First How to keep bait alive
Save you money for electronics
1st way my favorite (cheap $10.00) Bait tube
http://www.plasticnavy.com/bait-tube.htm
Great system if you make your own bait and storing what you need.Not much drag when paddling
2nd way (cheap 14.99 at walmart) trolling bait bucket
good way to store a lot of bait-you cant paddle with it too much drag so every hundred yards you have to dip the bucket for oxygenated water -pain in the butt to try to stuff all your bait into so you need a regular bucket have them put the bait in the bucket then transfer them to the trolling bucket
http://boaterslandfishing.com/6502492.html
3rd way most expensive (60.00 bait tank)
Great system but takes up a lot of room and every gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds thats paddling an extra 41 pounds completely filled
http://martialartsacademy.org/quietm...ait%20tank.htm
Fish Finder
Get a unit with GPS it helps a lot you can mark locations where you caught you last fish or where you dropped your nets you can even track what route you took (good in fog).I own a cuda 240 with gps I like it but, the failure point is the rubber connector in the back I prefer a screw in connector.I haven't had a problem with mine yet but after plugging it in a couple thouand times I know it will fail and ill have to buy a new transducer
VHF
Buy the least expensive that has the longest range with the longest battery life
I have the Uniden Atlantis 250 Handheld VHF Radio.It has both the AC home adapter and a car charger.It ships with the dedicated battery and a battery backup that allows you to use AA batteries
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...=SearchResults
Good Luck
Pete