haggard

Do stupid things, and stupid things are going to happen.

Went ice fishing for a couple hours for the last 4 Saturdays. Skunkus maximus.

99% of the time I'm doing Texas rigs or jig heads, using the Improved Clinch Knot. I've never found a reason to change that. For the occasional spinner bait I'll use a Palomar. I like to keep things simple. I also like the Uni, and the Double Uni particularly for joining line to line.

Well said. (speaking about products in general, not a specific brand). Congrats! I'll keep an eye out.

If you're looking for quality, versatility and comfort in a more family friendly yet totally fishable boat for some bigger water, I think you're right on target, if you can live with the price. Someone living down the street from me has that boat and it seems a little massive, but as long as you're comfortable with a bigger boat and have the appropriate tow vehicle, and don't need to clear low bridges with the T top, fine. My jon got crashed I went to look for Boat #2 wanted something good for lakes and inshore salt, small enough to be manageable, big enough to not feel crowded. Always heard about great Whaler quality but never "got it" until I went to look at one in person, and I was sold on it. Ended up with a 15 ft center console Montauk, basically a bay boat, but I run it on lakes, and inshore when conditions allow. Short bow and as another person said it's a tight squeeze between the console and gunwale but I knew there would be tradeoffs in a smaller boat. I'm sure the 24' Dauntless offers a wider path. Absolutely zero regrets. On a lot of products I find places where someone cut corners to cut costs. On the Whaler, I just can't find any. The price is high but you're getting what you pay for. If the price was twice what it is, I'd say yeah, maybe consider another brand, it's not worth it. As others have mentioned, check out Robalo and Grady White. If you haven't seen a Whaler in person, get to a boat show and put your hands on one.

I took it through boat-ed when I got my "big" boat (still small by most people's standard) - main reason was to learn what I needed for safely navigating salt water inshore. Well worth it. I review the course each year before the season starts, since it's easy to forget some things.

Shimano Sienna

Always. Initially I brought them to quickly cut a thick hook when the bass got gut hooked, to facilitate the fast removal of the rest of the hook (through the gills method, or whatever) - but it also came in useful when I hooked the bottom of my foot. Pushed it through up and out, cut it below the barb and backed it out. Continued fishing. A must-have for cutting thick hooks.

St. Croix Premium M/F yes.

Yes that can certainly work. It pretty much sums up what I do. - ML/XF spinning with 3.5 inch paddletail worm on a light jig head - M/F baitcaster with either a Doomzday turtle or 4-5 inch worm, TX rigged 1/4 oz - MH/F baitcaster with 6-7 inch ribbon tail worm, TX rigged 3/8 oz

Never caught a brook trout, which are plentiful here in Maine, and never caught a fish on a fly rod. Hoping those two will come together in 2021.

Used fishing kayak. Keep your eyes out. They're out there. Sit-on-top style, if possible. Sundolphin makes some very usable cheaper ones.

Consider running a 3 gal because it fits/stows better, and carrying a 2.5 gal jerry jug as backup. I'd guess the 9.9 would do well on a typical outing without running out (I run a 15 hp on a 3 gal on a 900 acre lake). The additional 2.5 gal in a spout-style jug (not typical marine tank) is good backup (pour it into your primary tank) and should easily get you back the distance you went out, plus it can be moved around easily in the boat so you don't have a full 6 gal weighing down the boat all in one spot. Also can help out another boat more easily if they run out of gas. Or if your truck does. It's versatile. Downside to refueling your primary tank on the water is you have exposed gas and fumes, on a boat that's bobbing around. "Please extinguish all smoking materials at this time. This is your captain speaking."

Your 6 lb line choice should work. You may find a 7'6 light power rod a little noodly for 3-4 lb smallies with a 2500 CI4+. I use the 2500 CI4+ on a 7'0 ML/F and it seems great for smallies, though mine are usually in the 2-3 lb range but I have no doubt it would handle 3-4 lb especially if you use the drag. I suggest the 1000 CI4+ for a light power, but for your application I'd go with 2500 CI4+ on a ML.

Try as I might, never have I ever caught a bass on a day on the water

Hi John and welcome to the forum. Sorry about the eye but that's why you're given two of them. Good to have backups. Congrats on the new boat; it's basically the same as what I got a couple years ago, a 15 ft center console bay boat which does great for inshore in our area. Pick your days carefully and it can get farther out. I love the versatility of a boat this size. Fairly new to salt water fishing here and have had some success with vertical jigging using a small 1/2 oz diamond/blade style jig - very simple but catches cod, mackerel, sea robin. For stripers, using mackerel chunks has worked, and for non vertical techniques, the Savage Gear paddle tail on a jig head is great. Looking forward to hearing how the new boat works out and hope to see you on the water.

If you use TM only just make sure you have a way to get back (oars) if the battery drains while you're out there.

Smallies (at least around here) aren't shy about taking heavier lures, so a medium is fine. That said, if the bite isn't on and you want to try a lighter presentation, ML is great (and multiplies the fun factor when you get a fish on). As much as I prefer using the M/F baitcaster, the ML/XF spinning setup has become my most used, and if I take only two rods, that's one of them (paired with a M or MH baitcaster). If you don't have anything lighter than a medium, a ML is great to have - also for lighter techniques like drop shot, ned, weightless, small jig heads etc.

If you can reach the Google on phone or computer just visit google.com and in the search say "convert 1 grams to oz" or "convert 8 grams to oz" etc. It comes up with the answer. It doesn't show you in actual fractional notation, just decimal, so you have to do that last step yourself. Example - "convert 1 g to oz" 0.035274 oz (if you divide 1/32 it's close) "convert 8 grams to oz" 0.282192 oz (if you divide 1/4 it's close) So in terms of ounces, your rod is rated for lures approx 1/32 to 1/4.

No experience with the Dobyns here, I'm a St. Croix guy. For an all purpose St. Croix casting rod I'd recommend without a doubt the Avid M/F (AVC66MF) or the Premier M/F (PC66MF). For the St. Croix lineup I use the MH specifically for 1) 3/8 oz bullet weighted Texas rigged soft plastic worms, 2) bottom contact jig with trailer and 3) frogs in pads. The St.C MH rod is a little too heavy for all purpose. The M/F could handle those scenarios if really needed, but the MH might not be as great if used for lighter duty applications. All purpose baitcaster with performance that doesn't break the bank? PC66MF. Your mileage may vary depending on your most often fished region, conditions, species and available dollars.

And a heavy one at that, just another consideration.

?️? "Price check in aisle 3"

Fall. Best season ever.

Went out into the salt today at sunrise and caught a few dinks including two new-to-me species. There are worse ways to spend an early fall morning in Maine. Redfish, pollock, mackerel.