WIGuide

Nice fish!

Total guestimate, but I'd be guessing in the mid to upper 40's. As for comparisons the Z518C vs the Z518 is the Z518C is rated for a 200 instead of a 150 like the Z518. The C comes with upgraded electronics as well as a few other small upgrades as standard

I haven't noticed a difference, but I'm not disputing your findings either. Maybe it has to do with action, confidence, or how you're fishing them. The crazy chiggers aren't the easiest to find around me either, so I've been limited to 1 color in the crazy chigger. I just got an order in on Monday that was mostly chiggers and crazy chiggers so I'll see if my results match yours this summer!

Welcome to the forums!

congrats on the gorgeous fish!

I've got the 6'8" M/XF and 6'10" ML/XF both in the LTB line. The ML rod is an absolutely killer dropshot rod! Looking at the way you are going to be using it, I'd say that's the rod for you. You can dropshot with the medium power rod too, but it just seems a little overpowered for it most of the time. If your primary purpose for your rod is to be a ds rod, the ML/XF is the way to go.

There's only one way to find your confidence bait, and that's by spending time on the water. The more you fish a particular technique or lure, the more you learn the nuances of it with tweaks and adaptations you can make when conditions change. You learn when it's best and when it doesn't work at all as well. When you find one that's your particular confidence bait, you'll know you can catch fish on it. You'll also realize there's no magic bullet when it comes to fishing. There will be times you'd love to throw that bait, but you know it won't work. Again, the only thing that will teach you what will work the best for you is experience.

My go to craw for those applications is the Berkley Chigger Craw or Crazy Chigger. It also doubles as a great jig trailer.

Awesome! Congrats on the PB

How were the hooks on your jawbone sunfish? I bought one and didn't look too closely at it until later and both hookpoints were rolled. Also bought one of their frogs and hookpoints were straight, but dull.

Ram mounts are a great thing. I agree with what others have said though, I'd be bumping into that just about every time I went up to the front deck, no matter how much extra room I had to go around it.

Pro's: you're fishing water that has many many bass bigger than you can ever catch where you currently reside Con's: you won't want to leave haha I would encourage you to do it at least once in your life. If nothing else you'll be making memories that'll last a lifetime. You aren't guaranteed to catch a giant, but your chances are better down south than anywhere else.

I haven't PB'd for a while now, mine came back in 2007 on opening day of fishing season. Traditionally, my dad and I chase after some northerns on opening day on Lake Holcombe, but in 2007 we were living at our cabin and dad had to deliver a boat to my great uncle, so that meant I was going to be fishing solo. At the time I only had a little 10' BassTender and despite the choppy conditions I headed out anyway. I pulled up on my first spot, a stump covered flat, and started chunkin' and windin' a white spinnerbait. After about 5 minutes of that, I hooked into a good fish, first bass of the year that went 18 1/2". I was pretty happy with that and the day already had a good outlook. I kept on fishing and within a few minutes I caught a dink. With 2 fish in the first 10-15 minuets of fishing I was feeling good about my location choice, and that's when it happened...I chucked my spinnerbait out towards a stump and brought it past it fully expecting to get bit but nothing. I kept going with my retrieve, and about halfway back to the boat, my spinnerbait got slammed. As hard as it hit, I was thinking it was a big northern at first until I stared to feel those textbook head shakes. She jumped once, but I didn't get that good of a look at her, but I knew she was big. It wasn't until I got her up boat-side where she jumped again and I can still see that huge mouth, I started praying that she just hang on a bit longer so I could get her in the boat. I quickly unhooked her when I did get her in, dropped her in the livewell and back to the cabin I went. (Smartphones were new at the time and I didn't have one or a camera so I had to run in for a picture) It ended up going 20 1/2" and weighed 6 1/2 lbs. It was a tank of fish and an experience I'll never forget.

http://store.alansfactoryoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=12x21-Regular-Carport&gdffi=cfd76161b1044426a274dcd40d9e70bb&gdfms=7C4A6BD82F2E4D3BA270AD97318BEF2D&gclid=CjwKEAjw5M3GBRCTvpK4osqj4X4SJAABRJNCMlJTiGaCPj8M9Ih94Mktn0BFJjULKHdt8B896KcMJRoCFGzw_wcB something along those lines might be better suited for what you want out of it. Definitely sturdier and the tin will last a lot longer than a tarp.

Wow 34 hours on a 9 year old motor?? That motor isn't that much past break in. Honestly I'd pony up and buy the one from Yamaha. It might hurt the wallet a bit, but I think you'd be in a better position in the long run.

I'm not sure which brand it is. I got it from my parents after it got bent up a little in a wind storm because they didn't have it secured to the ground. I made it work and it looks similar to this now http://www.homedepot.com/p/Caravan-Sports-10-ft-x-20-ft-Domain-Carport-22006200010/205602069 Normally they sit up pretty tall, but the legs are in two sections. I removed the bottom section so my boat barely squeaks in, but it does a better job of keeping the sun off that way. When it wears out, I'll either one with full sides, or go with one of the metal versions.

Your options are either buying a custom made cover, or making due with a semi custom. The custom made will be the best option, but will be the most expensive. Making supports out of pvc or wood and using a cover off the shelf will work. In some cases, really well. They take some time, but don't really require much in the way of specialized tools or building skills. Your last option would be not buying a cover at all, and getting a portable garage. That's what I use for mine and it works well. I've got a cover too for when I'm on the road and staying over, but it doesn't get that much use.

Nothing wrong with putting a newer motor on an older boat. You won't get the value you paid for the motor if you choose to sell it, but if you're planning on keeping it a while, it might not be a bad investment. You could also look for a "newer" used motor. Lots of them out there are in great shape. A lot of them are out there because an owner wanted to upgrade an under powered boat or upgrade to a 4 stroke. Economically speaking, that's probably the better option, but it's your money.

I was not talking about the phone getting signal underwater. We were discussing using a gopro as an underwater camera and watching the live feed on a phone/tablet to locate the dropped phone. That feed is transmitted from the gopro to a phone/tablet through a wifi connection and that is the signal that doesn't like to travel through water.

Maybe he had made the antenna? The videos I've seen it will lose signal after about 6" deep. Haha yeah that might be tricky to use a phone app without the phone to begin with. It might be equally as tough to find a buddy who's going to let you borrow their phone so you can take it out on the water and use it to try to recover the phone you dropped in already!

Welcome back to the forums!

To me it depends on what I'm going to use it for. Moving baits I'd probably spend more on the reel, bottom contact I'd probably spend more on the rod.

Being that your're choosing 2 stroke over 4 stroke you're loosing some weight right there. Probably more than what the rest of the stuff you're hanging on it weighs. Performance gains with a jack plate may or may not be worth it, but having one is nice in skinny water. Even just idling around you can jack your motor up enough that and obstructions will hit the bottom of the boat before the prop normally.

Bummer, while he does that you can always check marinas in your area, or the bay is always an option.

The GoPro idea is a good one, but it unfortunately won't work. The live view feature relies wifi which doesn't travel through water worth crap. You could make an external antenna to make it work, but I think other options like the aquaview would be a better option in this case.