WRB-2.0

The optimal level wind design is no level wind! All my salt water reeks from a Squider to International off shore reeks do not have a level wind. I learned to cast a bait caster without a level wind my Langley 340 Target that could cast as good as any of the new design reels. You learn to your fingers to maintain even load of line in the spool. Tom

Bill Murphy* talks about colors and bass lures. My favorite was Bill’s experiment using 10 deep diving crank baits same model and brand. Bill was a dental tech vast knowledge of color tones and he painted each lure white using 10 different suppliers of the same shade of white paint. Bill trolled each lure and recorded his catch results. 3 of the where lures caught bass, the others didn’t. Bill then trolled the 3 that caught bass and recorded the 1 that caught the most same lakes and time. Bill then painted the other 7 lures the successful white by the same supplier. All 7 caught bass about the same ratio as the success lures that caught the most. Bill looked at the white painted lures under both ultra violet and infrared light and determines the one suppliers white look very different color that stood out from the other suppliers. White is white but to bass it can look different. Tom * In Pursuit of Giant Bass.

AI Searches available data fish reports including fishing sites like BR that a lot of us have contributed to freely then relies to the topic. Thus technology is in it’s early stages and will improve building on it’s own data. Tom

The difference in frame size is the Vanford stem may be shorter than the Stradic. The Vanfords 2000 drag is also upgraded vs the 1000 Stradic. Tom

If the lake has a shad population that is the basses primary food source during the summer to fall transition. Locate the shad schools the will be there at the same depth. Shad colored spinnerbait is the traditional lure for this seasonal period if the shad are between 1’ to 6’ deep. Deeper bait requires running deeper lures that are shad imitators like spoons, tail and under blades or bladed jigs. Tom PS, pick up a pool thermometer or digital with probe.

The aluminum used is the older boats was 5052-T3 because it forms easily, but a poor to weld that is why the hull was riveted. 6061-T6 is used on welded hulls and newer hulls may use 7075-T6 a stronger aluminum. Sorry to read the project was a failure after all the hard work. Tom

Looks like a swing head to me that should work through brush OK. Tom

The magazines I read as a youngster were Field & Stream Jason Lucas editor and Outdoor Life Robert Lincoln Page editor, both published bass books in the 50’s. Lucas on Bass and Black Bass Fishing are worth reading, good but not classics. I also recommend In Pursuit of Giant Bass by Bill Murphy if interested in catching adult size bass and good overall behavior habits. Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea is a classic, not about fishing, it’s about life. Tom

The light weight AlumaCraft was met to be flown into remote lakes on float plane straped to the float brace. Being built in Minnesota both boats were not intended for salt water as the galvanic corrosion clearly shows. Circulation air helps to reduce corrosion but nothing can prevent corrosion from dissimilar metals on aluminum. Lots of work to restore the boats, hats off to you. Tom

Wrote a article for In-Fisherman “Rare Chance for a World Record”, maybe not up to good writing standards but written in the old style that you might enjoy reading. PM email and will send it to anyone who wants to read it. Tom

If the gear is neutral the prop should turn easily, something is haywire with the lower unit drive shaft. Tom

if the gears are in neutral the power head is disengage from the lower unit drive shaft .The water pump is probably in bad condition and should be replaced, but is rubber and couldn’t seize the engine power head. Way2Slow, Kieth, is the resident expert on your 40 hp Evinrude/ Johnson engine. Tom

Put the engine in neutral. Pull the spark plugs, should be 2 and number them. See if the plugs are rusted. Spray some 2 cycle oil into the spark plugs holes before trying to turn over the engine. Imagine there is a pull start cord to turn the engine over so it’s not locked up, leave the plugs out. The oil should help to break the pistons loose without damaging them. Tom

Judging from the photos someone tried to convert the boat into a bass boat and neglected taking care of it. You will need to completely take everything out of the boat to determine what condition the hull is in. Lots of work and TLC project but worth the effort if the outboard engine is in decent shape. You may know nothing about the boat at this time but you will need to learn to restore back to a safe operating boat. The trailer look worse with rust on the tongue and you need to check to see if the metal is solid or rusted beyond saving. Take a hammer a hit the metal rusted areas to see if it is solid or not. The flooring is toast and the “pedestal ” is unique! MN Fisher has restored a very similar boat and is a wealth of information that will help you. The stick steering is a concern and must be checked out. Good luck, it’s project and will take time and lots if elbow grease. Tom

The rod is more important than the line regarding working a popper! My preference is 6’8” MF baitcasting using straight mono. Tom

B.A.S.S. needs to make a clear rule decision, the 2026 FFS rule is like being a little bit pregnant! Tom

Anchoring is a skill lost on most bass anglers because they don’t use physical anchors today. The rope you use is important and needs to be about 1/2” to 5/8” diameter to hand retrieve the anchor. Mushroom shape anchor isn’t a good choice as it rolls without catching the bottom, navy anchor works better. The angle ( scope) the front rope should be about 30 degrees ( point your index finger parallel to the water surface and move your middle finger down until it stops, that is about 30 degrees. About 4 to 1 depth under most conditions for bass boats. Tom

The major brands of that era no longer used glass over wood transoms eliminating the dry rote issue. Fiberglass doesn’t degrade from age alone, sunlight exposure and weather extremes can create problems that show in faded color coat, weathered seats and cracks around stress points like the transom area. It’s hard to find boats that were garaged but well worth the effort imo. Mercury, Honda, Yamaha OB’s are a good choice avoid Evinrude as they are no longer made. Boat length and HP are price factors plus check the trailer closely. The TM and sonar units of that era need to be replaced. I believe Glenn has a video on buying used bass boats. Tom

Night is your friend during summer doldrums or dog days. This is so common that anglers have experienced your situation over the decades we have names for it. You not alone! Summer period is banquet time for bass so many prey choices they become difficult to catch using lures. You can use live Canadian large night crawlers fly line (no weight) tail hooked using a drop shot size 1 hook. The issue with live night crawler is everything eats them and requires spinning tackle with 6 lb mono to cast. Another option is 5” wacky rigged weightless Senko in lieu of live night crawlers. Night you can go with Texas rigged 7” to “ inch Power worms with 3/16 bullet weight, one lure all night and fan cast the area. Suggest starting a dusk and fishing about 4 hours. Tom

That reel got a lot use and wear my favorite for over 10 years. Ambassador 2500C retired it! You do excellent work👍

Johnson Silver Minnow weedless spool you can attach soft plastics using a CPS spring. The Nemire Redfish spoon doesn’t need a trailer as it has a skirt. I like to cast over weed beds into open water and retrieve up and over the mat swimming into any open pockets. Also along weed breaks or trolled over submerged weeds. Tom

I was the original owner of the Langley 340 Target and 330 Lure cast reels. Jason Lucas recommended the Langley reels back in 1955. Very light weight at 4 oz & 4 1/4 oz, small reels perfect a kid with small hands. I am thrilled these reels found a good home😀 Tom

Weedless spoon. Tom

I tend to get into a rut depending on the lure I am using regarding retrieves and have a different cadence for each. A wacky weightless Senko has its own speed falling on slack line probably the slowest I use. A deep diving crank bait gets a faster retrieve in the beginning and various 1 crank, 3 cranks, 2 cranks etc stop and go retrieve where a buzz bait gets a steady retrieve speed. Jigs and bottom contact worms get a crank and stop to shake then rest etc various cadence. How many cranks and how long the shakes and pause changes until strikes occur, no set cadence. If I want to fish fast use a faster moving lure, slowing down takes more patience and focus to be successful. Enjoying your environment is part of being focused, somedays just can’t focus and mis the enjoyment. Tom

Tackle Warehouse has it for $10