Wayne P.

Dock Master, Zoom plastics will not dry out and deform. Their pliability is related to temperature. I have partially used packages of some Zoom baits that are 10+ years old and they have the same consistancy as new ones.

The strength of the Octopus hooks along with the short shank is why I use them for wacky rigging. I use the 2/0 and 3/0.

Today I saw lots of carp on the surface where the water is 6'-12' deep where the weeds are almost on the surface. I think angler input was one of the reasons the carp were introduced. It certainly is better than chemicals to control the growth/spread. The many years before the vegetation arrived, the fishing was great, it is/was great with the vegetaton, and it will be after some of it is gone. I've been fishing there since Jan 1989 and the vegetation just created another pattern. My catch rate this year is pretty much the same as it has been since the mid 1990's. I caught 66 bass today.

Is the motor a transom or bow mount?

Well now he is a she and can be his own girl friend.

Maybe the "boils" were blue gills or carp and neither were interested in plastic.

I have the 2005 edition of Hotmaps Premium East and New Jersey is in Region 1 of the 5 selections. The Delaware River shows contour lines.

In your area I suspect the vegetation is milfoil or a similar weak stemmed plant. Use lighter weight presentations than what you would use in hydrilla.

Branuss04 is correct, you have to select which file on the Navionics software to view when you go to the map data menu.

I fish wacky about 80% of the time and don't use a jig for weight. I use 30# braid with about 4' of 20# fluorocarbon line for weight to make the braid sink. I'm in no hurry for the rig to get to the bottom so the fish have plenty of time to see it in the water column. If I need weight for deep presentations or in wind/current, I add a small nail to the head of the worm. The most weight I use is 3/64 oz. for depths up to 25'.

On bassboats, they are way more popular than sit-down seats and more used than no support at all. An observation at any lake will indicate it. Their use on small boats should be limited to ones that are stable with a higher center of gravity. I had two of them on my former fiberglass bassboat and have one for my aluminum bassboat.

Those chargers are sold at Walmart for about $50. I had one, used it for a few years and gave it to a guy that bought one of my boats. Worked well.

If you plan on keeping it for many years, get one with no wood in the floor or decks. You will find several mfg. that use it, including some mentioned.

You can also use Mend-It Soft Bait Glue to melt the parts together without getting burned fingers. Takes a lot less time and effort too.

A friend of did the HDS software install and has problems with Navionics also. Maybe if enough complain to Lowrance, they will fix it with another software upgrade. Typical first year product release from them.

This week, the bass at Lake Fork have been killing the Chatterbait using a steady retrieve just below the surface in less than 5' depths. I've been using a chrome blade with a sexy shad skirt and Zoom double tail trailer in white. Also a gold blade with a sexy shad skirt and a Zoom double tail trailer in silver rainbow. Both are 1/4 oz.

I have no problems with a properly tied Palomar knot with super lines.

I used a size that fits over my seat pedistals. Two of those (one for each pedistals-short ) and then a longer one in the middle to keep the length between the pedistals from sagging and just sits on the floor. I did not glue the parts together so I could store it easily. I'm not home to check the size, but is approximately 2 1/2"

I haven't been there this year, but yes there are some nice bass in the lake. Occasionally a smallmouth is caught too, I caught one last year about 2#.

Sure it is. After a divorce they are eligible to be kissin' cousins, LOL

Strike King

Until you do it correctly, install the drain plug from the inside so no protrusions will be on the exterior to get bumped/snagged/pulled.

It feels like Stealth and is cheaper than Stealth by $2 in the 300 yd spool. I still have a few hundered yards of Stealth left before deciding on which to purchase next unless the EZ is a replacement for it. I like the stiffer braids for throwing wind resistant lures like buzzbaits and big bladed spinnerbaits. IF the dreaded semi-professional overruns occur, they are easier to untangle.

Raul, I add weight to the worm occasionally too. I just put a steel finishing nail size 3d or a Lunker City lead nail 3/64 oz. into the worm head depending on depth/wind/current without reversing the hook. Still works great. On very windy days I put a nail in each end. I do the same with a finesse worm but use a 2/0 Gammy Octopus hook instead. I catch more and larger bass with the finesse worm than the Trick worm when wacky rigging. I'll be fishing mostly deeper than 10' next week at Lake Fork so the lead nail will be my primary weight addition.

I do just that using 30# braid with or without a 20# fluorocarbon leader. Any spinning reel with work.