txchaser

Card arrived and registered ok. @Functional it is a must-have for me for two reasons 1) ability to make my own maps. Mapping seems ok, but subtle differences matter 2) the relief shading lets you see some things that are there on the map but are kind of hard to see that clearly.

Ended up buying one on the bay. Reputable seller so we will see. About $100 price difference.

Best place to buy the Garmin Vision+ card? Also is there a download option or card only? I see a pretty wide range of prices out there.

MBR is a winner on chatterbaits, unless you are really ripping it out of the grass hard, in which case it's too floppy. As said earlier, fish it and find out.

For what it's worth, I have both NFC and post-NFC (new) heliums from Kistler. I really can't tell the difference between the two, other than one is a little more shiny.

+1 can confirm, fishing chatterbaits like a swinghead (just off the bottom) with the occasional pause to touch the bottom is a thing. One of my biggest shocker days was this - pretty much throwing the tackle box trying to get them biting in 20fow, and ended up having to get the net a bunch of times. Maybe my biggest true winter bag ever.

Seems like a perfect frog reel if you aren't going to cough up for the zillion HD.

If he lived in another state I'd be more inclined to cut him some slack. But... Texas is his home state.

One thing I'll add... much like a carolina rig, if you find a transition, weed clump/edge, a stump or basically anything different than the regular bottom, there's high payoff for stopping right there. And with the jig you can use the obstruction to sway the whole bait, ie movement without moving the jig. Most of my larger jig fish have been after a good amount of time stopped, but moving in place. I usually have better results when I drag (or just reel a little like tom, jig doesn't come off the bottom much) than when I hop. With the exception of when I need big hops.

100% If you have weeds/weedline (even if no longer growing) I'd add a rattletrap. I'd have never thought of it as a winter bait, but last winter changed my mind bigtime.

A few thoughts: everyone's still hunting for a stick bait as good as a senko. if it was out there, one of us would have found it by now I think. Are there some that are very close, or work better when you need a faster or slower fall? yes of course. still not a senko. IMO this question about jerkbaits is kind of similar - MB gets the standard because it really is that good, and it seems to be consistent quality/performance too. *however* I think it's a stronger bait as one gets further north. Cover is heavy down here in texas and the idea of fishing a vision through standing timber on 10lb line is just too much. Same for the weedlines that often persist nearly year round. In my JB box- Vision 110's and jr's in +0, +1, +2 (and I'm going to buy the JDM +3). My curse with these is smaller than average fish. 6th sense small/large/regular/silent in +0 and +1 (probably top pick for texas-like environments where it is heavier line and on a baitcaster. A few LC's as they are 'taller' - sometimes the fish want a meatier presentation. It is very noticeable with these baits. A few shimano world boost which are absolute sleeper baits and have my top 3 JB fish. Sunny day bait.

Get Siebert to make you up some wire tied heads/skirts. My hookup ratio improved with wire tie for sure.

7'2" and 7'4" MH/R

Only one left of each of the PBJ and yellow. Looks like you need a new run on all of them!

2024 Tatula with hyperdrive gears are $110. (Search 'tatula 2024' on amazon) I bought one a few weeks ago to see how different it is than the older models. Net of it is this - it's an amazing reel at this price point. If you need to be in the near $100 zone it is a definite buy. I don't feel like a get a lot on an upgrade to a zillion for (as an example) chatterbaits or a rattletrap.

Comment about open-water cranking above and below the bait ball was A+

My hook sets are based a lot on the setup, hook size, etc. With that said, the default and far away most reliable hookset is @WRB's reel and sweep, and some version of that works on almost every presentation for me except punching, where I'm pretty vertical and have no slack on braid anyway.

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You could, and it would would work just fine, but it's really not built for that. As an example it has a great big handle on it. perfect for frogs or punching. The 2024 tatula is available in japan now, and is usually 115 or so. It has hyperdrive gears. I have one and it's not a zillion, but compared to all the tatulas that came before it is butter smooth.

If you end up going to Ivey, JB Thomas is just down the road. Some quality fish coming out of there. That's maybe a better "fly and guide" trip than adding on to east texas though. But yeah, east texas is likely your best bet. So many quality waters. Even had a Sharelunker (over 13) out of Lake Athens this year.

Your list feels like you were expecting them to feed down. They might have been feeding up instead.

Rod, and the line, and the gear ratio of the reel. It's all kind of optional, but it improves the outcomes for sure. Three examples that come to mind: 1) a shorter rod with some give for jerkbaits. The way you fish it the tip really needs to be down, and it is much easier to do that with a shorter rod. And the give helps with the smallish trebles on most. Lighter line than most of my setups. Don't care much about reel speed. 2) The rod I use for big single hook swimbaits is long and has enough stiffness and backbone to get the owner beast to penetrate properly. It'd be a train wreck with treble hooks. Heavier line than most setups, prefer a 7.x or better to be able to catch up to them when I'm getting bit from behind. 3) for me, I'm much more accurate flipping with a shorter rod. I can't explain it but it's like night and day. But I wouldn't want to use that rod for casting a jig. Standard line, fast reel so I don't have to reel as much getting it back to the boat. And... 3-5 rods is plenty to get the job done just fine.

@spartyon8 https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started is like bass resource but for this question. Please go there before you hire anyone on a long term agreement or make any big changes. Bogle is the guy that started Vanguard. What people seem to like about it is that it's dead simple to implement, and has a big community for help. Bogleheads investment philosophy We suggest you start your journey by reading the Bogleheads investment philosophy first. In short, this is: Prepare to invest Create a portfolio Maintain discipline Live below your means Develop a workable plan Never bear too much or too little risk Invest early and often Diversify Invest with simplicity Use index funds where possible Minimize costs Minimize taxes Never try to time the market Stay the course[note 1] There are some short video segments that introduce these principles. See: Video:Bogleheads® investment philosophy.

Rattletrap in cold water, yes. I've tried the speed cranking in the winter, but it's never panned out for me.