RyneB

how I have this nice Ranger, down imaging units with GPS, over $2,500 in rods and reels, storage compartments stuffed with tackle, piles of fishing magazines and I still cant get a bass to bite.

BPS Pro Qualifier can be had for around $60 when the spring sale is going on. I don't own one, but a buddy does and he loves it. Daiwa Tatula for $149.99. I have not used this reel, but from all the feedbacks, its a great reel. I will be getting the Type R when it is released. Abu Garcia Revo S for $129.99. I own 7 S's. Its a great reel for the price. You can get a SX for $159.99, but the S is more user friendly and more forgiving. Daiwa Lexa 100 for $129.99. I feel its a better overall reel than a Revo S, the only reason I prefer the S over the Lexa is my hand placement on the Lexa seems to always interfere with the brake setting when im working a bait. So I switched it to one of my moving bait rods and have had no problems since. I cant comment on a Lews because I have never used one. From what I hear, it is a good reel.

nice boat. I don't mind the carpet. It wouldn't be my first choice, but it wouldn't shy me away from buying a boat. The boat looks well taken care of, good luck with her and hopefully many bass are lifted into it.

I will be getting all 3

I lucked out when I bought my 2000 Ranger last year. Motor runs flawlessly. But the trailer is a whole different story. I have had to put on 2 new tires, new cranking winch, all new rollers, new bunks, redo the electrical. I have more money invested to keep my trailer going than I do the boat.

i would just like to let everyone know that Illinois is not unarmed. Chicago has some of the most strict gun laws in the US. But the rest of Illinois is far far different. A lot of Illinois residents outside of Chicago look at Illinois as 2 different states. There is Chicago, and then Illinois. Outside of Cook County, we are just as armed as any other state. If you have ever driven through most of rural Illinois, you know its country.

all reels mentioned will get the job done. I suggest getting your hands on each reel, and make your own opinion. Other than the Daiwa, all reels mentioned are proven performers and have a following. I say feel them first because you will be using it. I have all Abus and a shimano. I fell in love with the Daiwa Lexa and had to have one. The reel performs flawlessly and its a great reel, but I quickly realized it wasn't the reel for me. Due to my hand placement on the reel while working jigs and other bottom contact baits. I would constantly turn the cast control on the left side of the reel. I would do it without knowing it. I had to take it off my jig rod and now use it strictly for moving baits.

its a true fish catcher.

for a smaller profile, try the Rage Tail Menace, I also like the Lake Fork Beaver type bait. One of the best craw imitating trailers is the Yum Crawbug. It doesn't have the action of other trailers, but for pure craw imitations, it is tough to beat. Just the other day I couldn't buy a fish on a jig. I tried all my trailers and switched to a Yum Crawbug, I dipped the tips of the claws in orange Spike-It and it was game on. Ended up saving my day.

YES. I throw swimbaits here in Illinois and also throw them when I fish northern Wisconsin. I prefer to throw big plastic hollow bodies such as the Strike King shadalicious. I have had some success with the Mattlures bluegill swimbait in northern Wisconsin, but I don't want to have an expesnive bait get ruined by a pike or musky. So I don't throw it as often as id like. One of my favorite baits for up north is the Mini MS Slammer. Find some scattered lilly pads or grass and work that bad boy around it. I know a few guys who throw really big jointed wooden swimbaits, but theyre targeting musky. I know they have hooked some giant bass on them as well.

Its my favorite ice fishing technique to catch bluegills. I just down size the weight, hook and bait. But its the same concept, I have even caught a lot of bass through the ice using micro plastics for gills.

that happened to me on my first outing this year. I always loosen my drags on all my reels after cleaning and relubing them when I put them away for the winter. Well I must have forgot to tighten up my Premier. It didn't cost me a fish, but it made me panic. GO WOLVERINES

I will be purchasing a Rocket this winter. Hopefully I can get a deal during black Friday sales.

beautiful rig. What electronics are you running?

heres my story. When i got my career job i purchased a Tracker. It was fine for what i needed it for. Then the bait, boat, rod, and reel monkey got a hold of me. My tackle, and overall drive for bass fishing out grew my Tracker. I needed to upgrade. I decided to give the Tracker to my father, sell my fun car, and buy a bass boat. I found a near perfect 2001 Ranger R81 VS with a Mercury 150. The price was where i wanted it. I got a "good" condition 18 foot Ranger, added 2 Down Imaging units, 3 brand new Die Hard batteries, brand new 82lb thrust Motor Guide, all seats were wrapped in new vinyl when i purchased. No way i could get that kind of value out of a tin. I bought the Ranger with all the mentioned modifications for 10 grand. When i bought the Tracker brand new it was 12 grand. There is no comparison between the two. I wish i would have saved my money buying the tin, and bought a great used glass from the start. Having said that, i was just as good as a bass fisherman in my Tracker as i am my Ranger. Its just that the Ranger is more comfortable. It all depends on the waters you fish, money your willing to spend, and how much you use the boat. Its really hard explain. I feel that once you have a tin out in rough water, then fish out of a glass in rough water. You are going to take the more expensive glass every single time over the tin. But, if your fishing smaller lakes that you need to get into shallow water and big water is not the issue, go tin. Having said that, if my father wanted a new boat. A brand spanking new Ranger Z520C would be what i would tell him he needs. Then maybe someday it will be mine.

Maybe his advisor is Manti Teo? lol

I was in the same boat as you as far as wanting Optimas. Then I talked to my neighbor, who owns several battery stores in Illinois. He has been in the battery business for over 35 years. He told me to not go near them. Then my buddys dad had his Optima just die on him. Quit holding a charge. My brother in law had the same dead battery issue. I also have a buddy who absolutely loves his. I just didn't want to take the risk for the money. At the time, I bought the boat it had 3 brand new Die Hards installed, so I didn't want to risk it if I didn't have to.

I know, imagine being Nathan though. He's probably at the edge of the cliff.

first I rig them horizontal (tail flat). Then when it gets tore up a bit from the fish, I turn it sideways. I have caught fish both ways. Cannot say which one produces more strikes. I have never rigged it on a flipping jig, but its my main swimjig trailer.

I like 3/8 oz jigs in shad or bluegill patterns. I use all kinds of trailers. Single tail grubs, rage craws, swimbaits, Rage Menace, and possibly the most underrated bait on earth, the Rage Eeliminator.

you're going to be like my buddy. He will pitch at a piece of cover for an hour if I let him. That's all he wants to do, but I'm the opposite. I have to be chucking and winding. I do pitch, but its definitely not my favorite way to fish.

I have a 150 EFI Mercury. Last month while on a fishing trip I noticed my outboard would not trim up while I was trolling. When I would start the outboard it was able to trim up. But when it wasn't on, it would only trim down. After that trip I didn't notice the problem anymore. Then yesterday it happened again. This time I noticed that when I was on plane that the tilt gauge needle was bouncing all over the place. I'm guessing I have a loose connection somewhere. If so, how do I fix it? If anyone has any other ideas on what it might be, chime in.

boooooooooooooo. the crowd is upset

any word yet on the rig?