Fishingmickey

So good to hear A-jay! Fishingmickey

Fluoro and mono have different properties and aren't the same. Fluoro is much more sensitive to being kinked then mono. In fact it really hates being kinked hard. Hence the weaker knot strength and me learning how to gently pick out a backlashes without pulling hard on the line when I get them. I feel that mono stretches differently then fluoro. Mono stretches sooner then fluoro (IMHO). Mono, I feel recovers from being stretched much better then fluoro. I don't think fluoro recovers much from stretching and is weaker from being stretched. Fluoro is stiffer then Mono. Bite detection is better with fluoro because it is stiffer and sinks. Mono is better for topwater since it doesn't sink like fluoro and it almost floats. Bass eat Alabama rigs and love spinner baits and they are line shy? Do I think the invisibility factor/marketing ploy for fluoro makes a difference? Maybe, maybe not. Using either as a leader material (6-8' long) and tied to braid. I think it is good so when you get hung up your can break the line without removing fingers. In summation IMHO, Fluoro for bottom contact baits, Mono for top water baits. Braid for punching, flipping and frogs. Psssst, I fish crankbaits on 20 & 30lb braid. Let the bass tell you what works and what doesn't. FM

Try some silver polish, Brasso, Duraglit, rubbing compound or jewelers rouge? CLR, Tri sodium phospate (TSP) or Tarnx? I'd wear rubber gloves with any of the last four. FM

X5 said the experienced belly boater. Get a set of diving fins with booties from a dive shop or used.

You turn the handle and the spool turns but but the line doesn't come in. Drag will not work properly either. FM

Let the non-fishing dogs bark as you go by. pay them no mind for they know not of which they speak. FM

I'm in. FM

Two to three liters of water per day here. FM

It really sounds like you've got something wrong either with the motor or wiring between the motor and battery. Maybe the motor shaft is bent and rubbing on the housing (you'd feel vibration if that's the case). Or is there possibly some braid wrapped tightly around the prop shaft that is causing friction and high amps when your pushing the motor hard. Maybe a bearing failing on the motor? I don't know if you have access to a multimeter with a clamp for measuring amps that will read DC voltage. If your tripping a 60 amp breaker something is wrong, bad wrong. Honestly it might be the motor is going out on you and the trip powering through the weeds weakened/burnt the windings and now your amps are high.

Howdy UmairF, You might look into a inflatable Kayak/SUP. Greg Blanchard's got a You Tube video out where he tested one he just got. Looked like a fairly solid ride for an inflatable. Check out some of the inflatable SUP's too. They've got something out there that would work for you to get out on the water. Lot's of harbors (Montrose comes to mind) and spots to hit in the Chicago land area. FM

X3, I wish I would have bought more when the yen to dollar exchange rate was low. FM

Howdy "9", For me it depends on the thickness of the worm. That dictates the EWG hook size. Something like a skinny Zoom 7" finesse or 7" Robo worm would be a 2/0 or 3/0 EWG, A medium thick worm like a 7" Berkley power worm, 4/0 EWG. Say a really fat 7" stick bait like a Berkley General, Yamamoto Senko, Strike King Ocho could take a 5/0 or 6/0. I feel like the important thing to remember when using a EWG type hook is having enough gap between the bend of the hook (between the eye and the point) and the plastic. A short fat swim bait like a Zako or Keitech swing impact fat need that gap for the plastic to be pushed down and that gap helps the hook point become more exposed when a fish bites your bait. Also take those hook sizes as a general guide line. Different manufactures hooks may say the same size on the package but in reality they are not the same size. I find when searching for a particular hook for a specific bait. I'll take the package of plastics and hold it against a package of hooks to get an idea of the "fit". Too long, impedes the action, too short means maybe not getting the fish in the mouth, Again IMHO matching the correct size and style of hook to the bait is very important. I know TLDR, but I didn't just want to throw a hook size out and hope it stuck for you. Regards, Fishingmickey

Thoughts and prayers to you and Lynn. Fingers crossed, rabbit's foot rubbed, etc. Sincerely, Fishingmickey

I've lost a couple overboard since 2014. One was loaded with good limit of bass pictures that I had not uploaded during a tournament and it was in February. Cost me a top five finish in a field of 80-90 kayaks. I use a Rogue tether now. FM

Hi Crickety, We've got a cabin rented for three nights and I'll probably be renting a Bass Tracker from Maine boat rentals for those three days. So most of my Maine fishing will be on China Lake. I've had pretty good luck there in past trips. 25-30 fish day's mostly largemouth with a few smallies and pike thrown in. FM

Very nice, Katy! I'm counting down the four weeks for my Maine fishing adventure. Fishingmickey

Happy Birthday, A-Jay. Is that Beatles song playing in your head? Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm 64. FM

Could be a weeds or Hydrilla patch, but that is awfully deep for weeds. Super clear water? FM

Aye Capt. The only thing I can suggest is make sure that the wire is very clean. I've done a good bit of soldering and I use flux core solder. I'd strip back 3/4" the 18-20 gauge power wire from the fish finder power cord and twist wrap it around the 10 AWG with 1/2" stripped. I'd finish it off with a piece of the 3m heat shrink ( 1/12" - 2") that has the hot melt adhesive in it. It will make for a waterproof connection. FM

Jim, I've found with my Shimano JDM Scorpins and I think one of my Met's using all four brake tabs on really worked well and no noticeable difference in casting distance but big difference in professional overruns. I do fish with IMHO with very little braking and I was two on two off for years. Fishingmickey

Beautiful Speck! I hope to hit the salt here soon. FM

Quick question Bulldog, What do you use to coat your knots with? FM

Sun Line Defier Armillo. It's about two to three times the price of Trilene XL, Big game or Stren. But I have been very happy with it's performance.

I fished night crawlers very successfully as a kid. I'd use a Eagle Claw snelled hook, size four or six. I'd thread the hook into the night crawler and then bury the point back in at the collar. Sometimes no weight or just a small split shot. Cast, let it sink and very slow retrieve. Keep a very close eye on your line! FM

Hello Pawley, Batteries eventually die. If they are old batteries, out of warrenty and the charge isn't holding like it used too. It is possible they are reaching that point. The battery companies have the science down to a art form. At least in car batteries, you get to that three year (or two or one) pro-rated point depending on battery and it dies. I've been through several batteries for the boat/s too, both trolling motor and starting. If they don't get used and maintained regularly, I think they die sooner. FM p.s. Not much help in the post, but considerable commiseration.