MN Fisher

Since at their core, the Fuego CT and the Tatula CT are the same reel...I don't doubt it.

It's not the fish you worry about with the rod power - it's where you're fishing and the lure you're using Our state record LMB is under 9#, but I use a MH/F rod when fishing spinner/chatter/buzzbaits as well as jigs and T-Rigs that I'm tossing into weeds. The power allows me to haul the fish out of the weeds without worrying too much about breaking the rod. If I'm pitching/flipping into heavy cover, I use a Heavy/Fast rod. Again, the weed growth dictates the rod power.

Metal frame SLX advertises as "Hagane" - which means 'steel' in Japanese...though I think it's probably aluminum for the weight Fuego has an aluminum frame. Any other metal-frame reels with a high IPT (inches of line retrieved per turn of the handle) - high gear ratio doesn't always give a high IPT SLX - 8.2:1 ratio - 32IPT Fuego - 8.1:1 ratio - 33.9IPT Oh - in a pinch I could probably use my Pflueger President...7.3:1 ratio but 31IPT...but it's a 'plastic' frame reel, so probably not.

Twin Sons of Different Mothers? And half a country away too!

You'll get people who say one, others who'll say the other. One thing mostly common - FAST reel. I use a Fuego CT in the 8.1:1 ratio.

50# PP for mine...

PM? As someone who studied Aquatic Biology back in college late 70s, I'm always interested in reading things like this.

You got a link to a copy of that?

My T-Rig/Jig rig will have 30# Power Pro on it.

Using soda to help a fish is anecdotal. It might stop the bleeding, but it might do more harm in the long run. Prof. Steven Cooke, Canadian biologist is currently doing experiments to see if any harm is done to the fish using this method. Many biologists agree with the following point. "Biology professor Solomon David, a fish expert at Louisiana’s Nicholls State University, also weighed in online, saying he has a “difficult time believing this works, and isn’t actually harmful to the fish.” https://carleton.ca/environmentalscience/2019/do-the-dew-for-a-bleeding-fish/ Many agree with this point. "As Dr. David said earlier, the best thing you can do for an ill-hooked fish is to get it back into the water." https://www.themeateater.com/fish/bass/stop-pouring-soda-on-fish-gills

Good luck with that. Lake Minnetonka has been fighting a 'standing still' battle with milfoil since 1989. Harvesters cut it 3'-6' below the surface to keep channels and frequently traveled path's navigable, but even with thousands of tons harvested...they've basically only kept it at bay. Now there's this little gem "The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District board has decided to suspend its mechanical harvesting program on Lake Minnetonka until an aquatic invasive species specialist completes a full review of the program." https://www.hometownsource.com/laker_pioneer/news/local/lmcd-will-likely-suspend-ais-harvesting-program/article_a1af76cc-19f8-11e9-89f6-1b614066d6d1.html As well as the fact that a new hybrid of Eurasian Watermilfoil and native Northern Milfoil was discovered 3 years ago...one that's hardier. "The new crossbreed appears to be more resistant to treatment and control measures, according to the study, as more of this particular watermilfoil appears in areas that were treated with herbicides than those not being treated." https://www.hometownsource.com/laker_pioneer/news/local/new-aquatic-invasive-found-in-lake-minnetonka/article_6b02ee6c-1d26-599a-9043-f1ae64520375.html Learn to live with it and fish through it...swim-jigs are your friend.

Can't even target Walleye or Pike until 10 May once the season closes on 23 Feb...yep, everything except panfish closes then and doesn't open until Mother's Day Weekend.

We still have a closed season. LMB closes 23 Feb, opens for C&R on 10 May, opens for keepers 24 May. SMB closed for keepers on 8 Sept, open for C&R until 23 Feb, opens again same as LMB.

Well, we're actually talking open water...I can't target Bass until 10 May - so 104 days for that. So from open-water until then, target crappie and test/tweak the canoe mods.

Dude, how can it be that much longer than either @A-Jayor myself as you're south of both of us. Unless your legal season starts later. 78 Days and counting.

I'll be doing my finesse work on a Fury 702SF...occasional Ned work on a Spinmatic UL/F - but that's a 'budget' rod. Maybe the Sierra 702SF?

Your forecast in DC is running low-40s to low-50s for highs. I'd say try all of those...even slow-rolling spinners might be an idea too, or light swim-jigs.

I label the boxes, then label the compartments.

Long as you do regular maintenance, that cost is minimal I don't know about MD, but here in MN we can get a lifetime tag for any trailer rated under 3000# capacity. Cost me about $50...never have to buy tags again.

I think he's meaning an offset worm hook in the drop-shot position, so instead of just nose-hooking the plastic, it's rigged like for a T-Rig.

What type of boat are you talking about? My first year back fishing, I carted my canoe in the back of my Silverado with a bed-extender...but quickly came to the conclusion that launching/landing was a pain. So got a PWC trailer, modded it and now I trailer my canoe...much easier.

All of those will be thrown on my Dobyns 702, with the Neds also being tossed on my UL rig.

Ya, but he's already got the reel...and it's a BC.

I don't even know of any 6' rods still sold. Might have to go for a custom build.

If the boat isn't wired for a TM yet, you need to run some 8-gauge wire. Ring terminals at the battery ends (crimp/shrink tube) and the receptacle at the TM ends - the plugs/receptacle come with butt-splices, you just crimp them on. I would suggest...HIGHLY...that you get a good battery box with accessory outlets. Finder plugs into one of those with one of these. Don't run the TM and the sonar off the same attachment on the battery...what the TM can handle for power-pull would fry the sonar. A good box will have separate circuit breakers for the main terminals and accessory outlets. https://www.amazon.com/Roadpro-Replacement-Cigarette-Lighter-RPPS-225/dp/B0016LG0CY