casts_by_fly

A 1 or 2k would work. I prefer a little heavier to eliminate tip weight so would go a 2k.

it does look pretty comparable. I wonder if the ml1 unit was ‘dumbed down’ for compatibility reasons so that the helix and solix could handle it. And now the processor upgrades in the explore to the level of the apex have allowed better processing. Either way, it has me interested. I am going to sell the kayak and ideally do it with the electronics included. If that happens, then I will have to take a hard look at his setup.

the Berkeley only go down to 1/4 so that probably won’t work then. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Fusion19_Underspin/descpage-FNU.html

got a link? I’m not seeing it here. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Power-Pole_Micro_Anchor_CM2_Drive_Unit_Black/descpage-MBAA.html

this isn’t incorrect. It is a little thicker for a given rating and breaks heavier. If you take that into account you’ll be fine. If you’d have used 15# then trying 10# is probably right. For multipurpose general spinning, 10# 832 is a pretty good choice. It handles well (thin enough to be limp and long casting, thick enough to manage on the reel and tie good knots). It’s maybe lighter than I’d want for fishing heavier cover and you can go lighter if you’re fishing no cover. I’ll throw 30 and 50 also (on baitcasters).

Does it have to be the horse head? The Berkeley fusion underspins have good heavy hooks, a head design that runs smoothly and straight, and a blade that clears the bait well.

Fish it and see if it’s what you like, but only carrying 4-5 rods means each rod better be good at more than one thing unless you’re on a bite where you only need 4-5 lures all day. It happens some times. In late march and early April I will invariably have a chatterbait tied on around here so not the worst idea. If the rod does other stuff through the year then great. If not, then you’ve got a 10-month yard casting rod.

If you just want a standalone unit for 360 then I wouldn’t hesitate to get a helix 12. The prices are too good and if you want 369 then hbird is the only way to get it. I’d probably consider spending a little more and getting an explore just for forward compatibility but since you already run garmin and just want this as a standalone 360 then a helix is probably a better choice with the bigger screen.

I don’t see a high vis option though. I agree with your assessment after you turned me onto it last year and that would be my choice also (high vis aside).

If you don’t have rod bond, standard 30 minute epoxy will do also.

fluoro and a buzzbait or frog is not necessary. All of the line handling issues plus it sinks. If you want non braided line, big mono is the right answer. Lower stretch than thinner stuff, plenty of abrasion resistance. 17 big game or equivalent is about right.

then the head turner is the rod you want. I fish the expert version for what youre talking. Also a great bladed bait and walking bait rod.

How heavy of cover? The falcon head turner and the eye crosser are 6’10” and 6’11” respectively. The head turner is a great buzzbait rod if you like shorter rods for that. It works well for frogs around lighter cover. I don’t like it for frogs on mats or heavy pads. A head turner with 30-50# braid would be a good choice. If you are talking heavy cover for the frogs then you need to jump to the eye crosser. That will also throw a 3/8 buzzbait if you are using a trailer to get the total bait weight up over a half ounce. Or just a half ounce buzzbait.

yellow 832 is probably going to be your best bet then. You can’t miss it on the water. I fish 10# on my bfs rod for what you describe. I also fish 30# and 50# on casting and used to fish the 10# on a spinning rod until I swapped to 131 (which doesn’t come in high vis).

It was 65 the other day and I’m on a lake house away from home that is wide open. But when we get home Thursday night it will be below 32 and stay there for a week. That should be enough to lock us up until February or more. Time to sort the tackle bag and start replenishing.

You’re looking for a falcon cara amistad.

We’ve just had 60 degrees so most ice is gone. But it’s dropping. Who knows what Jan and Feb bring.

We had similar on my wife’s car ages ago. Same as volfan but different vehicle yet. Sunroof drain backed up with gunk. Hope that’s your problem. Easy fix.

Line, lure, and gear is a negligible risk. Nets and boots (if you wade) are more so. In the UK a lot of ponds had dip stations before you could fish for this reason. They were trying to stop invasive snails primarily but the same logic applies. Anything that holds water can hold eggs or larvae. If you’re in a water body that has exotics/invasives per the state fish and wildlife commission, then take precautions. Rubber nets and boots instead of cotton and felt.

if you like humminbird and are NOT networking them, then a new explore with ml2 isn’t a bad choice. It looks like an upgraded helix and an upgraded mega live. But you won’t be able to network it with the console helix. if you’re going to have a non networked live unit then I’d go with garmin. Leave the two helixes where they are and add on a 9-12” head unit and lvs34. A 9” uhd2 and lvs34 bundle would be $2200 at TW though if you buy a gift card right now they are 10% off so right about $2k. if you like humminbird and have them networked, then it’s either a full new set with explore units and ml2 or a new helix and ml1. A helix 9 cho and ml1 unit are $1k each.

this is the correct answer for the OP specific to the gear he has. if they are G4N units then you can add mega live directly. Otherwise it’s going to take an Ethernet hub. You’ll need a cable adapter for helix units (the Ethernet plus is different from the head unit and the cable) which is about $35 last I checked. Plus the cables that come with the mega live transducer. also, a 7” screen is pretty small for a live imaging unit. So even if you have g4n units, adding mega live might not be a good choice. The easiest solution would be to upgrade the bow unit with a 9-12” cho since the cables will just plug right in that you already have (power, transducer, Ethernet if you have it). The helix models are discounted right now since they are being discontinued. adding to this setup would mean mega live 1. I’ve said before that it is the least good of the live imaging units for image quality. If you’re going to have to upgrade to a bigger helix (which is being discontinued) to add ml1 (which is inferior and being discontinued) then I would second guess that choice. A standalone garmin with lvs34 is probably a better choice to just run live imaging. you can run mega live 1 without a box. You have to have N units and not have a full network. But for a single unit you can just plug the mega live into the Ethernet port and run.

Funny enough, someone just asked me about the same rod over pm and I had to check if it was you because the thought process and questions were the same. Not sure if you saw my other comments on it further up but last year it was my 6” mag draft rod. I like the amistad better for that and I will probably set up a dedicated swimbait rod this year but as far as versatile goes the eye crosser did a great job with them, both standard and freestyle. I fished other similar swimbaits on it as well- 3/8 lead plus a 4-7” plastic. So all in, that’s topwater frogs and toads, moving baits, swim baits, and pitching with a total bait weight in the 3/4-2oz range that I used it for last year. My opinion of it as a heavier head turner is unchanged. It’s a powerful rod for sure, but to throw a full ounce you need it.

I have one in my autopilot kayak. I would struggle from may to October without it. A ninja blade and weedless wedge prop will get through most stuff. Buildup on the nose cone is a problem, especially for me where the motor is below the hull. But there is nothing you can do about that.

Only the special ones. The memorable ones for whatever reason. The 4#fish that sharked my frog on my dad’s home lake. The big spring largemouth on my own while fishing with him. The big smallie in 41 degree water. Some things imprint in your brain.

If you fish football jigs everywhere, all the time, and it’s your bread and butter technique then I can see having multiple rigged up. At some point, you figure out either the baits that work for you or the baits that work for your waters. I could see myself with three different jerk baits rigged this spring for a couple of the lakes I fish. At times in the summer I might have three different Texas rigs on at a time. If you’re a crankbait guy I could totally see a couple in the deck on the right day. Does that make the rods technique specific? For that day I guess. But then any of the three jerkbait rods I’d have rigged up would be hardbait top waters a couple weeks later (and I might have three rigged at a time).