MN Fisher

That's how you do it, man.

Okay - the Aird-X. Go with the Medium - the Medium-Heavy is too much rod for the small baits you're planning on tossing. They are a bit more Moderate than a true fast....but more of Mod-Fast than a true Mod. This is from experience - I own a 6'6" Aird-X M/F spinning with a 2500 size reel on - it's one of my shore rigs.

I'm confused - are you talking the St Croix Avid-X or the Daiwa Aird-X? I don't know of an Arid-X rod.

Are they the newer ones - I love my 2017 President-25...it's my finesse reel on a Fury 702SF. I checked some of the newer models at the local Scheels, and they felt geary and the bail seemed to 'wobble' on retrieve. I don't know about long term on the newer models and despite my 45+ years of loving Pflueger, they've seemed to gone downhill so I'm looking elsewhere for upgrades.

Don't have to travel for that - Minnetonka is like that every nice weekend in the summer. Course the crazies are out too - so the F-9 is 'beached' until at least Tuesday.

If you're talking the President 20 - that's not a '2000' reel. Pflueger's spinning reel sizes are 'custom'. 20 = 500 25 = 1000 30 = 2500 35 = 3000 40 = 4000 (only one that 'lines up')

The new model Presidents (2020 and later) are not up to the standards of the old ones...this is something I'd pass on.

Red hooks, gold hooks, pink hooks. I stick with basic black. (Now here comes John to tell us about color coordinating again )

I toss squarebills on my Dobyns Fury 703C.

So you need to charge the battery - but there's no place to plug in a standard charger? Two options far as I can see: 1 - get a mega-AH lithium battery, so it'll last the whole trip without needing a charge. 2 - bring a portable generator and some cans of gas to run it.

The hammer-handles are getting bigger - this one went 1.8# One of only two catches today. (sighs)

The bass-skunk is over - and the F-9 has been properly christened. I know it's not impressive - but it's the first bass for the boat...deal with it. In fact - it was my only bass today (sobs).

Ya, boat and lawn mower both get the 'expensive' stuff...but considering the mower is 25 years old and still starts on the first pull most times...it's worth it.

I wish my truck was - $130 for a fill today with 87 octane...my wallet screamed in agony.

And their back-ordered items policy is crap. No items on back-order ship until ALL back-order items are in stock. Every other place I deal with, items ship as they come in - if that means 4-5 shipments, so be it.

There - that shows up better...have to let the sheriff's read it at a distance.

Unless it's a small panfish, I always use a net Showmanship - gotta do something to make it exciting.

I'm on SS - and that hasn't kept up with inflation for years. 2021 average inflation: 7.1% My end-of-year COLA: 5.9%

Basically - you don't want to bend it TOO far. Linear strength is good so long as the bend doesn't exceed a certain point. This graphic is a good 'show and tell' about rods.

Depends on the topwater - that's what I throw Zara Puppies on....

Nope - doesn't take doing something stupid. Too much bending force on a rod will break it...which is why I cringe every time I see someone flip a big fish into their boat. While a rod might be rated to 50# test line - that's for linear (in line) force along the length of the rod. If you tried to dead-lift even 10# with the rod like it was a crane... SNAP.

^ I'm with @Glenn - spinners and chatter on a MH/F here as well.

My PB Northern at 12# was taken on 8# test line, on a spinning reel, with the drag eventually set to around 5# - took about 15 minutes to get it in the net.

Most reels drag will put a force on higher than 8#. Don't lock it down - start at about 1/3 your line test...so for 8#, set the drag to release line at about 3# of pull. Adjust the drag as needed during the fight - but NEVER lock it down. Let the fish take line...it'll tire out soon enough.

Or just drill a new hole...