mheichelbech

Thanks for the input! I looked and guess I missed the other forum for this.

So I got rid of the bass boat a few years ago due to working so much. I’ve slowed down and bought a Stratos 21ft fish n ski to accommodate more enjoyment with family and not doing tournaments anymore. Having been out of the game a bit, I’m trying to figure out the best trolling motor and electronics combo given that I am not fishing weekly or in tournaments. I am thinking a 24 volt trolling motor with 80 lb thrust (is that too little for my size boat?) with side/down scan sonar at the helm and possible adding FFS down the road. I don’t want to spend a mint but I do want to be somewhat up to date on things. Also, I was thinking of buying a new trolling motor but used electronics from a local dealer. Any issues there? Thanks for any input!

I have a like new BFS setup available if anyone interested. Shimano Alderbaran and Dobyns Sierra.

Yessir.

It is right hand.

Open to reasonable offers on this. Rod and reel are like new!

2016 Shimano Alderbaran BFS XG Dobyns Sierra SUF 650C 6.5 foot I only used twice. Box and papers for reel Rod still has plastic wrapping around handle $325 for all plus shipping Happy to email or text pics. My number is 502.693.3057

Anyone know what happened to Smelly Jelly worms? I can find the attractants in a bottle but I know they used to make worms and other plastic baits.

Interesting. Wonder why they would spawn in the Ohio and Mississippi but not the Tennessee River. They are not as bad in our area as those videos you see but I’m sure it will get there eventually.

Matches up with my experience. We only fish it because we are 15 minutes from the ramp. The next closest bigger lake, Patoka isn’t an easy lake to catch fish in either….for me anyways. My main point is, although it wasn’t great before, it’s gotten worse it seems.

The problem with the BASS Classic was they had it at the worst time of the year. Summer is really tough. Back in the 90s and up to about 2005, fishing in the Spring and late Fall was pretty good for this area of the country. You could catch 2-4 pound Spotted Bass and 4-5 pound Largemouth. Big bass in a tournament would usually be 5-6 lb range. This was between March and May. There is one particular marina that I use as a guidepost that always held big fish as long as you weren’t the 3rd or 4th guy through. I also remember Spotted Bass commonly spawning on the trim tabs of big boats. This rarely happens either anymore. I’m sure one thing that hurts is several good marinas have silted in too. They built a new bridge and some have blamed that but I can’t see how that affects things.

Has anyone seen the bass fishing negatively impacted by Asian Carp where they fish? I have fished the Ohio River McAlpine (Louisviile) pool for 25 years and the fishing seems to get worse wvery year. The only thing I can think of to cause this is the influx of Asian Carp. It used to be we would have 10-15 lb bags in little 3 hour week night tournaments in the spring. Now 6 lbs is a constant winner. Catching anything over 3 pounds is rare now. It’s always been tough but just seems way worse now.

What is “navionics on my phone”?

Wondering anyone has info on largemouth bass fishing or guides in Puerto Rico. Do they get big like Mexico? I was told Peacock bass are small here. Thanks!

I’ve seen something like that before..forget the name of it. I was testing out a frog yday and caught 10 in 10 minutes! On a farm pond.

Fairly shall pond. It’s top to bottom. Right now it is just on top around the bank between 2 to 5 ft out away from the bank. Yday I had her use a floating word and senkobwith some success. I just didn’t know if there was anything else I hadn’t thought about.

Have you tried those jigs that have the circle molded into the hook to hold the bait? Or do you use the little rubber band deal to attach them to the jig?

Besides a frog, are there any baits you can fish through that nasty slimy green or black moss? Wanting to take my daughter to this lake that has a lot of bass and are easy to catch but the problem is almost every cast ends up with that crap on your lure or fishing line. She is just learning to throw a baitcaster. I thought about having her fish a frog on an out I have that has a Stradic with a 7.5 ft MH JWR IMX spinning rod. I know it’s not heavy enough generally for frogging but thought it would work for this. But I’m also trying to find something besides a frog!in case she has trouble hooking them.

Is a wacky jig more effective than using a split shot or squeeze on sinker?

I don’t know for sure but I believe it is way below average. The current owner used it maybe 10 times a year at most and less than in the last 5 years. I do know he isn’t the type to really push it to max rpms and normally does a lot more fishing than running around. The first owner didn’t use it much either which is why he sold it.

Awesome. Thanks! Will it make any difference being mounted to a manually adjustable Jack plate?

I have looked it over as well as I know. It had been totally redone before but not sure how long ago. I haven’t been able to find anything really wrong with it other than being an older boat. It definitely is fast.

I've been in the market for a boat for some time. In the mean time, I bought a 2020 Tundra which has reduced my budget for a boat. One of my fishing partners, whom I'd call a friend to some degree, wants to sell me his 1990 Skeeter 175 SF with a Yamaha 150 (running excellent as of now). The plusses of this "vintage" lol, Skeeter, are that he is the 2nd owner and I know the prior owner as well. Both have taken excellent care of the boat, stored either under roof or inside the whole time, not really a lot of usage, at least the current owner doesn't. He has had it for 15-20 years (can't recall exactly) and uses it maybe 10 times per year and actually less the last 5 years or so due to health issues (which is why he is selling). He doesn't run the engine hard. He gets it serviced every year (change lower unit oil, other annual maintenance as needed), etc. and any repairs done as needed. He also had the transom rebuilt by a local very reputable fiberglass guy. I guess they found some weak spots when installing a new jack plate. The floor and everything like that seems fine, no soft spots, original seats and gel coat all look good. He has also installed hydraulic steering and approx. $3,000 worth of Hummingbird electronics which are 4-5 years old. I forget the exact models but they were top of the line at the time with the DI and SI, 2 units, 1 at the dash and 1 at the bow. Nice trolling motor, 74lbs MG I think...nothing special there. Batteries in good shape and 2 new trailer tires and trailer is in good shape. Rims have a bit of surface rust but that is it. The negatives....despite being in excellent condition for it's age, it is a 30 year old boat. In his non-educated on current boat values mind, he thinks it is worth $9,000. In his mind, "it has $3,000 worth of electronics" on it. I know, as I am sure you all know, the same models could now be had, probably under $1,000 used. However, there is something to be said for the transducer package, installation and wiring....not sure what that would cost these days. Also, that the transom has been rebuilt although this could as well be seen as a positive. The guy that did it has been at the same location for as long as I can remember, it's a family business passed down through generations, all guys doing fiberglass work on boats and Corvettes. Curious to see how you guys would approach this or if you would run away. I'm thinking $5-$6,000 which in my mind is actually about $4,500 plus $1,500 of value in knowing the history of the boat pretty well. A boat in this range would allow me to do some electronics upgrades over the next couple years. I don't like the color, brown/gold and black, but was thinking I could get it wrapped in a year or 2 as well. I've been out on the boat twice this year for day long trips and no issues. My primary thinking is that this is gonna be the best I can get for under $10,000.

Interestingly, after I posted this, I fished a tournament as a non-boater. Another non-boater caught 17 lbs which would have been good enough for I think 3rd on the boater side. He won the non-boater side by a mile. His partner caught no keepers. Apparently the guy caught 1 7 pounder and they stayed in the same area all day where the non-boater caught the other 3 over the whole period of the day. It was a tough day, very post cold front conditions with stained water. I don't know how or what he caught them on...whether it was the same lure, depth, etc. I have been in situations like this on both sides where they really aren't biting good enough to make a pattern but I've been lucky enough to land all my bites. Usually flipping/pitching.

He always struck me as a guy that’s pretty happy just to be alive and fishing.