WRB-2.0

Using live baitfish like Golden Shiners require skills in keeping this fish alive and healthy. If you choose this option be prepared to spend the time, effort and equipment to fish these baits effectively. Suggest using Owner #5114 circle hooks when using live baitfish to nearly eliminating gut hooking. Tom

I suggest using your gift cert towards 2 each Walmart AGM marine batteries. This gives you the option to have 24VDC wired in series or a large capacity 12VDC wires parallel. You need a 50 amp circuit breaker regardless. A Perco battery switch is a good option. Tom

This isn’t a generally accepted power rating between over the counter bass rods. Do to that it’s subjective to how a rod “feels” to individual anglers. ALX was a custom rod builder before offering OTC production rods. Alex offered various rod blanks from different companies before having blanks made to his specs. The + rating was added for rods that tested in between a power rating ie; 5 power or MH in between 6 power or H was 5+. This was usually rids made from higher modulus NG graphite or NG+ materials. Today I am not knowledgable with newer state of the art bass rods other then they are lighter weight with more flexible tips. Tom

It should be mandatory for tournament anglers using a livewell to be certified in livewell management. A simple pre tournament course for those not already a card carrying member. Sure-Life handing out their products to those who need it. Tom

The reason I ask the OP questions is to determine where he is located and type of tackle. Each State has their own regulations regarding the use of live bait. Californians currently very strict, you can’t transport live bait from lake to lake and only use live baitfish netted using a hoop net. The only live bait I know of that can be purchased today is Canadian night crawlers. Bluegill or any other sunfish are considered game fish and illegal to use. Crawdads can not be transported, Tiger salamanders (water dogs) are illegal. Some lakes have different regulations, it’s a complex issue. 1st choice would be Canadian night crawlers fly line(no weight) nose or tail hooked are allowed everywhere. 2nd would be live 3” Crawdads fly line, nose or tail hooked. Tom

Search online “weight of Bass Buster boat”. Weights range 130 lbs dry, 166 lbs with accessories for 2 man boat. Tom

Rivers often have sandy runs where they widen and sand bars are developed. Bass tend to locate up tight against the down stream berm where the drops off a few feet. Sometimes a foam develops along these drop offs along sand bars and the water surface is very calm. Anywhere the River narrows the current increases and bass tend to locate up against aquatic plant growth at the edges. Tom

2 man Bass Buster boat in the opening of thread dry weight is listed as 130 lbs. Not a true pontoon boat, a plastic pond prowler boat common. Tom

New handle... Tom

Are the tubes open ended in a boat rod locker? Tom

Welcome to BR. Live bait is a controversial topic among bass anglers who tend to be lure anglers and catch & release. Where are you located regionally makes a difference on what live bait is legal and effective. My advice is Utube can be a misleading source of bass fishing information. What type of tackle do you plane to use? Finish your member info, it helps to answer questions. Tom

Looking forward to your trip report. Light weight bass reels are not made to withstand hard fighting fish and heavy lures. Swimbait tackle is more appropriate. Congratulations on making your trip a success👍 Tom

My general health is good except for the Skelton it’s a mess. I fell off a 8’ ladder about 6’ up and landed onto stone entry. Being a gymnast helped me to twist during the fall backwards landing chest down on my arms tucked under, this cushion the impact. My head hit hard wind knocked out and woke up in the ER, that was 4 months ago. No serious injury because of being in generally good physical condition. The exception is bones, my S1 is fused to the L5 vertebrae, hips have little range of motion due to excessive bone growth from DISH disease and very lucky nothing broke from the impact of the fall. We older folks must stretch after waking up in the morning before starting off the days activity. Getting olde isn’t for sissy’s. Sucking it up butter cup is an insult to people who suffer just to get dressed and try to tie our shoes. I didn’t want to sell my boat and most of the tackle, life changed and those cards had to be folded. My advice is work hard to stay heathy, your time is limited. Tom

Smaller lake 330 acres with standard mix of LMB, crappie, red ear, green sunfish and channel cats. Shad, sunfish and crawdads should be the primary bait fish. This mix creates a wide range of color choices. Trail and error situation depending on water color etc. Soft plastics I prefer purple with blue neon, green pumpkin with red, purple and black flakes and smoke with silver- gold- black flake and cinnamon blue neon. Cold water I would go with PB& J, dark green w/red flake and black. Tom

You can’t get a good hook set using the rod alone. 1. Use your reel to take up all the slack while lowering the rod tip. 2. When you have tightened the line keep reeling and sweep the rod back firmly. Tom

Standard size bass jigs most members use 5 power or MHF JWR rods. My jigs rods are 5+ or MH+ in between Heavy rating or 3/8- 1 1/4 oz lure rating . My line is 12 lb FC daytime, 16 lb for night. What is your issue with the current rod? Hook sets? Tom

Weight of your big jigs and line used? Tom

If the primer bulb if firm it shouldn’t be! Check the quick disconnect connection to make sure gasoline is passing through. You can hear and see the gasoline being primed through the carbs. Do you premix mix oil with gasoline? Try priming the gasoline into a clear glass container to check for particulates, gasoline is nearly clear color not dark. Install a new gasoline line, primer bulb and quick disconnect connector to eliminate contaminated parts. Tom

80 is 27 in celsius😎

Where are you located? primary bait fish? Tom

At 80 have already turned the page on owning a bass boat. Still have a passion to bass fish but accepted my goals have changed. A day on the water is more important then catching bass. Tom

Nope! Had I excellent outing with member Big Hands, outside of that 1 outing it’s been a tough year. Tom

Pre Spawn is a specific seasonal period that follows the winter/cold water period. Pre Spawn isn’t the female egg growing period that starts in the Summer Period a different seasonal period followed by seasonal period between Summer warm water period and winter cold water period. Don’t confuse a basses calendar with a human calendar. Cold water under 50 degrees slows the bass metabolism because bass are cold blooded, body temp is the same as the water temps they live in. Bass still eat in cold water just not as frequently. I use the same size/weight jigs year around and change the trailer size to suit what the bass want to eat and generally at a slower pace. Tom

I see said the blind man🤭

None of the above are top water lures😎