Junger

I would say my "daily" is a My Father Judge Grand Robusto that runs about $12/stick. It just won CA's 2024 COY. Others in that price range is the Oliva Serie V Melanio Torpedo and Perdomo 30th Maduro Churchill (sizes I prefer). And if you want something special, but accessible, it's hard to beat the Fuente Anejo Shark #77 or a Padron 1926 #48 for about $25. These are medium-full smokes, so you'll turn green if you haven't had a cigar in a while.

1. Assuming it's a casting set up, 30lb braid is probably sufficient. Thin braid can lead to dig in, and thick braid doesn't cast as far. If you're pond hopping you are probably fan casting as far as you can. 2. Yes, cheap mono backing absolutely works, and also mono helps grip the spool. 3. I first started with Amazon cheap braid, but generally you get what you pay for. Cheap braid will probably fade faster (if that matters to you), could be 4 strand which is louder through the guides (again, if that matters to you), and become more limp vs taught over time. For moving baits, probably not an issue, but for bottom techniques you probably don't want limper line. I'm sure everyone has their opinion on braid, but just buy the best line you can get in your budget.

I like fishing straight braid when I can, but when I'm fishing brush, laydowns, rocks, I use a fluoro leader, mostly so I can feel any nicks/dings in the line and retie when necessary. I could probably try and feel for broken strands with braid, but I think it'd be less obvious.

For $5K, I'd be looking at a early 2000's Bass Tracker 175 that's been garage kept. It will probably have a 50HP two stroke Tracker/Mercury on it, and will probably need maintenance and upgrades like new fuel lines/primer. Ask for a water test, and you get anything but "sure we can do that", then move on. Also inspect the trailer for rust, tire tread, repairs (such as bad welds). And ask for a clean title for both the boat and trailer. I just went through this last spring to help a neighbor buy his first boat of FB Marketplace, and we had to weed through at least 20 listings before we found the right boat and seller. Trust your gut, if it seems to good to be true it is, and if you're not comfortable with the responses, walk away.

For what purpose, to mend tears in the plastic? I just move the hook a little here and there to sink it into smooth plastic.

3/0 Trokar magnum swim bait hook or 4/0 Owner beast. I usually don’t go weighted because I’m swimming it in heavy cover.

Congrats, seems like you really have a knack for attention to details, no doubt you'll be successful launching those hotels. Your posts/blogs about the boutique hotel were very interesting, it's too bad the owners never really invested in your ideas so you could see them to fruition.

If you have electric only lakes, I'd go 24/36v 100AH. A TM pulling a kayak vs a fully rigged aluminum boat is probably a big enough weight difference for amp drain in a long fishing session. I went with 3x 12v 100AH batteries, they were about $170 each with bluetooth. I figured if one went bad, the Ultrex Quest would auto-sense down to 24v. I've ran them down to 15% after a full day of fishing my electric only reservoir in the summer. Post pictures of your rig when you get her!

Here's my winter cigar lounge with a buddy heater. March needs to get here quicker.

I don't mind it, but not the flavored Sugarlands or Ole Smoky stuff. We get Tim Smiths' Climax in stores around me, it's pretty good, lots of nuttiness and viscosity for the proof. My sister's husband's uncle is a NC moonshiner and he makes pretty good shine too, but I only get it in the fall if I take him fishing haha... But that hangover the next day after drinking a bunch of shine is something else....

IMO, any bourbon that is 3 or 4 years old (per their website) that is finished in Cab Sav barrels is probably hiding some youth and imperfections. Admittedly, I don't like finished bourbon, but don't mind some finished scotch because the malted barley can hold up to it, like an Ardbeg sherry cask strength. Basically, that's a pass for me if I saw it.

I love my Ultrex Quest. I'd go with the MK Xplore to pair with it. I don't have those yet, but based on the reviews, the GUI and quickness look really good. If you fish current and shallow, maybe think about Raptors or power Poles. And if you site fish a lot, I'd even put a raised casting platform on. Super Stick comes in handy if you fish shallow and tidal.

I think it comes down the the trolling motor. If you want responsive, cable steer feel, the Ultrex Quest is what you want. Garmin Force has some cool features too, such as remote point and steer, but from what I've heard, it does have a very slight delay, since the foot pedeal is fully wireless. I think once you decide which TM you want, then you follow up with Xplore or Echomaps.

I have two Daiwa TAEL701MMHXB-AGS rods. This is the 7' M/MH XF rated 1/8oz to 1oz. Realistically, throwing heavier stuff around 3/4oz loads and feels better, but the light end of 1/8oz is true with the right reel. I have one as my bank/hiking rod and can throw a lot of presentations with it. It has a soft extra fast tip, and I like for moving baits, jerkbaits and lighter t-rigs, not as good for poppers, but will work in a pinch.

I watched my dad grind meat as a kid, mostly because we were poor and he saved a lot of money by grinding and freezing cuts of meat. I think that’s something I may want to try someday as well, mostly because I want to try my own blend for bolognese or chili.

Except for people who put Shimano reels on Daiwa rods, and vice versa. Then that’s just cringe!

Check out these pontoon style inflatables, @BrianMDTX has one that is rigged out pretty well.

I like a light belly weight when fishing a weighted fluke. It gives it a nice shimmy on the fall. I fish it around grass edges, I'll throw it just on the top edge, then drag it until it hits the edge and kill it to let it shimmy down the grass edge. If it doesn't get smacked on the way down, I'll let it hit bottom then jig it a couple times then rinse and repeat every 5 yards or so. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Weighted_Twistlock_Light_3pk/descpage-OWTL.html

South, always south for me.

@volzfan59 If you put Rick Clunn in any boat, it's gonna be a great looking rig! It's already up on their website: https://www.trackerboats.com/bass/savage-215.html Just taking a quick look, the driver console looks a little odd, and it doesn't look all that convenient if you wanted to go with 2 graphs at the helm. The estimated speed with the ProXS 250 is 68-73mph, if I'm on big water and I see a Tracker blow by me, my ego is going to be a little bruised!

I've done really well on Rapala X-Rap XR08's that go down to about 5', it's a smaller profile jerkbait with a tight wiggle. I find that bass are willing to come up pretty far for it. The hooks suck, so I change those out. For deeper jerkbaits, I use the Jackall Rerange MR.

Is there a way to block users here? Asking for a friend.....

I have the Tatula CT 5.5 (TACT100P), and an older Alphas SV105HP 5.8 and both are really smooth. I carry a Ray's shallow spool for the Alphas so I can throw really light crank baits for creek/trout fishing. You'll likely only find these used on eBay or for trade/sale fishing forums, but if you want brand new, the ones Columbia Craw noted would be great reels.

I think TW will take 20% off any item in the email confirmation, but not in the checkout screen for certain brands, such as Shimano, Daiwa, St. Croix, Megabass, GLoomis, etc. The only time you won't get the 20% off is when you see the little italics in checkout "This item is not eligible for advertised discounts."