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If you're going with the Dobyns route, the DX745 , the best jig rod in the lineup, would be a better bet than the 784 Mike Long version, which is a little more soft in the tip. Too soft, IMO, for a 1oz sinker on a Carolina Rig. I often pull double-duty with my frog rods to work Carolina Rigs. They have the extra length, power, and use braided line, as well, so they make a good double-duty rod. Those are Dobyns Champs 735 and 736. I prefer the 5-power rods, personally.

There you go! Especially that Shad Rap, whose super-tight wiggle is very under appreciated by bass anglers.

"I hope it's not a northern".

Woodchuck?

The Pro Assassinator spinnerbaits seems to have gone out of business. Those were my favorite, and at $5 were a steal. I'm going to have to give those Sieberts a try. They look nice at $5, and you can have the skirt wire-tied for $0.30 more. I used to do that myself to all baits.

Pearl white

If you want black line, it's always an option to color that last few feet with a Sharpie marker. I do that all the time with braided line.

High-octane, ethanol free gas for every fill-up. It's worth the extra quarter or two per gallon. Seafoam continuously at about 1 oz to 4-6 gallons, which is weaker than the recommended dose of 1:1. A few times a year I will run it at full strength to smoke out and de-carb the engine. Lucas continuously at the same rate, which is also weak. Marine Stabil continuously at the recommended dose. This continuous, relatively weak cocktail has worked like a charm.

They all look like craws, regardless of price, but the more expensive jigs ($3+) have better hooks, and that will make a difference to the fish.

That looks like a risky buy from a very new user, especially given the fact that multiple retailers will be doing 15-20% off sales for Memorial Day and will be selling that rod for $140 or so shipped.

It's an 8 year old reel, debuted in 2008. Where would you find a new one?

While spooling, I spray it on numerous times at different levels. So basically the entire spool is soaked (except the very bottom, which won't get used) and the KVD is nearly dripping from the spool. Takes about 6 squirts. After that, I spray it onto the surface of each spool containing Hybrid, mono, or fluoro about every third of fourth trip. Been doing this for years and it works great. It's hugely noticeable on some lines, and less noticeable on others.

I took the key out of my boat to make spares and left them at home, and then headed 50 minutes north to Mille Lacs lake. It was windy and wavy that day (as usual), so I wasn't about to head out with only the trolling motor like I might if it was a small lake. Waste of a day and about $15 in gas.

I'm not sure about other states, but in Minnesota, you can buy a 'conservation license' that costs half as much as a full license but only allows an angler to keep half-limits of fish. That's what some CPR anglers do around here. You could look into it. Personally, I pony up the entire 30-some dollars for a full license because I know it goes directly to fixing up public boat accesses, of which there are more than 15,000 in the state. It's a PITA to travel to a lake only to find that the access is inaccessible for a heavy boat.

I think it works pretty darn well on all lines aside from braid, and some folks believe it works for that, too. Personally, I think it works best that first time it's used on freshly spooled line. Subsequent applications aren't quite as noticeable.

It can throw off the balance of a suspending jerkbait and make it hang slightly nose-down or even slowly sink. Some of those are very precisely balance.

I used a 51E Chronarch on a lighter (1/4 oz. +/-) jigging/worming setup last year, and when it was broken down, cleaned, and inspected in the offseason, the reel appeared to be no worse for wear. If it could handle jigs and braid, I don't see why spinners and cranks would be an issue. If you're not convinced, try putting those reels up in the Flea Market and get your money back. You could break even, at least.

The Double Uni knot works well, and it's a piece of cake to tie if you lubricate it well (with spit). I do 6 turns each usually.

I've tried it and caught a few fish with it. Problem was that the tube is so flimsy that it barely stayed in place when unglued, and it tore easily when glued.

How much did those run you?

If I were kayak- or bank-fishing, I'd want to go with longer rods, not shorter, for the added casting distance and ability to control hooked fish.

Best to get away from bankfishing all together. Boating, kayaking, and even wading will open up a ton more opportunities to find fish peacefully. It's not reasonable to expect people to change, but it's plenty easy to get away from them.

This is a very good point. Buffing can be dangerous if overdone, especially when one is using compounds, which are rarely needed. I've only used compound twice in 7 years. If one chooses to buff, as I do, it should be done with great caution and with as low of a speed as possible, especially on any ridge or feature on the boat. It creates friction and can burn through the gel coat, so feel the gel coat for heat after applying to each little section you do. It has it's hazards if done incorrectly, but the glaze fills far better when applied with a buffer.

Bow to Stern (BTS) for regular wipe-downs. The stuff is awesome. 3M products for annual spring polishing/glazing/waxing of the gel coat. Finesse-It II glaze is an excellent product that will have your gel coat looking as smooth as melted wax. It fills in abrasions and swirl marks. Keep in mind that a rotary buffer is needed to get the most out of your gel coat. Hand applications are nearly useless in comparison when it comes to glazes and light rubbing compounds. $30 is all I spent on my buffer, Chicago brand and orange. The 3M pads cost more, I believe, but I've been using the same ones for 7 years. When it come to applying wax, I'm not convinced that one needs to buff it in. I personally apply it by hand mostly. I've been using this routine for 7 years, and I store my boat outside under tarps in the Minnesota winter. It looks as good as the day I bought it 7 years ago. These products I mentioned are pricey but the shelf life is long and they go a long way.

Seems like that. Tatsu is a stellar fluorocarbon. Easily the best I've used. Honestly, one would be doing themselves a great service to give a spool a try, especially for jigs and T-rigs. I have a 66-yard distance measured out in a local park where I go to respool my reels with expensive lines. That way I can spool three reels equally with a 200-yard spool. At $13 or so for a reel-full of line that'll last AT LEAST a season -- the only fluorocarbon that can be stretched for more than a season -- Tatsu isn't that expensive. The initial purchase price just seems rough. In addition, Seaguar is a Bass Resource sponsor, so it gets pushed hard by some of mods at times, but they're justified in doing so.