Toeshots

Never carry cash. Everything that can possibly go on the credit card goes on the credit card. I like the 2% cash back (Citi Double Cash Card) on everything, especially the stuff I’m going to buy anyway. My account is set to autopay the prior statement balance to avoid any interest charges.

I have a Camp Chef and absolutely love it. Cooking breakfast outside with a cup of coffee on a nice morning is definitely one of my favorite things to do. We use it all the time. Kid wanted a White Sox/baseball themed birthday party earlier this year and there was only one way to do it:

Thanks, guys. I ordered the Fury 735C. Should be here next week!

I broke the tip off my frog rod yesterday and am in search of a new one. The Dobyns Fury 735C seems to be the go-to for just about everybody. My question is this - I throw the Booyah Pad Crasher almost exclusively which weighs in at 1/2 oz. This is towards the lower end of the rating for the 735C. I’m sure others fish this frog or similar on this rod, so how does it sling a frog this size? I won’t be able to handle one before buying so I thought I’d ask here.

50# Power Pro original. I’ve had the same line on the reel for probably 5-6 years, have never felt the need to respool. Still works great!

Thanks for your input. Do you do a quick wipedown right after pulling the boat out? If so, what do you use? My boat will be black so I feel like I’ll have to do this as soon as I possibly can after taking the boat out of the water. Like you said, the boat will likely get dirty again on the ride home but the sooner I get water spots off, the better. Once I got home I would fully clean and polish. Great info. Thanks. Do you use any fuel additives?

Yep, tons of red boats out there. Very popular color at my local dealer I noticed. I do think they look very nice but wanted something different when I ordered my boat. I ended up going black and opted for no red anywhere. Now I’ll probably have to spend countless hours trying to keep a black boat looking clean! ?

Have a new boat incoming and need to stock up on general maintenance/care items. What are your must-haves in keeping your boat looking and running great? Thanks in advance.

What is most important? Ride, top-end speed, fishability, resale value, storage space? What dealers do you have nearby and what boats and motors do they service? Lots of good options out there, but different boats have different characteristics. People have bought what works for them and a lot of times that is what they will recommend, but at the end of the day you should get the boat that works for you, especially since you are buying new. Should also consider what dealers are nearby for when you need service. I recently ordered a new Ranger Z519 as I have a dealer 25 minutes away and wanted a great boat with the trolling motor down. My boat will reach low 70’s at the very best, while others brands may do 75+. I don’t fish tournaments and 70 is plenty fast for me, so this boat matched what I was looking for.

Tatsu 15 & 20 LB on baitcasters for plastics and jigs. I have so much confidence in this line that I’m hesitant to veer too much from it. That being said, I usually only buy it when it’s on sale. Tried some 8 LB straight on a spinning reel but I felt it was a bit too springy even with KVD L&L. Switched to 30lb braid w/the 8 LB as a leader and haven’t looked back. Bottom line - Tatsu is awesome. There are likely cheaper options out there that are also very good, but Tatsu just flat-out works.

I wish Fenwick would bring back the Elite Tech Smallmouth. I had the 6’9 M/XF and absolutely loved it. Such a great rod. Mine had to be replaced but the Smallmouth line was discontinued so Fenwick sent me an Elite Tech Bass. Didn’t like it nearly as much and sold it shortly thereafter.

I have a registration question for you guys. Here’s the scoop: My father-in-law recently bought a Pelican BR 8 from his neighbor who was moving. He paid $50 and has given the boat to me. According to the sticker, the boat was last registered in Indiana way back in 2001. Some of the stickers for the boat ID number have fallen off. I do not have a title, bill of sale, or any other paperwork for the boat. As an IL resident, I am looking to get the boat registered and titled. Can anyone give me some input on where to get started with this process? Any help would be much appreciated!

Just go with a 7 footer. It will be a good mix of comfort and the benefits of having a longer rod. The longer rod will help you get the frog way back in the slop and to places you may not be able to reach with a 6'6". It will also help you on long range hooksets as it will pull more line than a shorter rod. This is really important as often times I have strikes right away after a long cast. I prefer to let the frog sit for a few seconds after it hits the water. It will move naturally as the water settles and the legs will "pulsate" and sometimes that is enough to get them to strike. Good luck! Frogging is as good as it gets!

I mean, you could do this. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, however, if you are using even moderately priced FC, I certainly wouldn't recommend it. You are never going to get to the bottom half of the spool and will end up throwing away all that line when you replace it. I am a big fan of Seaguar Tatsu, but at $50+ for a 200-yard spool, you better believe I'm putting backing on my reel. If I can get 1-2 more line changes by using cheap mono as backing, it really helps bring down the long-term cost of using quality FC. It's still not cheap, but it's certainly more reasonable.

Another vote for the Booyah Pad Crasher. It's just such a good value. They are very soft, however I recently picked up one of the new colors - Night Train - and it's noticeable more firm than the others I have, including the Kuro Frog color I bought at the same time. I haven't fished the Night Train yet, but I'm hoping the firmness doesn't have too much effect on hookup ratio.

I enjoy having music out on the boat. Just adds to the overall experience for me. Fishing. Music. A couple cold beers on a hot day. Good times.

For me it's the Super Spook Jr. in Black Shore Shad.

There are compensating factors. For instance, if you are using a slower action rod and/or backing off the drag, there's no reason you couldn't use braid. That beng said, I certainly do prefer mono or FC. Currently using 12# Sufix Siege for all my cranking needs.

Why not wait a few weeks for the Spring Fishing Classic when the PQ will be $70?

I use the same ones and have no issue fitting them on my 200-sized Shimanos. You are referring to these, right?: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Tackle_Warehouse_Low_Profile_Casting_Reel_Covers/descpage-TWRC.html

I don't find them to be a hassle at all. For rods, I use the BPS XTS Rod Socks. These will protect from scratches but not really from impact damage. The thing I like the most about them is that they keep the rods from getting tangled. I generally carry about 6 rods and it's nice not having to untangle them all when I am anxious to get my line in the water. For reels, I use Tackle Warehouse casting reel covers which are often offered at a discount when you place an order. These are quality covers and are easy to take on and off. These provide cushioning as well as scratch protection. In fact, I left them on for additional padding when I shipped my reels to DVT a couple weeks ago.

Generally speaking, I'll use the chunk when the fishing is tough and I want a more subtle action. It's essentially my winter/cold water trailer. All other times I will be using the Rage Craw.

Sounds like a good deal for all!

This is also the norm for the golf industry. If I gain 20 yards with the driver each year, why can't I hit it 600 yards?

Picked up some of the 3's today while at Meijer. They had them on clearance for $5 marked down from $9. Figured I'd give them a shot. Anyone have experience with these? Reviews seem fairly positive. Here's what I grabbed: