I'll be 78 next month and have been fishing most of those years. During that time, I have accumulated a tacklebox-full of fishing lures, many of which go unused. One major reason that I don't use them is that I hesitate to throw a treble hook laden lure into heavy cover for fear of losing it. It finally dawned on me that those lures aren't doing me any good sitting in my tackle box, so this year I have resolved to throw those lures where the fish are and not to worry if I hang them up. If I'm lucky, I'll latch onto a lunker that I otherwise wouldn't have. If not, I've only lost a lure that I wouldn't use anyway. Besides, If I lose them all I can go shopping for more.

I have written permission from my brother-in-law to hunt or fish on his property. Here in Mississippi if you don’t have it the game warden can arrest you for trespassing and hunting or fishing on property that is not yours. I sold some property and was given permission to remove some things that belonged to me from the place. I gave a friend of mine written permission to go onto the property to get some things for one day. The new owner saw him and called the law. He got off since he had the permission slip. Still had to call me to prove I had given it to him. I guess it is good for this except today your word of mouth ain’t worth anything any more. Even if you have written permission you still have to prove it.

Other than replacing the drag washers with carbon fiber there's not much more that'll make a big difference in an exceptional reel. I'd first degrease the unit & replace the lube & grease with high quality synthetic lube. I've replaced the factory bearings in some ambassadors with the new ceramic bearings & actually prefer the factory bearings. I think the ceramic are harder to adjust on those reels & can get the spool traveling too fast. That's just my opinion. If you're surf fishing you may want a reel with more line capacity than a 4500. Good luck in your search. Go on you tube for other ideas for slicking up an ambassador. All I can say is the slicker you make it the better your thumb's got to be.

You dont need a large battery like most people think for trolling nor do you need to spend big to start. My first deep cycle trolling battery was a VMAX Deep Cycle AGM Battery $279.99 and it is the best are so all reviews say and it laster 3 years. I replaced it with this one from Walmart that only cost $89.00 and it is still going full charge after 4 years and it last over 8 hours while powering a 70lb trust 19 foot Nitro Bass Boat.


The battery is a Every Start 845 MCA

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Lead-Acid-Marine-Battery-Group-29DC/107362274



Charger link

battery charger

https://www.walmart.com/ip/10-2-50-Amp-12-Volt-Battery-Charger-Jump-Engine-Starter-Car-Boat-Vehicle-Quick/137641818




To make those batteries last longer, be sure to do two key things:

1. Recharge the battery with a trickle charger when it is not in use (on the dock and in storage).

2. Remove the battery and store indoors when not in use (especially in cold weather).
By far the best way to keep your battery going as long as possible is to follow the user’s manual! Honestly this seems stupid, but each battery is designed to operate in very specific ways and maintaining them based on their unique needs is an important factor in making that battery last.

3. When storing you battery alway's store and charge your batteries off the ground ether in your boat or on a block of wood off the ground as the cold floor drains your battery life even more.