WRB-2.0

Aluminum bass boats are a different then glass bass boat in many ways, mostly stability, ride comfort and storage. Some very good aluminum bass boats available today that try to immolate a glass boat, the standard to compare. To me if you never plan to beach your boat then study the storage schematic layouts of the higher end aluminum boats and base your decision on that. Tom

Should learn to cast into the wind. Option is cast 45 degrees in lieu of casting directly into a strong wind. Tom

Just read on Boat Trader a 1985 Valco 15’ boat converted to bass fishing, 2022 4 stroke 20HP Tohatsu, TM, sonar and cover for $4,000 It’s west coast but fly, rent a light truck and tow this home now! Tom

3M 5200 is excellent marine sealer for through hull fasteners, it’s not intended to be a structural epoxy. Remember side mounted bench seats in aluminum boats like Lund or AlumaCraft can weaken the free board sides of the hull without adding brackets to reinforce the side. No automotive batteries or electrical terminals, use marine grade products to avoid corrosion. The price drivers are the outboard engine, TM and sonar units. The trailer can also get pricey with new hubs, wheels, tires and corrosion repairs. Your labor is donated so do it right the 1st time. Good luck. Tom

The fact the line broke twice using frogs points to the frog hook. The stick abrasion on the line was up line away from the fish.If abrasion broke the line the break would be at the roughened line. You ever tried to break 15# BG, difficult to do! Another factor to consider is hook barb cutting the line when the lure is stored on the rod. If the line manages to contact the hook barb vibration during travel can nick the line. Just my 2 cents. Tom

It’s up to you to control the bass by keeping it in front of you. 15# BG is strong enough to force a bass to turn, and you can hold the rod as high as possible to clear the stick ups. Another option when the bass manages to wrap a stick is loosen the drag and keep light pressure until the bass is free of the sticks, then fight it. Frogs have big large diameter wire hooks and some knots never fully clinch tight. The Paloma’s is a double line knot and works good as long as you don’t twist the loop putting the lure or hook through it. The San Diego Jam knot is another good knot for heavier wire hooks. It sounds to me your knot slipped and light abrasion wasn’t what caused your problem. Tom

The old name was Lunker followed by Pig, then Toad, now a Giant seems to a common name for a bass over 4 lbs. Smaller bass Keeper, Tight Eyes and Dink. Tom

The term swimbaits now cover baits from 2.8” to 16” that range from prices of under a $1 to well over $500 or soup to nuts. Standard MHF bass rods and reels can effectively cast and retrieve swimbaits 5” or less, this is your category. Swim jigs or underspins with a soft plastic swimbait works year around. The medium size swimbaits 6” to 7” weighing over 1 1/2 oz to 3oz require Jr size swimbait rods rated 1 to 3 oz lures and line 15# to #20, large reels with more line capacity. The heavy size swimbaits over 7” weighing 4 oz to 7 oz require Heavy swimbait rods rated 3oz to 10oz, larger reels and line 20# to 30#. XHeavy swimbaits over 8” to 16” weight 7 to 16 oz are the top end of bass swimbaits and need HeavyX or Heavy XX rods and line 25# to 40#. Name your category and be prepared to budget funds accordingly. Tom

it’s rarely the lure and almost always the timing and location. I use jigs because it’s a proven lure and presentation that doesn’t stay in the box. Use what works for you not me,the bass will eat it. Tom

Minn Kota C2, 30 # thrust weighs 15 lbs, $110 free shipping. 3 speed motor so #1 is about 10 lbs thrust. Tom PS, no such thing as 3 phase DC,AC OK.

Summer Seasonal Period offers bass of all sizes a smorgasbord of prey opportunities from top water to bottom crawlers of all types and sizes. Pick your flavor the bass are feeding. Tom

My 6’10” jig & worm rod. Ribbon tail is just another worm. Some folks like to C-rig ribbon tails and prefer longer rods to cast the longer leader. I T-rig ribbon tails w/ sliding bullet weight, same as straight rails? Tom

Drop shot in MN 45 years ago was more then likely unknown. The idea of tying a hook directly on monofilament line was thought to be ridiculous, you should use a dropper rig with at least a 4” loop was the consensus of local opinion. My in-laws wouldn’t leave the book without a bucket of minnows! The thought of using a drop shot rig with soft plastics was absurd to my in-laws who are ( were) native Minnesotans. Being from California only added to their disbelief such a rig would work in their lakes. Drop Shot works but like everything thing else with finesse fishing it takes skill that must be learned with time on the water. Drop shot is over fished by nearly everyone starting out because we are use to adding “action” to our lure presentations. Drop shot is very similar to Senko fishing, less action imparted the better it works. Sonar fish finders was another gadget that Minnesota wanted to ban. I sent my Lowrance 1510 paper graph to MN and that also raised eyebrows. If you drop shot sonar eliminates a lot of unproductive water, giving you confidence fish are located where you are fishing. Going from Dacron braid line to light monofilament line was a big step for my in-laws 50 years ago. Today spinning and finesse is common and accepted nearly everywhere. Didn’t say hand pour soft plastics always out fish live minnows, some days it does. Tom

My trips to MN and Canada started in the early 70’s to meet my in-laws and do some fishing. Musky was my #1 goal buy my in-laws were Walleye anglers, so we did a lot of dragging minnows in jigs. When my father in law had enough confidence in my ability to run a boat and find my way home I started Musky fishing alone and doing some bass fishing. I soon learned my hand poured western soft plastic worms worked better the minnows for walleyes using a split shot rig and lots of Smallmouths on the same reefs. The next year I brought more finesse worms and shipped a spinning outfit to Canada. Back then a spinning reel-rod was considered kids tackle not suited for fishing. I also brought a medium fast Phenix rod with Abu 2500C reel with 8# Max UG line as a gift for my farther in-law who reluctantly accepted it and learned to really like it after 1 outing. I rigged a drop shot and motor oil w/red flake Smitty worm and started catching bigger and more walleyes then the Minnow anglers. Fast forward a few years and the drop shot with soft hand poured finesse worms or minnows became my in-laws bread and butter technique. So yes drop shot works everywhere, when you know fish are located where you fish. Tom

We are all different in the manner we treat our bodies as teen’s and young adults when a lifetime of damaged can occur. It starts with our skin and now we know how to protect it. When I was a youngster my physical condition was indestructible and damaged my body every way possible, no thought of getting old. Started gymnastics at 12, my ticket to college. Raced everything that was fast enough; boats, cars, motor cycles etc, most ended with in accidents I live with today, sudden stops are damaging. I survived somehow and live with the shoulder, head and spine surgeries. We think we are indestructible as youths, life has a way of changing that outlook, it’s called pain. If only wisdom could be passed on! Tom

Looked at bass boat for $5K and a 1999 16’ Tracker on trailer with 30hp Merc is currently offered at $2,100. Located in IL. Take a look and get started looking.

Search this site for “Paul Roberts”. Lots of local Colorado content including video’s. Don’t know where Paul is currently after the fires in Colorado last year? Enjoy the 4th?? Tom

I have observed large concrete stepping stones covered with gravel and tires filled with gravel placed in 3’ of water where weed beds are thick to attract bass to spawn. Tom

Not every boat angler is considerate of other folks property. Private docks are private property. Nearly every public dock isn’t worth the effort to fish or has signs no fishing. We as bass anglers tend to think all bass anglers are kind and considerate, in reality some can spoil it for all. If a dock or property owner is nearby be courteous and ask if it’s OK to cast around his or her dock and you catch & release.....works wonders. They or their kids or pets may have been injured by hooks or lures broke off by “bass anglers”,it’s a 2 sided sword. Tom

Irod IRG754F Gen 3 excels for everything the OP wants and under $150 plus this holiday sale another 15% off! Tom

The rod length comes into play keeping line off the surf breakers. Basically you need a surf rod holder that extends the rod length about 3’ after sticky the holder into the sand when bait fishing. Most surf rod are 2 or 3 pice, op for a longer rod that is lighter in weight. Ugly Sticks are heavy! Casting lures is whole different conversation. Tom

Anyone on any given day can catch their PB bass without being dedicated to catching big bass. Few if anyone can catch giant bass consistently or even occasion unless they dedicate their efforts and develop the needed skills. I spent most of my adult life dedicated to catching the world record LMB and came close but like horse shoes not close enough. My efforts were focused on Pre Spawn high % time period, leaving 10 months available to enjoy all types of fishing. Tom

Give it until passed next May after they spawn, I wouldn’t hurry. Tom PS, it was 105 in Santa Clarita on Friday drive home?

Purple Thunder; smoke with fine black, silver, gold flakes with purple neon center vain. Copper ‘n Coal; smoke with black and copper flakes. Green Weenie light green/cinnamon laminate with black and blue flakes. Tom

What power rating do these rods have? If you plan to use treble hook big Musky lures a Heavy power rod is needed to get a hook set because of their teeth. Double cow bell inline Musky spinners lures it’s nice to have the longer rod, hard baits the 7’6” Heavy Fast is a better all around rod. Irod IRG 754F Gen 3*is a good choice for 7’5” or IRG 804 SB for the Heavy 8’ rod, both are under $150 plus 15% off this sale. For under $300 get both! Tom * excellent all around rod.