Junger

What kind of boat do you have? I have a 18' Lund PVB and I used https://www.nationalbiminitops.com/ to buy my bimini top. You can enter your boat brand/year/model and it will give you some bimini top choices. I went with the 46" high because I'm not standing all the time in the cockpit. I do have to duck a little getting under the top when coming from the bow, I'm 5'11". I don't leave the bimini installed all the time, even though it collapses nicely, it takes up room on the gunnel and rear deck. I also have the brocraft mounts so it's pretty easy to install and take down.

Pretty much this for me, except I'll add that on the lighter lure weights for a highly vertical presentation like cypress knees in close quarters, I'll go spinning. The little bit of resistance on a casting set up does change the trajectory of the lure.

Yep, I move around to areas with cover that I don't hear shotgun blasts. The carp are that loud in the Potomac.

Bigger engines, bigger bills. That's what I think when I see stuff like this.

I prefer to throw topwater so generally I don't like wind, but I try and adapt to the conditions such as spinnerbaits on wind blown banks with good laydowns.

After years of volleyball, and basketball, I get lower back spasms pretty frequently. Hyper extensions for your lower back will help.

Once I saw a guy in the water next to his kayak on the Potomac. He was maybe 20 yards off the bank and it was a hot day so maybe he was just cooling off but I went by to check anyways and asked if he needed help. He actually fell out, lost his keys and wallet and some rods. He said this was his first time out on a fishing kayak after selling his boat. We helped him in and then towed him to the dock...he muttered he was going to sell the kayak and buy another boat. Yep, always check, you just never know.

Local high school bass clubs are a great place to give away tackle.

Yep, get good quality fluoro like Tatsu, and it's not hard to handle. The first couple of casts, just don't overcook them and let the line get wet a few times. I only have fluoro for my open water bottom contact rod, and jerkbait rod however.

I primarily use 3 types, Z-Man Diezel 4", Keitech Easy Shiner, 3.5" and Keitech Swing Impact Fat 4.8" Z-Man Diezel - These are pretty bouyant, so when I fish heavy floating grass and want something to come over the top and still have the tail kick, this is my go to on a weightless 3/0 EWG. You can burn it on grass, then kill it in open pockets and comes through clean. When I want it to shimmy down grass edges, I put it on a 3/0 3/16oz Z-man weighted swimbait hook. Maybe 1/8oz in heavy tidal current. I look for just enough weight where the tail kicks when it's drifting down. I stretch the tail out a lot so kicks more freely, and even give it a little snip near the boot. If I don't break off, one of these will last weeks, and I feel like the more bit up it is, the more effective it is. Easy Shiner - This is my go to deeper/clear water willow underspin paddletail. The slim profile let's it get down quicker and it has a tight tail kick that looks more natural in clear water. If there are school up bass chasing bait, they will bit this. Swing Impact Fact - I've been using this one less frequently, but when it gets bit, it's usually a bit bass. In clearer water, it goes on a weighted EWG. If there's some chop or muddy water, I'll put it on the Owner Flashy Swimmer with a Colorado Blade.

I'll always throw a popper when I think it'll get a bite. But it only works in shallow water around my parts, and sometimes the tide matters more than the weather condition. I fished Lake Winnipesaukee once, and smallies would come up 30 feet from large underwater boulders to smash it. Paddletails are also a big part of my catch rate. I can work them weedless on top, or belly weighted to get down some, so they're very versatile for cover I fish. I hate fishing slow, so worms/craws only come out in the dead of summer when it's really slow.

I have a Solas 19p (forget which exact model) on a Merc 4S 200HP v6 and it performs well, as good if not better than the Tempest plus 19p. I wouldn’t hesitate to get another Solas.

Wishing for good news for you @MN Fisher

That's what I like to hear...I planned to forgo M360 and just go with ML2, and it seems like it's going to work out well for some waters I fish.

Anyone know where they get their data from? I presume some of it comes from NOAA, which works for the tidal Potomac, but my local lakes don't have any survey data. If they're using satellite images, that's not real time either (that I'm aware of).

My two boys do the mowing, edging, and picking up sticks/debris. They're not professionals, and my yard reflects it, but they get better every season and they're learning work ethic and that's what matters to me.

With my Ultrex Quest, I definitely do not leave it on 8 to 10. Even though MK does a nice job spooling it up to 10, I will still get a heft jerk. I usually set it on 4 for most situations, and just bump the momentary button as needed.

@dreamingthoughawake If you want to catch fish in huge numbers, the shad run on the Potomac is happening right now. I went on Monday and caught over 20 big shad, mostly American shad in just over 2 hours on a pretty bad tide. I even had a double up of American shad, thought I had a catfish or carp on because of how heavy it was.

The chemistry with LiFePO4 is different than Li-Ion. Watch this video and you'll get a sense of how much safer they are:

Is that the Ultrex Quest? If so, it's worth the investment into the new LCD remote so you can use driftmode, and set OneBoat Network buttons on it. I hated the old Ultrex color LCD, but the new one is more basic cosmetically but so much more functional.

My son had his first game today too, 12U Little League. All his hard work over the winter is paying off, it's great to see. Lots of life lessons to be had in Little League.

Two teenage boys with endless appetites and team sports. It adds up very quickly. But for me personally, my habitual splurge that adds up quick are cigars. I burn 2-3 sticks a week. Whiskey isn’t nearly as bad, I drink maybe 6oz. a week so it can take me a month to kill a whole bottle.

@casts_by_fly hmm, do you have a subscription? Maybe I'm not seeing it without a sub. I'll PM you what I'm seeing, clicking that link from my desktop.

Does it do wave height? I see it does tidal height, but not wave.

Does anyone use or have a recommended app for wind, waves, and tides (if applicable)? I fish mostly tidal waters, and sometimes big stretches of the Potomac River. Last year I got caught up in 3 foot waves and it was a nasty tide to the ramp. I'd like to avoid that again. I have Windy, but it doesn't forecast wave height, Tides Near Me for tide activity, but it would be great if there was an app that did all three, even subscription based apps.