Shimano_1

Just watched Russell marine products do a side by side with the 93 uhd and the helix mega +. Obviously the bird was better but the garmin appeared much nicer than I was expecting. Definitely a hug upgrade from my 93sv chirp

Sounds good man thanks. Id guess the hook 2 isn't on par with the elite ti2. My aluminum triton came with a hook 2. Like I said I prefer everything about garmin but from my research just appears maybe for this purpose the lowrance is better. Just figured maybe some of u guys running the garmins or lowrance would chime in. Is it easy to identify fish and structures with the uhd right outta the box?

So ur just running both garmins with just the gt54 ducer? No black box or anything? Any chance you could post some images or I can pm you my number and send me some? I have made the mistake of wasting money on electronics before and would like to get the best I can for the money. What lowrance did you go from to the garmins? Thanks a bunch guys The down and side imaging on the lowrance looks about as close to mega as ive seen

I currently have a 93sv and 73sv chirp. Love the mapping and 2d but side and down imaging leave a lot to be desired. Looking at the garmin 93sv uhd with the gt54uhd transducer. Im not well versed in the technology so forgive my ignorance. Will the newer uhd version offer better imaging or will I need one of the black boxes or whatever so the screen can show the better imaging? I can get the garmin or a lowrance elite 9ti2 for the same money. I trust the garmin more overall but from what I've found after a day of researching i feel like the lowrance has better imaging. Not interested in any other aspect besides adding a graph to my console that offers good side and down imaging within dropping 1500 bucks. Any and all help greatly appreciated! Thanks

Dobyns

X2 this is usually how my season goes. Usually don't have frozen lakes but January is usually a cold all month deal. Honestly wouldn't trade our weather for Florida's. You can have that summer heat. Older I get the more I prefer cold weather over hot weather.

I don't know for sure. Ive fished one some this year and am gonna guess 6-8 foot with the plus 1 on the 12 lb fluoro I throw it on. Haven't caught much on it and wrecked em on the regular vision 110, but didn't get the plus 1 til later in the year. Will find out hope this weekend! Have confidence it will be great like all megabass baits ive ever fished

Can't argue whether one should or shouldn't in that situation. I personally wouldn't if they've not been fished unless they've been stored in heat/cold etc. I dont fish a lot of braid but I think about my drop shot rod...I run braid to fluoro leader and I never retie until my leader is short enough to need replaced. Id guess that's often over 2 months.

Played around with it at the creek today. Basically what everyone has said. Same reel different paint. Think I prefer the older grips and paint better myself. Kinda makes me wonder why change something that was so successful. This one is fine tho ill keep it.

While I basically junk fish...there are techniques I prefer and others I don't for whatever reason. I've caught fish on a drop shot most every time I've fished it yet I find myself very rarely reaching for it. Ned rig just doesn't feel right to me while I've caught fish doing it too. Dont much care for deep cranks. Ill fish all those but usually after I've exhausted any other feasible idea and blanked. I think most of it is what we have confidence in. Used to hate jerkbaits and now they're in my top 2 confidence baits. I work all week and if I'm lucky get 1 day to fish so its not really possible to throw everything. I always tell anyone asking about fishing to basically find something to fish bottom, middle,and top of water column. Trying to add every single technique just over complicates things. If I fished for a living I'd have plenty of time to perfect and understand all the nuances of every technique.

Guess im a junk fisherman. I usually just kinda meander around trying what I think should work til something clicks. I prefer to fish a jig or a jerkbait but I will throw whatever it takes. If I have a ton of rods out im struggling. Really enjoy dialing something in and putting everything away except a rod or 2.

I've caught em in a lot more stained water than most would consider fit for jerkbaits

Just picked one up at cabelas. Display model discounted but feels good. Probably needs some lube kinda feels dry. I'll report back after some use but I like it just playing around with it.

There are several nice sticks in the 150 and less range that are considerably better and more sensitive than the aird you have. Dobyns fury or Sierra, daiwa tatula elite rods, 13 omens and even the fate listed above. The new falcon lowrider rods are hard to beat and I think fish more like a 200 dollar rod than most. Sportsman's outfitters has them for 99. Depending on what you want, cork, foam, winn grips? Tacklewarehouse is a good place to get an idea of what people think of specific rods. Ive never much cared for duckett rods. Feel that Loomis are over priced but nice rods. No experience with the newer st croix or Kistler. If I were to replace all of my rods I would get falcon, Dobyns, or even 13 fishing. Buddy has 12 rods all 13 fishing and never had an issue with any. Fish way above their price point. Good luck!

X2 Frogs and walking baits get braid. Everything else is fluoro! I fish a lot of clearer water and its a confidence thing for me. If I fished a lot of heavy vegetation etc I'd probably have another rod or 2 with braid for punching etc.

I've got a 93sv and a 73sv and I've took them off every trip for well over 2 years with no problems with them what so ever. One of the reasons I bought them. Love how much easier it is than having to hook up wires etc. Id toss your worries aside and enjoy them!

Anyone tried the new tatula ct? Seems like the same reel just different paint job? Needing to add a couple reels and am debating one. Wife likes em cause of the braking system. Not much available online yet. Thanks

X2. Right bait..wrong location =zero! Wrong bait...right location =a scrub or 2 most likely. I think for the most part colors are more for us than the fish. A 5 year old could catch a fish on a jig or a worm if its in the right location.

I totally believe this is a topic that will be all about one's perception. Are all pros experts? In my book absolutely not. There are a few I believe are and I'm sure a few on here would fall into that category! I've done it for years but still find myself scratching my head more times than I care to admit. Some guys are way more confident in their ability than they likely should be...while some are modest and likely know way more than they'll let on like. I personally find myself more interested in learning now than I've ever been and I know a lot more now than I used to. Id guess if a guy calls himself an expert in bass fishing...he likely isn't. If a guy post pics of massive fish regularly and would never refer to himself as an expert...he may just be. As always my humble opinion tho!

X2

Trokar flippin hooks is all I use anymore. Ive tried several and they have been my favorites. 3 and 4/0 do all my heavy lifting

Opinions are gonna be all over the map. Everyone makes decent to great gear. You're gonna have to find what works best for you. I am currently running several lews including a spinning reel that was 60 bucks and have been quite satisfied. Daiwa, shimano and quantum all make solid gear if your buying aluminum frames and spending around 100 bucks on a reel. I personally think the days of reels lasting 20 years is over. Buy what feels best to you or best bang for your buck

I've had a love hate relationship with topwater myself. Ive had some great days with a frog. Walking baits are big on a couple lakes around here and I have yet to unlock that piece of the puzzle but I still fish em some pretty regularly. Ive caught 2 fish on a whopper plopper since they came out yet I pack 4 around everywhere I go lol. Seems tho that as the years go on the less I care about how I catch em as long as I catch em! If you want a new plopper may as well buy it, the monkey won't leave u alone til you do!

Only jigs and Texas rigs for me. Even use a 7 ratio for this sometimes. Depends on the reels tho. My lews are faster ipt than say a shimano slx. I like about 31 ipt for most techniques. Jerkbaits, topwater, buzzbaits, burning shallow cranks, etc. I've got 2 of the 8's and they're both on flippin sticks

If you're expecting serious differences by upgrading from what you have i think you may be disappointed. Yes a bantam mgl is gonna "feel" a little better than your tatula. Is it gonna feel 200 dollars better? Absolutely not to me. Having said that if I were to suggest a reel that will do it all and is smooth as glass the bantam is the one. Id honestly take your tatula over a couple of the reels you're interested in upgrading to.