MN Fisher

Given your old career - I know you got your sea legs.

7'4" H/F? Frogs, jigs, moderate cover flip/pitch, smaller hard swimbaits (Bucca Baby Gill or Shad for example) Quite a few things you can do with that rod.

How about these? Originally my father's - I've got a pic somewhere around here of him wearing them when he was in the Navy - in 1954 No prescription lenses, so I don't use them...just something to keep around.

Change your browser....this is what I see.

And today was a bust - launched fine, motor started fine...then when I cranked it up to cruise - splutter-splutter-cough-die. So back to the ramp, load up, back home...if the rain lets up I'm gonna dig into it to see what the heck is going on. Yes, I have the Technician's manual for this beast.

Would love to - but the Medicare Assistance Program through the State that I'm on restricts me on what I can get for glasses. My optometrist has three trays of the frames I'm allowed to choose from...I don't get to 'browse' the whole store. I even had to 'fight' to get my poly-carbonate safety lenses.

Bright conditions, I have a pair of 'over the glasses' gray mirror. For cloudy, amber clip-ons... Do you know how much Tri-focals cost? I can't afford prescription sunglasses....

I stay away from Red Label and AbrazX...they're too 'springy' for my taste. Want an inexpensive FC that works better? I tried BasiX last year and was impressed. This year I'm using it on two rigs.

I'm in the same boat - 6 new rods, 6 new reels. Tomorrow is my first bass outing of the year - and I'll be taking 3 and 3 with me...not loading everything I own for this trip.

2500 Spinning reel with 20# Smackdown to 8# InvizX leader.

Ya - just like with mono - you don't want to go over .010" diameter line on a 3000 size or smaller spinning reel...and I'd keep it to .008" max on a 500 or 1000. So you're talking 8# BasiX or 10# InvixZ/Tatsu as your max line on 2000-3000 reels; 4# BasiX or 6# InvizX/Tatsu on any smaller reel. 10# which variety....

Remembering my time up there (1974-1980), I know there's lots to choose from. ?

Blackduck, Turtle, Gull or one of the others?

I have no idea since I put mine on the charger after every trip I do know that my last trip was 5 hours - 3.5 of which were on the TM running between 3 and 5 speed due to wind. When I plugged in the charger and checked the NOCO - said I was still at 75% charge. That's a 100ah AGM running an Edge 45.

I found these on Amazon - good reviews so bought a pair last spring. These are now my boat shoes...comfortable, drain well, rubber sole for non-slip, decent arch support. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NPFZY8K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Since I wear long pants - and I don't like being in wet pants all day, I got a pair of these Put them on over my shoes/pants to launch/land...then take them off...pretty cheap at $25 https://www.amazon.com/Hodgman-Gamewade-Hip-Packable-Wader/dp/B00PCAGY4Y/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=hodgman+waders&qid=1685998977&sr=8-14

Pre-cast? 5"-6" unless I'm flipping/pitching/punching

Another issue with 1000 size reels is the retrieve rate vs a 2500/3000 - the gear ratio and spool size determines that 1000 size are usually 5:1 - which means 22-26 inches of line retrieved per turn of the handle 2500-3000 size are 6:1 - which means 33+ inches of line per handle turn If you go with a 1000, to get any decent line retrieve, you're gonna have to crank faster.

We're gonna have to put you on a stop-watch, dude.

Despite having no one make the top-10 - I stuck it out to have a 94% overall...and moved up to 5th place in the BR group. And now we gotta wait almost 2 months for St. Clair. Maybe I'll bump into Seth or Austin on Tonka between now and then.

Quite a mix in there, Paul - bluegills, pumpkinseeds....and do I see a green in there as well?

And I'm out for this round - closest I got was Jacob at 11th

Ya - considering the cruisers we got on Tonka with a few of them over 50' - couple of the marinas here have one of those things.

For weedy areas, I use a Gammy Finesse Jig Head in 3/32 or 3/16 oz with 1/0 hooks.

One of us has got to win the lottery, dude.

Glenn's commented that he likes it. I also gave it a try last year in 15# and it was pretty good. I'm still an InvizX/Tatsu guy, but BasiX seems a good, inexpensive (not cheap) FC 'Cheap' to me means 'you get what you pay for', but BasiX seems much better than it's price would indicate.