Shimano_1

Daiwa Fuego ct, revo x, lews speed spool and maybe shimano slx can be had for close to the 80 dollar range. Any of these reels will probably last as long as higher end reels. May not be as silky smooth etc. Durability should be there tho

I'd look into some of the wide spool, higher capacity low profile reels if you need it that versatile. Lews super duty wide spool. Think daiwa has a cple and so does abu and shimano

Pros will always move the needle. I get that you guys are shimano and daiwa fans. Not arguing they make good gear. But honestly it just sounds arrogant every time I read how shimano and daiwa are far superior blah blah. Obviously by my handle on here I like shimano reels. Most of what I use currently is lews as I just like the way they feel and fish better than anything else at the moment. Anyone who doesn't think kvd will sell lews product doesnt quite understand in my opinion. Will seasoned anglers run out and buy a bunch of lews because of him? No. Will a bunch of kids who know he's the most decorated angler in history buy or ask for lews gear because of him? Absolutely

I've used braid to fluoro for years and never had an issue with med or med light rods with finesse applications

I use 15 lb fluoro for lipless cranks

Only you can decide this. Honestly the last thing I'd be asking is someone else's opinion as I could care less what others think about what I'm wearing. I'd say if ur thinking itll make u look like something u don't wanna come across as then don't wear it. If u like it and its comfortable wear it. I know myself personally I just feel better when I really like what I'm wearing....outfit, shoes, hat etc. I'm a sucker for shoes tho....really love having nice shoes on lol

I wouldn't attempt fishing a jig or t rig around grass with 12 lb. I've broke 15 lb a few times on hooksets. Moved up to 20 for this rod and haven't broken off since. Weight of the fish, power of you swinging, grass rubbing the line all simultaneously =bad things for small line in my opinion

I never go below 10 on spinning gear with finesse tactics..light Texas rigs etc. On my casting gear it's at least 15lb usually 20

Obviously several different opinions. My advice would be a Fuego ct. I've had tatulas and tatula sv and 100's. Of all those I'd pick the Fuego. Absolutely despise the t wing so that limits my selection of daiwas. Actually sold all mine off and replaced with lews recently.....I know....how crazy am I? Any of daiwas reels will serve u just fine just a matter of what u want for the money ur willing to spend.

I'd say what u normally use would be my first choices for such cranking

Just talked to the dealer and they said check connectors and if that's not it it's a bad tach. Said the motor would let me know if I was over revving it

Just bought the boat in may. Maybe has 10 hrs on it. Everything works like it should except the tach acts goofy. I'll make a run and it seems like it's where it should be. Then next run it'll peg out past 7k. Motor never sounds any different or anything. I'm assuming just a cheap tach and plan to replace it with the merc monitor soon. Anyone experienced this or have any advice? It's a 115 pro xs 4 stroke. Prop and everything seemed right from the factory. It would top out at 6k and run 49 mph first several trips

I would say inexperienced boaters and the usual testosterone we all wrestle with. I've seen guys roll up in 60k ranger boats behind a 60k truck and they can't even back the boat up or get it outta the water. Makes me think maybe there should be some type of training. Guy has never driven a boat....buys a bullet with a 250+ cause it's real fast....then drops it in the water and takes off like he's driven one for years. Disaster waiting to happen.

Everyone wants safety but the pros are running the biggest rigs they can from the company that pays them the most. Everyone hates on nitro on here constantly yet half the pros are running them. Because they're safer? I doubt it...because they're getting the best deals on them. Any 20+ ft bass boat on the water these days is plenty safe if properly equipped and someone with half a brain driving them. If I had the space and needed a big boat I'd get a 20 ft boat. Big enough and considerably cheaper.

Jerkbait, chatterbait, jig, and dt6/squarebill depending on water color and depth I was fishing

I do a lot of bargain shopping. When I catch things I use a lot on sale I stock up. I'm with u. My dad loves duo realis jerkbaits. I refuse to pay 15 bucks for em so I fish stx and kvd jerkbaits and they seem to work just as good. When Yamamoto jacked their prices up 2 bucks a bag I quit buying anything they make. I believe the original senkos are better than anything else I've tried but on sheer principle I haven't bought any in years and have done well with yum dingers. Of course I'm not fishing for big money usually either so there's that to factor in.

Jigs and chatterbaits get the nod for me in muddy water. If the fishing seems tough I flip a black and blue jig with a rage craw or similar trailer.

I know lots of people love em and wear em every day. Myself...I'll stick with the regular ones. If i were gonna wear one while fishing I would get one to wear just while I fished. I figure if I ever end up in the water its because I've wrecked or something else bad has happened. Good chance I may hit my head or something and I'm not depending on something that I've seen fail to open and save my life. My dad wears one and I hate that he does. Yes they're more comfy but I'm used to wearing my regular one and I feel much safer. As always tho each to their own. If I were looking I'd definitely want an automatic one. The manual ones are useless in my opinion. Mustang would be my choice

I honestly feel that a 20 ft boat is better for what i would want. Pretty sure I read that denny brauer ran a 20ft boat for years because it was a little easier to maneuver. Most 20ft rigs are going to handle a 250 which is all I'd ever want on a bass rig. Obviously the 21ft boats give u a little more deck and storage as well as a little better ride in big water. Personally I can't see a situation where I'd be in a 20ft boat and be saying man I wish this rig was a foot longer. I just traded in a 20ft Triton a few months ago for an aluminum rig. It was all the boat a man would have ever needed for any type of bass fishing.

If you're looking at buying virtually the same boat new with a 60 I'd save the 13k and just repower with a new one. As others have said I'd look into what it would take to fix that motor. If I knew I was gonna keep the boat for many years 6500 isnt a lotta money considering the warranty and piece of mind that would come with a brand new motor. Good luck

Not too crazy about the smell of a bass...thought I was the only one who liked puppy breath tho. I definitely miss my old boy being a pup!

I'd take a flippin stick and a jig. Not that it's the smart choice, I just love fishing that way.

If they are indeed bass the only thing I've ever had any luck on was a walking topwater and a cple times swimming a jig. The topwater worked really fast and erratic has been the best tho for that scenario. As stated tho...a lot of times, myself included, people think its bass when it isn't.

Do some interweb searching and see what you can find out about the lake and maybe past tournaments. Other than that I'd just look at the mapping on ur graph and try to pick out high percentage areas. Flats, channel swings etc. Good luck

I would rather be out on the weekend if the conditions are more favorable than the weekday. If the conditions were going to be similar all week then yes I would say the fishing would be better on a Thursday or Friday after not being so pressured all week. Of course just my humble opinion