Pintail55

I don't think thats to narrow nor would decking it that high be a problem. I decked a boat for one of my buddies right below the gunnal. The deck ran the entire length of the boat. It was a little weird at first running the motor and sitting so high (I didn't care for it) but It worked just fine. We fished some pretty nasty water and never once did I ever feel unsafe. I could be way wrong here (not very good at physics) but I wounldnt believe being higher in the boat would make it anymore unstable than sitting down in the boat. Like I said I could be wrong it just seems the weight would be the same, atleast It never seemed to make a difference in any decked boat I've been in. Have fun building a new boat, and don't forget to take progress pictures.

One reel on line WOW. I love my fluro,braid and mono but if I were to make one suggestion I would say you can't go wrong with triline xl. I would say fluoro but Its not the best choice for top-water, so I would stick with a strong mono. Good luck.

Curado paired w/ a med/hvy G lommis with 12 lb. bps xps fluoro. My fishing consists of 85% weightless plastics and I have never run into a problem throwing weightless w/ casters.

Sufer ;D Sounds like you'd be fun to throw dice w/ in Vegas

I don't really need to retie yet though. Neither the fingers nor the lips can pick up any nicks. This line is strong. I know every line has a perfect situation I just thought I would share my positive experiances.

I decided to jump aboard and give the fluorocarbons a try, well I have found one that I really love. I put BPS XPS 12 lb. fluoro on one of my Curados and I belive I found my new go to line. I've got a little test going with it. I have caught over 30 fish (ranging from dinks to 5 lbs.). I have logged appox. 18 hours over numerious types of fishing (weeds, timber, rip-rap) with this line and still haven't retied. I put a 3/0 gammy hook w/ a GYMO (weightless) and have been pounding fish better than normal. I decieded I not going to retie until I either lose the hook or there is a definated tear or kink in the line. I'm not fishing any different with this line than I was with my power pro or sufix braid but my fish count has over trippled the last few times out. My buddy has stayed with hs braid and can't figured out why hes not chatching my numbers. I know theres a lot of people saying that fish can't see the braid ( I fish stained water) but wow has this type of line really increased my hook up ratio. I switched to braid almost exclusivley last year and my numbers went way down, I just credited it to a slow year or something else but maybe I was wrong. Maybe in my area it really was my line (agian I'm not dogging any other lines). I just wanted to share my newer line experiance and see if anyone has any other thing to add to this or experianced the same things. I also tryed the yozori (sp) hybrid and it has been performing quite well also.

I use 12lb. Bass pro XPS and it works great.

Everything is expensive, get used to it!!! I love Yamamoto baits they are my confidence and go to for everything bait. I usally only get to fish hard on the weekends so to me why would I fish high priced equipment a nice boat and gear and not throw the best. The bait is acually the thing that catches fish so I'm going to throw what I BELIEVE to be the best. There are other good soft plastics out there, I've even bought a pack of 50 hand poured sticks from ebay for $15, they fish good and look just like yammy's but I don't feel as cofident with them. This morning I went out and caught 20 fish in 2 hours most over 2 1/2 largest being right at 5, and I went through a whole pack of creatures 3 sticks and 4 ikas, was the money well spent HECK YES it was. Just one mans opinion

Yammy's, latley the color has been bright yellow w/ black fleck. Weightless of course

I don't think it matters. I always use what ever cheap spool is on sale. I've never ran into my backing. I usally get 2 reels done with 200 yards of line.

I own a 17' Nitro w/ a 115 merc. and I had the excact same problem as you. It takes her a little while to get up but once its up watch out. I did put a foil on and it help out a lot, I mean a lot. I didn't expect for one to help so much but It really helped my hole shot. It made mine a little more wobbely (harder to steer) up on plane but the benifits of the foil out weighted the other. For me it worked great but its never the same on every boat. Since there fairly inexpensive I'd say try one.

I've recentally switched one of my curados over to Sufix braid to try out. I fished it hard yesterday. Worms,jigs,cranks,chatters, frogs I tried it all. I loved the way it casted. I have 80% of my reels set up with power pro and think I will be making the switch. I highly recomend this line if you've never tried it. I was using the 50lb high-vis yellow and also loved the way the line showed up, and to me it dissapeared under the surface and I also had Oakley polarized glasses on.

I love my Oakleys. I feel like superman on the water.

I still love my Lews BB!!! I use my Curados for jig and worm but love my Lews for crankin. It just feels like a tank, I'm never scared of breaking it. I perfer both. With round you get more power (hevier line) and the usally hold more line. With lo pro you get well obviuslly lower profile and they seem to be a little better for weightless. Its all in personal prefference.

I agree, Just get some regular ply and paint it. From my experiance plywood lasts a lot longer than people think especially when you paint it. Maybe get a little better grade like an a-b ply instead of just regular old cdx. I decked and old jon for my buddy many years ago and we just glued carpet right to it and it is still holding up great. It is also is stored outside exposed to the elements. I believe that sun will damage ply quicker than water. A good oil baed paint or a wood water sealer will also work great.

I found a few on ebay. Not sure what your exaclly lookin for but maybe one of these will work. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-BOAT-CONSOLE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ31283QQihZ017QQitemZ270115691431QQrdZ1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-05-LOWE-CONSOLE-CAP-FM-165-170-BASS-BOAT-USED_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ26447QQihZ002QQitemZ120114111233QQrdZ1 Dave

If you're able to do fab work yourself give it a try. If not I'm sure any local welder could whip one up for you. Good luck

Very nice rig!!!!!!!! You'll love it

Avid, I've been using pp for the last 2 years and really liked it, but after all the talk about sufix braid I bought a spool. I've fished it twice and really liked it. I can't tell after 2 times out but I think I may be switching over to sufix braid only. Try a spool I don't think you'll be sorry.

I like my newer model curados over the old ones but there are still both awsome reels. I used to get the older models on after season sales for $90 and the new ones are priced more around the $200 mark so it better be a better reel for the money. But after saying that there are still both great reels.

Yeah I've thought of texas rigging a worm. I just feel so safe with the frog as the hooks are self contained. I'll give it a try and see how he does. Gotta love it: It is very neat to see. Hes not quite 4 years old yet and he is totally rocks it. I tie on his frog and he will cast reel and land the fish all himself. I do help him a little most of the time when he catches one to get the fish off and back into the water. The best part to watch is when we bank fish he will just go of and starting working his way down the bank until he finds the fish, its really cool to watch. You do however need to look out behind him when he casts beacuase he will take your head off and when were in the Nitro the faster and the rougher the ride the more he likes it but my wife and daughter on the other hand well you know. Also I'm usally ready to go before he is, I think he would fish all day if he could. Who knows maybe Ranger or Bass Pro need a 4 year old sponser ;D

I know this sounds like a dumb question so just bear with me. My son is almost 4 years old and he just loves to fish. He has a few of his own rod and reels and is very efficent at casting and getting fish into the boat (he practices everyday and is better than some people ive seen on the bank). My problem is I've had him throwing a weedless frog. One for saftey and also he can't always guide his casts so this eliminates snags and tangles. He hits a lot of fish on his frog (sometimes more than dad) but as you all know landing a fish on a frog is an art. He fights the fish for a little while then they just spit it out. Just curious if anyone has found a somewhat safe lure (he's only 4 so you don't always know were its going) plus something that is farly snag proof, that has a little better hook up ratio. Really would like something without the hooks exposed like the frogs. Thanks guys. PS. I always thought there wasn't anything better than nailing a big ol' bucketmouth. Until you see your kids catch one, PRICELESS. Thanks, Dave

It was junk for me!!!

I used to on my old boat (decked jon boat). Until one time I got to the ramp and noticed one of my reels was all broke up. The only thing I can think of is that a rock flew up and nailed my reel. I don't take that chance anymore. I know have a nitro so its just as easy to throw them in the rod locker.

Great reel for the money!!!