MN Fisher

It is kind of an honor system, however the conservation officers have the right to demand 'spot checks' if they believe you to be collecting over the limit. They have all the same arrest/inspection rights as the police here. There have even been arrests and fines given to people for taking too many sunfish - the limit is 20 combined (bluegill, green, pumpkinseed, longear, warmouth). Most launches are manned by officers, there are roaming patrol-boats on the more popular lakes and roving patrols in vehicles checking shore-fishing spots.

Notice in my pic - I'm wearing my PFD. Even when I was an 'indestructable' teen with my 150#, 17' fiberglass canoe back in the 70s, I've ALWAYS worn my PFD when in a canoe.

I'm sure @A-Jay will pop in with his experience with his Old Town, but my experience with a canoe involves outrigger stabilizers. Maybe you can make an add-on that just clamps to the canoe. That way it's removable and doesn't permanently modify it in any way. Deck-camera shot that shows the port stabilizer on my canoe - there's another to starboard.

@Glenn has a great video that goes through the basics. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/how-to-fish-jig.html

I think Minnesota's catch limit makes sense - it's not only a 'daily' limit but also a 'possession' limit. The limit is six bass - LMB and SMB combined. Which means if you keep some - if you have four already in the freezer at home, you can only keep two that day...that brings you to your six limit.

Tie a loop in the end of the line - hook your scale to it. That's how I set the drags on my rigs.

Just perusing the DSG site and noticed that Dobyns Champion XP rods are on sale for $160-$180. Only 4 models, but just in case anyone want's a Champion at a decent price https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/dobyns-champion-xp-casting-rod-18dbyuchmpnxpdc70roda/18dbyuchmpnxpdc70roda

I have to agree with my friend here. I have 4 Aird-X rods and they've performed for me extremely well. I keep hemming and hawing over upgrading them to Furys. Right now, if I upgraded any rod, it'd be the Laguna.

Ya, a 3000 is a good general purpose reel. You can even use that for jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits. I'd keep the lure-weight below the max rod weight. Don't forget that the stated weight for those three is ONLY for the weight of the head (lead or tungsten), the hook, skirt, blades and any trailer you use add to that. So with my medium power spinning rod that's rated to 3/4oz, I stick to 3/8oz and under lures as the total weight approaches 5/8oz when all is said and done.

For most crankbaits, I'd want at least 25" per handle turn. For my reels, that'd be either the Trion-35 at 28.5", my Trion-30 at 25.9" or my Avocet RZ-2000 at 25". If you know the model of the reel - do a Google search and find out the specs on it. In general, 2000 size and larger reels have sufficient retrieve rates for cranks. If it's a slower reel - light T-Rigs, wacky or even finesse fishing would be the ticket...though finesse on a Medium rod is 'iffy' in my opinion.

I refuse to go to training wheels - especially at that price. I'll stick with my spinning rigs for skipping - it's worked fine so far.

You just keep telling yourself that.

For spinning reels, 5.2:1 is fairly unspecific. My 5.2 President-20 retrieves 20.7" per turn of the handle while my 5.2 Trion-35 retrieves 28.5" per turn...37% faster retrieve rate. Retrieve rate would be a better indicator. I'd toss small cranks on a Medium rod, but not if it's a slow reel.

The expense is the biggie for me. My most expensive rig (rod and reel) retails for less than the price of this reel alone - and I didn't pay near that much out of pocket. Also, as others have said, it 'fixes' problems I don't have.

There's several vids available right here (check the Videos link above) about how to spool line onto a reel - baitcaster or spinning...there's vids for each Start simple - I still only use one line on most of my rigs. Only two of my baitcasters have a main line with a leader, the other three have just one line type and all five of my spinning rigs have just a single line type I'm going away from my normal knot and suggest you learn the Palomar knot. It's a good, all-purpose knot that works with a variety of line types. Once you have that one down, start learning other knots. A good Medium power, Fast action rig will handle quite a bit of bass fishing and still be light enough for panfish, trout, walleye. If you're looking at chasing pike - move up to a Medium-Heavy power; that'll still be good for bass and walleye, but not as good for panfish and trout.

It's not that terrible - I've undergone a number of surgeries where they've put me under. Just make sure to have someone who can drive you home and have someone there to keep an eye on you for the next day. I've never had an issue, but always better to be safe.

I got no choice - tri-focal glasses and since I worked in the machining industry for a while, I got into the habit of getting polycarbonate lenses...more expensive but with side-shields I didn't have to wear those bulky goggles. Now I buy them for the same reasons because I am doing things at home that require safety glasses.

Funny - I was 55 before everything started to fall apart.

I liken it more to a think-tank - but ya...lots of good information to be had from many members.

I hurt when a pike took off with my Rattlin Rap a couple weeks ago.

I agree with upgrading the rod first. My finesse rig is a President-25 on a Fury 702SF.

The rig I use for wacky is spooled with 10# Yo-Zuri Hybrid.

I don't have the storage room A-Jay has - but even in my canoe I carry 10 rigs. There's a little overlap, but I start the day with 10 different setups.

Well, I didn't get skunked this morning at least - not that it's an impressive catch. Also lost one dink bass - maybe 9"-10" - when he shook loose from the Rattlin' Rap 05 If you're planning on hitting Tonka - avoid Phelps Bay. It's so choked with weeds I was clearing my lure 3 casts of 5...even with 'weedless' rigs.

Twice your age here and I listen to things my wife can't believe I like - symphonic metal for one. I may get older but I refuse to 'grow up'...I've lived my life this way and it's been much more fun. As Mr. Franco said - the aches will come...but even at 60 I can still do the things I want to do - so it's not all bad. Now my wife is all upset - she hits 55 in two weeks.