MN Fisher

Rock Bass are part of the sunfish family - closer to bluegills and crappie than to black bass. The pic up top is definitely a largemouth. Various things can cause the red-eye effect, including diet.

I do the reverse actually - cast into shade and retrieve into sunlit waters.

Ya, family had a 67 Barracuda Fastback with the 225 - couldn't kill that engine.

Another natural extract - Geraniol (Bug Band's active ingredient) is found in Citronella as well as other plants.

Most natural food stores or herbal shops - seems expensive ($14 for an ounce at my local shop) but a little goes a long way. You don't douse yourself with it...just a touch at pulse-points - soft-spot under the ears, inside wrists, inside elbows (if in short sleeves), ankles and behind the knees (if in shorts). Re-apply every 3-4 hours.

Does it have to be a 'boat'? Have you looked at fishing kayaks? They're light, stable...only downside is limited storage inside for rods/tackle.

I should dig my foils out from the corner - I was on the college fencing team many years ago.

Ya, I'm the same way, that's why the Calendula Oil - which is an extract from Marigolds...totally natural.

Well, I fish bass every time I'm out from season opener to mid-late October...but that's only once a week max for 4-5 hours because of the home situation. Oh the wife would let me go more often, if it was logistically possible, but due to circumstances, that's the best we can arrange.

I go all natural in this case - Calendula Oil has been effective for not only mosquitoes but also horse/deer flies for me.

Ya, mine has the 3.73 as well.

Ummm...mine didn't come with split rings - so just tied direct as a matter of course.

Ya - my 2001 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L has the factory installed towing package - with all that Tom says. I'm rated up to 11,000 lbs with it.

I don't laugh at people with high-end gear...I just have different priorities like mortgage, food - little things like that. Now if someone was to gift me with some high-end gear, I'd be ecstatic.

Fish in my profile pic? Spinnerbait on green braid...no leader.

My old runabout was glass and I used the same thing I pretty much use on everything else. Simple Green, diluted.

x2 - I'm happy with a 7' H/F rod for my pitching...others like shorter or longer. That has nothing to do with this topic.

Personal preference really. My main wacky tossing is with BPS Stick-Os (5-3/8") on a Trion-30/Medium rod.

Spinning gear - I can bomb a wacky with a spinner, but most times I'm skipping it under docks, between docks and moored boats, etc.

Hmmm...maybe that's my problem...I've been cold-sober for weeks.

See I know @roadwarrior is teasing - they get snow in TN. Now if @Catt had said that...I might believe he was serious.

1/4" and we're like "We had snow?"

For me it's not the temp...it's the rain. Rain and a canoe don't really match well.

My answer? Do what you want. My opinion? Save the PTO for when/if it's needed - you never know when it might be handy to have. "Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."

If I fish Wacky - it's unweighted...line-hook-plastic. Add a weight to one end? It's now a Neko rig. Jig? That's just a cross-hooked trailer to me. Texas rig? Are you hooking it in the center of the bait? If it's through the nose, it's a T-Rig, not a Wacky...same with Carolina.