Reel

Yes they work well... that pike seemed to think they were special.

I've got no problem with eating bass but, where I fish, walleyes are fairly easy to catch. In the pan, walleyes are so much better... asmost as good as crappies.

This: Shimano Armajoint Big pike, big, big pike !!!

Maybe Jackall Flick Shake

Same here. I've tried silent and suspending with marginal success. When traps work, they work with best with noise.

I'm not sure I understand. What exactly are you saying ? Is it that your reel, when smoothness has degraded 10 to 15 % from the time you got it out from the box, is still smooth enough for you and smoother then other reels ?

For some, 85-90% as smooth is ''geary''.

I'll just talk about the electronic aspect of your post. Guys running 40 to 50 mph are not using sidescan or downscan, they are using 2D sonar ( probably what you call ''regular'') . Sidescaning and downscaning is done at low speed. The guys that are going fast are probably looking for bait balls or just structure with bait close by. To find interesting structure, I first look at mapping, then use 2D to locate the beginning of the structure, then use sidescan at low speed to get a general idea of the lay. Then I use 2D or down imaging to find fish relating to structure. To find roaming fish or suspended fish, I use Forward Facing Sonar. Like it has been said, birds help also.

If you really want something that's easy to change from one boat to another, you can always buy a unit that comes with carrying case, battery and transducer like the Helix 5 Chirp G3 PT. Everything fits in the carrying bag. An aluminium pole with a clamp takes care of transducer positionning.

What's important is what you want. What you SHOULD want should not exist. I can never be to simple if it's fun.

If that's all you want ; Humminbird Helix 5 Chirp G3. Less than 350 dollars.

Smallmouth will often strike a second time on the same retrieve in spring and fall. If you leave your bait in the water, they will often come back and hit it a second time. This does not happen in summer. I don't know if it's the water temp or the fact that they are more agressive during these periods. I've had better success in hot weather with a few second rest and a different lure.

Ned rig, fluke type minnow, spy bait

Spring and fall, I'll let the bait fall and wait. I'll use the same bait on th second throw. Summer, I'll throw a different bait ... a waky rigged senko type lure.

When you come back from an outing, ask a guy that is also coming back from fishing with a few fish and who's boat is not as nice as yours to go with you next time out. He'll say yes. It will be an eye opener. Either you will see that your expectations are to high or that you need to fish differently.

Deps Cover Scat... a nice fish on the first cast.

Yes, I've got alll these THINGS ( except the chips ) and enjoy using them ... and also, not using them (wading). I'm not sure that I want to catch more fish. Sure, I always have that desire in the back of my mind but there is a limit to catching that sometimes makes fishing less interesting.

The one where I saw the bass travel the most to get it (about 15 feet) was a ned rig.

I'll make it even more confusing... I like an OLD rod. For spinnerbaits and chatterbaits ( 1/2 oz) I use an old G. Loomis IMX spinnerbait rod that is really broken in. The carbon fibers have relaxed and the rod has changed from a MH Fast to a somewhat moderate... Works great. No more excuse for buying a new rod !

I have it and I like it. It's the best way to get an overall view (an idea) of the bottom structure in front of you.

There is a third party involved and that is the fish !

I know I caught the same bass three years in a row from the same spot. It was beside the only boulder in a large bay and that bass was blind in one eye.

I use my Shimano high end spinning reel to fish for shad in Spring. I've used other Shimano reels also. This is to cast a shad dart that is very small (1/8 oz or lighter) and I get at least ten feet more with the Infinity Loop feature. I use the same line test and make ( mono) and the same rod and lures. I also get less tangles with mono. The line seems ''flatter'' and more even on the spool

We're not supposed to put a rod down with a lure dangling in the water when there is a wolfpack of smallmouth around , but I did, a couple of days ago... Gone is a nice Expride 7'6'' ML and a Vanford 2500.

No, not a sportfish by any means but they bite, fight hard and get big enough ( 5-6 pounds where I fish)