T-Billy

I had to take an old 12' boat I bought with no hull ID to the ODNR to have it inspected and they issued me a tag for it. No biggie. Took about a half hour.

I like F for both. I just prefer the way they cast and load when fighting fish. No right or wrong, just personal preference. Edit to add: I fish both on straight braid. I also like a stout Mod Fast in heavy cover. A rod that loads deep into the blank excels at moving fish out of heavy cover. Works like a catapult. I have a 7'10" SLX Heavy MF that throws 2 pounders over the boat like no other.

I prefer a 2000 or 2500 size reel. Bigger spool casts longer, takes up line faster, less line memory if using mono or flouro, and the loose set drag on the bigger reel is super smooth. No experience with the Reinforcer, but I'm a big fan of ARK's rods with the 40 ton blanks. I would expect the 46 ton reinforcer to be outstanding, and it has a lifetime warranty. Exprides have an outstanding reputation. I don't think you'll go wrong with either.

I have a Pro qualifier, a couple carbonlites, and a crankin stick. Zero complaints.

Made a big pot of bean soup yesterday. You wouldn't wanna hang out with me today.

It's no coincidence that the morels come up at the same time the crappie spawn. A match made in Heaven. Mmmm Good!!!

Winner winner chicken dinner!!!

10-4. Thanks for the input. That's where I had them in the 14' V. I was hoping I could put them behind the rear seat of this one , but you're probably correct. I just wanna run it to confirm before I go to the expense and labor of building a box for them. That said, a battery box behind the center seat would make a nice step up to the casting deck.

Definitely looking forward to that first fishin trip. I need some open water so I can run it and figure out where I want to put the batteries. It's all about balance in these little low HP boats. Had the kerosene heater on high all day. Kept it a balmy 48-50 in there. I almost couldn't see my breath. LOL

Rain was freezing on contact when I got up at 5 this morning. Turned to sleet around noon and will turn to snow in a couple hrs. That will last until tomorrow afternoon. Lovely day to be in the garage working on the boat. Deck framing is FINALLY done. Got the two side plates of decking cut to length and width, and a template made to cut them to shape. Hopefully get all the decking cut tomorrow. Slow but steady progress. I just might have it ready to go by ice out. I've been enjoying the process, and I'm glad I went this route, but I will NEVER do it again. I shouldn't need to though. As @FishinBuck07 stated it'll be a great boat for the waters I fish, and I went to the expense of building it all aluminum so I'll never have to replace it. Desert camo Seadek arrived this week. Should look good with the olive drab.

Corn don't grow at all on Rocky Top. Soil's too rocky by far. That's why all the folks on Rocky Top get their corn from a jar. ?

I just enjoy being out there chasing bass. Like everyone else, I love those days when they have the feed bag on, but I also enjoy the tough days. Putting the puzzle together and getting some bites when they're not being cooperative is rewarding. Even when I don't figure it out there's something to be gained. I then know what NOT to do the next time I face those conditions. Every day The Lord gives me on the water is a blessing, and I'm grateful for it. Edit to add: A tip of the hat to Mobasser. You start a lot of interesting dicussions brother. It's nice having you here.

30# or 40# Sufix 832 gets my vote. Toughest braid I've ever found and it handles great. No leader required IMO.

I used to use action trailers anytime the water was over about 50 degrees. I've come to prefer a beaver type trailer anytime I'm fishing a jig on the bottom. It looks more natural, the wide body prevents it from rolling over, and most importantly it gets more bites no matter the water temperature. Swim jigs get either a twin tail grub or a boot tail swimbait. Rage Craw's got nothin on the ol twin tail, and I make 'em for pennies apiece. I also used to prefer my trailers stand my jig up. I no longer care, and neither do the bass.

About to get ugly here in T county. Calling for rain, turning to half inch to an inch of ice, then up to a foot of snow. Kerosene cans are full in case we lose power, and a big pot of bean soup simmering. New boat project is keeping me busy. All front deck bracing is in except for crossbraces for the hatch and seat. Just gonna have one 18x32 center hatch. Fabricated and installed the trolling motor mount yesterday. It hasn't been more work than expected, but it's slower going than I thought it would be. Perimeter gaps between the deck stringers have all been filled with 1.5" square tube since these pics were taken. Footpedal pan will be installed today, and hopefully get some front deck panels cut. Not sure on that, making templates will be time consuming, and at $487 for a sheet of 1/8" I'd really prefer to get it right the first time around.

Ironically enough, I used my last like on this post.

Grandpa started me on carp, cats, and panfish at 4. That'd be in 73. Started chasing bass in ponds and a local lake in 82. Quit drinking in January 2011 and I've spent more time on the water in the past 11yrs than in all the years prior. Fished close to 100 days in 21.

I fish as much as I can and don't pay much attention to either. Unless there's lightning or 30mph winds, I'm gonna be out there.

I'm with ya brother. I have no problem eating the sacred cow. LM and SM are both delicious. I've been eating more of 'em since I bought an electric bubba blade last year. That thing's worth every penny. Takes a minute and a half tops to turn a fish into two boneless fillets, and I miss less meat with it than with a regular fillet knife. Works great on smaller fish like crappie too. Outstanding tool.

Nailed it. Enabling isn't helping.

10-4. Good info. Thanks. Both the Tharp and Essence are listed as having K series guides. I'd describe the Tharps guides as semi micro. I made the mistake of assuming they were the same on the Essence. My bad. Sounds like with the Essence you get mediocre cork, full size guides, and a different seat for the extra $50. I agree with you based on that info, that the Tharp HB series is the better value.

Night time is the right time starting right after the spawn, and all summer long.

My wife would disagree. ? LOL. The guides are on the larger side for micros. I like that. I don't fish leaders often, but do ocassionally and an alberto passes through them just fine. I've read in other reviews that the cork isn't the best, and even mentioned it in another thread when recommending someone check out the Essence. I've never handled one. The models I own have EVA. I really like that they use the same blank material across so many series. It makes it easy to order from different lineups and know you're gonna get what you're expecting. Probably helps keep their cost down too.

Could just be the rod it's paired with. I have the same issue with my Lew's Pro SP on an ARK Tharp series. Small reel paired with a rod with a small seat and grip cramps my fingers. The reel is very comfortable to palm on all my other rods, and all my other reels are comfortable on my Tharp rods.