gunsinger

What an amazing program. Well done to all who contributed.

Got out this AM and the day started in a most inauspicious way. First, a log had drifted to the end of the ramp and, because it was 0’dark 30, I couldn’t see it and hit it while backing in. Fortunately, no damage. Next, I went to adjust my butt seat and it fell all the way to the bottom and didn’t want to come back up. 10 minutes, and a few choice words, later and I got it to the height I wanted. To top it all off, I stuck the bottom with my Tokyo rig on my first cast and ended up breaking off. All this before I was 25’ from the ramp. I seriously thought about putting the boat back on the trailer. But, I persevered and the day turned out decent. Caught a total of 8 LMB; 7 in the 13”-14” range on my Tokyo rig and one that went 3.36 on White/chart chatterbait with a white 3” zoom fluke as a trailer.

I was trying the FG knot. The first time I tied it, it was good. The next two time though, the leader pulls free of the knot when I tightened it. Not sure what I was doing wrong but this method looks a lot easier than what I was doing.

I am constantly reminding these bass that I mean them no harm. That it just a brief alien abduction w/o probing but do they listen? Nooooo!!! ?

Now you know where she lives. Good luck.

Well, that’ll depend on how long you expect to live or when I finally win the publishers clearinghouse sweepstakes ?

I am a bank beater so TM seems like the clear winner. I'd been looking at the Minn Kota's but, now I gotta wonder is the Lowrance Ghost or the Garmin Force a better option, especially since I've been considering the Garmin EchoMAP UHD 93SV with Livescope. It's all still a dream ... but at least I have something to shoot for. Thanks to all who replied.

On the plus side, I should be able to sell the existing TM for a decent amount.

I gotta wonder, just how does this happen? Backed it in too far and lost traction? And I guess the car floated around to where it is now? Alcohol involved?

I was loading my boat on the trailer one day. As I often am, I was alone. There was a family fishing on the dock and the Dad offered to assist but I declined his offer. It was sometime in the fall or winter so the water temps were pretty cold. At that time, I would usually ride the boat up on the trailer, climb over the front to winch it up, then climb back into the boat so as to step onto the dock. Well, as I was climbing back in, my right foot slipped off the gunnel. I face planted on my trolling motor with the foot pedal squarely on my chest. My mouth smashed against either the trolling motor bracket or the port gunnel. Huge bleeding fat lip. I get up and turn around, the whole family was watching with their mouths agape, trying not to laugh. All I could think to say was, "Well, that didn't go quite the way I planned it."

I am such a precision caster. I know this because I can quickly decide that, wherever my bait landed, is exactly where I meant it to go ? Seriously, I get it exactly where I want it about 30% of the time, on a good day.

Motorguide x3, 45lb thrust, 12v. It gets me around okay and generally lasts me all day depending on wind conditions. I frequent a 95 acre lake most often so, it's not what I'd call "big water." There are never tournaments there and I don't typically fish tournaments. The boat size is adequate for that lake and the two other state lakes that are close. I wish it had more/better storage but I can live with it as is. Having spent some time pricing new boats online, I suspect I need to get over the "new toy" feeling and be practical. I doubt I'd get enough trade on my current rig to pay it off and I don't want to get upside down in it. I appreciate everyones comments. It seems like TM is the way to go for step one.

Nice gesture. I hope you get a worthy taker.

I currently fish out of a 17' Lowe Stinger 175c. It was my first bass boat (purchased a year ago last May) and I didn't know a lot about what I needed until I'd fished a while. The immediate need was electronics on the bow, which I added at Christmas time. So, it serves me well at this point but....I wish it had a few more bells. My list of upgrades I'd like to add are (in no particular order): 80lb thrust, 24v trolling motor with Spot Lock (or comparable). My primary lake is electric only. Estimating $3k including new matching batteries (not lithium). Livescope. Would probably relocate my 7" Lowrance Hook2 TripleShot to the console. Estimating $3k. Power poles. Estimating $2k - $4k depending on one, or two, plus installation. So, my first question is, how would you prioritize this list? Why? Second, am I better off "upgrading" my current boat? Or selling what I have and buying another boat with all the bells and whistles pre-installed? My current onboard storage is okay, but could be better. It's certainly not a reason I would trade.

Weather and circumstances permitting, I try to get out every Sat and Sun AM (before church). I used to go out in the evenings after work but between the summer rains and my catch volume, I've about decided that I'm just not an evening fisherman. But, regardless of when I go, my time on the water is priceless. My job carries a lot of stress and fishing allows me to decompress. It's about the only time I don't feel obligated to be tied to my phone responding to every text or email.

How does one go about measuring the drag? Do you just hook your fish scale to the end of the line and pull until the drag gives while watching the scale?

I’ve lost ‘em on spinners when they jump. I’ve always attributed it to a bad hook set. Or maybe a hook that needed sharpening. Or both. Those hooks are pretty stout so if you don’t bury it, there’s a good chance it’s coming out during a jump due to the bulk. That’s just my thoughts on it.

This thread reminds me of a bonehead thing I did recently. I'd fished in the rain one day and all my tackle was soaked so I took it out of the boat and laid it out to dry in my shop. Fast forward to the next day and I get up bright and early to run to the lake. I get there and open the tackle locker which, to my horror, is empty. All I had to fish with were the lures/baits tied on to my rods and a spare pack of my favorite worms. It was one of my most productive days ever and all I had to work with was my TR setup and a pack of worms. No guessing at colors because it was Fire n Ice or bare hook. ?

Same here. I specifically asked if this was a unit that trickle charged when buying the boat and was told yes, so I leave my charger plugged in whenever the boat is not in use.

I'll be honest, I have a SI, DI, Sonar unit at the bow and about all I use it for is depth and structure location. Whether it's intuition, gut-feeling, or experience, I rarely catch the fish I see on the scope. My success comes from fishing visible structure. Now, I have seen guys using livescope to target fish and that is certainly a game changer. Hard to justify $3k for that advantage though unless you're tournament fishing.

I've always been told that the longer the cast to the structure, the better the odds of catching a fish. Having said that, there's been numerous times when I've caught one right at the boat. Are bass, and other game fish, smart enough to associate an overhead object with danger? I don't know that they are. But, what they could be doing is reacting in the same way that a school of smaller fish react when a bigger predatory fish moves into the area. I don't think they see the boat and assume a fisherman. I think they see the boat and assume a predator coming to take their spot or eat them.

There is a simple solution. Don’t catch big fish. That’s worked well for me ?? j/k. I swing ‘em or net ‘em.

Great info @Glenn as usual. No smallies in my area but I suspect the info you’re sharing apply to LMB as well

For me, regardless of the lure it’s “tight lines.” Let the rod tip do its job. Loose lines mean lost fish, especially with small trebles. I don’t horse ‘em but I keep steady pressure.

Speed of retrieve could also be a contributing factor. Do you notice any difference if you slow it down?