Marc

The 19.3 software actually will work to control the Ghost through the NMEA 2000 network. I (along with many others) am testing the software now to find potential bugs. So far the integration with the Ghost is working well for me to run routes, go to waypoints and anchor, etc. Don't know when it will be released to the public but hear it is getting close; it will be worth the wait. I believe the Bluetooth functions are for other features like registration and more, but haven't spent much time studying that yet. The motor is working awesome, and is the best by far of any I have used.

25 years US Army Retired (1973-1998).

You will want to connect both with an ethernet cable. This will allow you to synchronize your waypoints, share transducers (view any transducer on the boat), share mapcards, and more. You also need the NMEA 2000 network to connect both LIVES and your Ghost trolling motor. NMEA 2000 also lets you share temperature sensors, digital gauges, fluid level sensors, Point-1 antenna, and much more. Both networks provide a lot of features that make fishing better and more fun. Hope this helps.

Simple. Put the hookpoint through the dropshot weight line clip, then put the hook through your hook keeper. I use QuickDrops dropshot sinkers, and when I get to my next spot I just grab the weight and pull it down to disengage the hook from the keeper, lift the weight off the hook, and pitch to the spot all in one quick motion. No tangles or line damage.

Lucky Craft Staysee 90SP Ver 3 for deep jerkbaits; Slender Pointer for shallower smallies.

That 6lb test World Record Walleye weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces. Caught it dropshotting in 27 feet of water, with a #4 Gamakatsu dropshot hook, 3/8 oz QuickDrop, and 4" worm. Line was 6lb test Sugoi Fluorocarbon on a Lamiglas TBS603 rod, Shimano Stradic Mg 2500 reel. It was fun.

Yep, it is a big Burbot, aka Freshwater Ling; and yes, I caught it at Banks Lake during an ABA Bass Tournament. Metered the fish and dropped down to it, and was hoping it was a huge smallmouth. It was pretty disappointing to see it was a Burbot. Seems I often make strange catches during bass tournaments. One TriCities tournament I actually caught a big carp on a Sammy topwater (in Chemical Bay). At another Columbia River tourney (Northwest Bass) I caught the World Record 6lb test line class walleye. At a Sammamish ABA (that I won with 22lbs of smallmouth) I also caught two nice catfish on my dropshot worm. Of course there are the 5 pound rainbows on crankbaits during tourneys (many do this) and the Potholes walleye I caught flipping a lizard. Once in So. CA I caught a 4 pound goggleeye goldfish on a crankbait, and in tidal river bass tournaments back in Delaware and Maryland I caught all manner of saltwater fish during bass tournaments. On Long Lake during a tourney I caught a huge crappie on a 5" Senko. I was also spooled on the Columbia when I was fishing a dropshot worm in 35 feet and a sturgeon took off with my bait. On another Willamette River tournament I caught a nice 22 pound Springer (King Salmon) on a 4" Green Pumpkin Flippin Tube! One of these days I'm going to write a magazine article about the crazy catches I have made over the years! ;D

They all have their place and time, but be sure to stock up the most on the new 105 size. This new model even has 3 hooks which is perfect for smallmouth and spots.

Does this qualify? Caught it dropshotting in 40 feet with a 4" worm, and a 3/8 oz QuickDrop! Guess!

Both are good tools, but the shakey head is much more limited in its use than the drop shot. To me the drop shot is way more versatile, and can be fished in many different situations and conditions. I fish a dropshot with as little as 1/16 oz weights, and as heavy as 1 ounce weights. Dropshotting works great on the bottom or suspended anywhere between the surface and the bottom. It is both a horizontal or a vertical technique, and can be used in open water or in various cover and structure situations. But hey, I'm glad all the competition prefers the shakey head over the dropshot... ;D ciao, Marc

My insight to fisheries biology jobs is like many of the previous posts. I wanted to be a fisheries biologist all of my life. Went to college to be one, but managed to find myself in a military career for 23 years. Even in the military I did some fisheries biology work, and continued my studies, but my fisheries biology career was mainly on hold until I retired from the Army. Then I started my fisheries biologist career and promptly took a pay cut that amounted to one-third the amount I was making as a military officer. The work was great, and a lot of fun, but it is not fairly compensated if you work for the government. The most financial reward is in working for private industry. Although I loved being a fisheries biologist, I decided tomove on to a third career at triple the pay so I could send my own kids to college, and do my fisheries work now as a volunteer and for my own personal satisfaction. Look closely into the future job opportunities to make sure you know what you are getting into, and you can't go wrong with whatever you decide. ciao, Marc

If the right person catches a validated world record largemouth bass, and under the right circumstances, then I am confident that it will be worth well over $1 million. The person needs to understand the situation, and be prepared for it. Live on-the-water, well-taken photographs with a quality camera are worth a lot of money for a long time. I would shoot as many different pictures as possible. If someone lies about the products that helped them catch the world record, it will likely backfire and hurt their financial chances. The path to the reward is to use the right products in the first place. From the perspective of the record bass, the right products will likely be necessary. The more people that see the live bass at the lake, the better. Many states will not let you transport the fish beyond the waters edge. A violation will likely nullify the record. If the angler is well-known (not necessarily a "pro") as a good stick, and the angler is presentable and has speaking skills, then there will be plenty of opportunities to earn a paycheck speaking at events. The magazine articles and public exposure is worth cash to manufacturers of products that played a role, but only the large ones with big marketing budgets and high-volume lure manufacturing capabilities will pay a lot of money. Berkley can manufacture a ton of a particular lure in a hurry to meet the mass demand that is likely to occur. People who have never bought a fishing lure in their life will buy the lure that caught the world record just to give to the bass angler in their family or their friend. The problem is that most companies have no hope of producing the products fast enough to capitalize on the window of opportunity. The person had better be prepared to be demonized. The fish will likely have to be killed, and kept frozen for later testing and verification. Even the carcass dimensions are worth money (to fiberglass mold makers, and for research purposes). The angler will get hate mail and speech from those who don't like the fish being killed, even though the person has the legal right to do so. Relationships will be strained, privacy will be lost, and people will come out of the woodwork to steal some of your glory and money. Jealousy will be encountered on a daily basis, and all the attention (wanted or not) will make the angler appear self-centered and egotistical just by relating their experience to those who want to know. If the angler is lucky enough to be able to keep the fish alive, and legally transport it, the bass will be worth a small fortune to the venue that can display it and use it to attract people. Hopefully if caught in a state that doesn't allow live transport, an exception to policy (permit) will be granted allowing the State to transport the fish alive for research and public relations. Ideally I would love for the State Dept. of Fisheries be allowed to showcase the fish alive to promote fishing in general. Of course, on the other hand, if the wrong person catches this record it could be the most expensive catch and nightmare the person would ever hope to have. ciao, Marc

islandbass, yes, you must be a Lami fan! (I'm also in the current catalog). Too bad Iaconelli didn't get into the smallmouths at Lake Washington; he would have been shocked how fat and thick they are for their size, and how well they fight. I would love to put him on some big fish with a dropshot rig and 6-pound test. ciao, Marc

islandbass, yea, guilty as charged! ciao, Marc

Glenn, There isn't much anyone can do when the bass aren't willing to bite. It is really too bad though that Seattle had it's chance to shine and show off it's sometimes world-class smallmouth fishery to the rest of the country, and we blanked. I doubt any of the footage will see the light of day except maybe in a year-end review of the "not-so-hot" places. I really hope he makes another trip because he will get into some big bass. I can send him lots of pictures of big bass with the space needle in the background if it will help to convince him to come back! ;D ;D ciao, Marc