MN Fisher

@Darnold335 - Bass Trek tops out at about 24-25mph WOT...so I know how you feel.

Again - just like Tonka...unlimited HP, but there is a speed limit of 40mph. Just the area by my normal launch point...less than 1/10 of the entire lake, but the rest is pretty much the same.

You just described Minnetonka perfectly. What bank areas and piers there are - so full of weeds that if you're going after bass - frogs or punching is pretty much your choices...panfish...be prepared to catch more weeds than fish.

Braid? Still running braid on baitcasters I put on 2-3 years ago. Spinning reels got braid this year...so probably good for a couple years. YZH - every 2 years...that stuff is tough Mono and FC - every year. Of course if I have major backlashes on the YZH, Mono or FC it'll get replaced...but that hasn't happened yet - just minor backlashes easily fixed.

Any type of stain I just soak for a bit in Oxyclean.

I've run across them before - they're considered 'Death Metal', which is something I'm not into. Good sound...just the lyrics are not my jazz.

Trying to get sparse amount of grease embedded into the felt is a pain, you'd have to 'massage' the washer to get the grease evenly distributed through the washer. With the oil, put just a couple drops on each washer in the stack, install the washers, crank down the drag, back it off...done.

Carbon-fiber washers - you can leave them tightened down as they don't compress. A little Cals to smooth them out, though it will drop the top-end a bit. Oil-felt washers - I loosen them up between trips. Yearly maintenance includes washing them out with mineral spirits, letting them completely dry, then a couple drops of a light machine oil...though I am slowly replacing all the oil-felts with carbon fiber.

You'll be fine with those two.

My concern would be putting a heavy plastic on the jig...but the Swing Impacts up to the 4" wouldn't overload the rod...if you use a Fat Impact, I'd keep it to the 3.8...the 4.8 is a bit heavy.

You should be fine with those lures on a 702.

^ Ditto on the Aird-X - performs well above it's price point...still have 2 in my arsenal.

What debate? Net - always, even the 1.3# I got Thursday was netted.

Bare minumum? 2 - MH/F baitcaster and M/F spinning. I could do 80% of my techniques with that pair. Is it ideal? No, there's lots left out, but in a pinch that's what I could cut down to.

I haven't noticed that issue - yesterday's trip included the 6'10" ML-XF and 7'1" M-F spinning and the 6'8" M-F casting and I though they balanced well with the reels I had on them (Ultegra 1000/Miravel 2500/Tatula 100 respectively).

@Catt - I hear you, man. Yesterday the good size ones were hanging out at about 10'-12' in 22' of water attacking bait clumps. Could not get them interested in Shad Raps, DTs or anything else I had with me that could fish that level.

Nice to see this, Tom. Good wishes to you and your (devoted) wife. 17 more years for me to hit that milestone.

Dunno if I got a bad pair, but the Boomerang snip I tried got dull pretty fast.

The 3" micros.

I've tried several different ones - and these are the ones I've settled on https://www.cudabrand.com/products/scissors-shears/cuda-3-titanium-bonded-micro-scissors.html Amazon has them for less than 1/2 Cuda's price https://www.amazon.com/Cuda-Titanium-Bonded-Micro-Scissors/dp/B00K5VF8H4?th=1

Depends entirely on what techniques you want to do.

I have Furys and Mojos - get the Mojos. I just wish the 'new design' was a separate line and they were keeping the original Mojos around.

Junebug - yesterday, today and all the tomorrows. B&B never did anything for me.

You're suppose to use your 'rod'.

^ He was probably smoking something before getting in the boat.