Macsimus

Unfortunately not. New mount is completely different using two large allen head bolts rather than the old collar clamp. Good news is that the new mount doesn't creak and groan like the old one, at least so far.

It's been praised ad nauseum but by golly, after fighting for well over 30 years to keep my boat under control and in position, it's just an absolute treat to hit a button and have that done for me especially when fishing alone. I replaced my trusty Tour 109 with a Tour Pro 109 in February and it is just so dang relaxing to camp on a spot, make as many bait changes as I want, eat a sammich, etc, and not think twice about the boat drifting into the bank or a dock or rocks or 100 yds away from the spot where I've got 'em corralled. There is no doubt that I'm catching more fish and if I get an inkling for a bait change, there's no more reluctance to stop and make it because I'm going to blow into the bank. Time will tell on the reliability of the new Tour Pro but so far, it's fantastic. Note: the old Tour 109 is in the truck ready as a backup. 🙂

Could be a new thing...wiener jerky

It's been a few years but I either read on here or someone told me that Dyna Prop in Cape Fair would let you test a prop before buying. I have no idea if that's still true or not.

Launched at Viola yesterday. Mine was the only rig in the lot besides a mobile dock repair guy. Last year I had to scrounge for a parking spot there.

You know it! 😀

No, Blue Eye to Tucker Hollow via 14. I can see looking at the map that 160 looks very interesting. 😲

Forced as I am to live far too close to the concrete jungle due to nearby grandchildren, I love those southern MO and northern AR two lane roads. Of course, with almost two years of retirement under my belt, I'm not quite in the same hurry as I used to be. My apologies to the locals stuck behind the old guy with the boat lollygagging down the road enjoying the scenery. 😁

Thanks for posting. I've been looking for a tool like that. 👍

Dock, I just can't understand how you can catch 'em without 9K of electronics on your bow. j/k. I enjoy your posts.

Bo, does the Tour Pro come with a remote? If yes, have you tried it and what do you think of it?

Good info here. https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/five-fish-lures-ultimate-ned-jig/360813 I really like the weedguard and the hook size. Found some on the tackle rack in the K.C. Harter House last spring before I left for the tundra. I had to laugh when I found them. I can guarantee you there is no fishing tackle in any grocery store in my neck of the woods. 😄

+1

But, what if you're getting on in years, it's a nice sunny afternoon with no wind, fishing alone, and you've been up since the crack o' dawn? Spot lock would allow a brief little snooze, no? 😄

Bo, what TM did you replace? Some of these new TMs seem a little on the hefty side. Have you noticed anything regarding the weight of the Tour Pro, good or bad?

Thanks Bo. Please keep us updated with how it goes with yours. I've been wanting one ever since their announcement.

Since you have the inside scoop, did your hear why it took so long for them to become available?

Happy Birthday James. My condolences on the loss of your Dad.

Sigh...I wish. Been going since 1988. It was off the radar then but hasn't been for years. There's been a steady stream of TV fishing shows that have highlighted the fishery and of course, the interweb in more recent years. The only thing that has saved it is the protective slot. Even so, the fish get hammered in the spring. Large areas of the bay aren't suitable habitat (giant, shallow featureless sand flats) so the fish concentrate and get pummeled. There was a move to require barbless hooks but it never got turned into a regulation. Had some absolutely awesome trips there but have never experienced schools of 5s. Weather is always a factor. Any wind from the north comes across frigid Lake Superior and feels like someone opened the freezer. Wind from the S dirties up the Bay. Last but not least, local commercial operators have removed a portion of the submerged timber from old logging days which provides important cover since the bay is mostly just sand. As I said at the beginning...sigh.

If you're after SM, especially big fish (who isn't?), take a look at Woman Lake near Longville. Late May (other than the weather) can be very good.

There's some very good river trail info on the MN DNR site. Here's a interactive map that shows accesses, camp sites, etc. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/interactive_map/index.html https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/index.html Both the Upper Mississippi and Rum rivers are excellent for SM. But, their scenery is not that of the northwoods and the Arrowhead areas. It is more rolling and agriculture in nature. The North Shore is beautiful but I believe it to be more trout country than SM. Other suggestions to check out are the Root and Zumbro rivers in SE MN. This area is Mississippi River bluff country and it is beautiful but in a very different way than the northwoods. The terrain can be rugged, especially closer to the Miss River and it's more of an ag/mature forest mix vs the northwoods which are more pine forest. Feeders to these rivers are most likely trout streams but the rivers themselves are warmer and very good for SM. I wish I could be more specific in recommendations but I have spent very little time stream fishing. There's just too many lakes to explore. Over the years, I have found the folks at the DNR Fisheries Offices to be extremely helpful and a call to one or more of them would be well worth your time. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/index.html For the SE MN rivers, I'd contact the Lanesboro office. For the Rum and Upper Miss, the Little Falls office. I should add that for most, if not all of these rivers, if they've got SM then they more than likely have Walleye.

Yes, they never closed. They have the plexiglass windshield in front of the counter as does Extreme Outdoors. Hoping you just need some oil.

Does it have to be a Missourah bass? 😁

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article/9902/horne-not-forced-to-dig-out-of-hole-this-year#.XqBT5chKhPY