surfer

I would pay $30 more if my real were to weigh 3 ounces lighter.

Look out. You've got one right in front of your bow.

Producto

Welcome to the forum. It looks like you realy did your homework. And i think you made a fine choice for an upgrade. 1. I use only spinning gear so I cant say. 2. From what I understand you need the stiffer tip for the hook set more than you need the softer tip for the distance. 3 a. I use Sufix Braid with InvizX florocarbon leader for all my fishing. I like the braid for its castability and sensitivity. The floro leader is for its invisibility. b. Yes c.

It makes sense to me that high end sonar could tell a difference in the densities of the fish considering that cheap ones can see the difference between the density of mud and sand.

Thats the reel I put on mine too. ;D

That is only the case with motors that have Maximizer (Minn Kota's term - I don't know what Motorguide calls theirs). Ya see, on a conventional trolling motor (ie, without Maximizer) the same amount of power is drawn, no matter what speed setting you have. If on a lower speed, the excess power is just wasted away as heat, which is bad on the brushes. Now, motors with Maximizer use only the required amount, which means they are more efficient. But, if you are getting a motor to be used only for heading across the lake at full speed, then fish with a different one, you can skimp, and would be just fine without Maximizer. I disagree with your take on non maximizer trolling motors. The scenario you are talking about is if a rheostat is used in the controls to slow the motor. It is inefficient and creates heat. I took apart one trolling motor and found it to turn on more or less magnets depending on speed selection. This probably isn't as efficient as the more modern maximizer technology, but it is not nearly as inefficient as the rheostat scenario you described. I would guess the maximizer technology is Pulse Width Modulation, the electronic modern equivalent of a rheostat but without the heat waste. It is more expensive though.

First outing with it I immediately noticed it is not as round and smooth as Suffix braid. When reeling it in with a crank bait it caused slight vibration in the rod similar to an unsmooth fishing reel with bearing noise. I didn't get further with testing. That was enough for me. However I am using it in 2 lb on my crappie rod without that or any other problem.

In my year of Uni-Uni use, probably 300+ knot ties, I have never had a slip. I use 10 lb braid. It is very thin. All of my line failures happened at the Uni-Uni knot due to the very thin braid cutting through the softer and thicker floro. I feel that it cuts in at less than what the actual knot strength is if it were mono to floro. I have had to take this into account when choosing lines and drag settings. I agree with the statement that the uni-uni dose not slip. If there is a thinner knot that also has less cut in problems then I will switch.

Nice winch set up PBW. I'm going to barrow that idea.

Get the trolling motor first. Enjoy your new freedom of being on the water while you save up for a gas motor in the future. Mount the trolling motor on the front and devise a ruder in the back. When fishing in any sort of wind the boat is much easier to control with a bow mount and the ruder more than doubles the accuracy of tracking. As Bass Boy said the stern will not be in the water and it will try to walk around on you. The rudder will prevent this.

Thats good info to know. Thanks.

Like Catt and LBH I don't have a brand loyalty. I have grown to trust many names and recognize the value in their quality products. But as soon as I get a bad one and or get mistreated, I will try one of the other many trusted names available.

Suffix for braid InvisX for floro

Used for me. If I get a bad one I might change my tune in the future. I am good at kicking the tires and reading betwwen the lines of what sales men say. I also ask lots of questions. So far I have one used boat with a 25y old motor that has run great for 13 months.

I have the 7'2" MEF. I use it for everything. The tip is pretty soft. It's my second favorite rod next to my Loomis IMX MH.

I (and i think them too) am tying braid directly to the spool without backing. Sometimes this slips around the spool and you can't get the winding started. So if slipping is a problem then add a piece of electrical tape on top of the knot and tape it to the bare spool. Then wind up full braid over top of the piece of tape.

Awesome info guys. I have been using the bread ball and bread chum technique. Sometimes I cast net um sometimes I hook um.

I don't think car tires would be good. They are considered Hazardous Waste. Authorities would surely have a problem with it if they saw you.

I have seen it done on other forums more related to off shore vesels.

I use a 10 lb mushroom on my 14ft fiberglass. In light breeze it holds just fine in heavy wind i have to let out 4 times the water depth in anchor rope and it hold pretty good. If the wind is over 20mph I'm not fishing there anyways. I like how the mushroom comes up clean or can be cleaned easily by redunking a few times. I also use a very thin cheap rope. I think it is a 3/16 Solid Braid Nylon Rope good for about 500 lb. Even this thin it is still stronger than needed. It came as a 50 ft spool from Lowes for $3. I keep the spool for winding and storage. Its compact The rope has a fair amount of stretch to it. This is a benefit as it helps the anchor hold in place and absorbs some of the shock from a bouncing boat.

I have used Uni-Uni for more than a year with almost no problems. Currently experimenting with the blood knot because it is slightly thinner than the Uni-Uni. I would recomend against the double surgeon due to its thickness. It will not pass through guides easily. http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php

I have heard that you should take a treble hook lure with you to pick out the carpet. Drop the lure on the carpet. If it get hung up badly don't buy that carpet. Again not personal experience, but is sounded like good advice to me.

I had a fealing the Alabama slama wit da trollin foldin chair would show up.

Ditto on electrical tape. Spinning gear though.