Sun Fish

What kind of vehicle do you drive? If it's a tow capable vehicle you can find a used old aluminum on CL if you save a 2 or 3 hundred more. If you live right off the water you fish and don't have to transport the boat you can easily find a nice aluminum without a trailer or motor for 200-300. I did a quick search in my area and found this 12' Jon with a 44lb trolling motor included for $600.

The Abu Garcia Max series are under $100 and great starter reels. I learned how to cast a baitcaster with a Black Max and have since upgraded to several Revos but I still use my Black Maxes as well.

Just got back into Bass fishing this season after a few years of doing other things. Aquired this collection this season. All boxes full the giant bin is all Rage Tails

I was comparing the Humminbird® 587ci DI Sonar/GPS Combo to the Lowrance Elite-5 DSI/GPS. I see the Lowrance has the trackback feature which will allow you to go back and pinpoint an exact piece of structure you went over to mark a waypoint. Does the Humminbird models also allow you to do this for marking waypoints or is this exclusive to Lowrance?

I Rage Tail baits. The rage tail craw and lobster has given me a new found confidence in Jig fishing and only use rage products as trailers. I don't fish them exclusively yet but I have at least 30 packs of them

When the water becomes solid is when I call it quits. Winter fishing is very tough but not impossible. Fish don't end their own season. They're living creatures that have to eat to survive even when the top part of the water column is frozen solid.

You have to finish this story. Did you find success in tournament fishing in your youth? You hit the nail on the head. I'm 27 working full time on top of commuting 3 hours a day to that job so I can afford all the toys us anglers need and want I still manage to get out on the water 3-5 days a week. I'm sure when I reach my 60's I will be much the same in choosing my battles. You have to love the sport of fishing. God willing we will be able to enjoy it so long as we're still on this lovely place called earth.

My strength is just the opposite. Especially being in the North East I will fish any time I can in the rain, snow, sleet, thin surface ice until the ice is to solid and may damage my boat. I aspire to be a successful tournament angler and feel that fishing sub optimal conditions is good practice bites or not.

I haven't stopped fishing here in NE PA. Water temps are below 40 with thin ice on the surface in the mornings. Bites are few and far between and everytime I go out I expect to be skunked and anything else is a suprise. My last fish was on 11/25 in 40 degree water that weighed in at 3.96 caught on a black and blue jig w/ rage craw trailer. I've been out at least 7 times since then and have only had one bite that got off. My friend landed a 4lb largie and 2 lb smallie last weekend so it's not impossible to get bit it's just difficult. I figure the more I try the better my chances of success and maybe I'll figure out the winter pattern better eventually. The best advice that can be given is whatever baits you choose to try, SLOW DOWN your presentation and dress warm so your comfortable out there.

Can anyone please fill me on on the story behind the bait monkey?

Your in CT, the lakes can't be frozen over yet! I'm still out there in NE PA.

Here in NE PA the action slowed considerably once the water dropped blow 45. I caught a 4lb largie in 40 degree water on 11/25 and not one since in the past 10 or so outings. A friend caught another 4lber and a 2lb smallie out of the same water in 38 degrees on 12/8. The question now for us North East bassers are really when does the action start to pick up signifigantly again? I plan to fish until the water is solid which will probably happen within the next 2-3 weeks. I will be out there as soon as the ice melts in late Feb/March.

No luck yet. I'm surprised for such a huge lake and also being featured in Bassmasters top 100 that there aren't more tournaments on this lake.

I'm from NE Pa and also looking to set up a tournament schedule for the comming season. Thus far I've discovered the ABA NJ Divison 10 that primarily fishes Lake Hopatcong, the North East Bassmasters that primarily fish Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake and Hawg Hunters of Allentown that fish Beltzville and Lake Nockamixon. I'm looking for more nearby clubs/tournament opportunities more specificly for Beltzville Lake and Lake Wallenpaupack as well as anything in the Poconos.

Should you typically use both or just one of those products? I ordered the Catch & Release product. The only real difference I seen between the two is the price.

Ya Bass Pro told me they're being released mid February also.

To my suprise I can't seem to find much information on tournaments around this lake. Does anyone know of any clubs besides the Lackawanna County Bassmasters that host tournaments on this lake on a regular basis?

I want to order one now but don't see it in stock anywhere lol.

I was thinking of buying two Hummingbird 597ci HD DI combos but it looks like this new product may be a way better choice with the 7" screen when it becomes available. http://www.basspro.com/Lowrance-Elite7-Hybrid-Dual-Imaging-Fishfinder/Chartplotter-Combo-83/200-&-455/800-kHz/product/12090505081418/

How about for cold North East lakes 37 degree water?

I just typed waterquest 11.3 in google and found the answer to most of your questions in the first 3 links. Not sure on the livewell but it looks like it's rated for 15hp. Weither or not it would be good for tourneys would totally depend on the size of lake your tourneys are on. If your fishing a 1,000 acre lake+ I would say no. If your fishing a 100 acre lake I'd say sure, why not. If tournaments are your main concern, I'd look into a aluminum boat in the same price range.

I tow my 18ft Nitro w/ a 1995 Toyota T100 V6 no problem pulling or stopping on steep hills.

Thats amazing I seen the video on youtube of John Cox doing that. However that Tracker had a 75hp, I could have sworn the minimum HP for FLW was 150hp. How did he get away with that?

Got out on the Dead sea today after work for an hour and a half before sundown. The water temp was 40 degrees and there was a steady breeze makin my hands and face go numb but it was worth it! Found this pretty girl along a weedline in 6FOW and she thought my black and blue Moaner Hooks Predator Jig looked tasty! She weighed in at exactly 3.96 lbs! Same fish both pics.

Lol, I don't understand how people do that. I guess I havent been to to many boat launches but my rear tires never even get close to touching water. I back up until my trailer fenders are 1/4 to 1/2 way sticking out of the water and launch and load nearly effortlessly. Mind you I most often do this on electric only lakes where I load my 1000+lb rigs by hand. I have yet to drive onto my trailer to load, that should be fun