skeet88bt

Had a seal go bad and my gear case froze and busted.....housing no good etc....Where is a good place to buy one? New or used? My motor is a Mercury 97 200 EFI. Money is tight. Would like to hear your experiences..What should I look for when buying a used one? What price range should I be looking in? etc.. Much appreciated!

Thanks for this F & F!. That was very kind of you. Looks like you spent some time putting that together.

Thanks for the info J-Doc. I figured nobody would give up an exact pattern but a general description would be nice...lol I think we would have been better off moving out deeper like you said but that's fishing I guess.

Super tough for us too! We ran up to the Dam/Clifty area and caught 2 fish all day. One was a 3lber and the other a 13 in black. Both caught on A rig. We threw jerkbait, a rig, and jig all day....Very humbing day! Anyone hear the winning pattern or what part of lake the bag was caught?

Yes I have. I've been catching them in some places where you wouldn't think a smallie would be. Been catching some KY's on that tube also.

The river is turning over. I went out last weekend and had 4 keepers and about 10 fish total. Its pretty tough out there! I know the backs of the creeks are not on fire yet but thats where I have been running. Throwing a spook and when I slow down I work a tube on wind blown points. i have been fishing from Rocky Branch to Dam area.

Fish are suspended in tree tops. Spook or buzzbait is a good choice.

I was on a real nice c-rig bit up by the dam a few weeks ago but haven't got to get out since then. I love topwater and always feel like if I can catch one good one right before dark I will be happy. It is hard for me to put it down but I believe you are right. The best bet is to keep a spoon tied on or a spook that you can make a long cast with. I try to keep a spoon tied on with braided line so there is no stretch on long casts. And on the finesse kermit....I am not sure I am ready to break out the fairy wand to throw that thing,....lol

Quil, I absolutely love the fall topwater bite and dont know if I can put my buzzbait down long enough to give it a chance! haha. J-Doc, I have never fished with a live target before I will for sure have to try that out. I hate PERCH! Jeb, I could definently see in the spring time where it would shine. Especially when the water is up! Quick report....Fished the Hickory Creek jackpot last night with little success. Caught alot of short kentuckies and blacks. Had 2 for 3lb and some change and was only 1 place out of the money. It is really tough out there! I think 10lbs won....then 5lb....and 4lb something. We ran up war eagle and cranked some spots and threw spook and buzzbait. Our 2 keepers came after dark on a spinnerbait and a hair jig 10-12' of water.

Thanks F & F good info. I am going to start throwing it some just to see what happens. I could see in the spring where it would be a useful tool in log jams because it comes through junk really well.

Seeing as Beaver doesn't have any grass to speak of...Will it work? What conditions and where? Just curious to hear some testimonials. I myslf have only fished it in ponds but there are frogs on beaver too so I dont see why it wouldn't work...? Thoughts.

F & F..Can you go into a little more detail on putting a weight above your crakbaits. I have never heard that before..I am curious to know your setup and if it effects the action of the bait. I would assume if there is a weight abouve your crank 3-4ft it wouldnt be deflecting off the bottom right?

Good read! Thank you!

Thanks. I will try that set-up. I will let you all know how I do!

Thanks TrophyFishR! Some good info.........I will for sure give that a shot...I may go out Friday and idle around looking for the types of places you are talking about. Sounds like I might have to go pick up some fat free shads!

I have trouble with the earth/moon alignment no matter what I am chunking at them! LOL...At least that is my excuse I constantly need reminded that I have to "fish the moment" like IKE says....I will probably try to do some flipping and maybe some shallow cranking. I don't throw a fat free shad much although I do square bills. I will try to commit to something and figure them out. I think you gave me a good starting point. Thanks again J-Doc. I will go ahead and give a report of the mid-lake area. I have been catching fish on topwater before dark...Mostly on a LONG A. I hooked up on a double 3/4 the way back in a creek on Saturday.Tried to flip them in the boat...little one came in and the keeper came off (3+ lb kentucky) don't see those very often on beaver! After dark I have been slinging a spinnerbait and catching quite a few fish just very few keepers. I caught alot in the 14-14 3/4 range. I believe the bigger fish(even after dark) are a little bit deeper. All the fish I was catching were right up in the bushes. Fishing main lake creek arms and pockets. Rocky banks seem to be best(steeper) and even bluffs have been productive but again no big fish. I have also caught some fish before dark flipping a jig(eakins jig in peanutbutter/jelly w/speedcraw) towards the backs of creeks around laydowns/bushes again no good ones but getting some action.

I appreciate the comments J-Doc. I really did worry about running after dark so I figured I would try to stay around there close and venture out during the day. I am with you on the light deal I am always shining it around looking for logs, canoers with no lights, swimmers, etc... I usually fish Big Clifty area and I love throwinig a spinnerbait and buzzbait! I I planned on doing the same thing around that area.....When you say crankbait are you throwing a dd22, 6xd, 5xd or shallow cranks? I just don't know enough about that end of the lake to know what the heck I am doing. Should I stay on flats, bluffs, chunk rock, timber, etc? I really appreciate all the info.

So I typically shy away from fishing the river in the summer time unless we get a good rain and there is some run off. I always fish the mid-lake area or up around the dam. My question is the fishing any good this time of year around that area and what patterns work?(Day and Night) The family wanted to be close to home so we decided to camp at War Eagle campground this weekend.....Any river rats out there that want to give me some advice I am open to suggestions???Thanks!

That's awesome! Good day on Beaver! Especially getting to spend the day with your son making some good memories on your birthday. Thanks for the report.

Need to get her sold. I think I have it at a good price. It would make a good boat for someone....Come give it a test drive it runs great. Since the carpet could be replaced i am also throwing in a new roll of 25' x 8' carpet in a gunmetal grey color. This is my bottom dollar price. PM or cal/text at 479-422-6371 Thanks

Thanks hoglaw! And yes I am getting another one at a pretty good deal...I'll miss her

http://fayar.craigslist.org/boa/3679182592.html Boat also comes with spare prop, mid section, and cowling. New lower unit gear lube and water pump installed last week.

Fishing around Big Clifty and Little Clifty. I do see some of your reports out there from time to time Quillback, thanks! Hopefully we can start getting some more reports out there for this fall! You know as well as I do that patterns on beaver don't last very long so it is always handy if there are some reports out there to have a starting point, seeing as we all can't fish everyday of the week :/

I rarely see bass reports in here so I thought that I would share some information and maybe get a trend going. I went out this past weekend and caught 30 bass on topwater and white tube. I fished in the back of creeks and coves mostly. Saturday was a bluebird day so I figured it would get tougher as the sun got up, but it was just the opposite. The fish began to be more active as they were chasing shad in the guts of these coves and creeks. I was able to catch several on topwater and threw a 5/16 oz white tube that I would sink slowly and I would give it a few twitches and that would do it. FISH ON! Had a great time and never in my life have I seen schools of bass like this! They were mostly kentuckies but I caught some dandys for Beaver lake! Only had a few blacks though.......So to all my fellow bass fishermen, lets start getting some reports out there! I am geared up for some fall fishing! Tight Lines

Great Report!!