billmac

Are there any decent baitcasting reels that will throw 1/16 to 1/8 oz lures and are in the $100 range or less?

As has been mentioned, the business of being a pro has changed, and navigating the crazy world of social media may be a factor also. If you don't have a boatload of sponsors and aren't making money off social media, you don't seem to be able to make a living being a pro. That Bassmaster article was interesting. Looks like Roland was still kicking butt up into his 60s.

What is it, specifically, do you think that causes a decline in tournament success as a pro-angler ages? Inability to keep up with new trends? Simple physical issues? Concentration? I know Rick Clunn is still enjoying some success but he seems to be the outlier. Second question: Is Roland Martin still fishing tournaments? I see him talking about tournaments in his Youtube channel but I'm guessing it's not at the elite level. He was my hero 30 years ago when I thought I wanted to be a pro fisherman.

I think they'll call our part of NY "Southern Ontario". Nice perch.

I've never been able to figure out where upstate NY is, because you guys are all south of me. We'll have ice for weeks yet.

Meeney Spin or Beetle Spin

I've said this in other threads, but one thing that got me excited about the MLF format was that after watching countless FLW and BASS tournament videos, one thing that became clear (at least to me) was that the anglers did not respect the resource (fish). Clearly the MLF organizers think so too.

No offense taken. I'm not an experienced boat fisherman, but I have my first bass boat in my yard now and I'm eagerly awaiting ice-out, so hopefully I'll remedy my lack of deep water experience. I'm a little curious though about the distances you are talking about. So you're fishing 25' deep, but what does that translate into for casting? It still doesn't seem like we're talking about an extremely long cast.

Like I said, I'll cast as long as I have to, but I'm not much of a deep water fisherman. Most of my experience is in rivers and smaller reservoirs. I'm more used to casting at a target.

Depends on what you mean by on top of them but I want to be as close as I can without spooking the fish. Shorter casts are more accurate, better hook set, and less playing of the fish if you intend to release them. I'll cast long if I have to but I won't cast long just because I can.

I would say 30-40 yards if I had to, but I'm a big believer in short casts. I would rather move to my target than stay put and cast a long way to it.

Other sports practice their skills before a game, they don't practice by playing the other team. My thought about a no practice tourney is to create more of a challenge for the fishermen. How they fish a body of water cold, with only their experience and a map. I think any changes to a tournament should be for two main reasons: 1. To protect the fish. Tournaments should seek to do as little harm to the fish and the fishery as possible. 2. To make winning more challenging. It seems like every advance in technology and change in tournament structure has the sole purpose of giving greater advantage to the fisherman. I wouldn't mind seeing a reversal of that.

How about a no-practice tourney?

Just watched a youtube video of Roland Martin fishing out of a kayak, but it looked more like a mini catamaran. It was definitely a sweet setup. I think it was from Blue Sky Boatworks. Unfortunately it costs a little more than I paid for an old bassboat. I think if I was going to go small, I'd go with something like a Sundolphin.

Are there any kneeling kayaks?

Hydrowaves are permissable?

I like my kayak but I like being higher up when I'm fishing. I've been known to stand in my canoe (don't try this at home kids).

Has anyone told you that you look just like Al Lindner?

Let me clarify. Obviously you can fish from anything that floats. But kayak fishing seems to be a "thing" now, in a way that canoe fishing doesn't seem to be. I have kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and now a bassboat. I think for me I would much rather fish from a canoe than a kayak, but that's fine if someone disagrees. I'm just wondering why there seems to be an emphasis on kayaks.

I see that I spelled Daiwa wrong. I'll bet I would fall in love with the Ryoga if someone with more money than me gave me one. I don't think I would spend that much money on a reel even if I could afford it.

I was just thinking this morning about my first baitcaster, a Diawa Millionaire I purchased almost 40 years ago. Back then (in yankeeland) no one was using baitcasters, but I was a BASS and tournament junkie so I spent a fortune (at the time, $54) for it. A thousand backlashes later, and I knew I'd never go back to spincasting. I see that they actually have a modernized version and it's very tempting. The only thing holding me back is that it takes about a million yards of line to fill it. Anyone use the Millionaire?

I was considering putting a bimini top on my boat, just to keep the sun off any passengers I might have with me on the water. Has anyone done this? Is it as easy to install as it looks? Any gotchas I should watch out for?

I like the flasher idea. I've thought about how it would be cool if they had a kind of throwback tournament, with flashers and a 10 lb bait limit. I think MLF has had some tournaments that were mystery locations and I like that a lot. I don't think MLF treats 10 lb bass and 1 lb bass the same. A 10 lb bass and 10 one lb bass count the same, and I'm fine with that. Is there not a big bass award in the MLF?

If you were designing a professional tournament from the ground up, or given carte blanche to make changes to existing tourny rules and structures, what would you do? I know there's a lot of different tourneys but pick one that you are familiar with. For me, I think the MLF addressed most of the fish handling concerns I had about the other tours. I think I might go with a lot less practice time, but that's just musing.

I know that. I've caught all of those but salmon and bowfin.