick. I'd buy a fuego or revo x and look for a steal on a decent stick. Dicks had the skeet rods for 30 bucks a cple months ago and lews carbon fire rods for same. As stated already the slx combo is hard to beat if u can swing the 139 for the combo

I tried Berkley vanish, vicious, basspro and seaguar red label. Once I found the red label I haven't bought anything else. I will admit I haven't tried the higher end so maybe I don't know what I'm missing. My dad, cousin and I will go in and buy several bulk spools at a time and it's all we use except a rod or 2 a piece with mono and braid for specific applications. I've never found anything I would consider negative about the red label and if you bargain shop it can be found for like 40 bucks per thousand yard spools which comes out to like 8 bucks per 200 yard spool.

I think it kind of boils down to the way most people are in general. There's always the exception...but most people believe their way is better. My dad will sit on the back of my boat and watch me wreck fish on a jig and never tie one on. He likes the power fishing...has to be reeling or he isnt happy. I personally believe anyone who doesn't have faith in a senko hasn't given them much of a chance. Of course I'd rather be fishing faster moving baits most of the time...when I go fishing i go to catch fish. There have been many days I would have gotten skunked if it weren't for the senko.

I'll try those things. Thanks a bunch

Yeah cause that's exactly why I said I didn't like em. U guys crack me up. Shoot me a pm if ur serious. Don't want to offend anyone else

I have a spinnerbait box that's maybe 6 inches by 8 inches. When i used to fish from the bank I took an eye bolt from lowes, drilled a hole in the bottom of the box and ran the eye bolt through the hole with washers on both sides and secured it with a nut on the inside. Then secured it to my small tackle bag with a small caribiner also from Lowe's.

I'm not a fan at all of dale hollow. Beautiful lake but desperately needs fish and game to step in and try to get the fish population up to speed. Lotta guys locally fish tournaments down there and never hear anyone say much positive. The fishing can be decent but just isnt somewhere I'd be visiting often unless I lived really close.

I haven't fished them but I have handled them and I still stand by my statement. They just seem grossly over rated in my opinion. Not a huge fan of cork either so that doesn't help lol. The only thing they'd have positive to me is mad in the usa if they are. I'd take a st croix mojo over one all day every day if I were into cork. I'm sure they're decent rods and there are plenty that like em apparently. That's the beauty of it we have selections

All those techniques are very effective but still don't compare to a senko. There's something about the subtlety of it that bass just can't stand. Especially if there's grass around. Working a weightless or wacky rigged senko over the tops of grass has no equal in my opinion

I would assume you just haven't fished one enough to understand how effective they are. Sure...I don't like fishing that slow. However, there are times that nothing else will even come close. Sometimes fish are finicky and don't want to eat. Senkos are effective when little else is. There's a reason they're so popular

I don't understand why anyone would pay the asking price for the e6 rods. I'm sure they are decent but honestly there are several 100 dollar rods that feel far superior to me. Much lighter and more balanced. Several suggestions already of better options. Seems to me Loomis is riding their name on these rods. Of course my humble opinion. If you like how they feel/fish more power to ya

I've always called it flippin a jig and figure most people understand. Maybe not the correct terminology but I'm from ky so its expected right? Lol

Honestly I could use that rod for most things. I've fished jigs and t rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, frogs, small swim baits, rattle baits and even square bills around grass on that action of rod. I would definitely keep it! Very versatile rod

I agree there are far better options out there. I liked the 13 rods when they first came out. Kinda seems like most of their stuff now is all hype. Myself...I'd look at virtually any company that makes reels over them.

Find the video of Brent erhler or however you spell it....showing how to setup that braking system. I always set mine where spool has just a touch of side to side play then set the mag on about 10. For me I could launch about anything I wanted to fish on that setting

As already mentioned I set alm my reels the same and leave em. I put a coffee cup in my kitchen and practiced one winter for hours. Once u do it some it'll make sense

The replacements.....tons of heart but maybe not enough skill to go with it

One of the main lakes I tournament fish has some creeks and a river that are extremely dangerous. Lots of tournaments are dominated up the river tho. I stayed away for years then finally picked a day and went. Caught a guy goin up the river that knew it well enough to run. I followed him as far as he went and saved the track on my Garmin's. Waited and followed someone else back out. Next time I idled most of it to make sure my track was good. Now I run it using my graph. I take it slow as I can run and stay on pad

Aluminum frame first off. Ergonomics. Reputation of brand and their customer service. Looks of the reel to an extent. If I were to break it down these would be my criteria. Then again I love lews reels and most call them doyo junk. They've been excellent for me as have shimano and daiwa. Chose mostly lews currently for the reasons above