txchaser

I'll second that H/MH. It fits in a really nice spot.

If I have hbirds at the console for the sidescan, but garmin up front, how are people managing the waypoint translation? Just kind of eyeballing it? I'm especially thinking about when I get close enough to drop the TM, how are you staying on target? Or do I really need to also have an hbird up front for this too?

I expect I'll buy a full-size boat this year and I'd love perspective on length. Details: No storage length constraints. Primary lake is smallish, less than 4000 acres Some other nearby lakes in TX that I'll probably end up fishing too, like Fork or OH Ivey Half the time I'll have a co- in the boat; sometimes a dog. Zero chance I'd be on big northern lakes on this boat. Sometimes like to be able to move around in really low water (less important, but still on the list) I really want to do this once for a while, vs changing, if I can. So while I can mostly get by with a smaller boat, I'd prefer to be in zero regrets mode. Assume anything I don't spend on the boat I'll just spend on more tackle, so no price difference concerns. What will I love and hate between a 19' and a 21', given the mission profile? What do you wish you had known before you bought your last boat?

Anyone have real details on how these compare to the Tat Elite non-ags? Same blank, different etc?

two ideas: 1) If you called a friend that was a good stick and said you were having a tough day, what questions would they ask you about what you saw so far? What would they be most likely to do next, given the answers to those questions? Using 'someone elses brain' helps me get out of lockdown. 2) just go on tour in the tacklebox or on the map. like, take a break and just dig around without expectations. "oh dang, a fluke would be perfect here" or "wait I haven't fished this hump, lemme run over there right quick"

If I can feel the tick of a blade of grass on my lure on flouro, it stands to reason the vibration of a noisy reel is making it back to the lure. How loud it is and whether the fish care is another question, but if one is big fish hunting it's a good assumption that details matter. It's either neutral or it's hurting and that sounds like a losing game to me.

Gamakatsu has a hook with an embedded swivel now. Might be a little narrow for a fluke unless it has an open belly.

Pro tip: the waterproof plastic bottom in a tackle bag also acts like a nice bathtub for your lures after a hard rain. Literally pouring water out. And the plano edge boxes are waterproof but not submerged like that for a couple hours.

Better fish while it's raining - seems like when the storm stops the bite shuts off hard for a bit.

At this point, something with flappy ends like the rage bug, and something with not flappy ends like a d-bomb or a rodent. Rage bug and some others have that lip that gives more action. watermelon(or GP) red flake, green pumpkin, black/blue. Probably default to the red flake because of the green tint.

Texas is really good with the sharelunker program. Assuming it was on public waters I'd call them so they can breed her. We are starting to see daughter and grand-daughter sharelunkers (13+) caught here, so it's legit. In a state where they'd kill the fish? Pics, measurements, and video of her swimming away.

I have both blanks, and while I like the extra-matte finish on the NFC, I otherwise can't tell the difference between the two.

The U or C shaped terminals are nice because it is a great connection but easy to get off the battery with a few turns of the screw/wingnut/etc.

Last time I had this question I just called the city and said something like "I'm going to put a kayak in lake X, is there anything I need to be aware of or any rules?" - they just said sure go ahead. Wrote down their name and went on about my business. Got some odd looks dragging it across the park but that's their issue not mine. Watching a local Karen call someone and start pitching a fit was almost as good as when they told her it was ok and she stormed off.

Bass don't have blue cones, so if you subtract blue from purple, it's red. Which is one of the colors bass see best (along with green). Put on your blue light blocker glasses and look at your tackle. Everything looks really different.

Some other stuff to try: Fluke, if they are up in the water column Silent jerk bait A rig and, I haven't tried this but it's on my list - a blade bait, but mid column, because you can get the shad size right. IMO the early summer shad eaters can be very picky about size

100% lost my first anchor this way.

Either that, or buried up under mats that take 1.5-2 oz to get through with a punch rig. IMO punching is an underused technique, probably because it's so much feast or famine.

tell me more?

Double SDJ tested stronger than the single SDJ.

I've moved entirely to zinc-based sunscreen, and I'm pretty sure I'm avoiding the potential for funky chemicals, and the stick version of it stays on really well.

Fins and Vicious are my two favorites for premium braid.