Lund Explorer

Hey Root Beer, Here's to hoping you get your foot in the door some day. Just don't let those big boys pigeon hole you into that cubicle. And I'm always around if you want to PM me if you get stuck on something.

If you'd like some advice from a guy who is already 30+ years down your chosen career path, you had better plan on doing it all. And you REALLY need your CPA license if you want to deal with Uncle Sam on behalf of your clients. Not too many EA's anymore, and that is about the minimum for doing this job anymore. The key for me has been to focus on the small "Mom & Pop" business clients. Not a bad life, but be prepared to having to handle accounting, taxes, audits, software, plus a whole litany of consultation services. If you're good at it, you won't be able to handle all the clients that will come your way.

Probably not a bad idea to check the fishing rod's eyelets for rough spots too. Easy to do with a cotton swab.

If it makes you feel any better crappie are referred to as "Calico Bass" in some parts of the country. Up here, they're usually called specks. We catch them all the time when using small bass lures, so you are getting close. Good Luck!

My vote was for Baby Bass...... What other color would you want a bass to be?

So did you survive your day on the water yet, or is it still upcoming? I just got back from there (voluntarily for enjoyment only) if you need an update on the latest and greatest.

Everything I've seen here are good choices. But toss in a small floating Rapala that matches the normal baitfish in that stream. It can double as a surface lure when twitched as it washes downstream, or can be used as a crankbait, even a miniature jerkbait. If your stream has enough current, you can also stay above the cover and allow the lure to work in a drop-back method like they do for salmon or steelhead.

Welcome! Do you guys have a brother named Kenny?

It's scary how I keep getting told "Welcome to BR", when I'm only 10 miles from there..... Big Rapids (Michigan) that is!

I'm going to go against the majority of posters here and tell you that I don't see anything wrong with a boat loan, but with a little additional advice as to how to go about it. While I'm still regarded as a "Newbie" on this forum, I have been around the block quite a few times, and I have financed three different boats over the years. My advice is to first take a long hard look at your finances, both today, and in the near term future. If you've already got a secure job, you're into a home that you plan on keeping, and all of your other existing debts are under control, you should know what you can comfortably control. The two best people to help you with this thought process is your banker, and your spouse. Make sure to take the advice they both give you, for obvious reasons. Once you've figured out how much you can afford, don't make the mistake of rushing right off to the new boat store. While you won't end up with the absolute latest and greatest, the used boat market is normally the better option. Let the first owner take the big depreciation hit for the first couple of years. And make sure to keep the length of any loan down to around 3 - 4 years. This faster payoff will give you the chance to build equity in your boat so you can always trade up every few years or so while keeping roughly the same payment. Taking out a 10+ year boat payment will only leave you with a paid off boat that will be worth about what the old payment book is worth. Hey, being debt free is great, I've been there since 2003. But there is nothing wrong with well managed debt, as long as it is well managed and you don't end upside-down a year or so down the road. BTW - Right now, I've down sized from a 19' Pantera II with a $200 per/month payment, into a 17' Lund without a payment.

Just a guess, but look to see if there is a difference in the length of the shank (part between the bottom of the ball and the bottom flare). If they are different, I'd bet the long shank ball is the one with the problem.

Howdy Ridgerunner 7, Good Old Hamlin Lake.... You're right about all the critters in that lake. Between the Pike, Dogfish, and the occasional Musky, a guy can lose a lot of baits on a trip there. I've been fishing that lake for a number of years, and the fishing can tough at times. Normally I stay on the upper lake from Victory Park (boat launch) down to the narrows. I'll buzz down to the lower lake in the spring to hit the North Bayou, and the boat channels all the way down on the south end of the lake. Fall can also be a good time down there for the smallies off of the main breaklines. But on the upper lake, I can usually put quite a few fish in the boat by working plastic worms around the docks and the surviving weed beds that haven't been sprayed into oblivion. I've had some of my best luck from Indian Pete's Bayou down to the narrows along the south shore. Most of it has a fairly fast drop with a narrow weed band when there's actually weeds there. There is also a fairly productive drop off along the north shore almost straight across from the boat landing. Favorite baits for me? #1 - 7" Power Worm (Junebug or Tequila), #2 - 7" Power Worm..... As far as Pere Marquette Lake, for some reason I've never fished it for bass. But if it is anything like some of the other nearby river mouths, (Pentwater, Manistee, or Portage) you may want to switch to trying to find the weedbeds and target the largemouths. If you want to try for the smallies, target either the docks or slab wood piles. I'd suggest either a double willowleaf spinnerbait, or maybe a Kalin's grub (5" Avacado is my favorite) Those darn zebra mussels, they sure have changed things.

I've never fished Lake Louise/Thumb Lake, but it sure looks like a pretty little lake. And DEEP! That should eliminate quite a bit of it unless you're going after the trout in there. Other than looking for how deep the thermocline is where the smelt should be, I think I'd spend the first morning working across the top of that big saddleback on the east side of the lake. Topwaters in the morning followed by a drop shot rig along the dropoffs later in the day. And of course, it looks like there are quite a few docks along the northern shoreline. Should be some largemouth hanging around them. Good Luck!

Howdy Fellow Bassin' Folks, Just wanted to drop in to introduce myself to your forum. Thanks to a fairly wet and chilly summer so far, I came across your little home, and I've been snooping through all of the pages for a few weeks. Tons of information and No Trolls (Yeah, this isn't my first forum). I'm a 55 year old guy. A father, grandfather, and soon to add the title of great-grandpa. I'm still working towards the day that I can retire and spend more time in the boat than at my desk. After almost twenty years of losing sleep, I did retire from the "Cast for Cash" circuit a couple of years back. Yup, I'm one of those guys that used to own one of those old tri-hull bass boats. Then of course I had to move up in the world, always looking to go bigger and of course faster. Who would have thought I'd be back in aluminum, but I am with a new Lund that plods along at 30mph. Now I'm more focused on spending time with the grandchildren both camping and fishing. And its amazing how much money I can now spend on the wife, when a ten count bag of worms works just as well as the 100 count bags (in ten colors) used to be a must. So I'm looking forward into tossing my two cents worth into a few discussions. At least until the sun finally starts to shine once again on the weekends.