gulfcaptain

I have it, use it. Gives me a common point of location for all my units since they are networked. If you get it just relize when you mark a spot the waypoint will be where the point-1 is mounted. I've seen some people use two (one for the bow and one for the console unit).

Just ordered the 7'6" MM to replace my 7'6"MM Smoke which got damaged on a flight. I'll let you know, but I'm sure it will have the same quality all the other Falcon rods I own. I can handle it made out of the US, as most rods are anyways. But I'll let you know what's on it when it arrives tomorrow and will be fishing it next weekend for sure.

I know people that don't wear them. I myself do especially if I'm running 50-65mph across the lake and have the kill switch hooked up. I never take for granted something bad won't happen. It only takes a second and if you don't have a life vest on or that kill switch hooked up, for that boat to turn around and now you're dodging basically a missle coming back at you (I don't have a hotfoot so it's going to be hooked up coming back) or even if you do have a hotfoot, it's still going to idle back toward you with that prop spinning just waiting to run you down. It takes 5 seconds to put it on. That 5 seconds could save your life one day if you ever have an accident.

If I could plant brushpiles on the lakes I fish I would (if it were legal but it's hard on S. Cal lakes to even get a boat on them let alone a brushpile). If I planted 50 brushpiles months before the tournament, not off limits and easy to check waypoints during the offical practice. Not a rule against that and anyone with a fishfinder could find those brush piles as well if they looked for them....just like most of us find them by accident from someone else who planted them.

Learning to fish deep, learning deep clear lakes better where shallow is well less then 20ft and deep is like 50+ft.

I agree with this, I fished Clear Lake and our club turned in limits both days, but then the lake was over run with 1.5lb fish and there was a huge difference in the top three as well as the field. Then other lakes we fish the conditions are tough and only half or a thrid of us come in with fish. Unless their are points involved in a big tournament, it's tough to weight a 8lb limit of 5 fish when the winning bag could be over 25lb's and there are a bunch of 15-18lb limits being weighed. So it may be easier to dump the fish and put the boat on the trailer and head home opposed to weighing in for some.

I'd agree, use 10lb braid and you can always use a leader of mono or FC in different pound tests to suit your needs.

Well lets talk about this, I fish on several different levels. #1 I do it for a living at the moment. #2 I do it competitively #3 I do it recreationally sometimes as well. So the fact I fish for a living, the last thing on my mind on my days off is going out fishing the way I make a living (running and working on a charterboat here in S. Cal.) with 15-35 other people. Not the way I want to relax and spend my days off. Competitively, you have limited time and in tournaments and you're out to enjoy but the same time looking to hopefully make a check or rack up points, but then this is relaxing to me and lets me escape from everything that is going on in the outside world and tests my knowledge and skill to overcome with possible changing conditions. Recreational fishing is something I do when I have a couple hrs to get out and just go fishing and do with the kids (when I can get them off the electronics long enough). So the answer to your question for me is a no, fishing isn't just recreational. It's much more then that. I'd love to have that in a bumper sticker.

First I'd ask what are you looking to fish with? What kind of bait, the type of cover around where you're fishing, and I'm guessing this is going to be on a spinning reel if I'm not mistaken.

Those style swimbaits I throw on a 7' or 7'2" (depending on rigging) MH rod. Ratio's vary by reel maker so to make it easier to gage, I use a reel that has a 26-27 IPT. Why I give that, well one reel is a 7:1, and another is a 6:4.1 and have the same IPT. I use the 7'2"MH which has a moderate fast taper for keel weighted weedless or weightless flukes and the 7'MH fast action if I'm using a weedless jighead on them in the 1/4-1/2oz size.

I snell my flipping hooks when fishing braid. Had the 3/4oz weight break my knots a few times and since doing the snell or using a silocone punch skirt I've solved that issue. Now I don't know about the pivot point for the snell but I do know it does make the bait fall and land different then if used without a snell. And if I'm using a EWG hook, I'll always put a bobber stop between the hook and the weight for knot protection with 1/2oz or heavier weights.

As you can see, there are lots of answers to that question. Color, most use a black blue or dark color and green pumpkin or watermelon variation. The style you choose to use will be up to you. Beaver style baits have various makers and forms, jigs, worms, craws, etc. They will all work at some point. Pick a brand, pick up a couple colors and go fishing. Then the more you fish you will expand on what you have. Don't worry once you start buying plastics you will find it's never ending (see bait monkey support thread).

Looks like the 3/0 and 4/0 have it.

I carry 3 rods with me when I'm bank fishing, but then there probably are another 6 in the car just incase I think I need them or a certain one. As for how many is too many, well I haven't found that too many number yet and I've gotten quite a few (probably over 25). When I have too many to fit in both rod lockers I'll let you know when that happens, then I might have too many....but probably not.

Flash Mob Jr is a good start. There are a few you can use but it's more about matching and using lighter heads with the baits. Eco Pro has a good rig as well as Yellow Hornet. 1/8oz heads with 3-4" swimbaits or grubs will keep it light enough for your set up and then just fish it like a big spinnerbait.

Got me on the deeper depths without really looking at the chart as well as having a paper chart to reference and cross check.

I prefer the 832 over regular PP. Like the 8 strand over the 4 strand for sure. Color fades as stated above. This was my go to braid till I tried P-Line TCB Braid 8.

Looking on Noaa's ChartNo1pdf, I would say that is likely a rock area that is a hazard to navigation. The definition given is "dangerous underwater rock of uncertain depth." I'd say fish it, but don't run over the top of it.

They do come through rock well, and that extra bit of depth over the Wiggle Wart makes them a great 8-11ft crank and they come in at a 1/2oz. They are now part of my crankbait arsenal.

Biggest fish of the year was a 9.7lb (fish on the right in profile pic). Fish came off a a rock that came up to 4ft from 8ft on a Spro Rock Crawler Crank. Btw, the fish I'm holding up with it came off the same bait as well.

I have found the same thing when pitching. Easy fix to this problem. When you notice that it's getting loose, make a long cast and wind it back on. During a 2-3 hour fishing trip I may have to do this 3-4 times, sometimes more. Not sure how often with the heavier line since I use 30 and 40, but that should solve the problem.

I would second the use the lightest weight you can get away with. Always snell the flipping hook. This protects the knot from the weight which will eventually cut through the braid (learned this using a different hook style) Now if I use that style I either put a bobber stop between the hook and the weight to protect th knot or use a punch skirt. And the other advice I'd give is you DON'T have to use 65-80lb braid. I've used 30-40lb for years and been able to pull fish out of cover with no issues both punching and frog fishing. Fish weed edges (where two different kinds of weeds grow together), points, holes, pockets. I have found where I fish punching in the middle of the day in Summer when it's bright and sunny I fish the nastiest thick weedbeds I can and find them burried up under it. I would also in the future look into a Moderate action or Moderate Fast action rod for you punch set up.

I mainly use 3 frogs. 1 would be a Snag Proof Phat Frog, the next would be a Bronzeye Shad, and the last one which I have started throwing more then the other two would be the Deps Slither K frog. The Deps is by far the easiest to walk, has a higher hook up percentage, but also carrys the highest price tag. But the Phat Frog is a close 2nd and a really nice frog to fish.

I just found out I got a gold cup for last month.....lol Yep, it's going on my resume as soon as I make it with a link to show it off.

I use a waste pack when bank fishing. I pack what I THINK I'M GOING TO NEED ONLY. I don't need every bit of tackle I own to fish a pond or small city park lake. But knowing the water I'm fishing helps me pack what I think I need. If I think there is other things I might need, well then I may put it in the trunk and take it with me just incase but only carry it on me if I need it. Same for rods, I carry 2-3 rods with me but have a few in the car just incase. Now the best part of the waste pack, that space between the pack and you works great to slip the extra rods between to keep both hands free and yourself mobile where you don't have to keep putting stuff down and picking it up. If you're fishing familar waters, pack what you use and have the most confidence in unless it's something new you want to try, then if that's the case, pack only that and go fishing.