Alex from GA

GreenPig has the optimum solution; never thought of that.

I bought a couple of 2000FHs a few years ago @ a garage sale for $15, not each. Cleaned and lubed them and have been using them ever since. They have much the same parts as a Stradic.

Keep the engine running in gear, put the hook on the bow, go back and kill the engine.

I fish small rivers/creeks like that all summer and usually catch lots of fish. Usually a buddy and I float a section in kayaks or paddle up and work back down. I usually wet wade if the water is over 60*. What I'm saying is get a kayak and expand your area. BTW I almost always fish with a finesse worm and 6 lb line.

I removed the automatic closer on a couple of my reels. I hope my buddy, who always reels to close the bail, doesn't pick them up.

Florida bass are usually at prespawn in February and that's where I'm at.

When I was younger I use to fish like you, sunup til sundown but no more. A few times a year I'll go on a river float that lasts all day but most of my bass fishing, on lakes, is much shorter and I will have a beer on a hot day. My boat's in a dock on the lake so no driving.

I'm an old, 80, and small, 5'5" 145lbs, man and only use my kayak for small rivers. I went from a 9' 35 lb kayak to a 10' 55 lb kayak and hate the extra weight. I usually carry it in my pickup but last summer my wife and I went from GA to Maine and back with a camper and the kayak on top of our Explorer. Every one of the dozen or so times we took it down and back up was a PIA!!!

Bankc you're increasing your speed 10% which is a bunch. I've been doing this for a long time and it works with Motorguide and Minnkota.

Like everyone says, get the best blank you can afford for your worm/jig rod. Personally I like Rainshadow Immortal blanks for that use.

I've done this a couple of times and it's worked out good. I had the components on hand or it would have cost a lot more.

My thumb looked like that a few times this year and I attributed it to old age and thinner skin.

IMO line breaking during a cast is caused by repeatedly casting and not retying, especially heavy lures.

I'm with AJay in loosening the drag with a big fish in no snag water. In the 50s and 60s, when the drags weren't nearly as good as they are today, I use to back reel, no more.

Does anyone have trouble tying an FG knot with 6 or 8 lb fluorocarbon leader and 10 or 15 lb braid? If I use 20 lb leader, that I use in saltwater, it ties fine but not the lighter leader.

Good choice. I have a kayak that I use only where I can't use my real boat, small rivers mostly in N GA. I'm a small old fart, 80 next week, and 145 lbs and still kayak all summer catching bass. Yes a group 27 deep cycle battery is the way to go with your 45 lb trolling motor. It'll last all day if you don't have it wide open much. I have a 45 lb trolling motor on my 16' tin bass boat and can usually go 2 days before having to charge.

I was pretty new to boating when my wife, toddler and I towed our 12' glass covered wood boat with a Mercury MK 30 to WA to fish for salmon. I went alone while the family stayed in our slide-in camper. I was out in the Puget Sound trolling when the engine quit so I dropped the anchor. A few minutes later I noticed I was moving and pulled the anchor line up and found it was broken. To make a long story story short I flagged down a Washington State Ferry and told him my problem. He called a small boat on the radio and had me towed to the ramp. All I had was a chart and compass and I was going out to sea. My toddler is 50 now.

The only place I fish, in my kayak, are places I can't get to in my boat so my opinion isn't worth a d**n but.... I use a 2' piece of 3/8" chain as an anchor. I also use short rods, 6'6" maximum, to cast under trees and bushes. If I hook a large fish it'll turn the kayak so the line will be clear of the boat. I'll either lip a bass or belly lift it in the kayak, never grab the line.

Air pressure for the size of tire you're using and the load range is 50 lbs. I always go up 5 lbs. Adjust bearings like others said, "tighten until it won't turn and back off until it turns with no play".

Have you thought about having a custom rod built? There are loads of light super sensitive blanks on the market. There must be builders in your part of the country.

Found a Lucky Craft Sammy in a tree and used it for 3 years until I lost it. Caught my PB spotted bass with it, 4-12.

Zoom finesse worm. 1/16th or 1/8 oz bullet weight, 6 or 8 lb line.

Seagulls, pelicans, cormorants are the most common. Several rods and reels. I have an old boot, that I caught in the river, in the back of my truck that I'm going to mount.

I'm an old fart with many years of knowledge about engines, both 2 and 4 stroke. I had a Triumph drag bike in the 60s and a bunch of 2 stroke dirt bikes. I have 3 old outboards that all run great. I joined an antique Mercury website several years ago when I was having trouble with one of my engines and they straightened me out. There is a wealth of information out there if you're willing to get your hands dirty and have some mechanical aptitude.

I have a '74 200 also and a '96 Merc 25. I forgot what holds the 20 hp but the 26 has a washer on the shift shaft that keeps it from coming out of the water in reverse. When the lower unit is dropped the washer falls on the ground. I learned this the hard way several years ago.