Sparky2Weld

Well thanks, I will check that out. I dunno how it could have stripped, but next time at the lake I will look and see, thanks

I started to fog my cylinders on my 1999 Mercury 135. When I started to remove the plug on top left hand cylinder, I realized it was some loose, not to the point you could lift it out by hand but it would not tighten up or be removed without a socket. I have noticed a large increase in fuel consumption and planned on doing a compression test later, but now with this loose plug issue I sure am some concerned. The plug seemed dark as if "rich" fouled. Any ideas on what o check and consider? Sure appreciate some ideas, thanks

well thanks again and I appreciate all the replies/posts. Time to grind down and apply different techniques for deeper water, albeit we are having much warmer weather now and spawn probably about done. thanks again

Well thanks for all the info, nice fish stringers. I am in the mid lake area, I will check ouy the location of the cove. Is this still a good question: QUESTION::::Is it a standard approach to use high end electronics to locate schooled fish holding off shore them use deep water techniques? thanks for the info

Thanks for clarifying, for a minute I thought you were referring to some kind of spinnerbait technique. Obviously I am not schooled in swim baits but that is going to change. Not surprised you were picking up walleye, most guys around here drag worms on the bottom. Johnathan Van Dam got a healthy check during the ELite this year on swim baits targeting smallmouth. Believe he was fishing similar to what you described. May I ask one more basic question? Is it a standard approach to use high end electronics to locate schooled fish holding off shore them use deep water techniques? thanks for replying, all comments help.

By thumping I assume you mean bouncing off the bottom correct? I believe these are in aboput 30 feet, is that the depth you were fishing? Everything gin clear now

Swim baits and flukes were my next option, thanks

[You can also use this technique to change up the lure profile and length until you dial in the right size. Can you elaborate some, not sure what you mean by change the lure profile?

I believe about 30 feet, but the last few days I am pretty sure things have changed. I like carolina rig abnd never thought about a shakey head, thanks. Will try

Hello, Hate to ask something right off the bat but I would like some opinions please. I am on Bull Shoals and the spots are still spawning. Smaller males in shallow but the females appear to be out in the deeper water. I can catch them if they surface using a spook or pop-r, but what about methods when they do not surface. Water pretty clear here they are out past the flooded brush. Swim bait?? Rattle trap? Would appreciate your opinions, and thanks in advance

I sure hope this is posted in the right place. I just broke my Lowrance transducer and there is not much material left to work with; however, I was wondering if anyone has had any success repairing with a fiberglass kit or epoxy. I am using a X135 and hesitate purchasing a new transducer since I do not believe my unit is supportable. It works fine and I would like to get a few more miles from it, Thanks all

thanks, I am going to BP tomorrow

Thanks folks, I'll check them out. I knew I would be leaning towards a 7 footer but was not sure brand etc. thanks

I have heard it said the Bull Shoals is the second most difficult lake in the nation to fish. I would like to know what lake came in number 1. Bull is a big flood control lake. Normally crystal clear, but right now stained. I would like to have seen how the Elite series would have done under crystal clear circumstances. I was at two weigh ins, interesting. Brandon had a bunch of females suspended in deeper water in a spawning bay after a 7ft drop in water level only a few days before the tournament. He had three good days and bagged what the normal weight was for the fourth day. At any rate congratulations to Brandon, especially to a young kid sleeping in the back of his truck on a budget.

Hello, I just fished a KVD 1.5. My rod was a 7ft fiberglass for larger/heavier crankbaits, but it would not load up with such a light lure. What do you folks recommend/use with light square bills??? By the way, square bills were used predominantly at this lake (Bull Shoals) and produced some nice weights for the Elite series last week. Thanks

Another bust today on the wake spinnerbait. Throwing a war eagle screaming eagle, small trailer. Cloudy, light wind, just right for clear water Bull Shoals. I waked and waked, no soap. Slowed it down, no soap, moved to crank (craw dad wiggle wart) and jig, no soap. Headed to deeper water (30 to 40) and caught three spooning. Talked to one other boat and they had one LM keeper from about 2ft deep water on a spinnerbait. Surface temp 56 degrees so I may be running out of season to get this "wake technique" down. Will try again tomorrow. Appreciate all the inputs.

I think I got it now, started this spinnerbait game at this level FAR TOO late in life, but still enjoying it. Caught fish on spinnerbait, in previous years, but it is obvious I am not using the right technique cause another guy is into then and I ain't. Thanks

Ya know, I was doing that and thought I was messing up, then it dawned on me that is exactly how some bait fish react, OK, I think I got it, vary and when you are done vary again until they hit. I guess I watched to many videos of the pro's chunking and winding...Kevin VanDam especially A friend of mine is waking a spinnerbait in the back of creeks with a large trailer on 1/2 booyah and doing good. He says they are hitting it as soon as it hits the water..in the shallows.

That helps a bunch, thanks. I am headed to Bull Shoals right after Thanksgiving and the LM were/are in the shallows in the back of creeks chasing shad and CD's. I love to throw a spinnerbait. Kinda tuff to find something to bump into at Bull SHoals, where I fish, if they are on main lake points there is some submerged trees, but in the creeks is where they are at now. Thanks, this has been a good informative post for me Any comment on War Eagle Screaming Eagle?????

Well that is about the most sensible reply I've heard, and on top of that common sense. I will try your suggestions. One thing I am poor about and that is tying on different lures or even different color spinnerbaits. I did try waking the bait (war eagle screaming eagle) then subsurface retrieve at different speeds. No Soap. The very next day on about the same condition a guy went to the same spot and caught three nice LM waking a 1/2. Makes me want to bang my head against a wall. Anyway, I will use your recommendations. I do know they were feeding on shad and crawdads. I should have tried probably a wiggle wart, maybe a jig and trailer....not sure about a lipless. You think of anything else I would appreciate it, I am headed back to Bull Shoal right after Thanksgiving, big fish were up shallow in about 62 degrees. thanks a ton and best Thanksgiving.

Hi All, Something I have never been to clear on is when and when not it is a good time to wake a spinnerbait. I have heard many old hands remark that this (fall Nov in MO) is the time to wake a spinnerbait, don't go sub surface. Is that because the bass are normally shallow and the shad are creating a fuss near the surface bank areas or just a wives tail? Again they relate it to this time of year. thanks folks, great forum