WRB-2.0

Tilapia may be the exception because the female holds fertilized eggs in it’s mouth and releases live fry. If....a heron grabbed a live female and carried to another pond before eating the Tilapia it’s possible. Eggs sticking to webbed feet in a myth. Tom

ZA 7” unit is big enough for 1 split screen and consider buying 2 ea. Use will use the bow unit more then the console unit. Tom

2 people got me into bass fishing, Jason Lucas of Sports Afield Fishing editor of magazine and my older brothers boss Red manager of Pleasure Point Boat Landing Big Bear Lake, California. Red subscribed to Sports Afield and I read the magazine at the Boat Landing while my bother worked there. Red encourage me to bass fish and thought me how to cast. Jason Lucas became my pen pale answering my letters writing back to me. I was 12 when buying my 1st rod & reel that Jay suggested by helping my brother at the Landing all summer. My 1st combo was a Langley 340 Target reel and Connolin Feather Lite rod. The 340 Target didn’t have a level wind so I bought a 330 Lure Cast the next summer. Sold my Target 2 year ago to a BR member, still have my Lure Cast, the rod is long gone. Tom

#1 imo a Spot Lock TM #2 sonar unit compatible with TM. St Lawrence River/Thousand Island area where you are located is big water with big waves, 16 1/2 Tracker needs to stay near shore! Today’s sonar units are pricey and you may be better off locating a good used unit that someone has upgraded to current model. Ram mounts have good inexpensive units to raise the bow Sonar unit up about 12”. 7” sonar in the bow and 7” to 10” unit on a Ram mount at console is big enough imo. Navonics are a good chip update. Tom

Don’s soft plastics are hand pours, have a flat bottom, very soft and float. This makes his worms and reapers perfect for split shot, drop shot and shaking/doodling. 4 1/2” fat boy and 4” & 6” spade tail, 3” &4” reapers are my favorites. The 2 1/2” Craw is a good finesse jig trailer. Colors; worms Blue Ghost, Purple Phantom, Smallmouth Killer, Honey Comb and Lightning shad all work. Tom

Line Diameter not # test matters. Most 8 lb should be .010D or less, few 10# are .010D. To manage line twist requires a method to prevent twist or untwist the line. Boat anglers it’s as easy as dragging the line behind the boat at walking speed without anything tied on the end, the water untwist the line. Shore anglers it’s not that easy. Pull off about 50 yards of line laying straight on your lawn. Wet a terry bath) towel with water and fold over the line near the rod tip. Rewind the line back onto the reel spool keeping slight finger tension pressure near the big guide. This will untwist the some, may take more then once. Yo-Zuri Highbred isn’t a CoPolymer line it’s a Co-extruded line, mono with a FC jacket. Tom

There-has been a few post where this has been posted. After talking to Don he confirmed his gal that poured his soft plastics has retired. The Splash-It’s will still be available. If you want Don’s finesse worms, Reapers, trailers now is the time they will not be around very long. Tom

DC744C is H Exrta fast DX is H fast. XFast tip loads faster vs Fast longer tip action, power is the same. Tom

4 stroke Mercury ? 1st I know If is 1995. Tom My 1st boat wasn’t Fishing boat it was a Pumpkin Seed powered 10 hp Merc Hurrican In 1955. Family fishing boat was wooden boat built in the 40’s powered by oars and a 5 hp Elgin, later a 7 1/2 hp Martin. Family racing / runabout/water skiing/ fishing boat was a 1955 wooden 14’ Yellow Jacket powered by 2 Mark 55’s, later a Mark 75 racing engine. Tom

The DX744C is a xfast jig rod and fits the Swiss Army knife utility rod definition. But it’s 7’4” or 4” longer then your preferred 7’ rods.

Definitely contact Dobyns for credit on another rod and ask them the same questions. Tom

Use the line type you have confidence with. Braid float better then mono. Mono have 20-25% higher knot strength per diameter vs FC. FC has lower coefficient of drag going though water ( less line bow) and sinks. Take you pick. Tom

My advice with a specialty multiple use rod is go custom. Alex at ALX is who I would use give him a call, he can make or has off the shelf exactly what you/are looking for. Tom

Have tried contacting Bill Siemantel, he lives nearby. Tom

Bottom line; Species recommended. Moderate fast is common action rating for Swimbait rods. Call the rod maker as suggested. Tom

Difference from reading specs is a bass rod vs multi species rod. The multi species will have a larger diameter blank and may weight more, no weights given? Measuring from back of reel seat reducing handle length measurement vs measuring like TW is from the front of the rod handle, a difference of 4” to 6” depending on handle design with or without fore grip. Good luck! Tom

Start with the basics; 1. spinning reels between 1000 to 3000 are generally used by bass anglers. What reel are you using? 2. Line twist is different then wind knots common with light weight braided line. Monofilament or any single filament line will twist on a spinning reel; fixed spool with line being wrapped into it via a bail, 1 twist each bail rotation. 3. Any single filament line exceeding .010 diameter has too high memory for bass size spinning reel spools. A few questions; Have you checked the bail roller? Have you checked the rods guides for cracks? Tom

Suggest you start with Glenn’s video “Tips on buying your first bass boat”. Tom

Very few bass rods can withstand more then 8 lbs of pulling/lifting force without breaking! Don’t believe? Try lifting a 1 gallon jug of water that weighs 8 lbs. You say that isn’t the issue it’s bass freight training you by fighting and pulling drag to get into cover or you pulling them out of cover. If you use a rod to pull with 8 lbs is still it’s force limit. Tom

I can’t express how good this compliment makes me feel, it’s the reason I share my experience?? Tom

No...the football jig was designed* to not get shagged in rocky structure. The original started in west coast deep steep rocky lakes working the down hill. The football head didn’t have a weed guard, wire weed guard were added later because the 90 degree bend hook didn’t have enough area for a hole. The 1st jig with a fiber weed guard was the Arkie head jig using a 60 degree hook designed to allow a hole to insert the weed guard. We use football head jigs year around out west. *Larry McCain made the 1st football jig mold I know of early ‘60’s. Tom

Thumb inside the mouth bending the jaw open is the wrong way. Larger bass have thick jaws and holding the bass by the side of the jaw as in picture doesn’t stress the jaw. holding Horizontal you use the same jaw grip and lift and rotate the bass horizontal. Tom

A stiff 7’4” requires far more effort to cast sitting the a more moderate action longer rod imo. Both rods are EVA handles. What specific swimbaits are you planning to use? Tom

My advice is stay with swimbait rods as they are designed to cast and retrieve those specific lures. The only 2 brands I am familiar with are Dobyns DC 806SB. Irod IRG805 SB XH. Both rod rated for Lures 2-8oz & 3-10 oz and both worked great for lures 2 oz to 7 oz. using 25# Armilo mono line. 2 to 7 oz covered all my swimbaits. Too stiff a swimbait rod will wear you out quickly, the problem action rod launches heavy swimbait with ease. Any lures under 2 oz I could use my IRG754F frog rod effectively. Tom

Weigh in station for sure with the scale in the background. Congratulation on the proper way to hold a bass by it’s Jaw?. Tom