Dirtyeggroll

I have poles and spot lock and fish equal amounts of shallow and deep water. I use the spot lock way more. Most of my shallow water fishing is “power fishing” meaning 3-4 casts to a spot at max, then keep moving, not really requiring the use of the poles. Honestly, I use the poles mostly for anchoring at the boat ramp. That being said, I do use them enough to find them worth keeping. If I had to choose I would 100% go spotlock. If you don’t already have it, I would suggest you go that route first.

This is also true! My motor is out of warranty (2002).

It does NOT require removing the outboard. You can put the sandwich brackets between the outboard and the transom without completely removing the motor. You can trim the motor down on to a jack with a piece of wood on it and then loosen the motor bolts. Take the bolts off only on one side and then slide the sandwich mount in and replace the bolts and nuts. Repeat on the other side. I would suggest you have a buddy help you just to balance the motor and to hand tools. I did it by myself on my boat in about an hour. Only took me so long because the top motor bolts on the R70 require a contortion act to get to.

AND WE HAVE A WINNER FOLKS!!! Thanks for letting me in on this info!

Rigging a drop shot requires 3 knots. One from the mainline to the hook. One from the hook to the weight leader One from the weight to the weight leader. Anyone pre-rigging the weight and hook? If so, how are you storing them? I want to be a better dropshot fisherman, but one of the biggest barriers to that for me is how much time and effort it takes to rig one up.

In my experience Red Label is trash following the first backlash. I have found it kinks terribly and becomes incredibly weak at the kink point. Personally, I will never buy another spoil, but I have others like it. I have not had good experiences with it.

To do it right, at least $1,000. These would be my expected minimums to do the job right: Carpet and glue $150 Wood and miscellaneous hardware $100 Tiller motor $100 Foot controlled motor $200 Battery $125 Battery charger $75 Life jackets $50 Fish finder $200 Navigation lights $50 + time, skill and tools I think that covers the basics.

It will probably be $50 at the spring sale.

Ever caught a bass going in the mid-70’s? of course I’m kidding. Good luck finding what you want.

Swimbaitunderground.com or the swimbaitUniverse Facebook page. if you try to buy one from Andrew it’ll take months to a year before you get it.

The “magic” as with most fishing techniques is to continue to fish it a lot, and then when you think you’ve fished it enough, fish it more.

I read somewhere on this forum that the Cabela’s Mean Eye jerkbaits were an excellent budget jerker. Well last winter when they were clearing them out I found the last one in the store and have been aching to get it out all year. The crappie loved it, I was getting one nearly every cast, then got a surprise!

It was ~$400 less than a year ago. Must be a digital copy floating around bringing the price down.

Find someone to go with who has been catching them to give you a little confidence booster.

That and if “Megabass is included” should be its own sticky. Haha

What does it take to get new molds? I know a few guys that might be willing to chip in to make it happen.

@Siebert Outdoors Any chance it will ever come with that Owner Deepthroat hook like the dredge series?

Yes! one of the best baits you can use in cold water! Just slow down some and you’ll be pulling them in!

Take them off with the reel placed in a ziploc bag. The orbit will be contained in the bag.

Far less sophisticated 'tools' have been banned, for example - the A-rig.

Meh, it was less than 1 pound... Ive gotten good at taking fish pics haha. Caught him on a Yamamoto Kut Tail worm in Plum color on a shakey head. My favorite clear water finesse bait.

The Hudd 68 Special is a good choice. The new Storm Glide looks like a good option as a "budget" swimbait. Shine Glides are also a good option in that budget. Just remember with the sinking baits, if for some reason you cast them off... they sink.

-Bird stealing an original Deps 250 off the back of the boat ~$200 -Casting off a custom painted Hinkle Shad later in the week ~$220 -Building a grate-like lure retriever to drag the bottom and recover said Hinkle Shad (unsuccessfully) ~$30 -Breaking a rod casting a 3/8 oz wobble head $80 -Finding a stud on a dirt road leading to a flat unrepairable tire ~$200 -Finally getting the skunk off after 5 completely unsuccessful outings... ...Well if the above is any indicator, it didn't come without paying a price... This last couple of weeks has not gone in my favor. I should have winterized the boat two weeks ago and started cleaning reels.

This little guy wanted a crappie!

It is much more comfortable to use a slower gear ratio reel with deeper diving crankbaits (>6'). Its quite a workout to do it with high gear ratio reels. For squarebills and shallow diver I use a 8.1.