Jig Man

You might give the Bass Pro shop rod and reel repair a call. They always have a bunch of stuff around. 417-887-7334 and ask for the reel counter in the Outlet Store.

I don't have first hand knowledge but a guide on Lake Taneycomo in MO told me the average trout only stays in that lake for 7 days so I'm go fish.

You can order skirts from War Eagle.

Choose the weed guard that you want to use. I use a vinyl coated cable. The way I make the slot is put a wire, preferably hard like stainless steel where I want the wg, put some tape on it to keep it in place. Close the mold firmly then put it in my shop bench vice and clamp it firmly together. Normally that does the trick and I am ready to go. Here is the mold after wg slots added. I changed hooks and further modified it as well as closed the keeper slots.

Totally awesome and a tooth brush.

I have the mold and don't like or use the bait keepers (extra time, extra expense, and pain to put elaztech baits on). I use 1/16 and 3/16 most of the time so I pour two cavities at a time. I also have added a weed guard to my mold.

I have both. If I could only have 1 it would be the trolling motor. I am mostly too deep for my Power Poles to do me any good.

Catt that looks like a War Eagle to me. That's about all I throw.

I use fluoro on most of my setups. H=15# MH=12# M=10# ML=8# L=6# The braid is easy. 50# on BC and 8/1 on spinning. 3 2500 spinning with 10# mono I also keep a spread sheet with each setup, the last serviced date and the last line change date. That takes all of the thought process away except checking the sheet once in a while.

I have 7 hmg rods. Some of them date back to 2000. I recently broke a spinning rod and it was replaced under warranty. I also have 3 St Croix Avid rods and like the hmg better.

If you don't know what you are doing, take it to someone who does. You might screw up more than you already have.

I don't know what part of MO you are in but today on Stockton the water was 42° and smallmouth were liking a black 1/2 oz football jig with a black/neon beaver.

I am using a Gloomis Bronzeback ML 6'9" matched with a Shimano 70 and 6# fluoro.

With all of the extra clothes I fish in a regular seat in the late fall and winter. I use a butt seat in warm weather as long as my bad knees will let me then I put the regular seat back in.

You mentioned motors. My last one was an Optimax. I ran it for 14 years and had very few repair bills non of which exceeded $400. Ranger was my boat of choice until I went to make the deal. They wanted $75,000 for it and offered me 25% below trade value for mine. So I opted out. If I were to make a list for myself, it would include Ranger, Phoenix, and the new Charger 210 Elite (Champion 210 with Charger emblems on the side of the boat). On my current boat I have a Mercury Verado. I never knew how much I would like a 4 stroke motor. When I is idling I have to look back at the pee hole to see if it is running. You also mentioned sonar units and trolling motors. Lowrance and motorguide can be linked. (There is rumor that Lowrance will be building their own trolling motors and severing the current tie). Humminbird and Minn Kota can be linked. I am in the process of switching from L & M to H & MK. My philosophy is you can not have a boat too large or a trolling motor too powerful.

I've had my best results with Gene Larue salt craws Texas rigged. When I get a fish on I don't try to horse it out of the brush (can't really with 10# mono). I just keep tension on the line and the fish will almost always come out of the brush.

The first thing I would look at is the proximity of a dealership. Quite often new rigs are going to have to go back to the dealership for items overlooked at rigging or to have some things tweaked. Also find out about the dealers reputation and customer service. The reason I mention this is I bought a boat from a dealership over 2 hours away. They don't take appointments so I am expected to drop it off and wait ????? until they call me. I took it back and was treated rudely by the owner when I questioned some of the setup (I will never go back there). Finding these things out ahead of time can help you avoid a melt down later on. Next do some reading about the boat that interests you. You will have brand loyal guys rave about what they own. I have my own brand preference but you need to decide on what works for you. In today's world if you plan to sell or trade putting the max horse power on will help. Do a lot of reading about trolling motors and electronics. Minn Kota and Humminbird work well together as do Motor Guide and Lowrance. Lowrance may be coming out with a trolling motor that works with their own units. What ever electronics you get will be obsolete within a year. Good luck on your quest. Take your time, you won't regret it later.

It is a white.

Looks good. A couple of questions: That hook looks big for a #2 could it perhaps be a 2/0 and how did you get that cone on the hook?

6.25 on the Ned rig 1/16 oz head 6# fluoro

That is more like what I was thinking. I have 2 Fenwick HMG m/l rods with 1000 size reels and 6# fluoro set up for Ned rigs.

With a 1000 size reel I'm thinking m/l with m being the top.

I always run NON ethanol gasoline. Around here 91 octane is the only way it comes. I also add Quickleen and Quick Care to all of the gasoline. I doesn't cost much and can save a bunch.

X2 on everything Allen said about the weed guard and buying from Mike Seibert.

Well P44 it seems that you have made your mind up so I think this is a mute point.