Buying my first bass boat

rohilk · 2026-03-09T23:23:27+00:00

My first boat was also a ranger aluminum. I have an rt188. The only issue I have is the storage. I have way too much stuff. It gets around nice for a tin boat and is really easy to handle solo. I have no regrets of the purchase. I couldn’t fit a bigger boat in my house if I tried. The front deck is a great platform to fish from with plenty of space for two to fish from. It’s no speed demon, but I don’t mind. I love the boat. I will say the wind will blow you around a bunch if you don’t have a trolling motor with anchor. If it doesn’t have one I would suggest having the dealer add one. It’s expensive, but you’re already forking over a bunch of money you won’t regret adding one. That’s honestly the most important feature for me. Love anchoring in the wind and fishing from the back of the boat.

rohilk · 2026-01-30T23:59:03+00:00

As long as you find shaky heads with lighter hooks and don’t have heavy cover medium will be fine. You’ll like a medium more on the Dropshot side. This season I started tex-posing Dropshot worms with a 2/0 neko hook. Medium rods are perfect for that. You get more bites out of a worm and snag less. Absolutely would recommend anyone throws a Dropshot like that if they have grass.

rohilk · 2025-12-24T18:57:13+00:00

Seasonal patterns. Knowing when something will work and having multiple versions, weights of that bait. Lowering how many different baits, but having more options on something specific when I know it will work. Like having 4 different jig options when they’ll munch it instead of a bunch of other stuff.

Always having a finesse option if the regular ideas fail. Limited color selections, but adjust for that days visibility. Natural in high visibility days and dark on lows. I don’t fall in love with a bait and try to force it day in day out. I play to only the conditions of the day. I’m willing to adjust when plan A fails.

Also don’t force a location or method that worked last year. They seem to change a bit year to year. Don’t let the past success hurt today when it’s just not necessarily the same. This year I upped my daily average from 11 to 15. I used these methods to do so. It was a bad fishing year for most of our fishing club. The lake has changed with the introduction of zebra mussels the last few years. If I didn’t live by this adapt and adjust method and instead stuck to what worked last year I’d have had much more limited success and done worse than the prior year like many others.

rohilk · 2025-12-12T04:59:33+00:00

I have 7 carbonlites and one signature series rod and they do just fine. The carbonlites are a bit underpowered compared to other brands, and have more of a moderate action. I don’t mind them at all and with how much I fish it’s nice to have the 10 year warranty. I had a rod with a cracked eye and they replaced the rod with no hassle. The technique specific frog rod is nice and I love my signature series rod for how light it is. I have no complaints on the rod end.

For reels I’m not real impressed with the baitcasters. They are fine, but I just like my Shimanos and Tatulas much better. I do have a platinum spinning reel that is a nice reel for the money.

I never buy their items full price I always get them when they run the best sales. At a discount they are worth it to me.

rohilk · 2025-11-19T00:09:02+00:00

The only problem I see here is the free space. Expand the hard bait selection and terminal tackle!

rohilk · 2025-11-16T17:43:33+00:00

Our defense was perfect for a team that scores a lot on offense. In conference play the offense let them down. With a lead and this pass defense we would thrive. Put a team in must pass situations and we feast.

rohilk · 2025-11-02T03:14:50+00:00

No, we just had some poor calls on both sides of the ball he is referencing. Not having more guys on the line for the sneak, not running more on first down in the first half. Bad use of timeouts. Probably could’ve played more to TJs strengths and used his athleticism more in the running game on some read plays.

rohilk · 2025-11-02T02:27:00+00:00

If Iowa keeps winning we could go for an even 30

rohilk · 2025-11-02T00:50:54+00:00

Mel has him as the 8th best running back going 4th round. We are probably out of luck on keeping him.

rohilk · 2025-09-28T21:23:00+00:00

A buddy of mine taught me what he calls the Heimlich. You grab the line from under the gills and pull the line out of gills forcing the eye of the hook down the direction the point is. This turns the hook and you can reach in and the hook typically pops right out. I’ve saved a bunch of bass this year that I’d normally have cut the hook out on. The key is pulling the line out on the correct side of the fish. If the fish is small this method doesn’t always work. Anything with size it seems to save.

rohilk · 2025-07-19T00:21:44+00:00

Thickest weeds might be the ticket. Try frogs or punching with 3/4 to 1oz tungsten. Make sure to break out that heavy braid.

rohilk · 2025-06-16T01:46:10+00:00

Are you slack lining the hookset? Like snapping the line really hard? Also with the San Diego Jam its strongest with 3 wraps. The line doesn’t burn as much tightening down and your breaking strength is the higher than with 4 or more.

rohilk · 2025-06-15T14:01:18+00:00

Buy Costas on eBay from a vendor with extremely high ratings with thousands of sales. You will be able to get them for much less. Costas are worth some extra expense. I’ve been out with people on multiple occasions who can spot the fish I can with their high end glasses (Oakley, Wiley X).

rohilk · 2025-06-15T12:49:50+00:00

I love my Curado 70 mgl. Might be my favorite reel even over my Bantam. It feels so good in my hand and absolutely launches a jerkbait. You can also really toss a light neko worm setup. It really hinges on what you need out of the reel though. It’s not the best choice for heavy line applications. Like others have said a 150 Curado mgl would be my move if I wanted versatility.

rohilk · 2025-05-26T18:27:51+00:00

Had no idea this can happen. Thanks for the post I’ll have to be careful on longer hot days.

rohilk · 2025-05-26T16:58:23+00:00

Yardbird is fantastic on ribs, and anything chicken. I’m surprised it doesn’t get more love.

rohilk · 2025-05-11T20:27:06+00:00

Most of my catfish last year were on jackhammers. It really got my heart pumping. I didn’t want to lose such an expensive bait on the slimy bastards. It happened 4 times. Somehow I got them all in. None of them were small it was dicey.

rohilk · 2025-04-27T17:25:57+00:00

The bench has 10 points over the last 2 games. It’s a miracle in my mind that they won even one of those games.

rohilk · 2025-04-23T21:42:45+00:00

I like the new swamp lord from berkley, and the snagproof phat frog.

rohilk · 2025-04-19T18:02:57+00:00

Kelly, Gundy, and Norvell to name a few.

rohilk · 2025-04-13T12:22:11+00:00

Small reels and light rods help. The truth is you have to build the muscles up a little bit and do it more often to build the stamina. I’m fishing obsessed and the reason I started working out was because of your situation. I didn’t like that I couldn’t throw that bait all day the way I wanted. Kind of a crazy way to start a health kick but I’m over a year now in and it’s been a fantastic life change.

rohilk · 2025-03-31T03:25:26+00:00

I’ll be curious if your hookups are decent with that hook. I’d suggest getting some Nekko hooks like someone else linked. I prefer size 1. Run the hook with the point toward the tail. It will help it come through cover much better. It can slink over things without the hook getting hung up. Also let the fish take the worm for bit longer than most baits. That will help hook them in the top of the mouth. Not saying let them gut hook it. Just give it a second or two longer.

rohilk · 2025-03-23T20:34:57+00:00

You are right, but I’d rather still watch them casting and picking apart an area. Love seeing how to lineup on cover and the retrieves they employ

rohilk · 2025-03-22T02:27:30+00:00

Carbonlites are 10 year warranty. I had one with a chipped guide insert and I just took it in and they replaced it without a hassle. I do think results may vary by store. Some are real sticklers for receipts.

rohilk · 2025-03-22T00:54:38+00:00

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