Sodus Bay Scooter

Backwater and buckmax my buddy has a 1992 481. What year did that model style end? It's a nice boat, I've fished out of it a lot. I saw a red 92 481 for $9200 on boat trader. Is that a good deal assuming no major problems?

Oh good! That solves that then (aftermarket recessed tray) I can start looking at older boats now lol! I'll have to look that boat model up. Thank you

Thanks. I'm kinds feeling I should be looking around 2003-2005?? Honestly, I'm not really looking for all the bells and whistles. Just want a recessed foot tray and a good livewell. I can always buy new electronics. Oh and I'd prefer the motor size at 150. Most of the lakes in NY have a speed limit anyway.

So the hull design has never really changed? I know they changed how the transom blended with the boat instead of just a jack plate on a flat back. What year did they do that? And what year did they start using a recessed foot mount for the trolling motor?

Lol! Yeah that's a little older than I'm lookin for but I hear you on having a paid off boat. Honestly I don't even want to get one until my car and bills are paid off which will be next year if I can be disciplined with the toy buying But wanna start looking now so I can make a fairly educated decision.

You know how a lot of folks will say that the older curado reels are the best? Well, which ranger boat do you think falls into that category? You can go back to 1992 or so also. Don't say the newest rangers because of course they will be the best. But there must be that one year, that one model that people will always say that was one of rangers best boats. I'd like to see about a used ranger and if I can reduce my search efforts to "the one" that would be terrific. Any and all thoughts are welcomed.

I fish out of my kayak the same way I fish from a bass boat. I also stand in my kayak when I fish though. If you're asking me, I would say keep your stuff, especially what you're confident with. You can always get new stuff

I used 8lb bps xps but didn't really like it. Felt "slappy" on the cast. On the other hand I like the 17lb on my bait casters. Right now I'm using 10lb trilene xt mono and its really nice casting. I actually like the feel of light test braid the best but its too noisy on my spinning gear for some reason.

Some great ideas so far, thanks guys.

Any of you guys go out rock bass fishing? Every year we have a rock bass tournament and I have my baits that catch'em but I'd like to know what you guys like to use so I can try some new stuff out. Small jigs and grubs along with spinnerbaits work for me.

Get a sit on top kayak. There are some good but not too expensive ones out there. Really opens up the fishing opportunities. Great thing about a kayak vs a motorized boat is you pay for the kayak and a paddle and for the most part you're done spending.

I've been using 5/0 EWG Trokars for 2 seasons now (same hooks) and they are awesome! The hook sets are so solid and trying to remove the hook is a pain if that tells you anything. I've used the gammys and bass pro brand and they are good hooks too but I have so much confidence that I'm not gonna lose the fish when I use the trokars. The trokar hooks are $6.99 on *** and the gammys are $4.49. Honestly for those that say they are too expensive, you're talking about $2.50 difference. It's not like they cost $15 bucks or something. Best hooks in my opinion.

That's a good point. I know I never give the "other" baits as much attention. I'll have to try'em out some more.

My guess is its a timing thing. You say a couple of seconds, well that could be one second too long. I know it seems trivial but like I just told someone else with a similar problem, I count to two but set the hook on two. Not after but right on two but you have to get the timing of when the bass hits the bait till you start the count. And I don't even really count. It's just a feeling thing. You just kinda "know" when to set it. I used to fish only top water for like a year so I got pretty good at it. I don't get spooked either when the bass busts out of the water because I'm always expecting it. Keep at it. Oh, and buy yourself a hula popper. Do a chug chug chug pause retrieve. That bait will help break the anxiety of setting the hook because the pause will give yourself a chance to be prepared to set the hook when he takes it.

Oh don't get me wrong, I crush em on spinnerbaits in the spring. It's actually one of my favorite ways to fish. I just don't use them as much throughout the summer. Out of all the baits I mentioned, the only one that I don't ever really mess around with is the Carolina rig. Everything else I catch fish with but what I'm saying is I could leave all that stuff home and slay'em with jigs and soft plastics.

Texas rigged beaver style baits. My favorite being the bifflebug!

Well I guess I'll have to try out some of these techniques more since a lot of you guys seems to find their time and place. I don't know, when my buddy who fishes club tournaments up here competes, he always fishes a jig and other soft plastics and he always places high. He's been angler of the year a few times too. I'm not saying the other techniques don't work but I think some are stronger than others.

I use the 5/0 EWG trokars and they fit the pit boss, beaver baits, bifflebug and others perfectly. Solid solid hook sets let me tell you!

We get a lot of milfoil up here. It doesn't really rip through. It just gets all bundled up on the lure.

Sorry if this thread is rattling anyone. I'm just bored as heck here at work.

I just know ill catch fatties with the soft plastics every time. I've caught them on cranks just nothing great.

I'm not saying every body of water, just the ones I fish which are mainly Sodus bay, fair haven, and smaller ponds strung about. I know fishing keuka and Oneida are completely different animals, but I don't fish them. I guess what I'm saying is if someone only fished the same waters all the time, stick with what works and save your money.

I read the magazines, watch the tv shows, read the forums, listen to my friends and I go out and buy all these baits, lures, even rods and reels for them but at the end of the day I'm catching all my fish, decent fish mind you, all on the same setup I ever do. That's my Texas rigged flipping and pitching soft plastics. I have all this "stuff" but in reality when I'm honest with myself I can say that I really only need two bait casting set ups and that's it. See, I fish in upstate NY and everywhere I go the vegetation and situations are similar enough that I can catch fish by pitching soft plastics. Throwing crankbaits in the summer is pointless cause you're just gonna snag weeds everywhere. Tossing around a Carolina rig isn't much help cause there really is no rocky bottoms. Spinnerbaits work but mostly in the spring when it's not even bass season yet. Top water is fun but most people aren't winning tournaments on top water here. These lakes and bays are primarily dominated by senkos, jigs, and flipping style baits. Nothing wrong with that of course but I guess I just wanted to point out that as I was learning to fish I got caught up with a lot of ideas that just aren't that productive, and I spent a lot of money to find that out. I've got no real point other than that. I'm just making an observation. Oh we'll. I guess I'll keep those baits in case I ever move.

Glad you had success! I'd also like to express my gratitude towards everyone for I have also gained a lot of knowledge from these forums. Great stuff!

I like what MarkH024 said about count "one one thousand". He beat me to it. I was gonna say I wait a full good second to set the hook. I basically set it on the count of two, not after but right on 2. I rarely miss a top water hook set.