Jig Man

I recommend that you learn the Pitzen or 16/20 knot. It is all that I use. It works on any line. I can even tie it in under 12 seconds in the winter with gloves on. I do 5 wraps. I hold the loop in my left hand and the tag end (6-8") in the my right. I swing the bait around over my right hand 5 times, pass the tag through, pull it down, cut it off. Make a cast. http://videofishingknots.com/pitzen-knot.html

I had an indash flasher but did not have room between the gauges for a different unit. So I put a plate over the hole and mounted an HDS8 with the regular gimble mount it is right in my face and I don't have to be looking around because I can see it while I am driving.

W2S is dead on with his info. Since you are opting for a 12volt system you should get the larger battery if you have room for it. It takes more juice to run 12V than 24V. Like stated reserve capacity is the key. In wet cells I like 180+.

Take it for a test drive with the boat hooked up behind it then you will know.

Superglue gel is all I use.

I've ridden in a few. I would not want to own one if they all porpoise like the ones I've been in.

That is a good place. I sent you some pics of my install.

Besides the screen size, the 8 has a 4 screen option that the 7 doesn't. I use it a lot when viewing recordings to see what I have missed and mark wpts (sonar, down, side, chart). The 8 also has the soft keys which allows 1 button control instead of menus. The soft keys also allow programing of quick ways to get from one page to another without going around the world with the pages and mouse.

I regularly fish with a friend who owns a Bass Cat. It is a great boat with a ride almost as good as my Champion. It also has a lot of room in it. There are lots of good used boats around and any major brand should do you a good job on your first boat. It seems you have a pretty good budget so get at least a 19-20' boat for the extra room, storage, ride, and stability. And yes I recommend a good used glass over a Tracker any day of the week.

I asked the same question a couple of years ago and RED was the big answer (cranks and traps).

I didn't have a 7:1 so I bought one. Since then I have sold most of my 3.8:1 and 6.3:1 and replaced them with 7:1. I don't ever plan to go back to slow reels. Get the 7.

Color of weedguards matter a lot more to the fishermen than the fish. I mostly use clear but sometimes black or green if I think the jig will look better.

Either hobby is great but only get into one at a time unless you have really deep pockets. I do it for color control as much as anything and to kill spare time. Like many ventures, startup can be costly. To get into jig making you have to have a lead source (free to $5 per pound), melting pot (around $50), at least one mold ($30), hooks ($25/100), paint ($10-50 per pound), skirt material $20-80/100). So in the best case scenario you'd have about $135 in your first jig. The production costs would go down but it will take a while for them to get down to you saving money unless you use a lot of jigs. It is the same situation with plastic. You have to have molds, plastisol, glitter, coloring, softner, hardner, heat stabilizer, a way to melt and a way to pour. My first injected tube had an initail cost of over $400. I haven't made enough in the two years of injecting them for the cost to get anywhere nearly as low as I paid for the last ones. I'm not trying to discourage you as I love making baits and have done it for so many years that I only buy a few jerks and cranks. The rest I have made. I'm only giving you a heads up on starting.

What do you call a bunch? I don't have a mold but I can get one.

How bout a bit more info? Is this an internet publication or a mag? What is your target audience? What kind of contribution are you wanting; how tos, pics, articles, etc? Where are you located? More info please.

Here is a list of repain centers. Maybe one of them is in driving distance for you. http://www.waltreynolds.com/motorguide_factory_authorized_se.htm

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Best KEEP UM BAIT IN WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks. I have a bunch of those colors made up. I'm wondering about bubblegum. I've never tried it at Pom but it has been my number one prespawn color for the last 3 or 4 years. I may be too chicken to throw $15 jerks with all those musky. They do a number on my spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in the summer and fall.

I use to work at a boat dealership. We were open from 7-7 M-F and 7-2 on Sat. We had 3 mechanics and a full time rigger. Most of the time we were at least 2 weeks behind. So if they are good and see a lot of jobs be patient.

I have used Calhoun's plastisol and it is fine. That is a good price. With 2 gallons you can make hundreds and hundreds of baits. Be sure to include some heat stabilizer and gloves when you make your order. You may also want to check out Bear's baits before you make your final decision.

It would help to know what type of bait you want to learn to make as there are hundreds from soft plastics, to jigs, to spoons, to cranks, jerks, etc.

I use down on the tmotor. I'm not sure it would do you much good on the console.

I have fished there in the summer and fall for several years but always took my spring vacation at Table Rock or Stockton. I have booked a site for 2 weeks at the end of April and am in the process of making baits to take along. I am planning mostly plastics and jigs with a few spinnerbaits thrown in for good measure. Now my question: for those of you who fish it early what jig and plastic colors have been the most productive for you?

They are both made close to me. I would take a G3 over a Tracker.