South FLA

http://www.planetflyfishing.com/product/cuba-lago-leonero-black-bass-trophees

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You can't be nervous or uneasy at speed, situational awareness from what is coming up directly in front of you, water depths, blind corners, wakes, etc. Those who are not aware or expereinced usually run into trouble running their boat at speed. Don't run at high speeds if you don't feel comfortable and are totally aware of what is going on around you and with your boat and motor. However, with experience you will develop confidence and be able to act in a safer matter. It took me plenty of open water/seat time to get confidence running my Bullet at speeds and once I become confident is when I was able to open her up and feel safe operating a high speed hull. You have to be willing to put in the time though to learn how to not only drive and maintain speed, but maintain it properly in different scenarios. http://www.boatus.org/courses/ http://features.boats.com/boat-content/2012/02/how-to-learn-fast-boat-driving-skills-fast/ http://performanceboatschool.com/

I have an old town predator for duck hunting love that thing! Different animal altogher though.

I got the why do you need to go 80 MPH question all the time when I had the Bullet. Fact is that I didn't go 80 MPH most of the time, I was sipping fuel at 65 at less RPMs than a lessor powered hull! Also helps in resale value, by having the largest outboard for the particular hull. Additionally, most manufacturers test their hull design/performance with the max rated horsepower for the hull. Lastly, as mentioned before in the thread is time management, would you rather be the guy that has to cross Lake Okeechobee to get to the hot bite on the other end of the lake in a 50 mph boat or the guy in the 75mph boat? Now if you talking about a small lake or saving money on the initial purchase then all bets are off, you don't need a corvette to run to the corner store the saying goes.

Fan club or not ask any top reputable reel mechanic on the long term life of higher end shimano and Daiwa reelss and see what they say compared to Quantium, Pinnacle, Ardent, Lews, and other lessor know brands. Yes there is always exceptions to the rule, but if you stick with midlevel and above reels from the "Big Two" you will be fine and not fustrated! So here is my recommendation for the newbie on baitcasters........Daiwa Tatula Type R, in my opinion for the price point and beyond, it smoothness, ease of adjustments, and casting ability will leave not only newbies impressed but seasoned bass fishermen too!

Which Allison did you own?

Yeah owned a comp. hull 20' Bullet with a 300 pro XS too fast for me, scary, high 90s! Had a Bullet that I have on this thread that I loved was a low 80s boat with a 250XS. Heard the Strokers are the best driving of the go fast boats.

What's that beast of a boat run WOT?

Sold my Bullet Intracoastal and got this Ranger 2410 Bay Boat

Very similar feelings here, had a 2009 Frontier, own a 2011 Pathfinder and a Eco Boost F-150.

Bingo! Congrats, Floridian bass welcome all snow birds with open arms, unlike Cali bass, lol! If you are going to central Florida with family, you need to roll a fishing trip into it somehow. I lived in Orlando for three or so years and I can tell you that for the entire state the bass fishing from Toho to highway side ponds to hotel retention ponds is INCREDIBLE and BassObsessed proves it! Also don't shy away from the use of "indigenous swim-baits" AKA Golden Shiner, lol!

I liked this one the best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jANRiSKbo8M

Don't leave fish to find fish applies most of the time!

If you are towing anything under the rated capacity you'll be fine, trust me.....famous last words! The Nissan Frontier did just fine towing a 23' Proline (6K lbs trailered) filled with fuel, washdown water, rods, coolers, etc. making 250 mile round trip. I had the shorter wheelbase vehicle, not full crew cab. The overseas highway can get steep, very wind, slippery, especially in the Summer, and the V-6 powered and lightweight relatively small Nissan did just fine!

I had an 2009 Frontier and that little truck was a BEAST for a small truck. I towed a 24' open fisherman to the Keys every summer no problem. I chipped it so power was about 275HP w/ close to 300lbs of torque, which was pretty good back in the day. As far any bass boat, any 6 cylinder will tow with easy. I have a 2011 Ford F-150 Ecoboost (3.5 liter turbo charged) 4x4 and it gets about 14-16 towing boats around town/highway, about 21-22 highway without towing and 17-18 city, not much better than my old Nissan Frontier. Small truck wise though you are right theupcoming Chevy Colorado in the 2.8L Duramax I-4 diesel platform looks pretty nice, it only tows about 7,000 not much better than a gas powered Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma, but MPG is higher with diesel.

Very true, here in one I use and recommend, they don't fry batteries! http://www.dualpro.com/

Congratulations to Ty Fox, my neighbor, on his recent BFL win on Lake Okeechobee! http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bfl-okeechobee-2215.html Way to go!

Better post in the bass boat forum, but here is my short list of best bang for buck. Good batteries that last about 2-4 years depending on how you take care of them (Charge them immediately after use, check and maintain fluid levels correctly, etc.) 1.Walmart's Everstart Marine Maxx (Group 29 for your starter and Group 31s for the Trollers) Best Bang for Buck in my opinion. I've gotten 4 years out of a starting/house battery so cost of ownership is ridiculously cheap! 2. Sears DieHard Platinum Marine AGMs (Basically Odyssey Batteries made for Sears) Best bang for buck for AGMs usually Sears runs promotions and you can pick them up for around $200/each or a little more for the Group 31s Have an Odyssey going on 6 years! Recently replaced my trolling motor batteries with two group 31 Sears DieHard Platinums

Your stick-to-it-ive-ness is commendable! I was born 3 years prior to your New Year's resolution, WOW!

Especially with the trolling motor deployed works wonders.

Hedge Hog is better if used correctly, i have bent two Boca pins, but it was on the older plier version.

Ditto, wow. They don't come from factory that way, I can attest to that. The reel guy needs to attend a Shimano workshop.

My favorite BPS rod for the buck, got my brother 3 of them!

Knew I guy that had the old stow and deploy and needless to say he could not get rid of it fast enough, Might be alright where weeds arent thick and instant turns need to the norm, like most S. FL fishing so I doubt I'll be in the market. Looks cool, too bad it wasn't a Ford truck towing it.