Junger

If it's legal, live line bluegill for pond bass.

I think the EchoMap CHIRP 73cv for $299 is your best bang for the buck option. I also got that for my first fishfinder. Easy to use, has built-in maps, and QuickDraw Contours is a nice feature when trying to figure out good fishing spots. I eventually moved the 73cv to the bow, and added the EchoMap CHIRP 93sv for $599 to my console. Both are the previous generation, but the added features of the Plus models weren't worth double the price to me.

Dangit...couldn't resist and had to get a 7' M/F Zillion for $120. Overton's has 20% off min $100 orders, they have some good Huk gear on sale as well.

I fish alone when I'm bank fishing but never alone when boating, or when I rent a kayak. I prefer to fish with other people, since I'm always learning a thing or two.

Yep, I have the Daiwa Aird X 7' Heavy Power, Fast action. I use it to throw Horny Toads and Keitech Flappers. It's very lightweight for a heavy power rod, and I have no problem throwing it all day. It's rated for 3/8oz to 1.5oz lures, and it would have no problem throwing a 1/2oz+ frog. For $50, it's a great value if you're not looking for ultra sensitive bottom contact. Edit: I think it would do fine with small swimbaits, but I think it would struggle to load light wakebaits (plastic pencil types) unless they're 1/2oz or more.

Nothing better than seeing lily pads part like the red sea and seeing that wake going for a frog or toad!

I get a little bit of water in the bilge after every trip, not sure where it comes from but it's not enough to worry about but enough to drain after an outting.

I'm a newbie boater too, I bought my first boat in March, and on my third outing I also forgot to put the drain plug in. My dad spotted the water coming from the transom bilge area and luckily the bilge pump did just enough to keep it from going under. Lesson learned, I now plug the drain in while I'm leaving the garage instead of at the ramp.

Boomerang Snips for me too...they used to cut braid with zero resistance, but they've dulled just a bit over time and require some braid resistance for a real clean cut now.

DIY using pipe insulation from Home Depot:

Also try some horny toads in shallow water/grass. It's just awesome seeing a wake coming to intercept the toad.

I have the 7' ML/F Silverhawk II and I use it for Ned's. I've had no problem with the tip, and I've caught lots of fish on it. It's typically on sale for $69.99 though. For $100, I'd get the Cabela's XML spinning rod. It has higher quality components and lifetime warranty. https://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/fishing/rods/pc/105591780/c/105740280/sc/105742080/cabelas-xml-spinning-rod/2601275.uts?slotId=2

Definitely a SH, hope they don’t drain and poison the fishery. Agreed, I think if they do take hold, they’ll be kept in check by all the fishing done there.

Did you get pictures or call the DNR? There are signs with info to contact if you see SH at BH.

You should sell em wholesale to Profish or a local market since it's now legal in VA! $6-8/lb!

Are there carp there?

Yeah, BUT the Earth is on an axis and the orbit around the sun is elliptical as well...maybe there's a resident astronomist, but I feel like there's more of a low light effect at dusk than dawn during the summer at least.

I prefer dusk. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there is less light, for a longer period of time at sunset, than sunrise.

I'm so envious of you guys in SoMD and all the awesome BBQ/crabshacks. These guys would make a killing if they opened up on 355...must be the cost of rent. We have Mission BBQ which is a great spot to go with the kids, pretty good pulled pork and brisket...but their ribs are meh.

Got out to Mattawoman with @fishwizzard yesterday morning at dawn just as the tide was coming in. Started hitting grass edges with poppers and scored a snakehead on the Evergreen OB. Fishwizard also stuck with a topwater plan and was throwing a BBZ40 rat and got slammed by a 3.5lber about 6 feet from the boat. (Leaving a picture of his bass out unless he's OK with posting it). I switched up to a popping frog because the popper was catching a lot of submerged grass and got rewarded with a new PB snakehead, a bit over 8lbs. Got a few more hits on toads and lost a couple in the thick pads, and the bite was too sporadic to stick around in the heat and left by 10:30AM and got some George's BBQ on 210 on the way out. Very fun day and learned a few things fishing with Fishwizard.

Ebay is having a 4th of July 20% off select brands/sellers: https://www.ebay.com/rpp/63406?_trkparms=%26clkid%3D4930102367623640407 Some stuff that qualify: KastKing 24 Rod holder is about $56. Daiwa Fuego CT is about $50. Daiwa BG 1500 is about $60. Fourteen-1 Fishing Space-Age Polymer Bushing Orange Reel is $160. Shimano Curado K $110.

I bought the Honbay 100piece version a while back. For $7, they're just fine, except only about 10% of them are straight. What I mean is, the centering pin isn't 100% centered, most of them are off center and pushing up against the spiral. It really doesn't affect the performance that much, it still does the job when it's screwed into the plastic.

I started last April, and for me, all it took was one confidence bait that I could consistently catch LMB on. From there it just snowballed as I got more confidence in other techniques, and continue to commit to learning new techniques. Wacky rigged senko started me off. Just keep at it until you find your stride.

The Striker Plus (newest generation) does have QuickDraw, but no built-in maps. The Plus also has a new built-in wifi feature for linking your phone to the ActiveCaptain app. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/592116 I was in the same position as you a few months ago, I bought a used 14' Bomber with old old fishfinders. I started with buying the EchoMap CHIRP 7cv (bow/trolling motor mounted), then the EchoMap CHIRP 93sv (console/transom mounted). Since these were the previous generation, they were on clearance (PM me if you want to know the prices and where I got them). Both of these have built-in LakeVu HD maps, linked via NMEA 0183 to share waypoints, and have QuickDraw contours which were most important to me. The newest generation of "Plus" models have features that weren't that important to me for the full retail price.

All the other major retailers are already having their July 4th sale (Cabela's, BPS, Dicks, etc). Dick's might have a flash sale, where they do 20% off an item or $20 off $100, but they usually exclude Shimano, Daiwa, Keitech...basically all the good fishing brands. Ebay may have a similar $xx off $xxx, but it doesn't look like there will be another flat % off this quarter.