WRB-2.0

As described above most backlashes start as the spool over runs the line coming off it. Every lure weight and shape has a different aerodynamic resistance slowing down in mid cast. Your rod rod also contributes to how fast the spool starts up if the spool spins faster then the line coming off it ends up in a backlash. The one break you have that works for all casting reels is your thumb. Slight thumb contact to keep the spool line smooth and spinning correctly solves the backlash problem. Today reel mfr’s claim smart breaking can be built into the reel using centrifugal, magnetic and DC breaks. All these devices work but you can help to do this using a trained thumb. Tom

The engine component to change is the prop to gain a few MPH. Proper balance weight load and prop depth for your boat doesn’t cost anything to gain a few MPH. A safe engine mod are exhaust horns to increase HP about 10%, this requires a knowledgeable engine tuner. Fooling around with fuel/air mixture you can grenade the power head as Keith clearly discribed. Tom

As an aerospace engineer I started in testing a wide variety of materials in the 60’s to the mid 2000’s mostly metals followed by engineering thermoplastics now called composites. Being a fisherman tested lines in my spare time. I say this to quality my knowledge is extensive regarding materials. Monofilament line doesn’t stretch under 30% of its strength. That equates to 1/3 of the advertised line strength. That value is higher then most rods using mono line can withstand before bending to it’s load strength. Now after 20 years trying to explain mono doesn’t stretch what you feel as stretching is over coming the line bow created by coefficient if drag going through water feels like stretch then in your mind it is stretch. So be it mono feels like it stretching then it is stretching. Tom

Professional retirement investment counseling is free. Tom

Thank you for adding the battery photo. Photo showing all the batteries installed would help to clarify your boats battery set up. If these are the only batteries installed then you are missing a trolling motor battery or you have a 12V trolling motor. I can’t see heavy gage wire connecting the 2 batteries. The individual batteries should have 50 amp circuit breaker connected to the red wire. If the batteries are connected red post to red positive post and black negative post to black negative post they are wired parallel producing 12V or they are 2 separate 12V batteries, one for starting the engine the other running the trolling motor. The starting or cranking battery is normally used for electronics, the trolling motor battery should not be used for electronics because the voltage drops running the TM. Your boat should have 2 deep cycle marine batteries wired in series to produce 24V for the TM. Additional 12V marine 12V cranking battery to start the engine and run your electronics. Some boats have an addition 12V marine battery to operate the electronics or 4 batteries. The 2 batteries in the photo are dual purpose deep cycle marine group 31 and may be used as cranking battery and running electronics, not the trolling motor. How many batteries does your boat have? $1,000 us about right for the 2 batteries and installation for cranking and a additional house battery, does not include trolling motor batteries. Tom PS, I understand paying to have your boat set up properly. This is a higher end bass boat and battery knowledge is an on going, suggest you go online and educate yourself about bass boat batteries.

Welcome to BR from SoCal Tom

If I was having a jig & worm custom made today I would contact Alex at ALX and have him build the rod using Phenix K2 blank or equal blank duplicating the NRX+ premium cork handle shape including short lock ring/fore grip and ALX guide train. Tell Alex what reel , line, lure weights you use and rod length. Tom

Never fished St Claire looks big! I have fished using sonar for decades and it’s an excellent search tool to determine where the bait fish are and how deep the “life zone” is located. Knowing those 2 facts you eliminate a lot of unproductive water without spending time trying to catch the sonar marks. Sonar can’t catch bass it can only located “fish” of all types. Fish that are on structure elements, especially isolated, are usually bass. If the structure element is in the life zone then try catching them. Tom

The OP is spot on describing Largemouth bass being more active in low light conditions. My Snallmouth bass fishing is limited primarily to Canada where Musky are like Largemouth low light hunters and Smallmouth blue bird bright sky they are more active in my limited experience. Tom

Normal mounting location. GPS is in the head of the Ghost and off set isn’t a factor. Tom

All I ask before buying Chinese Lithium batteries is read Cobalt Red to understand the child slave labor used to mine the cobalt used to make these batteries. Every Lithium battery cell is made in China, some of the cases and components are made and assembled domestically. Tom

Murphy’s summed up his findings “the more we think we know these green fish they prove us wrong”. Life time later I agree totally! Tom

Bill Murphy author if In Pursuit of Giant Bass wrote about bass color vision using white to get his point over. Bill was a dental tech expert on the color white. As I recall Bill selected same shade of white form several suppliers and painted the exact same model diving crank baits from each paint supplier. Bill trolled every lure documenting catch results and 1 lure out fished all the others, Bill then painted the rest of the lures with the successful white paint suppliers white. All the caught bass equally. Why was one suppliers white different that looked the same to Bill’s trained eye? It turns out under different lighting, UV and Ultra Violet the white was different then the others. We simply don’t know enough about how bass see colors. Tom

Every time this topic comes it takes me back to Dr Hill’s Color C Lector he came out with in the early 80’s. Lauren Hill was a pro bass angler and zoology professor who knew bass behavior. Very popular device back in the day with companies offer Color C Lector color combination lures. Tom

We don’t have a clue what colors bass see by dissecting their eye. Color is interpreted by the brain. Experience contradicts that blue disappears in deep water but I have caught bass 50’ deep and the color they would eat was blue neon 4” French fry worm. Tom

Measured my Victory spinning rod tip guide inside diameter is .150. Tom

Buckeye Flick-It is a knock off Flick Shaky jig and doesn’t use a Neko weight Tom

The prime bulb line connectors may be sucking air even though it’s new. Tom

Fish Lo-K-Tor. Discovering structure fishing using the original sonar unit change my bass fishing forever. Tom

Look up Interstate 31M battery reviews and you have the same compliant as multiple boats are having. The 31M isn’t a AGM it is apparently a new hybrid dual put purpose cranking battery. My advice exchange the battery’s for Optima Blue top AGM batteries. Tom

No spin zone. Enjoy your plastic kayak and Lithium* powered sonar Peace! Tom * Cobalt Red, Kara

I use .011D to .013D Mono or FC line no leaders. Berkley Big Game mono 10 lb is .012D. Sunline Sniper or Seaguar InvisX 12 lb are .011D. Your choice, Tom

Soft jerk baits are weedless go anywhere. Hard jerk baits have treble hooks open water lures. Tom

I don’t know why the hysteria over a common house hold product that isn’t a carcinogen and isn’t as harmful to the environment as other commonly used products by the BR members. If you look up MSDS reports for acetone, paint, paint thinners, denatured alcohol, gasoline, gasoline additives like StaBil you wouldn’t leave your home. You are not using rust inhibitors like WD-40 on the water, you use rust prevention at home. I assume a high % of the WD-40 complainers drive vehicles that use gasoline and have aircraft flying overhead and use chemicals far more harmful to the environment. Silica gel for example can be toxic if eaten or gets into your eye some may contain cobalt chloride. There isn’t a panacea. Tom

We had baked Musky at Red Deer Lodge Canada with my in-laws and it was good mild tasting fish. Keep in mind the cook was very skilled. The Musky was whole stuffed and baked then served sliced along the back family style. Tom