no39

The higher the deck is the more you raise the center of gravity. I use to stand on the benches quite a bit and used that as a starting point. As for the floor plans, I sort of just ran with it. I just made a rough sketch and refined it as I went a long. Here's a few pics to help you with any ideas.

I used to regularly a while back, but have moved away from them. They were simply far too expensive to be constantly replacing. If you like them than keep using them.

Cool another WNY guy. I tend to fish a lot of those bodies of water too. Hopefully, I'll see you out there this season. Welcome!

I have 12 or 13 rods they are all veritas with one being a 2.0. They all seemed a little stiff initially, but with time they seem to become more a bit softer and closer to their rating. As for the suggested application abu doesn't seem to veer off too much from the norm. I think they were pretty much the same specs the st croix mojo line before stcroix updated the series. I personally think the most useful is the 7 meds.

How deep do the shadow raps run? If you work them really slow would they fall an extra foot in a cast?

You can never have enough pre-tied dropshot rigs....

Man, I couldn't stop laughing when I read this.

It's always a trap.

Same as always, to crush my enemies, to see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentations of their women. Realistically, improve on boating skills, improve casting accuracy, learn to read situations a bit better, and give New York state less money.

Pffffft.

I've fished a demolished wreck that on rare occasions produces big smallmouth. I have to weed through tons of rock bass to get bit though.

I've been meaning to getting around to learn it, but the videos I've found make it look a bit cumbersome. I suppose it can't be that bad. I've had the alberto fail me before so this might be better. Thanks.

I don't see why not. We all have our preferences, but I got tired of the knot banging the guides. It was more of a hassle for me so I throw straight braid.

*sigh* dropshotting straight pieces of plastic.

I agree. My argument wasn't that wood was the problem but it's propensity the absorb moisture which is often made worse through inferior resins. I just didn't like the generalization about wood in boats either.

Thanks. It's a bit tipsy for some, but I was never made anxious by it. My girlfriend and I always fish out of it standing to give you some perspective. On Lake Erie I usually need the seat to keep my balance, but on smaller waters it's fine.

No problem. I have 14 v-hull mirrocraft and I converted to be a bit more bass friendly. When I do upgrade it'll be an all composite boat.

I worked for a year building sail boats. One thing i noticed was that all of the older boats with wood cores were always waterlogged. Even the cores well above the waterline were rotten. I'm not saying that all boats with wood cores are bad boats. I would say that wooden core boats are at a higher risk of damage due to core contamination than modern core materials like high density closed cell foams. Some manufacturers tend to use cheaper polyester resins which have a much higher water absorption than vinylester and epoxy resins. Not only that, the polyester resins don't flex as well and eventually get micro cracks and let in more moisture. TL:DR: Wood is perfectly fine core material provided that the manufacturer didn't cheap out on the resin.

It seems to me that most manufacturers have a few different formulas of fluorocarbon. Usually with one being rather supple and manageable while being a bit stretchy. The other being a less manageable and having reduced stretch. Invisx seems to be the stretchy variety and abrasx being the stiffer. I like the invizx in the earlier colder seasons because it remains manageable and the cold seems like to make less stretchy. However when it warms up the amount of stretch becomes an issue. This is usually when the stiffer abrazx is the better option as the heat seems to make it more pliable. That being said I don't like switching lines all that much and now run braid to fluoro on most of my rigs.

+1. That's what I ended up doing. At the very least it gives you a project in the winter. I did this to a v-hull in the course of a few weeks, but there's a part of me that still wished it was a jon boat. I hope this can show you some of the possibilities.

I would go with as large as you can tow. I have a 14 boat and space is always a commodity. Something to consider into your budget would be a bow-mount trolling motor. This alone will greatly increase your fishing efficiency. The jon boat would be good choice as they are pretty stable and able to get into skinny water.