WRB-2.0

Anyone have experience with the new Basara round reel? Looking for 6:1 ratio small round reel. Tom

I will admit up front that Didn’t read the the replies because no mention of the line being used! IMO braid is the most difficult line to cast followed by FC on bait casting reels. This leaves mono line to learn to cast with. What reel you think you need put 12# Big Game mono on it. Works for everything rod rating listed. Tom

I believe knowing the history of bass lures and those who developed the lures and presentations is priceless so I share it before being lost. Why not learn from the pioneers who spent countless hours perfecting specific lures and techniques, can’t do that if you don’t know. Tom

Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing has a wide variety of fur, that where I got hair for tying jigs. Polar bear hair must be 1972 or older. Black bear may have brown fur. Brown bear (Kodiak) fur is available but lots of craft hair is sold under those names. Suggest contacting Marriott’s they a lot available then on their site. Tom

Strolling is term taken from trolling, moving the lure with your trolling motor. The master of targeting suspended bass using small soft plastics was Dick Trask. Trask didn’t stroll but he did catch suspended bass using 1/16-1/8 oz dart head jigs (the original Hoover jig) with 4 1/2” Flutter Craft curl tail worm and 3 1/2” Screamers. Trask didn’t have today’s sonar units but he knew where and how deep bass suspended. Trask was also deadly with split shot presentations during the 80’s won 7 fully rigged bass boats and more tournaments then I can recall. Dick had suspended bass to himself and had to complete the bottom feeders with Don Iovino and Zank. Tom

Using this particular tragedy pontificate your view point in PFD’s doesn’t help to support the family in their grief and loss of the 2 young adults that were duck hunting. We who survived our youthful mistakes should be in support grieving family during this Holiday this tragic loss. I was that age and survived not because of making good decisions but good luck. Tom

Fly Craft makes a bow mount kit for 55# TM for inflatable boats. Use a small OB engine on the transom to get where you are going like any other boat. Tom

Where do you plan to mount the TM? Swivel seats may be a good addition. I would get a large wheeled wagon to haul stuff. Avon style rubber boats are very seaworthy as long as you stay seated. Enjoy! Tom

Braid doesn’t work for main steep deep rocky structure lakes where I fish, rocks tear up braid plus zero feedback on slack line. 5 & 6 power custom ALX Jig rod are ideal for me, the 5 power for lures 1/4-1 oz, the 6 power for 3/8-1 1/4 oz. I use the 5 power for nothings and T-rig worms, shorter casts to 30-35 yards. 6 power for jigs casting over 40 yards up to 50 yards a little more force applied for good hook sets. Tom PS, Merry Christmas/ Happy New Year.

Suggest the new Daiwa Kage B line of rods. Tom

The 2 brothers were 17 & 19 duck hunting in very weed choked water area and cold weather. Heavy clothes plus a PFD may have been too bulky in there opinion, bad choice. If one brother fell overboard into the weedy water and the other went in to save him may have been what caused this tragedy. My heart goes out to there parents🙏🏻. Tom

My goal with hook sets is the hook goes through the mouth tissues past the barb and it’s not coming out! Very sharp hook with forged hook bend that doesn’t flex as the hook penetrates isn’t backing out. I use a hook set very different then most jig fisherman; a reel set with firm rod sweep never fails me. Tom

Fast action 5 to 6 power. Get a good hook set and the bass can’t shake off, can’t remember losing a jig fish from coming unpinned and use 10# or 12# FC, no braid. Tom

You can put a fork in my favorite jig trailers because they are done! Winter use as version* of UJ 2 1/2”pork frog. Pre Spawn my Super Pork* 4” x 3/4” L4 split tail pork. Year around Super Pork* 3” x 3/4” L3 split tail pork. Soft plastics; Yamamoto 4” twin tail grub and 4” Hula grub. Berkley 3” and 4” Chigger Craw. * home made Tom

Slower isn’t the issue! Tom Lowrance invented Chirp that separated targets from cover and structure and still detailed above other brands. Screen glare and visible with polarized sunglasses is another Lowrance strength. Ease of networking and upgrades are factors to consider. keep in mind today’s $900 unit are tomorrow’s $600 units. Suggested a certified reconditioned unit with 1 year warranty to start with, next year you will know exactly what works for you. Tom

With your budget suggest looking for certified refurbished units that include all cords, TD and brackets. Several Lowrance units you noted are available in $325 price range + shipping. Tom

Open the tool box and wrench to loosen a 9/16” hex nut. You have a 9/16” opened wrench, box end wrench, socket ratchet tool, Crecent wrench and channel lock pliers. Which tool do you choose? The Cresent wrench and channel lock pliers may work but not application specific, you have better choices. To select the proper tool location is important, can you turn the nut with the other tools or is the socket the only tool to perform the task. You select the tool that gets the job done. If you only have a crescent wrench you make it work. Tom

When I am on the water looking at specific areas a flood of memories come to mind, brain needs that little jog to recall. Now I need a list or calendar to look at for day to day choirs or appointments, fishing memories have faded into the mist for the most part. When I do recall every detail is vivid as it just happened. Tom

Spinning rods with the design handle that allows you to hold with the reel stem between different fingers to attain a decent balance. Your hand goes forward to off set the tip weight (changes the balance point). I do this with different spinning rods and has becomes automatic. 6 oz spinning reel about average 2500 size today. Twin Power is about 210 grams/7.4 oz. Japan Lure Shop has good prices. Tom

Have you ever seen a frog swim on the surface? Frogs swim under water and come to the surface with the head/eyes above water with body below the surface. We work a hollow body frog like a surface lure or crawl it on top of weed mates….not a natural movement. Colors.; the vast frog color is green followed by brown, both with creams color belly’s. Someone needs to make a hollow body frog that can be worked on top of weed mates and swim under water in open water pockets. My old Hawaiian Wiggker #3 and Johnson Silver minnow spoon replicates a real frog better then then soft plastic frogs! Tom

Wet blanket? PM me your thoughts, don’t want to poor feelings trying to be helpful. Tom

Without a boat now advances in sonar has left me in the wake. Like nearly everything choose a product with outstanding customer service you will need it. No reason to buy the latest and greatest unless you competitively fish tournaments. When you have reduce your choices I suggest hiring a guide who has the units your are interested in getting. On the water tutorial is well worth it.Happy Holidays🎅🏻 Tom

Snagless jigs are fishless.😎 Tom

Yep a good friend of my wife’s family in Lake of the Woods fished from a canoe and was an expert with his paddle, could make the canoe move at a good pace silently without taking the paddle out of the water. Chuck took me musky fishing a few times, it’s a quite wonderful world on the water in a canoe. Tom

Pray he comes out of surgery OK🙏🏻 Tom