Scott F

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The very cold water bite is tough at best. You maybe fishing where they are but they don't feed as often when the water is cold. Do you take the water temperature where you are fishing? When the water is less than 45, you can fish all day and even the best fishermen may only get a couple of bites. Your best chances come if the weather is improving and the air temps are on the rise, a few fish will become active.

There are places that sell them at less than MSRP but they are not allowed to advertise a discounted price. I bought my Terrova a couple of years ago from a place that used to be a sponsor here. I got it for a discount, got free shipping and didn't have to pay sales tax. You just have to call them to get their best price.

Considering AGM batteries cost on average at least twice (or more) what regular lead acid batteries cost and although they do last longer, they don't last twice as long, I have stayed with regular lead acid batteries for my boat.

I ran a boat similar in size to yours for many years with a 55lb 12 volt motor. It was OK but if the wind kicked up, I did not have enough power to move against a strong wind. I upgraded to a 24 volt Terrova and could not be happier. Once I could afford to replace the motor, it was worth the upgrade to me. Group 24 batteries will work just fine. You just can’t run as long as you can with larger batteries. I use group 27s and can run 2 full days without running out of juice.

Those are float pods. They add floatation to help the keep the back end of the boat up so you can run in shallow water.

I'll be working in the booth for my fishing club, the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, Friday though the close on Sunday. BR members should stop and say hi!

The height of the trolling motor foot pedal has always been the deciding factor on which trolling motor I buy. All of the new cable steer models have very tall pedals that I find very uncomfortable to operate. I'm not alone in my feelings because instead of re-designing the pedals, boat manufacturers now cut holes in the floor of the boat to put the pedal in a more comfortable position. My solution was to go with an electric steer Minn Kota. I can keep both my feet on the floor and I just operate the pedal with the toe of my shoe. Electric steer also means I can operate the motor from anywhere in the boat with a foot pedal or with a wireless remote. You have to decide which suits you best. As far as power goes, you can never have too much. Get the most powerful your wallet will allow. Just be sure you have a place to store the 2 or 3 batteries that the motor will require.

It’s funny how different peoples ideas about a dream boat can be. I just bought a new boat that has almost none of the items on your list. I wanted a boat for river fishing and being able to run in skinny water. A great anchor system for holding in fast current. A jet outboard. Swing away trailer tongue. Center console. No live well. 16 foot length to fit in my garage. 24 volt trolling motor. Basic depth finders to show me water temp, and depth. Another goal was to keep it as light as possible. I went to a custom river boat dealer and he built me exactly what I was looking for.

Are you looking for a tournament club? There are least a dozen tournament clubs in the region. Google is your friend. Google Illinois Bass Clubs and they will all show up. I belong to probably the largest bass club in Illinois but we don’t do tournaments.

The newer Terrova and Riptide have lift assist, which has a spring on the shaft that assists in raising the motor but it does not deploy simply by stepping on a pedal. You push on a lever that releases the latch that holds the head on the base and turns on the power. You then push the head toward the water and let the motor down.

There are several other companies who make well made jon boats. Unlike some companies, like Lowe, or Alumacraft, other makers offer an unlimited number of options as far as layout is concerned. You can set one up exactly the way you want it. It all depends on how much you want to spend and how you want to use it.

What were the winds like during these trips? 70 degrees in the winter often suggests a strong Southerly wind. Big temperature drops can indicate a strong North wind. A strong head or tail wind can effect your mileage especially at 80 mph.

Largemouth bass are not my normal pursuit. I'm a smallmouth guy first and foremost so that, I'm sure that influences my decisions. Color and shape are the LAST two things I think about when deciding on what to throw. Location and which presentation will work in that location determines what I throw. Where I fish, once I find them, it doesn't seem to matter which shape or color plastic I use. The way I see it, there are dozens of different colors for me to choose from. If the fish were keying on a certain color, the odds on me choosing the exact right color on the first try or even the second, are very slim. Same thing on the shape. I catch too many fish to think that I have some sixth sense that helps me choose the right color. I don't even use the color picking reasoning that seems to be common with many of the experienced anglers here. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I believe that in most cases, for what I'm doing, color just isn't an important factor. Another thing that reinforces my beliefs is that I am in contact with several other good fishermen who also chase smallmouth. Lure color discussions are almost non-existant. Everybody uses different lures and get similar results. Guys who are catching are getting them because they are good at locating them, not because they are good at picking colors.

My suggestion too. Get some self tapping zip screws and use this style cable tie.

Take it to an authorized, Motor Guide repair shop.

I USED to favor smaller baits for smallmouth and sometimes they do prefer a smaller bait, but do not be afraid to use the 5 inch. Trust me, you'll get 8 inch smallies to hit bigger baits. But fish with whatever you have confidence in. You'll enjoy your day on the water more if you aren't second guessing your choices.

I've been using both sizes for years. I have owned a variety of colors and I have NEVER had a time when one color caught more than any other color. Actually, I use them in the same way and the same places I use senkos. Weightless and T-rigged.

I use the Case Sinkin Salty Shad. Sinks like a Senko, no weights needed.

What kind of charger are you using? If your battery is only lasting 2 years and you charge it regularly, you may need to upgrade your charger. I use Walmart batteries and the one I just replaced was 7 years old. Charging it properly and not overcharging will make it last a lot longer than 2 years. I would not go smaller than the group 27 you've been using.

If I had to guess, I'd drop the lower unit and check to be sure it was re-installed correctly.

For those outside of Maine or Eastern Canada, togue are lake trout.

This is Carly. 11 year old Bishon.

I know EXACTLY what a bass thinks a Senko and every other bait anybody has ever caught a fish on is........He thinks it's FOOD!!

Kayaks are perfect for the rivers and streams and would be my choice if I were going to fish from a kayak. The problem is your choice of dates to be on vacation. Spring rains not only make camping uncomfortable, but they can also make the rivers rise to the point they are unsafe and ruin fishing. If you lived in the area, picking days when conditions are good is easy. Picking dates for the spring, 10 weeks in advance is risky.