T.J.

Not PB but best this year.

Been struggling to get out on the water this year. Seemed like whenever I could, the weather would not cooperate. I just don’t bother when wind is 10+ mph. Then I broke a bunk on my bass boat trailer so I lost some more time I could’ve been out. Just 3 trips in the bass boat and 3 in the Jon. Lots of 30-45 minutes bank session at the local pond with a few caught each time so I can’t complain. This was the best so far this year caught last Sunday.

I use a snap for crankbaits. I have one medium rod for cranks so I will have a few baits out handy for different depths and can swap them quickly with the snap. I also have a ML rod for light cranks that will be out if throwing smaller baits.

If they want to catch numbers then I would tell them to use a ned. It is a go-to for me on the heavy pressured lakes when everything else fails. If they are looking more for size then a 3.5” tube for SM or willow leaf spinnerbait for LM. Any season for these 3 for me. I will sometimes slow swim or drift with the current a ned or tube.

DT4 DT6 DT8 DT10 🙃 And I guess a z-man ned

I didn’t get out in the boat as much this year than prior so goal next year is more boat days. I just purchased an Eagle Eye 9 so goal for next year will be to spend time learning FFS. Another goal will be to try a new lake or two.

@gim I dropped mine off last Wednesday and picked it up two days later. I have a 60hp Mercury 4 stroke. They charge $120 for labor and $100 for parts plus tax for 35-60hp. Website still list $80 for part like I paid last year. Not surprised as most things have increased in price. Mom Pop shop (big Ranger and Tracker dealer) so also not surprised website isn’t updated. A 65-115hp is listed as $240 total (plus maybe a parts increase like mine) on website for reference. Deluxe Winterizing for 4 strokes includes: STABILIZE FUEL SYSTEM, RUN AND CHECK ENGINE. FOG ENGINE, GREASE CABLES, LINKAGES, FITTINGS AND PROP SHAFT. CHANGE ENGINE OIL AND FILTER. CHANGE LOWER UNIT OIL. Like others notes, I could do it myself and save the labor but I prefer to have a pro check things over. Last year they found the seal for the water pump was leaking slightly while replacing the impeller. They replaced the seal and only charged me for the part as they already had the motor apart.

@Bazoo the 7’ MH 2pc is not under rated. If anything I think it is a little stiffer than some of my other 7’MH.

I’m South Jersey and get mine “winterized” early to mid December. I will still be fishing in November. I’m storing inside the last couple of years but was outside before that. A few years ago I remember being out on January 2nd because it was exceptional warm. This was after winterizing and then the boat sat outside for rest of winter. There isn’t much winterizing required on modern 4 strokes. It’s really yearly maintenance. I think my shop fogs the cylinders but I don’t know if that is needed or recommended when the boat sits a couple of months max. Not like the pleasure boaters where it is stored from September to May. Leave the motor trimmed all the way down so water can drain. I always add stabilizer when getting gas year round. I find that it is the wind and not the temperature that keeps me off the water Nov-Dec. I don’t see any ice until January or February. I might look at getting it done next week only because I’m off work. I will just fish the one electric only lake after that is nearby. (I only have one local place I can run the outdoor down here any way).

I have a few of the BPS graphite series rods. No issues. Quality is good for the price. I don’t buy higher end stuff. I have a 7’ MH 2 piece and a 6’6” M 2 piece baitcasters for the car. The 6’6” is the previous version of the graphite series (lighter blue color). I bought this to be my car rod along with a medium spinning combo but the power felt closers to a ML so I added the 7’MH in the current generation. The tip section fits over the bottom section making the diameter thinner in the middle of the rod to reel. Might just be psychological that it feels lighter power than other mediums. I also have 7’6” H flipping stick and 7’M 1pc spinning in the graphite series. I like cork handles. Cork quality is just ok.

Had my yearly trip up to the St Lawrence River for a few days. I think this was my best for the trip. It was very windy a couple of the days so I didn’t get in as much fishing time as I hoped. Still a great time. Thousand Island area.

Like: 4:1 reels for crankbaits Dislike: Buzzbaits

New Jersey states type V must be worn at all times underway. See top of page 15 Type V Hybrid. https://www.nj.gov/njsp/info/pdf/marine/021606-boating-safety-manual.pdf

The large 5/8 oz One Minus was my best producer bank fishing in the swallow ponds around here. The shad color with a red/orange belly was my favorite. I could cast a mile and crank it back just above all the grass. I’d throw it on a 7’6 flipping stick. It would catch bass of all sizes down to some that the bait couldn’t even fit in their mouth. The big ones are hard to find anymore.

Spinnerbait crankbait ned rig