trouttracker

Are you referring to Michigan's Huron river?

Thanks for all the replies. Going to get a spare aluminum prop.

Since I've got a trolling motor with a spare prop should I also have a main outboard spare prop. Expense and storage concerns drive question.

I guess the only thing to do is just wait. I'm considering increasing item quantities to insure I will have enough thru end of season.

I've been waiting for months (~6 mo.) for back-ordered Huddleston Grass Minnows. Recently noticed that lots of other Hud baits are not available either. Anyone know what is going on at Huddleston?

I just bought a Dobyns Extreme DX795C. I haven't used this rod yet so can't provide personal feedback - based my buy decision on Utube, Dobyns, WiredToFish, etc web-site reviews. Has a full grip cork handle, is very light, sensitive and can easily handle 0.5 to 1.75 oz rigs (rated from 0.25 to 2.0 oz). Is known for providing one of the best single flipping/pitching rod choices for handling both light/medium and heavy cover scenarios. Retails for $359 but can be found "used" in very good condition for much less.

Don't want to steal the subject but I have a question about punch skirts. Is it possible to hand make a punch skirt or is the collar and skirt fused?

I have no experience with the Elite 9 Ti but do have with the HDS9 Gen2 and Gen3. If you haven't already done this, begin by installing the latest operating system SW for your HDS7 Gen2. Although I have no experience with the Elite Ti, I do think Lowrance introduced this unit after the HDS Gen2 and this could explain why they are not properly communicating over the NMEA 2000 network.

Although both the 705CB and the 705CBMF Glass rods are constructed with graphite in the lower section and fiberglass in the upper section, the 705CB Glass rod has a much faster tip action extending further toward the middle of the rod. Unless I'm mistaken, Dobyns does not offer a glass spinning rod.

If I'm planning on fishing in both directions before getting out, I will usually opt to wade upstream on the way out since it will be much easier (energy-wise) to wade back downstream.

And yet another vote for AmericanLegacyFishing. Just purchased a couple of Lews BB1 Pros for $140.

I just recently replaced stock bearings and bushings in a new Calcutta CT300D, 4 handle bushings with 4 bearings, 5 internal bearings (spool bearing replaced stock bushing). Unfortunately, I can't tell you if it was better because, after I reassembled the reel, the spool clutch no longer was functional and the spool/gearing was noisy. After many attempts taking apart and reassembling with no change in performance, I went ahead and sent the reel off to a reel repair shop in Interlochen, MI. I asked them to detail what I did wrong so that I would not repeat error on the next maintenance cycle. I guess the moral to this story is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

I think it would be fair to say that it might be possible to locate the thermocline using a fish finder (if there is one - not likely in a shallow pond). Note that the fish finder can only sense surface temperature. Therefore, you might find the thermocline by noting the depth of suspended fish; however, although fish are unlikely to be suspended below the thermocline, they could also be suspended well above it. The only way to judge thermocline depth accurately is to sense water temperature between the surface and the bottom of the water impoundment.

Thanks for the welcome anderb54. I’ve been reviewing the Tranx, Ryobi, Cardiff reels and am leaning toward the Tranx 300.

I’m using 19lb Sunline Defier Amorilo (sp?) and expect to use rod rated swimbait weights (1oz to 5oz). I’m relatively new to swimbait fishing and have not gained much experience with it. I’m aware of the argument that you can just reel slower; however, I also know that it could take many hours to get a big enough fish to show interest in a 1oz to 5oz swimbait. Thus, I’m thinking I may need a reel with <6.4.1 gear ratio.

I’m considering buying either the 200B or the 400B to pair with a Dobyns 795 SBMT rod. I currently have a Lews Super Duty Wide Spool 6.4.1 on the rod but think the gear ratio is too high. Do you agree that my gear ratio is too high and, if so, which Calcutta (200B or 400B) would you recommend?

I wouldn't use either the DC744C or the DX784C for 3/4oz jigs since it would not be optimum for 1oz rated rods. I personally own the DX784HP and use it for up to 1/2oz jigs and Carolina rigs in deep water. Since I also own the DC735C and the DC736CB Glass, I use these rods for heavier jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc. I would recommend that you choose either the DC764C (rated to 1.5oz baits) or the DX745C. Personally, if I was in your situation with a broken Champion DC735C, I'd send it back to Dobyns and use it to trade up to the DX745C, pay the extra dollars for a great bigger jig/Carolina rig rod.

Over the last 20 years I've primarily fly fished in Michigan rivers with my own flies - dry/wet/nymph flies for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon. About 3 years ago I bought a used Lund ProV, casting/spinning gear and baits for lake fishing and have been preoccupied with reacquainting myself with all of this stuff - did a lot of spin fishing with my Dad growing up. Catching fish on a fly that you have tied is a real thrill and I will never tire of doing that.

I agree with both A-Jay and DubyaDee. I'm using the 704CB for jerkbaits and most of my topwater baits. I'm also using a AVID-X AXS66MF for smaller topwater baits and a AVID AVC66MHF for larger topwater baits.

I also purchased a Dobyns 736CB Glass and paired it with a Lews BB1 Pro. I'm using this rod for chatterbaits, buzzbaits, larger spinnerbaits (>=3/4oz), larger lipless cranks, squarebills, etc. Relatively large line capacity of the reel makes it attractive for chatterbaits and buzzbaits.

Look around for a local fly fishing club (e.g. Trout Unlimited or Federation of Fly Fishers). Both organizations offer beginner fly fishing classes (both casting and technique) as well as beginner fly tying classes. Fly tying may even be more fun than fly fishing and affords you the opportunity to catch fish on flies that you have personally made - a thrill which I continue to enjoy with every fish I catch on a fly of my own making! Being a club member also gives you many opportunities to make connections with others who can guide you on what would be the right kind of equipment to best fit your needs, where to find literature about aquatic insects and the seasonal hatch patterns (especially as they apply to area in which you are living), etc.

Unless your preference is to stay with pure Graphite rods you should also consider the Dobyns 705CB Glass composite before making your decision. Since crank-bait fishing does not require a highly sensitive rod, taking advantage of the more flexible tip action that the composite rod offers can help with not ripping treble hooks out of the fish's mouth when setting the hook as well as allowing more erratic escape behavior close to the boat when trying to land the fish. "Beat the Big Box Boys" has re-opened under new ownership and can most likely keep you under the $200 price point if you opt for a higher quality Dobyns glass-graphite composite rod.

I to was in the same position last year - trying to decide which jig/big worm/Carolina rig rod to buy. I have to admit that I do have a strong bias toward both Dobyns and St Croix and own many of each. I do not have any experience fishing with rods from G Loomis, Kistler, Powell, etc. I eventually chose the Dobyns Extreme DX784. I chose this rod not only because of my confidence in the quality of the other Dobyns rods I own but because it had a wide reputation for being a very good jig, T-rig, Carolina rig and flutter spoon rod. I fish most often in deep northern MI lakes and so using 7'8" rod is especially suited for the fishing applications I needed to use it for - long casting, deep water hook-set and high sensitivity ability. If deep water is not a significant factor, Dobyns also offers the same DX Extreme rod in a 7'4" version (DX744) and is now offering a similar (slightly less sensitive, less costly) rod in the Champion XP series (DC744).

Sold 2 rods, splurged and just took delivery on 4 Dobyns Champion XP rods: 1. Jerkbait 7' 4 power graphite, 2. Crankbait/Jerkbait 7' 5 power glass composite, 3. Chatterbait/Spinnerbait/Buzzbait/Deep Crankbait 7'3" 6 power glass composite and 4. Deep Crankbait/Small Swimbait 8' 5 power glass composite

US Army - 70 to 73