MN Fisher

Especially the instructive ones - I think I've downloaded 20 hours or more of educational fishing videos.

Simply put - the lateral line works kind of like sonar, but without the emitting part. It receives info on water pressure and movement. Even in pitch-black water, by sensing minute vibrations in the water that it recognizes as belonging to baitfish, a Bass - or any other predatory fish including sharks - can target them strictly on that info...no visual sense needed. This is why vibrating lures work so well in stained/dark water...the bass senses it and it's close enough to the vibrations produced by baitfish, that it strikes at the 'food' even without a visual signal. <- Aquatic Biology major in College

I've got my Trion 30 mounted on a GX-2, 6' medium/fast. This is my drop-shot, in-line spinner, small crankbait combo.

I've had my UL reel on an Ugly Stick for years - never let me down I've also got one of my medium spinners on an Ugly Stick - new purchase last spring. The power and action were just fine. If I need to replace the rod on my old baitcaster or my other spinners, Ugly Stick is one I'll look at. Being on a fixed income, my budget doesn't allow expensive rods/reels.

Sort boxes in tackle bag - for the 500th time Strip last year's line off reels Examine contour maps of lakes you plan on fishing Search for catch histories of said lakes Peruse online stores for lures, accessories to put in your wish list Keep hitting 'refresh' on the Forum to see if there's any interesting talk

Ya, more deep-sea reels - capacity of 940 yds of 100# braid kind of gives it away for the Shimano. The Diawa's even worse - 1000yds of 150# braid. With auto-retrieve reels now out - how long before they have auto-rods for the 'sport' fishermen...the ones who charter a boat for that one trip so they can say they did it. All they have to do is have their hand on the rod - not even do anything - and they can say they 'caught' this huge fish.

The SW in the model number means it's a salt-water reel. I'm thinking this is a very heavy duty reel for marlin, swordfish, etc. Those are usually more expensive, but jeez, that's just insane.

The set I have (Not HF...a set my dad gave me) has a bar that slips into holes in the handles for additional torque.

I would agree with that. My GP setup is a 2000 sized, just right. My panfish setup is a 1000 (smaller? Anyone know the spool size on a Pflueger 640?)

If you're willing to spend the money, go for it. I worked in a machine shop where we had to supply our own tools, and as a low-level person I couldn't afford the high-buck items. I purchased and used HF tools and never had an issue with the manual ones...the electrical tools I did spend more - Ryobi.

I have a full set of precision drivers - slotted, phillips and nut. If you want a cheap set that'll work https://www.harborfreight.com/16-piece-precision-screwdriver-set-4143.html

I second the Trion. Got one myself last spring and it was a work-horse for me. Though I put mine on an Ugly Stick.

I looked at the Shock when I was deciding on the rod for my new pitch/flip rig. Went with the Diawa Aird-X, only $5 more and based on the reviews, a better rod in that price point.

That's my take on it. You can pull the same stuff with a drop-shot tied closer to the weight and bounce that along.

I use a spinning rig for my drop-shotting. Pflueger Trion 30 loaded with 8# FC on a 6' M/F Ugly Stick.

I am weak. Got some money from the parents for Christmas - was told that it was to be 'play' money. Ordered my pitching rig (Fuego CT-XS with an Aird-X 7' H/F rod ), couple colors of shroom heads, Z-Man TRD worms (3 colors), Yamamoto Senkos (3 colors), a couple chatterbaits and another 3600 box for my bag to hold the ordered worms (putting me to 3 boxes of soft baits). Also ordered the battery box for the canoe - last purchase needed for the setup. I also stashed away money for a trailer for the canoe. No more lifting it, and since I'll be putting it in the garage - no need to un-ship anything between fishing trips.

In this one, he's jumping it through a mucky bottom. If the bottom is gravel or tight-pack sand, dragging will work. All other bottoms, you need to hop it through.

From what I've seen, that's the way it's suppose to be worked. You hop it along, not drag it.

Before you 'stored' it, did you disconnect the fuel hose, run the motor out of gas and 'dump' the remaining in the tank into your car/truck; and have you filled the tank with fresh gas. Gas left alone without something like Stay-bil will start to 'decompose', the plug(s) will get a thin sheath of a varnish type material and so will the fuel filter and valves.

Thanks everyone for the opinions. Given the sale price on it, I've ordered a Fuego CT-XS and an Aird-X 7' H/F rod to go with it. I should see them the first week of Jan.

Because of how they screwed me when I was a seller - I refuse to give them any of my business. I don't care who you are, you sell through E-Bay only, I don't buy from you.

I don't do E-Bay - I was a seller there until they made it "seller wrong-buyer right" no matter who was at fault.

Anyone thinking of a Fuego CT - Amazon has them for under $75 right now for all three speeds. I might bite the bullet and get my pitch/flip combo now as they also have the Aird X rods in stock.

You're doing better than me. Most expensive piece of gear I own is my Pflueger Trion 30 spinning reel. I am looking at a pitching/flipping rig - but that whole combo will cost me only about 170 including line. Fixed income = limited budget.

It'll spook them less than white light, but they can see red light. Red is absorbed faster than other colors, but it takes about 20' of water before it 'disappears'. I'd get a headlamp that allows you to change intensity, then use the lowest level light - even red - you can get by with.