Jig Man

I make most of my own and only make 1/2 oz. I have them all the way to 1/8 oz but rarely use anything besides the 1/2 oz.

I am intrigued Catt. Can you elaborate on this. Most of my spoon jigging is done 40+ feet deep.

For me it is all about the deck space that is where I spend my time and want all I can get. Even with dual consoles I can lay 7' and longer rods on the deck. They lay flat and are not in my way. There may be a multispecies boat with that kind of deck but I haven't seen it.

I'd contact another company.

I feel your pain Tom. My lakes aren't low but I have been dealing with issues that may put my boat on the market. Two and a half years ago I had a cerebrovascular accident. That took me off the water for a few months but I made it back. Then last winter I fell on the ice and broke 3 ribs and ruptured a lung. The lung has minded itself but the ribs haven't healed properly. I am upgrading to a MK Ulterra with I pilot link and a Humminbird Solix to get the benefits of the Ulterra. I am hoping it keeps me on the water for a few more years. Good luck to you which ever way you decide to go.

I have a buzz frog mold that I might part with.

Zara Spook

Why don't you go over to Cabela's and look at them in person. You can have a sales person go over the units and their features. That should help you with your decision.

The lake I fish in SW MO has produced a few in the 10 range. Several years ago one of my friends caught a 10 there. I was stopped by a guy a few years ago and asked if I had a scale. I weighed his 9 pounder. I have only had some 7s and 8s and they are not often. I keep trying for a monster on an A rig but can't get anything over a 6 on it yet.

When you have a unit that will be capable of mapping you need to buy a map card for the area that you fish. For me mapping is as important as anything on a unit. Mapping and 2 d sonar or mapping and down scan are the most important IMO.

The Power Cables that came with it or another set of them.

I have it on at least 10 setups (6, 8, 10,12 and 15#). I don't find anything wrong with it.

I have no idea how far your casts typically go but I would think that would be enough. I don't really measure mine. When I put braid on a setup, I put on a practice plug and cast it toward the neighbors driveway. I go to the plug and walk off 10 more yards. I go back to the house and cut off the line, tie on the braid and put on what it takes to nicely fill the spool. This has worked for me since I started using braid close to 20 years ago.

You can get some good quality used units that guys sell for a good discount because they are always trading up for the latest and greatest. Check out the buy sell forum.

Hook up before plugging in charger.

Chunk and wind but I really like vertical fishing.

That would depend on what I was going to do: fish for everything-twin tail grub, fish for larger fish-beaver.

My philosophy is I would rather slow down my retrieve than crank like I'm on fire so I opt for fast reels except for A rig setups then I want 5:1.

I'm with WRB on this one. I never have had one that I did not screw down in the middle of the deck so I could use it with either foot.

Let us know how it goes.

I have the older model. It is the best caster that I own. It is also the most sensitive on settings.

Personally, I like to sit down when I watch football. You don't sit down in that place except during time out. I'll stay by the fire and watch on the big screen TV.

I still have 3 dogs in the hunt: Patrick, Tom and Drew. Hopefully one of them will pull it off.

I fish most of the lakes that you do. I use a lot of elaztech baits. Green Pumpkin is one of my regulars but I don't dwell on it. Green Pumpkin/Red works pretty well. I carry every color that Zman makes in the worm and TRD. I go with the color that is getting the most bites.

I'm pretty sure mine is a Dan vise. I haven't seen it in quite a while because I rarely thread tie any more. You just need a rotary vise of some kind and a good whip finisher. The two make thread tying very easy and super fast.