fishnkamp

you probably saw their 2016 models being cleared out after ICAST in order to make room for the 2017 models which are being sold for $400. Sorry.

Cool Fishing memories with your dad will be priceless for sure. I think you are on the right path.

I found the 6'10" mh in several places but none less than $399

I do not like buying CHEAP stuff and upgrading later. So I will suggest something I find at a reasonable cost and you can add more expensive equipment to fill other needs later, but you will still want to fish with this one. Look at a Berkley Lightning shock rod in either 6'6 medium or 7 foot medium. Both spec 1/8 to 3/4 ounce lures and 4 to 12 pound line. Match it up with a Pflueger President 6930 reel and add some 10 pound copolymer line like Suffix Siege or 14 pound Berkley Original FireLine braid. Then tie on a mono or copoly leader. The rod can be purchased from Walmart stores in a 1 piece 6'6" or 7 foot model for less than $50. Otherwise you can order it from Tackle Warehouse for the same price along with the Pflueger President spinning reel for $60. Another good reel to consider for the price is a Lews Mach 1 for the same price, Either way you will have a good all around combo that will work well. Someone here already mentioned the Lews Mach 1 spinning combo and I think it is fine also. Since you have a baitcaster and it does not seem to fill the "all purpose" rod I would use it to throw heavier baits like heavier tx rigged worms, and jigs and use the spinning rod for baits that are definitely pond must throw baits. I would have a good supply of small 4 to six inch worms, Sencos, small spinnerbaits, and definetly 4 to 5 inch grubs. These baits definetely fish best on a rod like I suggested.

Try something, find a ballfield near you. Tie the end of the line to something and walk off the line. I do not think the arbor knot is a problem, but just make sure it is tight on the reel and not slipping. Now slowly walk forward and respool the line. Tie on a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce worm weight depending on the rod specs and the weight of lure you were having loosing. Cast it a bunch. If the line breaks than more than likely it is the line. If it casts okay with no breakage then perhaps the line wound on in some weird way. At least a few worm weights do not cost much. While you are at it, with all of the line out hit the thumb bar then move the spool with your finger see if it rotates easily and does not suddenly catch, there could be a problem with the reel reengaging thus instantly causing the line to stop. i doubt it though. Anyway walk forward and respool the line add the weights and make some casts. If it casts fine you may be good to go. If it has the same problem I would remove the line and spool the reel with some good quality but inexpensive mono like 14 pound Stren Clear Blue. I would replace all of the braid and your backing with the new mono. Cast it and if it also causes problems then you know it is the reel. If no problem I would remove (and save) 1/2 of the Stren and respool the braid. You said you had backing but did not mention what it was. I always use the Stren or BPS Excel (both in14 pound test) The line cost about 3 cents a foot and is thick enough that it will not let braid or fluoro dig in. I hope one of these ideas help resolve the issue. I use a lot of Power Pro Spectra braid in 20, 30, and 65 pound test and it is on at least 4 Diawa, an Exceller, and 3 Tatulas. They all work fine. One last suggestion is this.Years ago I purchased Berkely line station. Cabelas sells them for $20.. I like it because the line spool is held under tension and the reel is held tight. All I have to pay attention to is reeling the line on nice and even under good tension. It is sold elsewhere also but here is what i am using

List it on Craigslist under "boat parts". If you wish you can list it as local pickup preferred or let the buyer ask about either shipping or meeting you somewhere. I sold one that way, but I met him in a busy parking lot halfway between him and me. You have to think about safety these days. I did not mind driving to our meeting place because I chose the parking lot of a Cabelas. LOL.

It is funny, I fished out of a 12 foot jon for 5 years. It was my first boat, we even fished 3 people in that boat often. However I was 18 years old and so were my girlfriend/now wife and my best buddy. We fished out of it on a very calm drinking reservoir and only with an electric trolling motor. I never felt scared about us in it at all. Now, I would never do that at my age (over 50) nor would I recommend anyone else using that small of a boat for full size adults. Not unless it was 2 adults to fish a tiny pond. Consider most 12 footers have a width of 32 to 36 inches at the rear. Most 14 footers are 36 to 48 inches wide at the rear. That additional width directly equals stability.. Now on a V boat they usually are wider than a jon boat in the back and have the deeper V up front. They automatically have better stability built into a smaller package. With the purpose of fishing with your dad, I would suggest selecting a boat that he will feel more comfy and secure in. A 14 foot jon will be a good compromise and we should be able to find one close to your budget. It sure helps that dad has a trolling motor as you may find a nicer boat & trailer with no motor in your budget. I think several of the boats you showed me look good. My personal choice would be this one https://racine.craigslist.org/boa/5726923911.html. It is the one pictured below. I know that is a little above what you want to spend, but from a complete and ready to go package and safety/ stability standpoint i think I would put that in my yard immediately. The seats are going to be comfy allowing dad to stretch his legs without being on high pedestals. Many of the boats I looked at had installed tall pedestals which are fine on big bass boats or 18 foot wide jon, but they make it "feel" unstable due to the higher center of gravity. If you decide to fish electric only waters you simply remove the gas engine that day and add your dad's trolling motor on the rear as well as a second battery. My last reservoir rig was a 15 foot aluminum Mod V bass boat. I pulled my gas engine off and added 4 more batteries and two transom mount trolling motors. That boat was terrific to fish out of on big drinking reservoirs here in MD.. I will post a couple of pics so you can get some ideas. Notice I have added some rod holders which allowed us to troll for big white perch. I also added some marker buoys to use when I found fish schooled up on deep structure or shallower humps surrounded by deeper water. I lie the Anchor Mate anchor winch mounted up front nest to the trolling motor Lastly I have a mount sticking up ( the black arm on the right ) for a depth/fish finder. We fished for bass, crappie, perch, cats, walleye,and other panfish on this boat. In this picture you can also just see the black boxes that contained two deep cycle batteries. There were two more behind in the stern area and one more under the front seat in the metal box. With a few add ons the 14 foot V boat above would function the same. It will have a nice V up front to cut the water and a wider flat bottom in the rear. Thus providing a stable platform. By the way I later removed that 25 hp Merc, off the black bass boat, and sold the Polar Kraft with it reinstalled as it originally was. I then purchased a used 75 hp Merc and installed it on the Lowe bass boat. I did this because we moved to the Chesapeake Bay about 2 years after these pics were taken and would no longer be able to keep two boats or fish those lakes. Here is a pic of the Lowe bass boat as it is now. Good Luck and let me know how it goes

Check your in box I sent you a direct message. Most of the things to look for will be covered in the link I sent you. Enjoy your beverage.

Fall is coming and you know guys will be dropping their prices. I totally understand the money issues today. I have another idea. Look for a 16 foot used squareback canoe. Like this http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/boa/5746518048.html Then go buy a 30 pound thrust electric trolling motor and a deep cycle battery. The trolling motor could be a Bass Pro Prowler brand new ( one of the least expensive available) or a used trolling motor. I fished out of a boat like this. If you do this then next year you could start saving towards something else but these are pretty nice and stable.

If both both were in the same good shape and options were about the same I would prefer the Triton, but there are a lot of things that I would have to check out on each boat first.

Do the lakes you want to fish allow gas engines, do they have horsepower restrictions or speed limits, or are they electric only lakes. I would pass on those small boats if you can pull a small trailer. I think you would do much better with an aluminum jon boat or V bottom boat. Also forget putting bass raider/sun dolphin on a roof. I do not know you budget but I will list some more moderate packages I found in your state. At least maybe we can find something that would work for you. Look here: https://carbondale.craigslist.org/boa/5747053643.html https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/boa/5741324805.html https://springfieldil.craigslist.org/boa/5717821458.html https://stlouis.craigslist.org/boa/5721152708.html Thes are just a few. I apologize if some are not close enough to you. Spend some time on different craigslist pages that are near enough to you. Forget the little boats, look for a 14 to 15 foot jon with some seats and an engine. You will find they tow really easily and fish much safer. With this you can use a small gas engine or an electric trolling motor. Add a few rod holders, a pair of deep cycle batteries and you are fishing. Most of the samples I gave match that give or take. If your budget can be increased a bit and you can tow this much boat something like this might be nice. https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/boa/5741230536.html Good luck with your search Make sure to let us know what you decide on. Oh and we love pictures.

Zeeter is asking about a launch above the Conowingo dam. Zeeter there are about 4 launches but the two on the York side are not worth driving to. The Peach Bottom launch is about as good as it gets. Remember to have a PA license if you fish up towards the big islands.

A but the great part about Erie is usually when the lake is throwing 2 footers on the big lake Presque Isle Bay will welcome you with some great smallmouth and walleye and northern pike. Man, I had some good spinnerbaits annihilated by them tooth critters, but they are so much fun to battle. I did not get too upset about the damaged spinnerbaits.

Beltzville is a love you hate you kinda place for certain. You are not alone in having a tough time. Let me share what i remember. I have to dust off some brain cells to remember it, since I last fished it in 1991. UGH How did that happen. Okay when I last fished it we would launch at the same place and run down to the dam. Try some crayfish imitations like beavers or craw papys down around the dam areas, even some carolina rigs . Try some rattle trap baits in a baby bass or even perch type of color. We would work our way back up over on the other side. As I remember it had some good pockets with emergent grass and even a few lily pad type places. As for Blue Marsh I again have not been there for 20 years but as I remember it the lower end was wide opned speed and horse power. As I remember th mid section had a speed limit and the top end was electric only or perhaps 6 mph. Anyway I always fished the mid to top end due to the recreational boat traffic. I found a old broken off roadway which most of it was submerged. I always seemed to do well around it. Keep in mind i never tore it up but I would catch some most trips. Try some different baits. Make sure you throw Reaction Innovation skinny dippers either belly weighted or with the jig heads that look like a fish head say 3/8 in deeper water. i like the 3/16 belly weighted hooks. Throw Ned rig and Sencos anytime you are having a tough bite. Crankbaits never worked for me much but spinnerbaits did. This time a year crawl a creature bait say brown or grey with red pinchers ( might have to dip your own. Lots of crawfish molt up there in August. I hope i gave you some ideas you did not have.

The Tangle Free is good, Real Magic is good, Bass Pro has KVD Line and Lure conditioner that works good. Lastly we have a new company here in MD making a product called Reel Snot that guys around here like. Spool the reel up 1/2 way up with 14 pound Stren Original Clear Blue mono, The mono allows for a tight arbor knot and fills the reel half way up for about $2 to$3 bucks. Now tie a double uni knot to the fluoro line and spool it the rest of the way. It cuts cost and if needed the uni knot goes out the guides easily.

I will tell you the Ethanol fuels have been causing terrible trouble to fuel lines so it may have damaged the preformed fuel lines that run along the engine block. They can get brittle and crack. It also could be the diaphragm in the fuel lift pump, they can get hard and crack.

Avalonjohn 44 I am glad it all worked out. Lake Anna is a beautiful lake to run a boat on. Thomas15 do you fish Blue Marsh and Beltzville lakes? I fished them a lot back in the nineties neither is easy but fun in my book.

What size motor is this. If you boat shallow water rivers like I did in PA. we used to have custom prop shields made. Some looked like a pitchfork and others had to metal circular rings (one in the front of the lower unit and one larger one surrounding the prop) connected by metal to protect the prop from impact on the Susquehanna River rocks. They even sell some commercially. I had mine on a 9.9 bu I have seen some on engines all the way up to 25 HP.

I would do some investigating first. Take the cowling off, look around and clean up any oil mess inside. Sometimes a little 409 and rags will do it. Nest hook it up to a garden hose and a set of ear muffs. Run it and watch all around the engine. The problem might be as simple as a cracked hose inside the cowling area. Today's fuels are hard on all of the fuel system components. Pay special attention around where the fuel connector connects, those o rings have been known to cause trouble in the past.

Jacob take the result in the review http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/179757-spinning-reel-suggestions/# with a huge grain of salt. My wife and I own and fish a total of 7 Pflueger President. Some are over 10 years old and several are less than 2 years old. In over 40 years of fishing I have never experienced the issue the author of the review had with his reel. I can tell you exactly what his problem is. First notice he had the same issue to a smaller degree with both Pflueger reels. I bet the truth is he has problems with most spinning reels. I guarantee he makes his cast and turns the reel handle immediately thus causing loose coils on the spool and eventually he winds the loose coils under the spool and then yes he has to remove the spool because the line is wrapped around the shaft. If instead you make your cast, flip the bail over by hand as lift the rod just slightly the line on the spool will be tight, no loose line means no loose line to get out of hand. This technique was taught to me when I was about 12 years old and is exactly what the reviewer never learned. I have watched many other anglers eliminate their trouble with spinning gear by teaching them that simple action. There is nothing wrong with the reel it was simply an incompetent operator.

I own about 7 Pflueger Presidents that my wife and I own. everal of these are 10 years old some are less than 2 years old and all of them function flawlessly. We have been bass fishing and tagged into large catfish and stripers with them. I would expect the Supremes would be even better but not sure, I do know the Presidents are work horses. We fish baits from 1/10 ounce jigs to 3/4 ounce baits depending on the rods it is attached to. I fish mostly Berkley Fireline braid in 14 pound test but also some Suffix Elite in 8 pound test Good Luck choosing your new reels.

Lets start with a recommendation for a good baitcaster. Go Here https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00DFSN6BY/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new order the reel from Sportsman outfitters. I have ordered reels from them twice with no problems. They offer the reel for $67 plus free shipping. Go buy a spool of 14 pound Stren Clear Blue. Tie a tight arbor knot on, fill it 1/2 full of the mono, tie a uni to uni knot to whatever braid or fluoro or copoly line you want. That rig will work great for you. Now on to your spinning rod. I never suggest buying starter equipment then upgrading. So look at a Pflueger President reel. It will run you $60. Get a model 6930 or 6935 Look here. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12302859 Next look at this rod http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=33262206&ppp=96&cp=4406646.70516396.4413993.4414792&categoryId=70520236 It is a 6'6" Medium spinning rod. It normally retails for $99 and now it is on sale for $39. I own one Escalade 7 foot MH baitcaster and it is a great rod. That would make it just about a $100 combo. If you order some line and maybe a few lures you could take advantage of their online "Today Special" order over $125 and you get both an instant $25 off and free shipping. Not a bad deal.

I can share this about the Diawas the are workhorses. I have sold off all but one Shimano Chronarch, all of my BPS Extremes and so far I have a total of 7 Diawas. These get run hard as I fish a lot of tidal bss, large catfish , and big stripers. I run 1 Exceller, and the rest are either Tatulas, or Tatulas Type Rs. They are fantastic reels and I can not understand why someone said they had trouble adjusting the brakes on a Tatula any model. Maybe it was less about the brakes and more about their thumb. Anyway the Tatula CT is going to be my next eel after I sell my 1 remaining Chronarch 200E7. I would never hesitate to run a Diawa. In fairness I have only cast 2 modern Lews so I will not say anything bad about one I have not fished one. But I do have 4 years of experience with Diawas. Along with fishing tidal water here at home each year i go to some big lakes in Tennessee and Kentucky so I fish all types of lures in different conditions from deep to shallow.

First what problem did you have with the Power Pro? Was it Power Pro Spectra Braid in Moss Green? I really have great results with that line. I use it on several spinning reels as well as a bunch of baitcasters. I have also had good results with Sufix 832 and Spiderwire Stealth Braid, both brands are on baitcasters. Did you use the braid on a spinning reel or baitcaster? If a spinning reel what make, model and size. Also did you have any mono on the spool first. Braid directly tied to the spool can slip and things do not work well. It messes up the way the brakes work as well as the drag. Please give me an answer to these questions so we can figure out what the problem is and help you fix it and pick a good braid for its use, For spinning reels I really like berkley FireLine in either the original or fused ( they are almost the same). It plays nice and if you close the bail by hand and lift a bit up on the rod to tighten the line on the spool, it will not suffer from line twist or cause loose coil issues (birdsnests)

Well they have come along way since then. It is amazing what a quality reel can do these days. Now we own 6 G Loomis spinning rods (these rods I consider to be expensive and high quality) and we have Pflueger President spinning reels in multiple different sizes on most of them. I do not consider these reels to be expensive (they retail for $60 each) and there are lots of reels that cost much more, but every time either one of theses combos tag into a big fish I am amazed how well they work. Case in point, in April we fished on Dale Hollow Lake. This is the home of the world record smallmouth bass. It weighed 11 pounds 15 ounces. So we were catching 6 pound smallies on tiny Ned Rigs. The rods we used were G Loomis 6 foot light action fast tipped models with a lure rating of 1/16 to 5/16 ounce. We were throwing a 1/10 ounce jig with the 2.5 inch TRD body on it. She hooked, fought and landed a 6 and a half pound catfish that ran here all around the boat. All I did was loosen the drag a bit since it was set for bass, not a big hard fighting fish like that cat. It was hilarious to watch but the gear did its job perfectly.