MN Fisher

I don't use leaders on any of my rigs. Two of them have braid and changing lures is just as easy as on my mono/hybrid lines. Just use the correct knots for the braid and it's a cinch.

I'm thinking finger(s) under the gill-plate.

I cut my tags to around 1/4" - just to make them look neat, not for any other reason.

Superstitions are...superstitious.

The rod I use for frogs is also on the 'budget' side. Daiwa Aird-X H/F...tosses small and medium frogs well and cost me all of $48.

My wife doesn't fish, but supports my 'addiction'. Here's a shot of us at our wedding reception back in '90.

Case in point: I was on the water today in my canoe...thank everything I had the outriggers. I was anchored well inside the marker buoys for 'No Wake Zone', but a number of boats passed by outside the buoys at speed. I still ended up with a couple gallons of water in the canoe from wakes. These weren't all pleasure boaters, most of them were fishing boats. I know there's a Muskie tourney on the lake this weekend, so it had to be pre-fishing. You'd think they'd be a little more courteous to someone obviously fishing themself...but no...they had to get to their spot RIGHT NOW. Sometimes I hate power-boaters...even if they're also fishers.

Personally, I'd want a 10%-15% cushion. So for a 5000# towing capacity that would be 500#-750# - 1640# is more than enough.

I don't notice any real difference between 2-piece and 1-piece rods. Modern ones become a single unit when joined unlike years ago when they used metal ferrules at the joining. Being on a budget, if it's a choice between them, I'll get the less expensive version even if it is a 2-piece.

I'm on a limited budget, so my rods are at the low end. It's another Aird-X...though the crankbait rod I'm looking to get is a Tatula-XT (TXT701MRB-G)

In general - I've been throwing chatters and buzzbaits on a H/F and spinners on a M/F. I have a MH/F coming tomorrow and it will be the new 'bladebait' rod. Cranks I've been throwing on the M/F or the old M/M, seems to be better on the latter, so my wishlist now has a better quality M/M on it that will be my crankbait rod.

Tried drop-shot last week and it was a zero...which is why I didn't try it this week. The bottom of North Arm (where I was the past two weeks) is muck - had to rinse the anchor every time I pulled it up.

I've got 20# Power Pro on my President - rarely have a backlash, haven't noticed any dig-in, and I get plenty of distance on my casts. Most of it is dialing the reel in properly - tension, brakes & drag.

I gotta up my deeper game. Out at 8am again, one 14" LMB at about 8:40 in the shallows, a bluegill and a pumpkinseed followed that, then nothing. Went to deeper water where the sonar showed them. Tried T-Rigs, wacky Senko and swim-jigs there, but nothing wanted any of it.

I use it. Too hot for gloves right now, so it goes on the back of my hands and wrists where my shirts don't cover, also on the back of my neck in case my hat doesn't shade it. One application last me my entire 3-4 hours out. Don't notice any scent and it does appear to be grease-less.

I bring two hand-towels for just this reason. My sonar may not be touch-screen, but the tablet I use for photos and contour maps is.

Great info there, Glenn.

If you've got a tablet, you can use this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PT3T8TV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have this clamped to my 'work table' with my tablet in it. Most of the time I have the I-Boating app running (like Navonics) but I also have the photo app in the background. 10 second timer on the photo app and I can take a pic 'at distance'. My profile pic was taken this way (look in 'Latest Catch' for the bigger version.

I use chatterbaits or spinnerbaits through weeds with little pickup. Weedless swimjig is another option.

Depends on how thick the slop is...I get by with 50#, but if it's really thick I'd consider going to 65#. 80# seems a bit much.

Depends on the lure. Larger ones - 1/2oz or bigger spinner/chatter/buzzbaits...I'll go with a twin-tail. Smaller ones of those three I'll use single-tail. Swim-jigs is either single-tail or paddle-tail.

Any decent battery box will have built in circuit breakers and a built in meter. I just press a button on the top of the box and a 5-bar meter lights up showing me the charge level left.

Oh there are so many techniques you can do with those two rigs in addition to the finesse. Recommended lines: 30# braid on the Supreme. I'm a fan of Power Pro original - 150yds for $15 at TW 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid on the Trio...if you want a leader on the braid, use the Hybrid. 600 yd spool is only $11 at TW Recommended Techniques: T-Rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits on the Supreme Crankbaits, jerkbaits, Neko, T-Rigs (yes, again) on the Trio I'm sure there's more, but that's what comes to mind off the top of my head. I'd pick 2-3 of those and practice...practice...practice.

Backing isn't necessary with braid...I don't use it on my BCs and don't have problems with slippage. Just make sure the braid is secured to the spool. Tie it through the holes instead of around the spool and it won't slip.

Crankbait with FC - or Yo-Zuri hybrid which is what I use.