Reel

I fish mostly on a large river and I need to watch the screen (GPS) when navigating. For the actual fishing, the water is very clear so I can see a lot of stuff, from far, in shallow water. For the rest I would say 20 to 30% of the time but I prefer fishing to scanning. I've got three 12 inch screen and FFS.

Yes, that looks similar to the place I went to. But I got in and out on an Otter so none of these problems. Lots of fish - walleyes almost every cast and big, big pike (visible) that you could chose in a group of fish of different size ( mostly big).

I like those and use mostly the Jackall Rhythm Wave. To get more of that horizontal position I use a Mustad Power Lock Plus hook (5/0) that has a movable weight. You can slide that weight back to get a more horizontal swimming action from every bait.

Northern Manitoba

I've done that... been to places where no ones around for hundred's of miles and where the fishing is easy and liked it but not that much. When I catch too many fish I loose interest and don't get so much out of it. I prefer places with some pressure (not too much) but where you have to work for your fish.

It's very very useful to give an idea of the location when asking for advice. 57 degree in Florida is not the same as in Pennsylvania.

I fished the Everglades section a lot during the Christmas Holydays and I caught mostly small fish (1 to 3 pounds). In March, the fish were bigger on the average and that's when I caught the biggest ones. Warm steady weather is key. It's a good sign when the alligators are out cruising. During a cold front you can catch one fish for the whole day. After a couple of days of warm weather, you can catch fifty bass in a day covering the same spots.

I fished south (Florida) every winter for 15 years about 20 years back and the best time was from the last two weeks in February to the end of March. What you need is hot weather.

I have the exact same rod. I have put a model 500 ( Symetre), a model 750 (Symetre) and a model 1000 Vanford on it and the one I like the most is the last one. It's just the right size (spool) and it's the one that gets me the longest cast and the easiest line management with 4 pound line and casting 1/32 and 1/16 oz lures.

Like others have said, it's a bit light for Florida but would make an excellent senko rod in Indiana.

I use them for smallmouth on the St Lawrence river

Shimano SLX A baitcaster and 7' 5'' baitcasting rod... right in the same price range.

I use 1/8 oz mostly because I don't want them on the bottom. I use Berkley heads (mushroom type). I like marabout jigs in black or dark brown. If you have good marabout, ( long stems) they are easy to tie. I bring the jig back partly difting it, partly retreiving it so that it kinda floats at mid depth and the fish rise up to it.

I use a localisation app on my phone so family knows where I am. I'm lucky I like fishing ... a lot. I live North and I go from the beginning of April to late November and sometimes December. Because of the passion, hurting is less important!

Up north, if you wait a whole year for that special day when the season opens (Bass fishing not permitted before) and you go out rain or shine and head for that special reed bed close to the best spawning site on the million acre lake and get that six pound plus smallmouth, then you are a trophy hunter ... not much luck involved.

I fish where there are zebra mussels so most time there is some fraying at the knot. I cut off a foot or so.

My experience with circle hook is that they are a no strike hook. That means that with a crankbait you would not react but let the fish hook itself. Difficult I would say !!

No, but if you are using a US2 transducer that is 2D only, you cannot get DI and SI even if your unit is capable of doing so. You have to plug into a DI ou DI/SI transducer ( or a network) to get those on your screen.

What does ''work'' mean for you ? To get GPS ans 2D you only need a US2 transducer and power.

I have a keen sense of observation.

You can't go wrong with either. I have a Hummingbird/Minnkota set-up that I really like. I have a boat similar to yours and I use a Solix 12 in front for the FFS and the 2D,. I have a Helix 12 G4 that near the console that I use for GPS, DI and SI and a Helix 7 in dash for hight speed reading. I have 2 transducers at the back, one small one for high speed and a large one for DI and SI. This works very well for me along with a Minnkota 36 V Ultrex Quest. All of these products have been flawless.

I don't think the Helix 5 can be part of a network. You can use on it's own for 2 D high speed - The setup here works fine with the SI transducer on the other side. I use a setup that is similar for high speed.

The best thing you can do with your Helix 5 is to use it for higher speed bottom reading. Mate to a high speed small transducer (mounted on the transom with a metal mount if it's an aluminium boat). It's difficult ( impossible) to read at higher speed with a SI transducer.

I have mega live and use it. But I've been sight fishing for the last 20 years. I often fish the St Lawrence for smallmouth and you can see the fish in a lot of shallow water environnement. This is summer fishing for free roaming fish, not fish tied down to a nest. It's very very different.. like saltwater fishing for bonefish. When we don't see the fish ( and I do that to ) we are like a hunter taking a pot shot at a tree because he saw a buck there yesterday.

Yes, I fished tournaments. I was pretty good at it. I was in the top 10% most of the time. I didn't quit I just stopped because of age. If you do it right, it takes a lot of energy. It's great for learning. It forces you to fish in ways you would not normally do. It's not relaxing!!! It's challenging and I like that.