Jig Man

I use short arm for my single spins but I use the long arm for tandems. Personal preference thingy.

Ztackle, Stamina Inc, and Barlows are component sources also.

I recommend that you pick a few proven baits (like plastics and jigs). What you get will depend on your rods and reels. Take the time to fish them and learn how to use them to catch fish. Don't get caught up in all the bait buying hype that is out there. As you learn a few and you confidence and catching improves, there will be time to buy all the extraneous stuff that the rest of us haul around with us.

One drop of oil on each bearing. Grease on the gears.

I use 3 different rods for three different spinnerbaits weights; MH 6.5' fast, MH 7.0' fast, H 7.0' fast. I don't even own a medium action rod any longer. I gave the last one away cause it felt like a wet noodle.

I have one in my rod closet. I sometimes use it with Zara Spooks but not often.

By looking at NADA I would say the boat was a couple of grand over priced unless it was a cream puff and most 12 yr old boats won't be.

I had a hand control for a while and learned to really hate that beast. I think I would go back to golf before I had another hand controlled one. I fished this last winter with a guy who had a hand controlled, he spent as much time diddling around with it as he did fishing. I am not very opionated either.

I'd still take it. I am running an X125 on the bow because of the amber back light. It is great for night fishing. A friend has the X135 and ******* about the light at night.

For that price, I'd grab the X135 and make a run for the door.

This is what the rod tip end looks like. The other end you fashion to suit what ever your needs are.

I tried the jig selling business for a few years. It got to be a drag so I increased my order size to 50 dozen to get rid of the bothersome (I want 6 of this and 3 of that and oh yes how about 2 in that size). It got down to a few good customers who would make the plunge. It wasn't bad after that until I got tired of deadlines and quit selling all together.

They don't go in but a few inches as you cut the tubes off to maybe a foot. I use them all the time for spinning rods up to 7' long with no problems what so ever.

A piece of plywood a few golf club tubes and a cheap hole saw set can net you a real good rod locker rod holder. The last alum boat I had I took careful measurements, went to a metal shop and had some alum. designed to extend the front deck. All I had to do was carpet it drill a few holes and bolt it in place. It gave me lots of extra deck space and a handy storage spot for gear out of the way.

Yes. And you may also need to flux the lead.

In that price range Shimano Sahara can't be beaten.

Super glue or especially super glue gel works great for knots. The gel is better for gluing plastic to lead. I always keep it in the boat for emergencies for fixing things especially cuts.

Before I went to all that trouble I would add a little fluid and see what happens. Mine got like that and I put an ounce or so of fluid to fill it up and it has been working flawlessly for over 2 years.

I'd back off on the reel and get a Gloomis rod. I did it and am quite happy. The rod is way more important than the reel imo.

The Lowe 170 is real short on room in the front deck. If you can, have a look at the Xpress. Those boats ride like glass but fish like alum.

Same here. I normally use a 6' leader. What got me to using the leader was a day's comparison when 6 of us were fishing in the same area so we had the same water clarity. The three guys who had mono kicked some serious butt that day. Unfourtunately, I was one of the braid guys.

I use the palomar and run the line down through the hook eye. This will allow the hook to hang perpendicular to the line. I don't tie the weight. I use Bakudan sinkers which I make.

I do about half and half on spinning reels. I keep a few with Power Pro all the time and have for years. Sometimes I use a leader and sometimes I tie directly to the bait.

I always clean my bearings with naptha, dry them and add one drop of a synthetic blend oil that is made for the guys at the reel repair center at Bass Pro.

I finally got around to reading Jeff Nielson's article about super tuning reels. I spent the afternoon working on my oldest Curado. I don't have any way to really polish the pinion gear collars on the spool shaft other than by hand. I did the experiments with the lightest weight bait (1/4 oz jig with no trailer) and a stiff 6'6" rod. I gained 15' with longest to longest cast comparisons (he reports 30'). For you who have supertuned them, how much gain did you get? And would it be worth going back and inventing a way to polish those collars? Please address my questions as well as relate your experiences. Thanks.