Deephaven

When I had my 521 it was my preferred way to fish. Would allow me to position the boat so my buddy was on fish too. That front deck is bigger, in particular with a single console but it can be done. On my 18' bass boat with dual consoles it was tough mostly due to where to put the rods you weren't throwing.

Gorgeous fish!

Waves are measured peak from flat. Ie, @ 3' wave goes up 3 and down 3 making the peak to peak 6'. Fisherman however never estimate them right.

I find 30 ideal for most presentations and even run 20 on my jerkbait rod. Cure for troubles with smaller braid for me was when I stopped worrying about the extra 2' in a cast and started instead to focus on boat position.

No, you are smarter than most. NO WAY I would let a dealer install my stuff ever. Go back and talk to the install tech just once and you will see why. I like my stuff installed right and that the dealer won't do. Don't say get a better dealer either as they all suffer from the same. I bought a used boat. Going to completely unrig and re-rig it as well. Don't trust the previous install. Do the same on everything I own. Get a new 4 wheeler or snowmobile and I rip through it mechanically to make sure nothing will go wrong when I use it. This also has the major added benefit that when (not if) something happens on the water you are completely prepared to resolve it.

I'd look at FB Marketplace or CL for a deal. Always some here in MN for that class of rod.

Accuracy on a cheap scale is 2-5% so 0 isn't wrong.

I have the exact needs as the OP albeit with a slightly longer garage and bought a tiller for the same reasons. I can easily tow the kids skiing/tubing, but at the same time have TONS of fishing space and storage. Also seats a lot of people. A bit wetter in the crap, but being somewhat of a walleye/muskie hull with platforms it takes big water well and doesn't compromise casting locations either.

Mine is dedicated for exactly the same, but it deals with other presentations real well considering.

If I was limited to one rod for all things bass and baitcaster the 844 would be on that list. For what you want to use it for...is pretty much what I use mine for. There are definitely plenty of other choices in that domain, but it is a great stick.

Mojo is the entry line IMO for St Croix for any bottom contact technique. Well worth the price of admission. That all being said, if you are worried how your rod looks more than it performs I am seriously confused. I'll fish a hot pink stick if it is the best thing since sliced bread.

Any idea when they release the models? It says March in the video....but I'd just like to know what they will have for rods/blanks here before I buy another.

Last night was lambchops, lettuce from the hydroponic garden, homemade sourdough bread, and corn my wives brother grew that we froze this fall.

I love to cook as well....although pork belly is the one thing that has not gone well for me. Figures that is what you'd post.

Interesting since we fish similar waters. I don't own a whopper plopper, but mine would be a buzzbait. I haven't given up completely on it, but I have such little confidence in it throwing it never yields anything...which by definition to me is given up on.

Soft: Trickworm, Senko, Zoom Chunk on a Skipping Jig Hard: Frog, Jerkbait, Spinnerbait Not sure it is fair to consider a jig terminal or a trailer a soft plastic, but too bad those are what I'd pick.

Hours at WOT are 10x worse than hours at cruise which are 10x worse than hours at idle. A boat with 800 hours of nearly all idle and trolling I would have more faith on than one at 200 hours of WOT. The old wives tail will say you rebuild at 1000 hours, but that has zero bearing outside of the reality that 1000 hours at WOT and it will need it. Look at the price of a powerhead replacement for what you look at as well. Will tell you the worst case. I can easily grab a fresh block for my 150 etec for $3k. Smaller boats in general are cheaper in every aspect, but have less tackle storage, fishing space, and don't do as well on bigger water.

Depends. From 10-30. Clamshells hardly any, but lots of senko bags. I had 40 bags in 2 of them when I was boatless.

Go compare one with another identically sized boat from a manufacturer that holds the value higher and it will be obvious to you. That being said, if those features don't bother you then you are getting more boat for your money. Everything in a boat is a compromise unless you really spend a crap ton. The key is always picking the compromises that bother you the least. Plenty of Skeeter's I'd be down with owning...but I could say that about a lot of boats.

Pockets are awful, trays ftw. As for plastics, if you get a double height 3700 without dividers and keep bags of plastics in it you'd be amazed how many you can carry. I have been without a boat for nearly 10 years and use the two solutions I showed above. I MUCH prefer the plain tackle tray to the bag.

I have two options for that. The older Cabelas version of this: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-advanced-anglers-ii-magnum-tackle-system And the plain 3700 box holder: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-utility-box-carrier-100030964-1 Personally anything other than something that holds lots of 3700's is awkward and unwieldy especially as your tackle grows. All the extra side pockets make it bulky. Personally I'd just go with the el cheapo holder. As a co-angler in someone's boat I think a backpack is the worst option. Easy access to trays is the ticket.

Fish a frog on that patch for 4 hours on 3 different days. You'll understand why I don't. Plenty of fish to be had in North Arm and the rest of the lake, but that is a waste of time compared to other lakes IMO. If I had to pick one lure for Tonka it'd be a Senko. I don't like fishing Senko's though.

30# here. Avoids the necessity of a leader more often IMO than 40#. Also casts and handles fine on a baitcaster. For super slop though I prefer heavier.

If you pick any random Has nothing to do with available cover and everything to do with pressure, boat traffic, and other structure. If you pick any set of random days on Tonka and fish a frog for 8 hours it will not average out well for you. There are plenty of lakes I've fished where that will normally net you your largest bag. Not saying I haven't had great moments on Tonka with frogs, but even being my favorite lure it is one I hardly throw on the lake. Interesting that you say the swim jig is your lure of choice on it as I never fish one, have always thought I should but it isn't a confidence bait for me.

For me it'd be a frog. Not because it would provide the most success, but because I want to fish one all the time. This would force me to exclude certain bodies of water...like the lake I live on, but there are plenty of lakes in MN. That all being said, I never leave the house without at least a dozen rods tied up though so the one lure thing just doesn't match my reality. I also never bank fish.