Wayne P.

My Trap set-up: 6 1/2' custom S-Glass rod-spiral wrapped, Spiderwire Original 30#, and Quantum PR600CX baitcaster.

Humminbird 997- A REAL FISH FINDER. (copied from another site)

If you install one, get a long shackle lock (bicycle type) and lock your trailer wench so it will not turn. Thieves will use your wench to rip the bar out of your hull.

I use 20# fluorocarbon with braid no matter what the water color is. My reasoning is not what others use fluorocarbon for ( low visibility ), I use it for weight since braid floats.

Another solution is to remove about 1/2 of the mono and install some braided line-no worries about line twist then. You may have to do the trolling behind the boat thing about every two years though.

Yes, it does sound like "ghost drag". Do you use some mono backing with the Power Pro?

You have two choices. You can move the transducer to the "pad" area so it is in contact with the water at all speeds. You can also purchase a transducer that is designed to shoot thru an aluminum hull and eliminate the possibility of getting your transducer damaged or misaligned from being exposed---http://www.vexilar.com/products/alumaducer.html

Reply to shear pin observation. The motor part of those shear pin models are excellent and durable. It's the simple fact that the prop has a shear pin and it WILL shear. Have any of you with one had to replace a pin out in the middle of the lake? I fish several timber filled lakes and had a shear pin prop motor. I used to carry a dozen or so pins all the time because about every two stumps hit even at idle speed would lead to a sheared pin. I've even had to have the rubber hub replaced on a thru hub prop because of occasional contact with stumps, I carry a spare prop just in case. I'm glad all you guys that have those shear pin motors enjoy them, but I would not buy another one and certainly would not advise anyone to buy one.

I use them for 3/8 oz or less spinnerbaits, medium to shallow small crankbaits, and jerkbaits.

I only use EWG's for bulky baits and then I open the gap a little. I don't like the angle of the hook point to the hook eye-too direct. I prefer Gammy Offset Round Bend hooks or similar Owners for lizzards, worms and craws.

Wacky for me. Conditions: anytime the water is not frozen Where: anywhere in the country Color: doesn't make any difference as long the the fish can see it. I tend to use shades of green/watermelon in clear to stained water and shades of purple for dingy to muddy water. When looking for worm colors, I look for the ones with the highest number of colored flakes as it makes the worm softer for easier hook sets when I rig them weedless with an Octopus hook. I may use a solid bright or white color when sight fishing sometimes for my visibility not the fish's.

When I have to urge to change spinnerbaits a lot, I use a snap too. I buy mostly twisted wire baits so I don't have to bother with the snap sliding down the shaft. If I want to use a "R" bend bait, I use some prepared ones that I have wrapped some braided line around the "R" and them put some super glue on it. I've tried rubber tubing and shrink tubing also, but both slip off the bend after a few fish.

A photo of a 2/0 Gammy Octopus hook #02412 rigged exposed point and weedless. Note: I always mash the barb down-usually it breaks off. It makes removal easier since the hook shank is so short-doesn't result in any lost fish. About 2000 bass caught on this rig in 2006 (mainly the weedless setup) including one over 9# and one over 10#

I used Power Pro until the Stren Super Braid was introduced. The Stren is smoother and casts better. I gave away all the Power Pro I had. I still use Spiderwire Original, Spiderwire Stealth, and Fireline for some applications, but Stren is one I use most.

Today's small HP outboards are way less heavy than those of the past as some of you have mentioned (60's-70's). From 6HP to 15 HP pretty much weigh the same. Just because you have a 15HP motor doesn't mean you have to run it wide open, they do idle well and are used for trolling when attempting to catch many species of fish. I have a 12' jon boat and although it's rated for 15HP, I use a 9.9HP because two of my favorite lakes have a 10HP max limit. I run it from idle speed to 20.4 MPH when fishing alone, most of the time around 1/2 speed. A friend of mine has a 14' jon boat and I use my 9.9 on his when we fish together on those two lakes. Another important piece of advice is to get a motor that has through hub exhaust and not a shear pin type prop. Those shear pin propped motors are just an on-the-water breakdown waiting to happen. My advice is based on the ole saying "been there and done that".

The best size OB is the maximum the boat is rated for. The second best size is the largest HP allowed on any HP restricted waters that you fish. The third best size is the highest HP you can afford within the HP rating of the boat.

You can try fluorocarbon line for cranking. The line is more dense, therfore heavier, and is slicker than regular mono. You may need to increase the spool tension to prevent over runs though due to the extra weight.

Avid, do you use mono because it stretches more than fluoro when wet? Most fluorocarbon line stretches as much and more than nylon monos when dry.

Wacky rigging with a finesse worm? Sure do, a LOT. I use a 2/0 Gammy Octopus hook and rig it exposed point or weedless (same hook) depending on the amount of cover. I carry at least 10 bags of Zoom finesse worms with me at all times. I used two bags of them yesterday. My thought on why to wacky rig is, the presentation makes the bait look more vunerable to the fish and when pulled and given slack, it backs up when it straightens out. It also looks like you are presenting two small baits at the same time when you move it and it folds in half. Sometimes I will dip 1/2 of a bubble gum worm in chart. dye to get the orange color and have a short pink and a short orange worm together. I do that with the Trick worm also.

I use fluorocarbon with braid for wacky rigging. I use the fluorocarbon for weight since the braid floats. I start with about 4'-5' and replace it after I retie several times and get down to about 2'. Uni-Uni connection for me.

I met the Banjo Minnow inventor at a BASS tournament several years ago. He was staying at the same motel I was. We talked about it and he gave me some. His room mate from the same state (Connecticut, I think) said that they were using a Super Fluke during the tournament. NO, I have not used them. They are in my junk file along the Flying Lure, Helecopter Lure, Dancin' Eel, and Sound Bites.

There may be a few lakes in South America going through the turn-over process now. ;D

Simple, reverse the wires at the battery, if it runs correctly, you had it hooked up backwards.

The best I have used is Kick'n Bass. I prefer the garlic flavor. I have Kick'nBass, Smelly Jelly Pro Formula, Megastrike, FS 454, and Fish Formula in my boat, but use Kick'n Bass the most.

The Sizmic Toad comes in a floating model and is only available in white. That one will sink too if a very heavy hook is used.