WIGuide

Are you actually having problems throwing the XCS with a baitcaster? The XCS100's my favorite squarebill and I have no problem throwing that even in gusty winds so even though it may not be super "heavy" it casts just fine.

I try not to buy multiples of the same bait style from different companies. I try to find a specific bait that I like and if it works for me I'll stick with it. The times I buy from a different brand are the times when the ones I like don't have a specific color that I'm looking for. I try to keep it simple, even though trying and actually doing couldn't be farther apart sometimes. lol

Usually with reduced visibility I try to use a bulkier bait. One of my favorites is a Strike King Baby Rodent. It seems to be pretty effective in water down to about a foot to foot and a half of visibility. I think the added bulk moves more water and really helps them to find it, but it's not so much that it loses it's finesse and subtle appeal.

My favorite solution for that problem is the Eco Pro Tungsten Pro Wacky Weights. They add some life to your senko style baits. I use 1/32 oz for 4" baits and 1/16 oz for 5". The other thing I like about them is it adds a little weight so the bait sinks just slightly faster but not so much that it overpowers the bait. I tried them a few years ago and was impressed with them, and now I don't fish without them.

Pretty much every baitcaster I have is spooled with 12 lb flouro. I have 3 exceptions and that's my flippin stick - 50lb braid. Frog rod - 50 lb braid. Topwater rod - 12lb mono.

I'd pick something between 6'10" and about 7'4" MH/F or H/F. If your fishing thick pads or other thick veggies I'm going for the Heavy power rod. If it's more open water, you can get away with the MH/F. Braid is a MUST when you're frogging.

I use these rods for other techniques too but 95% of the time they are rigged up with a Dinger. Spinning: St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass 6'8" M/XF "Wacky Style" rod. I've got a Abu Garcia Revo Premier 30 spooled up with 6lb. Berkley Trilene XL Fluoro. I use this one mainly with 4" senko style baits with a 1/32 oz Eco Pro Tungsten Pro Wacky Weight. Casting: St. Croix Legend Xtreme 6'6" M/F. For the reel I've got a Quantum Exo spooled with 12lb Berkley Triene 100% Fluoro. I usually throw my 5" weightless on this setup.

The Sport R70 is 17'6" with the setback and it is rated for a 130 which is what this one has on it. You'll see a lot of them with 115's though.

St. Croix Avid 6'8" M/XF with a Pflueger President.

I've fished in a few of these now and I usually start out the day by communicating with the non-boater to feel them out. I usually approach it the same as I would in a team tournament and let them know I'll net their fish if they net mine. You get some guys who will front end guys or deny them their 4 hours on the tm. Those are the guys who ruin it. I'm fine with sharing water with the guy in the back and honestly I hope we both get our limits. If I were a non-boater or a boater for that matter and they were killing them on something I didn't have, I wouldn't ask to use it. If they offered I might consider it, but chances are I'm going to find something that works.

I say if you have the means and you think you can compete why not? I haven't fished any of the Rayovac tournaments so I can't help you there, but I'd say give it a shot. you'll know pretty quick if you can cut it or not. If you can't then at least you know instead of always wondering.

My best guess would be anywhere between 14" and 16".

That would be something I'd go to in stained to muddy water, or in a lower light situation on a cloudy day. If it's somewhat translucent like you say I wouldn't hesitate to use it in clear water either. Another great place to give it a try is anywhere there's smallies. They seem to have an intense hatred for anything bright like chartreuse, bright orange, or fluorescent pink.

Fishing with a boat is a totally different experience than fishing without one. Don't get me wrong, I love fishing either way, but I wouldn't be able to fish about 95% of the places I fish if I didn't have a boat. In college, the house I lived in was 2 blocks away from a small lake and about 3 blocks away from a river. I fished both of them quite a bit both from shore and wading, but it didn't do much to scratch my fishing itch. It was just a way for me to cope with my fishing fever until the weekend, when I could go home and get out on the water. Even if I could get to my spots without a boat, I wouldn't get rid of it. I've owned a boat since I was in 5th grade and I don't think there will be a day in my life where I don't unless I have to sell one in order to purchase a different one. haha

Do you know how much it weighed?

If there's rip rap there, go flip over some rocks in the summer. You'll know pretty quick if they're there or not. Fish will still eat a craw even if there aren't any present.

Watched a European fishing tournament on WFN once. They all fished like that and sat around a doughnut shaped pond in a field. Everyone sat about 50' apart and fished for carp.

That place is constantly expanding. They're adding on to connect BPS to the Wildlife Center and the convention center. They're also working on something upstairs at the moment too. Not sure if there will be more boat room or not but the entire place is a never ending project.

Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a used bass boat. There are a few very well cared for older bass boats that you can probably get in you price range. It might take some hunting to find a good one though. If it were me, unless I found a great deal, would start out smaller. They are cheaper to run, and allow you to get your feet wet in boat ownership before you make the bigger step.

He wants the one that ended up on the bank haha

I've got a ML dropshot rod that I use all the time and I've got a few other medium power rods that I use as well.

This sort of thing happens all the time. 3 most memorable from this year would have to be: 1. While prefishing a lake I had little previous experience on I had flipped a section of docks and the quickly continued down the bank just to see if there was anything ahead worth trying. I caught a dogfish and I believe that's what triggered this 14' boat with 4 people in it to head my way. I kept going down the bank but it got very shallow and stumpy (1' to 1 1/2') proceeded to catch a bass. As I'm unhooking it I noticed this boat cutting in front of me. They're bumping stumps and kicking up a mud trail yet they keep on going until they're in front of me and proceed to anchor in a foot of water. Honestly didn't even bother me given that I wasn't going to keep going anyway but just highlights the stupidity out there. 2. Fishing in the Bass Trek Challenge in La Crosse a boat had pulled up on a very long extended point and fished it for roughly an hour and a half. Did not see them boat a fish. To stay out of their way my dad and I cut over the point close to the bank and when we did I caught two nice keepers on back to back casts and by the time I turn around to throw the second one in the livewell this boat had kicked their tm on high and were about 50 feet off the back of the boat. 3. Probably the most memorable of the year. Fishing down the side of an island and stop at the point. There's a tree in the water and some pads around it. No more than pull up and a pontoon with 4 middle aged guys pulls up within 20 feet straight off my bow and drop anchors. Nothing was said, just proceeded to catch 3 bass off the tree and then moved on. Stuff like this happens a handful of times a year and I'm not sure if it's due to people just not caring or ignorance, but it get's annoying.

I haven't caught a rod but I did catch an old baitcaster a few years ago. Unfortunately it was rusted out that it wasn't worth saving for the shelf. My dad has caught two though. One was mine after I dropped it in as a very little kid, and the other was his own that got pulled out of the boat by a fish when he set it down to net one for me.

Yum Dinger

I'd jump on it!