Bazoo

I have a friend who witnessed a bass grab a bat that was skimming for bugs.

Thank you @MAN that’s cool. There was an inch or so of water standing in the pontoons when I purchased the boat.

Thanks for letting us know what worked. I've not run into this problem before, but I've used WD40 for similar applications previously. When you use Dawn and baking soda, do you mix them together first to make a paste or get some Dawn on wet hands and a sprinkle of baking soda? I use Dawn, but I'm not familiar with the baking soda trick.

I don't particularly enjoy using live bait. If I'm with someone that is, I'll try it, but it ain't my thing. When I was a teenager, I went with someone that used minnows. We caught several crappie and several bass. It was "fun", not as much fun as using a spinnerbait though.

Thanks. When we were there, there was some baitfish schooling real close to the ramp area. Water was way down, so no one using it.

I was shown a spot on rough river where I can enter or fish from the bank the other day. Didn't hang out to fish it any, just check it out. Never fished a river before, should be interesting.

Really? I'd guess it weighs 250-300 pounds.

I'm working on a rudder to help with the spin, though we're just paddling it currently and not using a trolling motor, that's coming. I got this tm from a friend, and I was hoping it would be usable, but the magnets had come loose from the body and one of them was broken badly.

Yes, there is a placard. It doesn't list the boat's weight, it says 540lbs/3 persons, or 610lbs persons/gear/5hp motor. First post has a pic of the boat. I can do others, if desired.

So far, it's been this one. Got him on a buzzbait that @Jig Man sold me for cheap, then I added a chartreuse skirt. I think he was 5 pounds compared to my box, but my scale was being contrary for some reason. Every time I went to weigh him, it showed a pound, or ounces or nothing, but when I weigh something like my box it works.

I have a great deal of respect for many of the members here. I'd love to go fishing with many of yall, even if it was a slow day from the bank. Just being around someone that wants to talk about a mutual passion, someone with experience, what a gift this is. I have always had a good deal of admiration and respect for old folks. When I was a kid, they took the time to answer my questions and talk to me. When I was 20ish, I was friends with a gent who was about 80 years old and owned a tractor repair shop across the road from where I worked. I went over of the mornings and we talked tractors and life. He taught me many things, including that friends can come at any age. He didn't get in much of a hurry, and he always supported my projects even if they were a little far fetched.

Thanks @MAN. I have been looking, but I cannot find the weight. I cannot find anything about them actually.

I recall this reel being around $110 new back then. I'm pretty sure I bought it from basspro mail order too. This looks like it best I can remember https://www.ebay.com/itm/285492993999?hash=item4278b55fcf:g:69EAAOSwgYxlFN0C&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwHDET41SmucauAnbAyuwyw7Uts%2BN07%2FoEju1BN2xctMGw9te0sUVqIJaO58sMtW7ZtjBPBs8KJmEtP84aQDi13ppogfWy1fGtx8D9UcGN6rhDdzXsoDOaFAhfomFqB%2FvKhqxb1fSkcmZpbbiZsU%2FZBC3FjuPdauU4oviYK6%2F2qURWgHiy42zsht1mC0QOMKOASxA6yh8d0EGGdGHMzoMzarnoQosxRZcytSWHGmfpKIadNM3Jq5qm%2FsVozMeVcctrg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR57nurbjYg Perhaps I'm mistaken about the numbers.

Thanks for the replies. I looked up both the Pro Max and Silver Max 3600 and it was neither of those. They are too smooth and blended on the left cap.

Twenty five years ago I bought new a round Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reel, and learned to use a baitcaster. I cannot remember the model number, but it was a narrower reel, and it had a thumb bar. I do not believe it to have been a 4600, though my internet searching shows this is an identical size. I've been researching the 4600, and Ambassadeurs in general. The reel I had was silver, with grey trim and handles. I want to say the number started with a 3, though I cannot find the exact model. It wasn't a higher than normal priced model at the time. I don't need one as I have 3 baitcasters currently, but I am seriously considering getting one sometime (probably a 4600 as they are common on ebay). What rod does everyone like for their round reel Abus? I'm thinking 6'6" or maybe 7' medium medium as an all around rod. Mostly I'll be throwing spinnerbaits, some crankbaits and some topwater, probably a texas rig, but mostly spinnerbaits. I won't be throwing huge baits like glide baits or flipping/pitching with it. One thing I know, I want it to be cork and not rubber grips. My current all around rod is a medium Abu Garcia Black Max, and I find it to be pretty good for most of my needs. For whatever reason though I have the itch for one of the round reels, and I'm in the process of drooling over them, reading about them, and figuring what I'll want to go with it. Thanks for reading, Bazoo

Thanks for the update. It sure sounds like a heck of a year. My condolences for your dog. We lost one 2 years ago and it was pretty rough. I cried like a baby when I had to put my cat down. I currently have a boxer; she don't know she ain't a people.

Congratulations! Awesome fish, thanks for taking me along on the ride (the story). Did you ever figure out how much your scale is off?

Wow, thank you for sharing that. Some great things to consider.

If you're handy, you can remove the blade from a spinnerbait. Just open the loop on the end, remove the extra blade, and close the loop back with pliers that have a good radius. It's easy enough to shorten the wire too.

Shame I ain't around your area Phil, I'd love to go fishing with you. I really enjoy the comradery of fishing with someone, and making new fishing friends. I do fish with others most of the time. Partly because of a friend that lives with us and is always tagging alone, and partly because of my son, who can't fathom dad going fishing without him. When it's just me and him it's very special for us. I like watching Roland Martin. He gets as excited as a kid when he's talking about bass fishing.

I'm up to page 57 now. Lots of good info. The anchor locks of which I speak are like this. Though the ones I'm using were old and rusty and I've refurbished and painted them. Here's how I'm currently moving my Bass Buster. I can lift it up by myself, but its right at my limit. Usually a friend helps me, and then benefits by fishing from it when we get there. I want a hitch and trailer, but... for now, it works We are using paddles only, and not getting into big water. I'll have to title and register it before I can use a trolling motor, unfortunately. My boat has pretty tall side rails, and I'm working on figuring out some horizontal rod holders for it. I figure 2 rods on each side, and it will still allow the cooler and live well to be opened, though not quite fully. Anyone out there made this modification and want to share?

That was wild! Thanks for sharing.

I appreciate the verification Tom. I've not heard of that before, but my boat does show that evidence for support. Hmmm, thats something to think about. Thanks. The foam I have looks like a very dense styrene.

Thank you very much for the information and tips!

I appreciate the replies. The real seat is not snug fitting to the rod. It wasn't centered to begin with, with the epoxy filling the gap at the top and the rod touching the reel seat where the trigger is.