HogsNHawgs

Checking out a few boats this weekend and next, and I was wondering about some electronics. I find the dual screen in the cockpit setup most appealing. Debating between the following: 2 x Helix 9 Mega Chirp SI+ OR 2 x Elite-12 Ti-2 Which one would y'all go with, and why? I'd imagine the mega has better imaging, but wouldn't the bigger screens on the Elite-12 suffice? Hell, I'm even open to Garmin offerings. I'm worried about getting "paralysis by analysis", and I don't have a problem spending more than a few grand on electronics, but just looking for the biggest bang for the buck. My ideal layout will be as follows 2 in the cockpit 1 big screen on the deck (may add a standalone later for a panoptics or whatever the others may come out with).

Worms work just fine, but you don't get a reaction strike that a moving bait might generate. With today's electronics being able to find schooling bass has never been less difficult than it is now. I'm partial to throwing floating worms carolina-rigged on offshore schools. It's a change of pace when I'm vertical jigging and they aren't reacting to the spoons. EDIT: In 5 years later. Jeesh.

Okuma makes a heckuva swimbait rod. I also like Lamiglas as well. Growing up on the west coast in the saltwater I really wish the Seeker Rod company would make a line of freshwater rods. Their saltwater sticks are amazing.

I was always told that I needed a lefty reel because when I cast and pronate my arm the gears and handle should be pointing upward for "optimal" distance. That's all B.S. cuz I can throw baits pretty far doing it the "wrong way" with my righty reel.

I'm an odd lefty too.

YUP! I only use a scale when I'm offshore fishing really heavy stuff. I'd rather have a reel with max drag rated at 11# but super buttery smooth at 6# than a herky-jerky drag with a max rating of 25.

I LOL every time I see insane drag ratings. Growing up on the west coast we'd set our 60# rigs to 20# of drag. On a 7' rod it equates to 140 lb/ft of torque. That's a TON of drag and it would pin your knuckles to the rail of boat. Other than the heaviest of XH Sticks tossing gnarly punch baits and big swim baits most of our rods are rated for "reasonable drag" in the line rating range of the rod. So, a rod rated for, say, 8-17, means that on the high end of the "reasonable drag" range this rod most likely will handle a max of 9 or 10# of drag before potentially failing. I've seen people tossing 65# braid on a 10-30# rated rod and set their drag according to their line. Big mistake and a bunch of ruined rods. Again, let's convert this to torque... As I understand it, and correct me if I'm wrong, fishing a 7'6" rod rated for 10-25 lbs with 15# line and a "reasonable" drag of 6# equates to putting upwards of 45# of torque on that fish (6# x 7.5 ft= 45 lb/ft of torque). That's a much heavier amount of pulling than most people think. So I think people should, in effect, ignore all those max-drag claims that manufacturers brag about. I could care less if "brand X" has a 20 or 25# max drag. I'm much more concerned about how SMOOTH the drag is a 6-8#. That's the really important number! Just my $.02. I'll get off my soapbox. By the way, I absolutely love this site. SO MUCH INFO to be found here!!!!

I’m liking that little shoutout to Fenwick.

I’ve fished a few of the duckett rods. I like them on shallow cranks. Hey, pardon my ignorance, but where do I find a link to the gear that is not to be named? I don’t wanna cause problems by mentioning things I shouldn’t out of ignorance.

Ark Rods Tharp Series Guntersville Spcl or the Tharp Series King Cobra. $130. Or for their upgraded rod: IVK74HFC 7’4″ F Mag H 50-80 Braid 3/8-2 $149.95

I'm kinda diggin those Tharp Series rods. So many good choices out there. I can't afford $500+ for some of these rods, and every time I get the itch of stuff like that I remember catching bass on finesse baits and ugly sticks when I was a kid. Not knocking the guys who spend serious coin on the high dollar stuff, just saying a $130-$180 rod can still be a pretty darn good rod.

Checking these out, and also the Phenix lineup of rods. Anyone have anything to report on the Ark lineup?

I wish I could multiple-like this post!

I came from Cali, where all we did was throw big baits looking for giants. When I first moved to Texas I couldn't fathom why, in a state LOADED with Toads, very very very few people were fishing big wakes, glides and swimbaits. Favorite wake: MS Slammer or Rat Favorite sub-surface: Triple Trout Slow Sink Favorite bottom bait: Alpha Trout or Huddleston fished SLOW on the bottom. Butch Brown rigged. ** Little Creeper Trash Fish is another outstanding bait that fishes well on the bottom and on the sink.