MN Fisher

In the case of hooks...you get what you pay for. Since I'm also on a budget, I have to watch my spending...but I do 'pay the extra' for a good hook...VMC is my choice for that. That I can't help with...but still, get away from the bargain-basement hooks.

Find weed banks - like lily-pad patches. Run the spinner along the edge...caught this one mid-summer doing that.

Step up to VMC - buy direct and it's a lot cheaper https://www.rapala.com/vmc/hooks/

What brand/model hooks you using anyway?

Some pliers to pinch the eye a bit more closed is all I can think of. If the eye-gap is that large, I'd look at different hooks or bite the bullet and spend time with some epoxy.

Heat the soldering iron up, hold the divider where you want it, draw the tip of the iron up the verticals and across the bottom where the divider and the box meet - not too slow, but not too fast either...2-3 seconds to run up each vertical and across the bottom...do both sides of the divider for max strength.

Split grips - always unless the rod type/power/action I want doesn't come in it. Cork - preferable EVA - if I can't get the rod I want with cork, EVA is a workable substitute Winn Grips - tried a couple rods that had them...not for me, thank you.

I've seen reviews that state the opposite. Bad side - and where they probably get the 'lithium and cold don't mix' thing. https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/power/lithium-batteries-cold

Spinners for me are used in the upper part of the water column...skimming across submerged weed-tops, across shallow flats, etc. Fish in my profile pic was caught on a chartreuse/white spinner. Chatters are for deeper presentations...sometimes down in the weeds long as they're not too thick. These two were caught on a chartreuse/white chatter about 8'-10' down.

Of my 10 boat-rods, 6 are Dobyns Furys...2 of the remaining rods will be upgraded to Dobyns when I have the spare cash...the last 2 are Okumas because the power/action of those rods aren't available in (affordable) Dobyns lines.

Go with the 704 - the 4 power Dobyns are equivalent to other manufacturers Medium-Heavy...probably the most versatile rod power out there.

Then you'll need two batteries hooked together in series. TM Negative to Neg on battery #1 TM Positive to Pos on battery #2 Jumper from Pos battery #1 to Neg battery #2 Running a 24v TM from a single 12v battery is NOT a good idea...it'll work...but you're gonna drain that battery faster and not get the full output of the motor.

One can only hope...

16th or 17th for me...I don't do weekends on the lake Well, maybe from shore.

What I used to start was the BPS-370 box - Up to 48 compartments...but a bit deep for digging small weights (1/16oz tungsten) out of. Then I took a Plano 3701, used a soldering iron and heat-sealed dividers midway between the regular slots - I left a few long for things like wacky-ring tool, but you can get up to 66 compartments doing that.

I'm into Symphonic Metal - my favorite is Within Temptation, a Dutch group. If we're talking German...

They're trying to be mysterious...and it's turning me off to it.

I got a couple Rat-L-Traps and a few 1/2oz RES. Rest of my lipless are all Rattlin Raps. The RES haven't had a workout yet - just picked them up this past fall. We'll see how they do this coming season.

Far as the ice and frost-line - we're about the same. Road restrictions - haven't heard. Ice-house removal - southern MN (which I'm in) deadline is March 7. Northern MN deadline is March 21. The split is basically a line between Duluth and Fargo/Moorhead.

Dobyns Fury 703SF, President XT-LE 30, 8# InvizX

^9 Yes, Amy has an incredible voice. I like this one better. Featuring: Amy Lee Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) Lindsey Stirling and Amy's sisters...

Trekkin' since 1966 - and there's no stopping me.

If my transducer is out of the water - the unit is off...always.

Ya - leave it alone, no deck, no raised seats - and only use on calm ponds. Go find a nice, used 14' jon or Semi-V if you want to customize it...I know some have used smaller, but I wouldn't want to take the chance.

I'll play BR Members @Catt @Bluebasser86 @Team9nine @A-Jay @Glenn Pros Seth Feider KVD Hank Parker Roland Martin Al Lindner