WRB-2.0

You don’t need a hard cross the eyes hook set with todays sharp hooks. When casting lures including jigs over 60’ I use the reel set with firm rod sweep. More vertices hooks sets are an upward fast lift and reel. Avoid snap sets that don’t move the lure and may result in knot failures. Tom

All the advice offered is for a bass angler familiar with bass boat however the op stated never he fished from a bass boat, he fished ponds from shore. Fishing a tournament the 1st time is daunting enough but not being familiar with bass boat equipment like live wells, pedestal seats, how to get into and out of the boat, where to put your tackle, what to wear, hat and sunglasses setting in the passenger seat without a windshield, etc etc etc will be overwhelming. Tom

Off topic but I don’t consider NRX JWR the king of bottom contact casting rods. With that said I like several features of NRX rods build components, the short fore grip/ reel lock ring, the cork used and guide train. I don’t like the rod balance, weight and most of all cost of warranty. My fishing partner back in 2010 had a full set of NRX spinning and casting rods at that time the rods price was $500 each and the replacement warranty was another $100 each. My older 90 vintage Lamiglas custom rods that needed to be updated and seriously considered NRX but the extra $100 killed that for me. I contacted Lamiglas to build a new set and was informed they no longer offered custom builds. Lamiglas suggest I contact ALX custom rods he has their new state of the art blanks equal to NRX. Alex at ALX has 3 blanks and built 3 jig and worm rods with 90 day free trail and life time warranty with $35 return cost of shipping. Alex built the rods with everything I wanted for $260 each in 2O12. The ALX rods included the short fore grip with. 1/4” bevel for my middle finger holding the fore grip. Set the 1st guide optimized for the reel I use, little things that make a big difference. The finished rods were 3.8 oz in 2022, NRX were 4.3 oz. and Alex rods perfect balanced. My fishing partner was very impressed with the NRX custom rods and I liked them more then NRX! Check with Alex at ALX rods and ask what he can make today equal to NRX. Tom

With your lack of experience fishing from a bass boat you need to pre fish in a bass boat before the tournament. Funds are limited but hiring a guide to instruct you how to bass fish from a boat is essential. Maybe your coach can suggest someone he knows or a team member whiling to take out for day or 2. You also need to practice netting your boaters bass without knocking the fish off! You are located on Louisiana and most bass fishing is shallow water and targeting cypress tree root systems easy to snag in. I would suggest a T-rigged w/ 3/16 oz bullet weight and Owner 4/0 Cover Shot hook. This allows to cast anywhere without snagging a lot. Another good choice is a weightless wacky rigged 5” Senko #301 and 700, hook Owner Wacky weedless Jungle hook size 1/0 Top water lure like Whopper Popper 90 in black (loon) color and a backup in bone color. Low light use the loon, sunny use the bone. That is 2 or 3 rod reel combo’s that work everywhere. Tom

Your sonar is via the transducer mounted on the TM shaft. Your TM can’t follow specific sonar depth contour automatically unless you have Pin Point spot lock feature. Tom

There isn’t a line stretch test approved method. The most important factor testing plastic is force over time and rate of force applied. TT is using a 3 pound weight or approximately 25% of rated 12 lb line strength. The claim a short time of applied force but not defined seconds or minutes. Fluorocarbon line isn’t hygroscopic so soaking in water should have zero affect. Nylon Trilene is hygroscopic water does affect physical properties. Strech is the line elongating to force if the force reached yield strength the elongation is permeate. The lines tested have a yield strength approximately 33% of ultimate strength. 25% is well below the yield strength of lines tested. You can only evaluate line by equal diameter. Fluorocarbon FC line has 2 negative physical properties, low impact strength and deformation ( cold flow) time under stress. Cold flow and impact strength shows up as poor knot strength. This is the reason so many different knots have been tried to resolved this issue. Bottom line is FC or mono doesn’t stretch under the low force retrieving lures. What felt is the bow in the going through water straightens out under more force. To answer your question which line is better only you can determine which line performs better in your opinion Tom

When my in-laws were still living we spent vacations on Lake of the Woods just north of Nestor Falls. My father in law was a lake trout and walleye fisherman smallmouth bass were what visitors wanted to catch. Jim had a 180 on floats to fly into his outpost cabins on Arrow lake and Kiskatina (Height of Land) both lakes were insane Smallmouth fishing with 2 lb bass like fleas and 3 to 4 lb were common. You portage into Kiskatina, 7 portages but Arrow is fly in only. Arrow had a walleye and Pike population Kiskatina didn’t, it was a lake Trout and musky lake both full of virgin Smallies, doubles not uncommon. Tom PS, Kate your reports and photos shared are excellent. I don’t worry about sharing lake names few members will ever fish there.

My 1st multiple joint was 22nd Century 8” Triple Trout that could make a 180 degree turn. I didn’t like the color and had it painted rainbow trout colors, excellent lure. The Huddleston. Wooden Castiac trout today would’ve a glide bait, sinker joint swimbait. Tom

Never had good results on the wooden musky jitterbug on a dark night. They shine from dusk to about 1/2 hour before total darkness where I fish. You don’t work this lure it’s just a boring slow crawl that works best. Tom

The 1st spinnerbait I recall was Shannon twin spin in the 50’s. In the 60’s a local was making twin spins using a football jig with spreader wire arms. When going to Arizona State I discovered the safe pin style spinner bait at Roosevelt lake marina tackle shop. This was a short arm single spin with white vinyl skirt around 1961. I made a mold for the short arm spinnerbait in 1963 and still have it! Tom PS, just looked didn’t find the mold,

Bressel sprouts are good when roasted in olive oil, chopped bacon and garlic. Clean the sprouts, cut half and roast at 400f about 20-30 minutes, stir until bacon is done. I grill them using a flat iron. Tom

There is a difference between counting and impulsive counting a sign of OCD. I tend to count everything but soon forget the number, same with fish I catch unless something special. Never kept a log book but can recall some specific fishing trips in detail. Tom

Invisx is similar to Sunline Sniper and Tatsu similar to Shooter FC, all the same diameter per lb test. Todays Tatsu has a little less memory then Shooter, equal knot and abrasion strength. Invisx and Sniper are equal in every aspect imo. I use Tatsu 12 lb today as a main line it’s a little less expensive per yard of line then Shooter. Tom

Look at eBay under French Fry worms, 40ct Watermelon seed 4”. Tom

All American Tackle Co, AATackleCo, is listed as supplier. Yes it has a flat bottom. Tom

French Fry don’t know who’s? Ebay Centipedes Bass Fishing Baits 4” French Fry looks the same. Tom

Back in the 60’s early 70’s I was advocating Catch & Release of large female bass. Back then everyone believed bass were hardy prolific fish and couldn’t be over harvested, including Ray Scott! Fast forward to today’s bass anglers who believe bass should always be released. C & R has become a cult like belief that doesn’t balance the ecosystem. Killing a fish isn’t the end of the world. Keeping and eating injured bass or over populated year class bass is good for the overall bass population. Tom

Roll the clock back 25 to 30 years when our local lakes had giant bass populations I used 8” top water lures wooden trout Lunker Punker and Pupfish using my 8’ swimbait tackle. Sold all my big swimbait lures and tackle bout 4 years ago along with my boat. The 8” trout Lunker Punker and Pupfish are rare today and sell used between $300-$700. Tom

It’s seasonal for me more the bright sun or cloudy conditions. Early summer transition a Zip ‘n Ziggy smaller size dog walking top water lures gets the call. Summer wooden Sammy anytime. Shad spawn a fast Spash-It. Buzzer any time feel like using it. Tom

My wife is focused on me eating veggies with dinner. I grill veggies when grilling fish or any other meat. You name the veggie we more than likely have eaten it. I grill beats directly on the grill about the same time as a potato, peel off the charred skin. Tom

Best way to prevent gut hooking using a weightless wacky rig is circle hook, both Gamakatsu Octopus finesse circle hook and Owner Mutu Light or Mosquito size1 or 1/0 works good with 5” Senko. Tom

A few things I look for when buying an aluminum bass boat is welded or riveted hull, hull thickness, any repairs, wood or all aluminum transom and deck, has the boat been used in salt water. Welded, .100 thick min, no repairs, no wood transom, fresh water use only. Outboard engine is 1/2 the value and should be near or at maximum rated for boat. No Dolphin type planning device, trim tabs are OK on the boat. Run hours if known, Stainless steel prop. Check engine, take off the cowling and inspect the appearance for leaks, fresh paint and ask if it’s OK to have the compression tested and when was the water pump changed. Trailer, check condition and look for any damage or rust, fresh paint, axle bearing hubs and tire age. Plan on changing tires if over 8 years old. Electronics and trolling motor, batteries, plan of updating in your budget. Price, go online and check used bass boat selling pricing within your budget. Tom

Welcome to BR, you landed in the Western forum instead of the NorthEast. There currently is a Video on wacky rigged worms that should work for you to get started. Suggest Gamakatsu Octopus Cirle hook size 1 using 5” Senko. Circle hooks prevent gut hooking and use the same reel hook set. Tom

Looking at Bass Tracker Grizzly trailers the frame connects to the trailer tongue behind the wench, the tongue extends about 3’ in front of the wench that is bolted on and adjustable. it looks like the Fulton weld on swing tongue kit would save you about 24”. Suggest going to a Tracker Dealer and determine if it’s possible to modify the trial to fit your 18’6” garage space before making a decision. Tom

Sounds like a Loomis PR 843C popping rod, makes an excellent smaller size crank rod and structure spoon rod. The PR845C was a favorite rod for small crank and spoon rod for me. Tom