Mbirdsley

So I finally have my bigger boat. I have purchased and installed within the last month a minnkota 80lbs 24volt terrova trolling motor. By spring I’m looking to up grade my fish finder. Right now all I have is a garmin striker4 cv mounted on it. I’ve really have only have used the fish finder for depths readings in the past and have done pretty good. Looking to get better I’m kinda confused on some stuff. The trolling motor has a generic transducer in it. To get every thing out of the trolling motor and the I pilot the fish finder has to be a humming bird? even though, it is compatible with other brands? In the spring I’m looking roughly to spend $1000-$1200 On a fish finder.

This would make a lot of sense actually

I’m 6ft 4 I like shorter rods IE a 6ft6 rod for jerk baits, poppers, or anything you have to move the rod aggressively. Just seems like it is easier to get the rod out of its own way when it is shorter. 7ft is kinda a do everything rod length. I only have one longer at 7ft4 for punching into heavy stuff.

I use that same reel on st.croix bassx 7ft4 heavy power rod. I bought it for pitching into heavy vegetation. Mine has the shallow spool

Early July I gobbled up all the black/blue flake crazy legs chiggers I could find at miejers. I’ll just cut the attenas off and than they become regular chiggers. getting this late into summer I wonder if the big box stores will get any more fishing stuff in. Better bet might be to order direct.

Originally, I wanted bass mojo Heavy but, bought the bassx instead. Bass pro didn’t have any H 7’4 or taller mojo’s at the time I was there. I bought a H 7ft4 bassx for pitching into Heavy slop. At first I didn’t care for but, I had a cheaper accurist reel on it abd it wasn’t up to the task of heavy pitching or flipping. Bought a better reel for it and now I like the rod a lot. For me it’s a good heavy flipping pitching rod for 120 bucks and has a really fast tip. Only reason id get rid of it is to step up to a bass mojo or better rod. I have other rod needs at the moment so it will be a while

That’s exactly right. I liked running rebel jerk baits for pike in the river because, they were inexpensive if a toothy critter took one. However, I learned to buy 2 at a time due one probably wouldn’t swim right no matter how much tuning was done to it. I havnt been able to find this gold and black backed one any where. Places only keep the silver one in stock this ones be through a couple northerns

This time of year in Michigan middle of the day is my best time to find fish. However, I have never seen the water warmer than 84 degrees. Punching pads, and t-rigging works. In the past I’ve done good on spinner baits and cranks. I’ve not been on a crank or spinner bait bite all summer though

Biggest issue with force is getting parts. We have had some great runners and some not so great runners come through. With anything else, if you take care of something it will last. like said above they Were a lower end motor and usually The people who bought them abused the crap out of them. Regular normal maintenance was not in their vocabulary

In all seriousness though, I am glad right now I have the ability to make jigs at the moment. considering how bare the shelves are. Even before this nobody within 45 minutes of me really sold Any kind of bass jigs. That poison tail mold so far has been worth its weight in gold. I have taken some nice fish using it as either a swim jig or using the 1 oz one for light punching. caught nice fish on my Arkie mold too. Closest thing to bass jig I have access to are itsy bugs that Walmart sells and I’m not a fan of those. Seem really cheap

Medium light or medium. For a long time I used a mh berkly tactix wacky rig edition ( to me it felt like more of a medium rod also my fav rod for wacky rigging around cover). This happened to me the other day wading the Shiawassee River. Shiawassee River right now is only avg probably 2-3 feet and deep holes 4-6 feet. I hookEd into a 17 inch smallie (There are bigger fish that in the Shiawassee) on my ML dobyns colt while dragging a tube. it basically did what it wanted because, I had 8 lbs red label on it. I think I’m bumping up to 10 lbs flouro now. After hooking it I should have moved to a better position( my fault) but, he dove under a log and I lost him. . Never had that problem with the Mh with 8 lbs berkly xt. My main goal is to find a good M spinning rod/reel this winter. I guess I’d rather be over gunned than under gunned on a river with logs and other junk on the bottom.

Finally was able to get the havocs going this year on the maple river. I was using a craw fatty. Are they going to keep the craw fatty in the regular Berkley line up? If not I will have to fine a bigger craw than a chigger craw.

Like said above I have used them a lot as trailers for chatter baits and spinner baits. I bought some green pumpkin ones to actually put in a jig head for small river bass. Just haven’t gotten around to using them

Zoom green pumpkin. All you really need

They work fine I bought 2 backs last year. Only issue I had is after a fish or 2 they start to separate Horizontally where the different laminate colors meet. Last year they were skunk repellent. Never caught any thing huge but, would save me from taking the L for the day. I was just T-rigging them

Caught my personal best on a #5 delta craw shad rap last week of March. WAter temp was 45 degrees on a central mi lake. They seem to work well in colder water. I can’t get them cast worth a crap on my bait casters though. So I was throwing on a M/l dobyns colt. It appears to me they are a cold water bait. Once your into the spawn water temps I put them away. I plan doing some fall fishing for once this year. I’ll wait untill than to break them out. I think they would make a great trolling bait

I’ll look into it. That’s a lot of jigs To have to make though. The molds look nice. I’d have to sell some to justify that one. I’m really trying to avoid that. I was bored looking around seeing what it would take to melt tungsten For jigs. Apparently, tungsten melt point is ( going off top of my head) 6200f or there abouts. Any how dam hot. Way hotter that I have capital or means to produce.

I’ve got a 1 oz poison tail which, actually works pretty good for light pads. Just not enough for thick stuff

I’ll be honest I haven't really looked all that hard. Is there any molds that will drop a 1 1/2 oz flipping jig? Seems like most don’t go that big. I’m sure if there is I would be dropping a pretty penny on it.

This is one my more favorite ways to fish. I just need to find a mold that drops 1 1/2 oz jigs and Figure out how to melt tungsten and id be in heaven.

I have 5:4:1 reel for cranking. I like the lower gears. More than anything it makes me slow down. Sometimes with out realizing Id find myself burning a crank on faster gear ratio

The cherry wood is not very sensitive at all. You would think it would be but, that is not one Berkley’s better rods in all honesty. What about a Berkley shock spinning rod? I haven’t tried the spinning version of it Or even know if it comes in UL. I’ve seen them in M/l and M. I do have the bait casting lighting shock rod version and I actually have no complaints considering it was a $50 rod. It’s fairly sensitive. if they don’t make a UL shock rod does or it does not interest you. I’d go with crossfire

1. I’ll never use gloves for fishing. I played 8 years of football with my hand on ground. 4 years of that at the D3 College level. I didn’t use gloves than I’m not using them now. I have enough free non fishing hats to last a life time. Just personal preference I’m not paying money for a hat from a lure, rod, or reel company. If I was given one included with a purchase or give away or somthing I’d wear it. As far as expensive shirts same with hunting Shirts. Most sporting goods stores sells cheaper dry fits in the exercise department. I mean obviously you would want the darker more natural colors. I have done enough of differnt kinds of fishing that I have learned where I can cut corners to try to cut coast down . making my own stuff helps, well more with same money. I did break down and finally buy a pair of $180 polarized Oakley’s. So much better than $20 Walmart ones I was buying 3-4 times a year so it’s a wash actually if they good ones last. as far as the rest of it I’m as guilty as any body. Just bought an $1800 trolling motor with spot lock, gps, and wire less remote. I couldn’t imagine not using some sort of trolling motor for fishing. The other night I’m fishing some pads and 3 old timers On vacation show up in a tin boat. They dropped anchor and started fishing gills with worms and bobbers having the time of their lives. That’s what it’s about right there!!!. 98% of the time I fish alone I guess that’s my fault for taking fishing as serious as I do. I’m buying more and more expensive rods and reels all the time and I’m not even tournament fishing yet. I do like how the better rods and reels feel. With that said other than hunting and model aircraft building fishing is my main hobby. I could be at the bar couple times a week .

I have been tall in on tungsten. From 1/16 to 1 1/2 oz jigs. IMHO I think I can detect the bottom better. Also, in the smallest sizes the fish don’t see it. When I’m using 1/16 or 1/8 I t-rig a worm and it acts like a horizontal wacky rig. Worm slowly flutters to the ground. I buy in bulk on eBay. Only issue I have with fraying is river fishing like on the Tittabawassee and the weight gets Wedged and stuck in rocks. pulling and reefing on it will fray 20 lbs test. However, I’m giving it hell when doing it.

So far this year I could throw my entire Plastic tackle collection away except black/blue flake, green pumpkin ( any darker green color), and summer craw. I’ve been using black/blue flake in stained to dirty water and green pumpkin in gin clear water and summer craw in any other color water. Summer craw has been on fire for me this summer.