i am still mentally anguishing over my lost rod/reel that sank.

i have been researching lanyards and floats.  i think floats seem to be the better answer for me.

two types.  the butt float seems like it will be to big to fit down inside my rod holders..and the tube ones seem like it will rub against the line.

anyone use these?  do they actually float a heavy rod/reel?

wow.  i actually watched a video!!

Burping it at the end was awesome.  the rest, was somewhat awkward.  i need shorter arms!  i believe i will need to pack a folding chair when i winter fish. 

at one point, i had a leg in an arm sleeve.  hahhaha..

getting out of it was tougher than putting it on.  i assume it gets easier when the latex collar loosens up a bit?

my rods: in storage in the rod holders i have mini bungees that i hook around the reel.  they are secure WHILE IN STORAGE.,  the rod/reel in use is in peril.  i only largemouth bass fish (for now) so i am casting and casting, and really being active with the rod.  i am not trolling.

the danger occurs when i need to do something and i put the rod down.  let's just say there is a rod, that was my favorite drop-shot rig at the bottom of Lake Sonoma.   deep!!

i cannot imagine a float tube around the rod, it will hinder the line.  a leash?  man, i seem to to tangle enough already.  a leash seems like it would be problematic.

any tips?

(my friends son may scuba dive for my rod.  i know where i sank it.)

haha.  figures.

a guy gave me a good reel.  the Abu RevoSX.  he had it spooled up with what i would guess is 12lb flouro.  it was clean, looked unused.  i imagined he cannot cast a baitcast reel, since i fish with him and all he has are spinning reels.

i tied on a casting plug, stood in my driveway, checked a few settings, turned UP the mag brake for safety and let it rip.  WHOA!!  i had to thumb the spool as my plug went screaming towards a Sprinter Van windshield.  i gathered my composure and stepped into the street and looked down the road towards safety, and let it rip again.  it cast awesome!!  i think it cast further than my Shimano SLX DC.  (which has 12lb flouro)  i lady walking a dog asked me if the fish were biting..haha.  she then said, "you think you can hit the basketball hoop?"  i let it rip and it went thru the net.  twice in a row!  about 40 yards away.  i gel with reel perfectly.  i went to the garage and swap my DC reel on and stood in the same place.  bzzzzzzz..i cast exactly the same distance.  same rod, same plug, etc.

damn.  i went into the house and ordrered a Dobyns Sierra Heavy rod.  haha.  the reel is a 6.4:1 so it will be my swimbait, chatterbait, etc rod.  i rarely cast crankbaits, so i opted out of a fiberglass crankbait rod...

my wife: "did you just order another rod?"

errr...look puppies!

I heard they run hot and die. Truth?  The water cools them supposedly.

But some kayak guys glue them inside their hulls?  Or mount them to their bass boat trolling motors.  They cannot possibly shut down and reboot between spots.

What do you think?  Hear anything?  I know I ran my Garmin in my garage for a day to burn down my battery. No issues.  But my hew Lowrance?  Scared:)

i want to upgrade my Garmin S-4.

does the Dragonfly count down the remaining battery voltage like the Garmin.

the Raymarine brochures leave something to be desired. 

my my math, the battery consumption at 5.3 w per RMS, i should have 20 hours of use with my current Nocqua 10Ahr battery, right?

PBD = personal best day.

I lost count of the dinks.  But I caught 6 keepers. My first cast was a 3lb fish. This time I bright a camera and my landing net. It’s the best feeling when a bass gets into the net.