InfantryMP

Belly weighted hook. I like them because it makes the fall level. If you want a level fall that is. If you want a front heavy dive then the nail weight could work out for you.

Black and Blue for chatterbaits have been the go to for me. Spinner baits, I use white, or a bluegill color.

Yea I sold my other trolling motor to help upgrade. I also have a spare Johnson 50hp outboard sitting in the shop trying to sell to help upgrade costs.

yea just some pond hopping like I mentioned. I lived in Savannah for years. I always watch out for our ancient lizard friends. I almost walked right up to one with its mouth open in 2011, like literally within 9 ft of it and had to do the slow walk backwards.

Well I think I found the only Ultrex in the state of Indiana. My local tackle shop had a new one in stock 80lb 45'' Ipilot non link. $2400 plus tax. Snagged it up real quick just in time for my first tournament this year later this month!

This is going to be an exciting build to see the progress! I am stoked for you! Good luck!

Hey yall! I am headed to Bradenton, FL for a couple weeks. I have never fished there, nor do know anyone there who fishes. Does anyone know of any local spots, like apartment ponds, or canals, I can go that allow public fishing? I will be bringing a collapsible spinning setup with 30lb braid, and an assortment of baits. Just want to do some bank fishing while I am there out of the Indiana cold. Thanks

How did you like the Terrova?

Tacklewarehouse has a few new Lowrance graphs in stock still...I have been looking at updating my TM, and my graphs for a while. Just cannot pull myself to do it right now. I am looking for a used Terrova or something with spot lock for now, since the stock is non existent.

I just bought one of the A/M 24 kits last weekend from Cabelas on sale. I need to check mine now...thanks for posting all this to help keep us safe! Edit: Just checked, Mine shows a date of 2025 04 on the CO2 canister. I am too new to these to know if these last that long or not?

Seagar has a gold label leader made of FC. I have seen it being used a lot. I think it is a little pricey though. Typically I use Seagar Red Label, or Suffix Advanced FC. I will use something like 10-12lb FC on my braid for spinning setups.

There should be an idle adjustment screw that can be made on the carb to help with the idle issue. Maybe try increasing the idle a little bit on the carb to see if it helps. You do not want it crazy high obviously, but it could be a small adjustment that can help you here.

Kokomo Res water temps this last weekend were in the 47.5 to 47.9 range 6-11ft depths. Graphed a ton of fish between 8-9 ft. The tournaments are starting up here now. It will be interesting to see what can be had!

My philosophy for whatever it is worth... Less than 4in worm, like a dinger or a ned rig with a 3/16 or 1/4 or even weightless...I use a spinning rod. More than 5in, or a wider creature bait like a rage bug or something similar with a 1/4 or more I use a casting rod. I think for me it is just less hassle with the light weight stuff using the spinning setup, it limits adjusting so much tension and brake.

I am fishing my first in April as well. Smaller tournament of course. Are you sure it is an all out blastoff from the start? I have not seen any tournaments lately do that anymore, not even the local ones here. Anyway, it seems like you have a good rig. I have a similar rig, If you waited a few minutes, those wakes wont be too bad to maneuver, and like mentioned above you do not have to go wide open. To be honest. I go about 40 as my fastest, because I do not really need to go any faster. I can go 55 if I wanted to but its not really needed in my opinion. Good luck and report back on how it went, I will be doing the same.

I use a sweeping to the side motion hook set similar to crank baits. I have never lost a fish that way. It keeps steady pressure and keeps the rod down to not pull the fish up directly from the start.

To be honest with you, I think its not the format or style, it is the schedule and the weather events of the last month that has really messed some things up lately, and not just on the MLF side either. Eufaula had folks struggling too, and it was pretty cold in Alabama during those events as well. The freeze in Texas that hasn't been seen in years, I believe has slowed some things down. I am a huge fan of the MLF style. Catch, weigh, and release. I think the 1lb rule was dumb. 2lb is good in my opinion. As far as guys not doing well. From what I have noticed is a lot guys are throwing their confidence baits, and they are not all working. It is hard to adjust from stuff like that. It is also tough to adjust when the move up from the depths to the shallows can happen at any moment.

My father had this similar instance on his Johnson 150 just last week. We changed the fuel pickup and everything in between to the motor. It was not getting enough fuel pressure to ensure the motor would stay running. They only need maybe 4 to 5 psi or maybe even lower for your motor. I slapped a new battery on his boat, new fuel setup as mentioned. Ensured the choke was functioning, we also advanced the throttle as you mentioned. That 150 fires right up every time now without any issue and stays running. I believed the fuel pick up, and the filter was clogged up from sitting for a while.

Exactly

I also have this combo, that I use for lipless and heavier cranks. It would be at the top of your budget I think. I have the 7'2 MH version of this combo. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/team-lews-custom-black-speed-spool-baitcast-combo?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop|Generic|AllProducts|High|SSCCatchAll&gclid=Cj0KCQjwo-aCBhC-ARIsAAkNQisu3tAG-Oxbsls2OajWfseengBZQJNg_M-RJDvX7954U9TWCuzo_tQaAolSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I am using a 6'10 MH, extra fast Lews Laser SG I think it is, with a Shimano SLX 7.2:1 Once dialed in, it flings my 3/8 and lower cranks out there no problem. I am a huge fan of the SLX's especially the SLX DC. What is best is going to be dependent on where your fishing, and the size of the population. I would not use my setup on Toho, or Sam Rayburn for example. However it works for me here in Indiana.

Usually I do this: Quick retrieve for a few turns to get the bait down, and then a yo yo, then a medium retrieve with an occasional yo yo. It has worked out for me. If there is a decent school there, I will just straight retrieve through em. It is fun to watch them fight over the lipless, and even more fun, when you caught two on the same cast.

My biggest brain fart is my fingers. I have the dumbest fingers in the world. I cannot tie knots for ****. I mean I know how to tie them. I use an improved clinch, palomar, and alberto knot. However it takes me a while to tie them because my fingers do not do what my brain tells them to do with any sort of quickness.

3-5 works well for me on SI but that is with Lowrance. It will be tough to maintain that paddling all the time.

They make shakey heads that stand up on their own. Something like this. I use these a lot with drop shot worms, and it comes good for really tough bites. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Perfection_Lures_Sure_Hook_Up_Shakey_Head_3pk/descpage-PSH.html