casts_by_fly

For $200 or less? Maybe. The helix series are being phased out overall, but the G2 is old enough that it was basically done being updated anyway. A brand new G4 MSI is only $550 right now and is going to be a better unit. It gets you mega side imaging (with the tiny transducer) which will be better than an older G2 without it. I’m not sure that a G2 is going to be much better than your striker, but if the striker doesn’t work then anything will be better.

Black sharpie or nail polish. That is an anodized coating on aluminum so you can’t truly fix it.

This is all accurate and announced by humminbird. The helix 5 and 7 will stay, mostly because of the ice models and probably built up inventory. The rest of the helix and solix are going away. Helix is not compatible with mega live 2. Solix will be if the latest generation but once you upgrade the software to make it compatible it won’t talk to helix and older units in a network. FWIW, You could send mega live 1 directly to a Helix head unit so long as it was a 3rd gen N network model 8” or bigger or the g4N 7”. You need an adapter cable to do it. I had a helix 9 g4N on the kayak that way. Humminbird have said they will continue to support the helix going forward but it’s just a matter of time. If you are a side/down/360 user then a helix is an incredible bargain right now. If you want live imaging, just get the explore now and love it. Start how you mean to finish. Pick below (not of the same thing, but you get the idea) ML1 ML2

I’ve never been a cold weather jig fisherman, probably to my detriment. But I know when it starts hitting 55-60 and the largemouth start moving shallower they start to get more aggressive. And that’s also about when I start throwing a jig. I also don’t use anything but higher motion trailers on jigs (also probably to my detriment).

Falcon does for the Cara, Expert, and Lowrider series. Workmanship and defects, but I've never heard of them not replacing a broken rod.

glad it is all opened up for you and you got out. We know how much you were itching. Also, just a casual 5#-class fish...

I really like the fit and feel of my aldebaran. And with JDM direct prices it's not much more than a curado.

Side rails and pull out slow. Also try to back it into the water at an angle that starts to compensate for the ramp uneveness. The ramp I was on last night is fairly even, but super shallow and pretty flat. I had all 4 tires in the water before the front half of my bunks were even wet and at that depth there was no way to crank the boat upas the rear bunks were only 2" deep. On a deeper ramp leave the front 1/3rd of the bunk out of the water, ease in until it all makes contact and centers, and then power up. On a shallow ramp or electric motor only loading, more trailer in the water to start, get it as close as you can, then winch up. Then pull out slow so the boat settles into the middle. For a tracker he should be able to shimmy it still at the ramp with a little wiggle from the side. We used to do that with an 18' stratos and 150, though it was 2 people and more than a little wiggle. With my storm I can move it 2-3" with a coule good pushes so long as the bunks are wet.

I'll never forget the 15-16" smallie that tried to eat a 10" crappie on one of our trips. We found the smallie on the surface, struggling to get it down (there was no chance). A quick trip to the boat and removal of said crappie (which was stuck and the smallie couldn't expel) and the bass swam away just fine, maybe with a case of a sore jaw. The crappie, on the other hand, had a bad day. Did you get a weight on that chunk? Looks 6.5-7 from the picture.

Since you mention the Chronarch being the most expensive, I assume you're looking at US retailers. Instead, grab a JDM Bantam from Digitaka or JLS and be done with it. Last I looked they were about $250 for a bantam which is $50 cheaper than a Chronarch (which I have a couple and love, but the Bantam is better).

Got the first bass out of the boat. Only a small one but they all count

I'm not far into my ownership of it, but after putting 15-20 hours on my ultrex I don't think I could go to anything else that isn't comparable. 80# is plenty of pull in tough wind such that I'm only using it up to a level 7 or so. Most of the time it is 2-3 to go down the bank. And just hitting the spotlock button to sit down for a minute and tie a hook or take a rest is awesome.

Looks like SiC. the frame doesn't have the shine (more matte) and the ring is a light grey like the frame and blank. The ceramic ring is also really thin which is part of how SiC gets to be so light in the first place. Just a lot less ceramic material.

I have a 3700 for all of my jigs and vibrating jigs. I leave the trailers on them. The trailers get kinked occasionally but taking trailers off means that they aren't going to stay on well the next time so they would be junked anyway. Sorted roughly by color (shad, bluegill, GP, black blue) with a carve out for finesse jigs of all colors in one spot. I have a separate 3700 for trailers of all types stored by shape but mixed color. When I get through all of those I'll stick to original bags though. I only made that 3700 so I could carry an assortment in the kayak without having tons of bags or mixed bags.

There is a negligible difference in size between a 50 and a 70 when it comes to packing them up. In that case, a SLX 70 would be where I’d start.

You are very much in the same range as I ended up in for my boat, see link below (not sure why the thumbnail is Craig's, maybe because its the first in the thread). I'd have to add it up, but I think I'm in at $26k for mine. That includes two brand new xplore units, mega live 2, and an ultrex. I have a 9.9. If you're not HP restricted then a bigger motor might be better for you. Skip the ML2 and put that money into a bigger motor. You have a lot more space than I do in the garage. Check the width though. If you have an 8' wide garage door that will be limiting but if it is 9 or 10 you'll be fine. If it is an 8' door then have a look at the storm 1700. Great build for the price, all aluminum construction, easy to maneuver, good layout for a non tournament bass fisherman. It will be similar to a tracker 170, but I think the crestliner is built nicer. There are other options out there as well. Make sure whichever you pick you have a dealer nearby for servicing.

Lamiglas was another company that made a ton of great blanks, but very few for bass specifically. I built a LOT of lamiglas for a while and had an account with them directly if I remember right. At the time they had a very small MOQ for custom rod builders and would set you up on account for no minimum spend.

I could probably tell you from a picture- Ti/Sic has a matte grey type frame and the ring material is more middle grey while alconites are a darker ring and come in a range of frame colors. The grey frame looks like titanium and is tougher to tell but it has a shinier finish. They don't make a titanium frame alconite anymore. That said, I believe you if you say you talked to the guy there. talon rods were really popular for a while in the 90's and early 2000's but I never knew them as bass rods. They made awesome salmon/trout rods in all shades- casting, spinning, centerpin, and fly. I built quite a few for steelhead guys and I still have 1 custom run downstairs- a 4 pc 11' 7 wt with recoil running guides and Ti/Sic strippers that I built as a semi swich rod but I've also fished it with a centerpin for greyling.

Then its the HCJ. It's rated 1/2-1, but you could just as easily say 3/8-1 total bait. I've fished it with a 1/8 oz swim jig and 3.8 keitech which is around 5/16 I think. My more normal size on it is 3/8 or 1/2 plus plastic. Great rod and this is what it was designed to do. Are you sure about that? I don't see it listed anywhere on their website and that's definitely a selling point. I'd be surprised if they were using SiC/Ti and not screaming about it. That's about $75 (retail) worth of guides.

How heavy of cover what what type of line? The falcon Cara Amistad is a great rod in that range. A 1/4oz jig plus a decent plastic like a rage bug will be enough for pitching; heavier is no problem. Mine is spooled with 20 lb mono for use around heavier vegetation and wood. Great rod. If you're talking more about dragging a jig (rock and brush piles) rather than pitching then look no further than the Cara heavy cover jig. Either rod is in the $250 range and fishes like rods much more expensive.

that's an awesome shot of an owl. We have a bunch around here (barred, screech, barn most commonly) and I'll see them all the time driving around and hear them out back (we have a similar backing to woodlands). I'll see them hunting around here also and had one land in a tree 30' away once at eye level. They are just so cool. We also have a nesting pair of red-tailed hawks about 100 yards down the powerline. They have been there at least since we moved in 5 years ago. There is a big gnarly oak that is 3' in diameter with a lot of leg sized branches for the first 50' and a couple big splits. Then there are vines all intertwined that are arm sized tangling and strangling on that tree. They have a nest so buried back in there that you can't see it from anywhere on the ground. I only know it's there because it is eye level when I am sitting at my desk and when the leaves are down I have seen them fly in with binoculars.

Super annoying to have to do it, but it means you have a modern grass varietal and not old K31 (not that you had that anyway). Also gives plenty of options to level, correct, and do all of the things that lawns need every now and then. Plus you have power equipment to do it. And you can't fish yet so...

save your time. I've gotten a couple quotes for ALF trade in and you can figure 25-30% of retail price if in very good condition. I couldn't be bothered for that price.

Pickerel are usually my skunk savers around here. There is always a hungry one around (they are all hungry). They do tear up lures though. I don’t get bite offs, but anything soft plastic won’t make a second fish, soft plastic trailers on a spinnerbait of buzzbait are just toast, and spinnerbait components just get whacked especially wire arms opening and skirt bands getting shredded. what water temps were you seeing? We were hitting 51-53 2 weeks ago but it cooled off. Today on the big cold deep lake it was 46-47 most everywhere. The little stuff should hit at least mid 50’s by the end of this week though.

A quick google says it’s an 11’ boat and one listed said 4’ but it looks narrower than that. A 1248 Jon boat would top out at a 9.9 I think. For an 1142 I’d say 6 hp is about as much as I’d put on it. If you have a 9.9 already then you could put it on and see, just watch how much throttle you give it.