thomas15

It takes a lot of boat to support that outboard. When I was a kid we lived in the Jersey Shore and had both inland and offshore access. One of my friends family had a 26' Henry Lurhrs cabin cruser with flying bridge, inboards, nice big boat. The father was a bluefish fanatic and many times his catch would be mentioned in the sports pages of the local paper. Anyway, while out in the Atlantic Ocean and operating the boat from the cabin during a moderate rain, he hit a telephone pole in about 80 feet of water 2 miles off shore. Out to sea basically. Made it back but never operated again from the cabin, always from the flying bridge, even in November. There is always something to hit and there are risks. Trick is to avoid as much as possible. I tell my son when he is out in the boat stay as far from other boats and any possible danger areas as possible. Never be in a hurry especally if your gut tells you to be cautious. Having said all this, I like to go fast on the water. The 35 mph I get out of the SS Minnow is as slow as I want to go.

When I envision my next boat, I see a fairly large outboard on it. Attached to that outboard will be a bigger boat.

Or a bigger boat.

A small V hull is going to get you fairly shallow. Having said that every boat is a compromise in some respects. That is probably why I think I should have two or three!

I think I was in your situation this time last year. We had been mulling over getting a boat and my wife basically doesn't know anything about it so I could have made a great argument for something deluxe. But after giving the matter much thought and looking at many boats, I opted for buying a tinny outright. I paid cash and have had a few issues but nothing that has cost me out of picket. True I have put a few items on it (upgraded electronics for example), but not having any debt makes the ownership experience more enjoyable to me. In short my boat didn't kill our finances in any way. My boat is a tad small but so is my home lake. It isn't the fastest boat on that lake but it for sure isn't the slowest. I see some really nice boats there, but I also see many modest rigs. I have towed more than one disabled boat to the ramp in only a year of ownership. As far as aluminum goes, I have no complaints. It is lighter than fiberglass and is quite durable. We have a 1/2 ton pick up 4WD to tow with but a large fiberglass boat would require getting a new tow vehicle which I don't want to do. I'm very certain that if in the future I decide to get a new boat, it will be another used tin. Compared to fishing on the bank, my tin is way cool.

My I suggest that if you are going to buy a new sonar to mount on the TM, find out if there is a proper transducer shield for the transducer before you buy the unit. Not that I know a whole lot about it but I have a very popular down scan unit on the bow and I have the transducer mounted on the TM and it works. But it isn't protected against hitting a rock or stump because I cannot find a mount that offers that kind of protection for my particular transducer. Perhaps someone will offer one in the future but now there isn't one that I have found. Let me also say that given the sheer number of sonar units out there, it is surprising to me just how little there is in the away of consumer information and advice available. It's like you have to figure all this stuff out by trial and error or ask someone who has experience for help. This includes installation of the unit, available features and unit operation.

My brother lives about 10 miles north of Plattsburg. Hoping to get up there soon, do some fishing.

Anyone think that perhaps some JJs Magic could change things around?

Not to change the subject but.... I'm in kinda the same situation as you. I really want to go fishing but first, I have made a bunch of changes/improvements to my boat and in addition to having a full time job, I take classes at my local Community College (Lehigh Carbon CC). This semester 7 credit hours, stats and microbiology. I have a degree from 35 years ago it's just that I want to keep my head engaged. Anyway, I made a deal with Mrs. Thomas15 to put up a fence around her chicken coops. This was last fall. So right now I have to study for finals and put up a fence and go to work. I have no time or energy left to hook up the SS Minnow and head out into the sunset. Also, I really need to clean up the garage, put the mower deck on the rider and I need to build a new bench for my ammo reloading presses. In another week we are getting a couple of ducks and it's like crap when am I going to get time to do anything? Two more weeks and the fence will be up and the semester over. I spent the winter dreaming about fishing but it has to wait unless I sneek out one day during the week. I feel your pain brother PhatBass.

As for me personally I do not try to market myself as any kind of expert. I may be wrong and if so I will be happy to admit it. Fuel line deteriation by ethanol aside, my understanding is that basically a 2 cycle doesn't have enough time to burn the the ethanol. So the motor needs approx 10% more fuel to run as designed in pre-ethanol days. Inside the cylinder, there are with ethanol two combustion reactions taking place, one with octane, one with ethanol. Unless those reactions start, run and finish at the same time with the same energy level, there might be an deficient power stroke. The reason I tried premium in the first place is that I believe that regular 87 octane burns at a faster rate than 91 or 93 octane. This additional time might allow the motor more time to use the fuel during the burn stroke. A 2 stroke runs at twice the RPM of a four stroke. Gasoline is designed to run in cars which as you know are 4 cycle. Regardless, my motor problems have gone away with the use of premium so it was at least worth the try.

Boston, I'm new at baitcasters although I have a medium priced shamanno that I bought 10+ years ago but hardly used it. I also have the Lews you have and a few other reels. I have spent many hours practicing in the yard and still I'm not satisfied with the distance and I get some birds nests also. I'm not going to give you advice except to practice in the yard. Heavier weight is also helpful and I find having the brakes set at a low #3 works best for me, you have to experiment. My son, he has never used a baitcaster and pickes one up. I show him how to adjust it to the lure and he proceeds to make 25-30 perfect casts. So I think problem is we actually try too hard! Stay with it.

Ringonu your old units may be useable. My boat came with a Humminbird Wide Eye which is more than 10 years old. Over the winter I purachased a Lowrance Elite 7 HDI and an Elite 4 HDI. The plan was to put the 7 at the bow (which I have done) and relpace the wide eye at the console which i haven't done yet. OK, the Elite 7 is really nice and I'm pleased with it so far. But, since making a study of the old Humminbird, I have learned how to actually use the thing and in fact it is quite good and useful. As I find the time I'm going to replace the HB with the Elite 4 but I'm in no great hurry. So hang in there with your present electronics it just might be enough to get you through. To the other poster with the Elite 4, the arches in sonar are probably a better tool to identify fish. The downscan on the small screen is better for getting a feel for the composition of the bottom. There are a bunch of how-to videos at Lowrances website you should check them out.

Hey livemusic I have a 2005 Mercury 50 HP ELPTO 2 cycle. I got it last year Mid July and I believe that although the motor was maintained properly, it sat out a season. I had much troubles with it running rough and surging at WOT. I ran it with Quicksilver (Mercury) fuel additive which you can get at walmart. I had the dealer rebuild the carbs, replace the reed valves, all of the fuel hoses and primer bulb, experment with different carb jets, adjust timing, so forth. I had that boat back to the mechanic 5 times in 3 months and finally the snow started falling I put it to bed for the winter. I checked everything I could, compression, I rebuilt the fuel pump, experimented with different spark plugs, it really had me baffled. I was using Shell 87 octane with the Quicksilver (I think it's their #1) fuel additive. Well anyway, I had all winter to think about it and looked into ethanol free which I can get athough it's a little inconvenient. So, I thought before going that route I would try premium 93 octane fuel. I have had the boat out 3 times so far and I've run the heck out of it and it's behaving quite well. I think I'm going check the timing before I take it out next which I think will be tomorrow, the timing may be a bit too far advanced. But the premium seems to be the solution. It is odd to my thinking that no one has suggested premium but there it is. Make sure the stabol you use is specifically for ethanol treatment, not all stabol products are. The Mercury Quicksilver, as I said, is available at walmart. Regardless, use it always. Good luck--Tom

I grew up on the Jersey Shore and our fishing was mainly salt water. We did a bit of trout fishing and some panfish though. About 20 years ago when my son was 6 I started taking him fishing, we fished mostly for Bluegills, pickrel and Catfish. I thought I would like to try Bass fishing so I got some lures and did some research. I probably tried about 19 times and caught nothing. Finally, I decided that I had enough, if nothing on try 20 I would head out to greener pastures. Now that I think about it, the day was perfect weather wise. I selected a small pond in town that I was assured had some bass. Looked for bait fish near a fall down, casted parallel to the bank and on my third cast landed my fist SMB. It was a nice one, about 2 pounds. Before I left I caught 3 more. I retired the lure a few weeks ago. As a small pond bank fisherman I thought I knew how this was done. Caught countless bass since. But I haven't fished at all for the last 10 years and restarted last August and using a boat, deeper water. At this point, I have no clue.

Caught a lot of chain pickerel in NJ. South Jersey ponds mainly. The pickerel that we caught there were quite nasty, anti-social critters. Probably the same everywhere. In general I don't like to hook them but since moving to PA 11 years ago and basically having lost the ability to catch anything that swims, I would take a pickerel any day now.

Keep us updated on the progress. May I ask, are you going to use the TM as the main propulsion or will you add a gasoline outboard? BTW, when I was a kid, my Dad (assisted by my brother and me) built two boats, a 14' flat bottom bay skiff and a 19' Comet class sailboat. There was nothing as satisfying as fishing from a boat you made yourselves (or in you case rebuilt).

I think we are all dancing on this pinhead referred to as the etreme luck required to become a professional angler. If you listen to those who have made it to the top, especally those who are young, when they speak or when they write it is as if they are intelligent and polished individuals. Still, I know an individual who is a serious compedative pistol shooter who has sponsorships, one of those is a very large and well known pistol maker. However this person does not make enough money to live on by shooting alone. So I would say if you want to get sponsors that's one thing but to make enough money to survive is something else all together. I seriously doubt that some of the well sought after sponsors will have anyone making public appearences on their behalf it you talk like Bubba. Sorry if that offends but that is how I feel about it. Having said that, sport fishing as we know it is primarily a consumer driven recreational industry. The world will not come to an end if the season were to be cancelled. While I appreciate the chance takers attitude, it is wise to have a viable back up plan. If you love fishing so much, it would probably make better sense to invest the 10s of 1000s of dollars a college education will cost into a bait and tackle store. Or buy a commercial grade boat and become a tour guide. That would keep you close to the industry without having to expect a ton of luck to come your way.

Corn-on-the-rob (#17) and RSM789 (#18) I think have summed up my opinion on the matter quite well. You don't have to know anything about being a pro fisherman to know that one should have an alternate plan B. Having a college degree is very useful provided that it is in something....useful. There are some really dumb and expensive degrees that you can buy. Just because a University offers a certain major doesn't mean that company X is going to hire you because you have that particular degree. I recieved my BS degree 4 years after graduating HS and I don't regret it one bit. However, what was expensive 35 years ago is now off the charts expensive for kids today. So some thought and planning is advised. Not that I'm the personal measure of all things academic or I own all common sense. But, I, in my old age decided to attend classes at my local community college for "personal enrichment". I'm just about finished with my 7th semester taking classes after work and at night. I will have earned at semesters end 35 credits, 3 of those are in English composition, the balance in Math and Science. Next fall I'm taking Organic Chemistry 1. I take challanging classes! The point that I wish to make is that you can take some very hard classes at community college and at a considerable lower costs. If you work you can still go at night and while it may seem like forever, time marches on and a degree will come. You need to do your part though. I see students at school and in my classes that do not belong there. Waste of time and money. But most PT adult students are really motivated. To use the example of my son, he went to welding school and has worked as a welder for about 4 years. Now he takes evening classes. Someday he will get a drgree and will not have a lot of debt doing so. Thing is, even if you don't have it nailed down what you want to do, take some general education classes now, even one at a time. 5 years from now you might still be dreaming of if/only/maybe. You can have 5 years pass and have nothing earned towards a degree or you could have a great head start. Your choice. End of lecture.

Dave, I've never caught a bass with a jig. Anyway, most of my bass experience has been small pond bank fishing in NJ and for me small willow blade like the mini stanley on dark colors always work there. Nothing though that worked in NJ works for me now in PA, larger clear water impoundments, fewer weeds and fishing from a boat. Having said that spinner baits are more of a reaction strike so just throw what you have.

Do you allow this to drag on the bottom with a slow retreave like a jig or do you swim this presentation?

Great video. Thanks for posting this. I'm trying to get a few kinks worked out in my machne. Although I did get in the water Saturday i didn't do any fishing. I'm trying to configure and learn how to use my electronics also. The water temp in the Beltz was 48 degrees BTW. Next weekend I'm fishing one way or the other. I'm thinking that I should try starting the dropoffs at points in about 15 feet or so?

Thank you for your response Jig Man. This is what I thought. Another question, do you and should I cailbrate the transducer on the TM to compensate for the fact the the transducer is about a foot or two below the water surface? I'm new to this (fishing for LM on a boat) so I really appreciate the guidance and opinions here.

I bought two of these, an Elite 7 and an Elite 4 last fall and just got around to installing them. In the manual it states that when you are in downscan you can overlay the conventional sonar page. I assume that this places the conventional sonar image on top of the downscan image. I'm I correct? Can someone explain to me what this accomplishes? Is it something that is useful? Or am I not understanding the manual? Thanks in advance Tom

Last week I fished the Little Lehigh for trout just down stream from the covered bridge by the hatchery. Cought my limit it is a great place to wade. There are some guys on this forum that hopefully will chime in on the Lehigh River. There is also the canal next to the river but I'm in Carbon so I can't provide specifics. Nock is probably the best in your area but hopefully someone will guide you on the smaller ponds in the area.

I got my boat last summer and put it in the water about 20 times. All of them went well, maybe 2 or 3 times I had to start over again but not too bad. So, it has been 6 months of winter and last weekend I put the boat in for the first time and it was totally different. I started off on the worse angle possible but got it lined up like a pro and in it went. When I got home, I backed it up my 120 foot driveway right into the parking spot. What would normally be ten minutes of jockying too about a minute. Not saying I got this but the stress factor is much lower now. Placing your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel is a good ldea and is what I do. What I also do is point my thumb in the direction I want the back of the boat to go. Then turn the wheel in that direction.