MN Fisher

If you're capable of doing some work - a modified canoe is what I have. Canoe, trailer and mods (so far) came to about $1400 and about 30 hours of work. More mods this winter will bring the total cost to around $1600 and 45-50 hours. With the outriggers, this is stable enough to stand and cast. That cost includes the Sonar, TM, battery, battery box and charger.

This is why, after I looked into swimbaits and my budget, I decided to pass...I have enough problems keeping my spending down.

This how I did it. Re-started four years ago with three old rigs I'd had for decades. After year one, replaced those with newer rigs, after year two, added a couple more rigs, added two more during year three and this year added a seventh. Build up slowly as you add experience and new techniques to your repertoire.

My personal list is slightly different. I use VMC Spin-Shot hooks for drop-shotting and Owner Wacky hooks for wacky-rigs. If I went to one hook for both techniques, it'd be a tossup between the Owner Wacky and Owner Mosquito. I think the Mosquito hooks would work fine for Wacky or Drop-shotting. Someone else might have a different opinion

Ya, lures with poured lead/tungsten heads like spinners, chatters and buzzbaits - the weight listed is the amount of lead/tungsten. Now add blades, skirts and hooks to that. If you use a trailer it gets even heavier.

And we're going to have highs around the freezing mark this weekend

There is that. If it's a narrow-body worm/lizard I don't even use an EWG, just a standard offset, but in that same 2/0 size up to 6" worms. My current PB is 4.7#, my best this past season was 3.94#...so I hear you.

Exactly - when I do full tear-down/clean/lube/reassemble during the winter - the roller bushings get cleaned and a scant drop of oil...yes, I disassemble the bail too. Done that forever...even my old Pflueger 640 and Cardinal 562, both of which I've retired now, got that treatment.

All three of my spinners have bushings instead of bearings. I've not had a problem with any of them.

That's about a 5#er - I've caught 8-10# Northern on Rapalas of all types and never had one bend...might have been one (2) that made it through QC. Happens even with the best hooks (Owner, Gamy) that some 'bad' ones sneak through.

Two items 1) Get a fitted cover for everyday storage 2) Get a carport canopy to protect against hail/snow/etc

Only time I replace trebles is if there's an issue. 90%+ of what I get are Rapalas, which come with VMC hooks, so they're fine. If you need trebles, make sure to get the same size as what came on the original - you can get that info from the manufacturers site. My list of other types is fairly simple Drop-shot in #1 and #2 Worm Hooks in 2/0 and 4/0 EWG in 2/0 and 4/0 Flipping in 3/0 and 5/0 That covers pretty much everything I do with hooks, from T-Rigs to drop-shotting to flip/pitch/punch to wacky.

All I can say is get something that'll handle those at a reasonable price.

From 'Findlaw' - https://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/intellectual-property/patent-infringement-and-litigation.html "Patent infringement occurs when another party makes, uses, or sells a patented item without the permission of the patent holder." " Direct Infringement: This occurs when a product covered by a patent is manufactured without permission. " So making something that duplicates a patented item, even for personal use, is illegal.

"I'll take 'Reasons Chevy is Best' for $250, Alex"

Then they should take it off their website... Check Boston Whalers - they're close to a skiff design. The Montauk comes in a 15' length. https://www.bostonwhaler.com/family-overview/montauk-boat-models/

About the 1/2-5/8 oz mark - total weight...a 3/8 swim jig with skirt and trailer would be about 1/2 oz or so.

Carolina Skiff still has the J-series - 12', 14', 16' https://www.carolinaskiff.com/kit-boats/j-series-kit-boats

I've got three Aird-X's - 6'6" M/F, 7' MH/F and 7'H/F. They do what I ask them to and have enough sensitivity for me. For the 1/4 oz lures I'd go with a M/F - 6'6" or 7'...your preference on length.

Given how much money BP has lost due to various things...they're in major CYA mode. The more vague the response, the easier it is to slip away from 'things'.

I concur - I've cast T-Rigs with 1/4 oz weights. 2/0 hook with a 6" ribbon-tail with my Fuego CT...and that's with the original spool. A good reel can handle lighter weight lures, and you don't have to spend an arm-and-a-leg to get a good reel.

'Please, sir, I want some more.'

I'm afraid it'd result in permanent 'drain bamaging'. (twitch-twitch)

Not only does my President 25 not grind, but neither do my Trion-30 or my Avocet-2000 - and those last two are 'cheap' reels. Of course I clean and lube/oil them regularly - at least once a season if not more - so that may be why. If I was going to get another spinner - it'd be a Pflueger or Mitchell - both those brands have done well by me for 50 years.

A bit late - I've already gotten most of my Fishmas stuff - just some hardware to do more mods to the canoe left to get. What I've gotten between B-Day prezzies (week before T-Day) and Fishmas purchases