MN Fisher

If they're laying eggs...toss all your gear in the closest river and take up knitting or something.

I'll take the walk in freezer for half the year as opposed to the sauna for a full year. First time I visited my future in-laws (this was to move the future wife up here) I told them that between May and October I would NOT be visiting. (MIL lived in Boca, FIL lived in Ft. Liqourdale)

Necessary? No - every 3rd to 4th time probably will work. Recommended? Yes - it's only a few spritz per reel, and even with 4 rigs last year that I used it on...barely dropped the level in the 16oz bottle I have. This year it's more - 7 of 10 rigs it'll be used on.

Fraying with mono isn't as much an issue as it is with braid. If your drag is set too high, you'll stretch and possible snap the line before it really dug in...unless you're running high pound test line - then it might dig in. My general rule-of-thumb...drag is set to 1/3 to 1/2 the test of the line - 8# line, drag lets line out at 3#-4# of pull; 20# braid with 10# leader, drag releases line at 3#-5# of pull.

Those are primarily the province of your rod. A rod that loads better will give you better distance. A rod that's more attuned to your casting style will give more accuracy.

The original Mean Mouth is a SM/LM hybrid and for years, that was it. Currently it also includes SM/Spot hybrids and are VERY rare in either case. Missouri and Georgia are the only states that have confirmed Mean Mouth catches, though they are checking Kentucky now too. https://bassfishing-gurus.com/an-introduction-to-mean-mouth-bass-information-and-facts/ Why they're so rare even in water bodies that have a LM/SM or LM/Spot population is anyone's guess.

Well, not for at least another decade. I'm 60 and still tie my shoes - well, not my dress-boots...one pair is just pull-on, the other is side-zip.

I didn't say I never get dig-in - just that it's a non-issue. Every reel - BC and spinner - I've used, no matter what line I've had on it has the occasional dig-in. It's just part-and-parcel of fishing. If I was going to get upset at the occasional dig-in, backlash, wind-knot, whatever...I might as well give up fishing entirely.

We got a few nights later in the week where it'll dip into the 30s - including one where we'll hit the freezing mark. But this IS early May in MN - we've had snow this time of year in the past...so no biggie.

I might pay more attention if my fishing days/times weren't limited. This year, it's going to be Wednesdays, mid morning to early afternoon. Since I'm 'stuck' to that schedule, the solunar tables and moon phases aren't taken into account.

My wedding ring is a Claddagh, worn traditionally (left ring finger, heart up). If I'm doing something where the ring could be damaged or lost...I take it off and put it in a pocket or leave it on my dresser. I'm not one of those who have to have my wedding ring, or a 'facsimile' on my hand at all times...doesn't make me less married if it's not on. Earring? Ya, had one for many years, haven't worn it for about six months now...hole is probably closed. Tatts? Ya, got a couple...not normally shown. Custom designs, not something 'off the rack'...they have meaning. Piercings? Other than the former earring, nothing.

It's about as thin as water - so it seeps down through capillary action around the surface of the line. Just like pouring water over the spool, the lower layers will still get wet.

I can't even target them for another 3&1/2 days - season opens 12:01am Saturday.

I use 20# Power Pro on my President with no issues. Key is to make sure the line is snug on the spool when putting it on. While mono/FC/Hybrid and larger diameter braids are more forgiving, having looser line with smaller diameter braids can cause dig-ins, backlashes and nasty birds-nests. Every couple trips, I pull off to the backing and re-wind the braid on the spool to insure proper tightness.

As Jedi said, sometimes more bearings is misleading. Case in point - Diawa Fuego CT vs Tatula CT Tatula advertises 2 more bearings than the Fuego - but as he noted, they're in the handle knobs, so functionally there's not really an increase. What it boils down to is the Tatula CT is a Fuego CT with the T-Wing rather than a standard aperture...that's it...otherwise they're identical - even use the same spool.

I think instead of posting 'North Arm' (300 acres) or 'Phelps Bay' (350 acres) I'm just going to say 'Lake Minnetonka' (14,500 acres) instead.

Ya - they've got a venom in their bite that makes a horse-fly bite mild by comparison.

I've made it part of my 'night before' checklist.

"Shiny"

Nice fish - and yep, that's a mean mouth alright. I heard of those way back in the 70's when I first started getting into bass. LMB/SMB hybrid.

Sounds like you got a good, value rig. I dunno where people think that. I skip all the time with my spinners - still trying to learn how to skip with my BCs.

I give my mono and YZH this the night before a trip - don't use FC at all. Really makes a difference in both.

Well, I think my lower Pfluegers are also Doyo reels...Trion and President spinners, President and Pres-XT BC - maybe the Supreme. I've been happy with the Pres & Trion spinners and the Pres BC - the XT and Supreme are new this year. So I guess the value drop-off doesn't affect me as much as if they continue to work as they have, I'll be keeping and using them for years yet.

Got the trailer walkway installed today. Just a couple more things left before it's done...but one of those is a big time consumer...so may be a while before the vid is shot. 2"x3"x1/4" Angle through-bolted to the frame.

Actually I do have a manual pump I've mounted - one of those hand-operated kayak bilges with a hose. But that's mainly to take care of the water coming in from wake/fishing boats that like to cruise by at speed - seemingly trying to swamp me. Ya - the bass/walleye guys are as guilty of this as the pleasure boaters...no respect for us canoeists.