backpain...

I use Allstate as well. I get a discount because of my auto, renters, and boat policies.

It is an interesting question. My view comes from one who cannot afford the newest and greatest. I recently was able to get a gps on my sonar which opened up many new opportunities. I would love to have the new sidescan, downscan etc etc. But as far as drawing the line it is the same for anything else. It isn't what technology you have that is the problem, it is what you do with it. If it is used within the laws, and rules have at it.

For me the hardest thing to learn is how to fish the moment. I too often find myself reliving past experiences and using certain techniques becasue that is how I want to fish and how I had success in the past. It is very difficult for me to read a certain day and figure out the puzzle because I all too often rehash old stuff.

I wouldn't mind redundancy like that every now and again personally!

My brother doesn't live far from there and said he hasn't seen any ice on the lake this winter.

I don't think raising it to 50 would be practical. I would however love to see it raised to 25 so you didn't have to buy a 2500$ motor.

At night I use the same baits as during the day. I normally look to the edges of cover as they often move to areas and feed more in the lower light conditions. Like others my confidence baits are larger profiles like bigger worms, brush hogs etc. Last night however the only thing we could get them to eat were small beavers fished painfully slow in the darkness.

I dont use a leader. I use a mainline of 10lb floro for deep cranking.

I have seen out take where the rod and reel were different for the cast and then fight and landing of the fish. I do think most shows are multiple days filmed for one show at the very least. You can't promote products that aren't working on film

I still have yet to land a bass on that lake in three trips! 10 in one day I can't imagine. Any of size?

I live in Philly and have yet to spend much time fishing the Delaware. I know there are some good ones in the tidal part largemouths mainly. The tributaries are also pretty good. Seems like the average catches are fairly small but there are 5-7# fish caught routinely. As far as any pointers.... can't help ya.

When I was a teenager we were shiner fishing on a dock in a private lake when my fathers favorite combo went sailing off skipping like a rock into the water. Later that day I saw his float surface in the middle of the lake and I went after it. Ended up finding his rod on one end and a 12lb catfish on the other end with three hooks in its mouth from earlier breakoffs!

I switch because I don't hold the rod and reel in my hand the same when casting as I do while I am retrieving the lure. It would be silly to not switch and have to double switch to get my hand up on the front of the reel where I can feel the line in my finger tips.

Communication is the key. It never hurts to ask ahead of time especially if you know who you are going to be out with. I had a 14' Lowe and now a 16' Fisher and We do just fine with 6 to 7 rods a piece and two big tackle bags.

I think the post season setup totally ruins the whole notion of "Angler of the Year" which by definition should be a title that has been earned through the whole year. Hats of to KVD though, I laughed earlier in the season when people were calling him washed up. I think he is laughing now.

The OP has raised a question I have asked myself many a trip when the dinks were all I could find. What would you suggest as a "move"? Deeper water? Steeper drops? Different type of structure/cover?

I think it is up to the officer's discretion what actually constitutes "power loading". I would doubt they would have issue with someone steadily idling their boat up onto the trailer. I think the issue comes in with the WOT kick to get them up when the trailer is barely in the water.

Sam I would be very grateful for the article as well

Go fish! If anyone laughs they are just ignorant. I fished a FOM tournament with my bro in a 16' jon with a 25HP tiller. We took second place. The fish don't care what you are fishing in!

I like my Kistler LTAs very much. My brother has several MAGs and LTXs that are very good as well. But unless it is free or next to free stay away from the Carbon Steel rods. I have four of them... got them when there was a great sale in January. Out of the plastic they were great. But after only one trip the guides on several of them were all bent up for no reason whatsoever. Just the weight of the rod on the deck caused them to flatten out. Bending them back into place further weakened them and one of them cracked. The company is great as well, they replaced all of them free of charge when I told them of the problem. Sadly the new ones are little better. The ~$100 price range is way too competitive to justify selling those rods with such crappy guides any where near that price point. Having said that, they have great blanks and are very light and sensitive, very reminiscent of the magnesiums. The other components sadly are lower quality then my Berkley lightnings. It is a shame that Kistler would even sell them IMHO. They certainly aren't worth the price or worthy of the name.

There are two series of rods I would buy from a local Walmart. One is the Berkley lightning series. They are certainly decent rods for the $30ish price tag. The guides could be better, but meh... it is $30. The other would be the Quantum tournament grade IM8 rods. I have one and still use it to this day for flukes and unweighted plastics. It has SIC guides and a nice tight reel seat, and it is pretty sensitive to boot. These are normally 45$ish around here.

These boards are so friendly lately.

I recently bought a 16' aluminum boat with the livewell in front of the steering console. It is the dumbest place for it in my opinion because that is where the driver's weight will be as well making the boat totally side heavy. I plan on moving it to the middle and extending the deck over it. But for now I am leaving it. I have never thought of fish getting beat up on runs, I will let you know how it turns out for me this season.

Kistler Magnesiums.

I agree with the general consensus that it depends on who is in the front. I am fairly new to boating, having only had a boat for a few years and getting limited time on the water each season. When I am fishing with my brother who is very good, I let him take the front. He does a way better job of boat control and positioning and we both do better. In team tournaments that makes ALL of the difference. When I am in the front, I would have to say the both fisherman are at a distinct disadvantage at this point! ;D