Ultralance12

Between boat payment, taxes on the slip, gear, gas, and commutes I think each time out on the water costs me about $125. If I can make that happen I have every reason to be thankful. I have been one of the lucky ones.

Thanks Troy! I'm pretty sure I tried factory defaults and then readjusted my settings but I'll have to try again to make sure. I don't think I have tried putting my ping speed up all the way but maybe that will help. I can see the bottom contour fine and the occasional oddball fish (so I'm not thinking its interference) but when I turn on the other one I can see so so much more. The main reason I wanted networking is so I can have them on at the same time. It took me a while to figure out, but when I have them both on they pick up each others pings and black vertical lines show up on my screen. I think I will buy a transducer, play with the settings for a bit before installing the new transducer, and then install the new transducer if needed. This will keep me running through the winter at least.

Any athelete can be in the zone. It is a state where your actions require no thinking. You allow your internal programming to control your muscle memory, you allow your instincts to guide you subconciously. It is a sense of calm that your mind maintains and allows your senses to heighten. Your vision is sharper, your ears tuned into the faintest ripple, your index finger able to trace the slightests unnatural movement of your line. Every cast seems to land exactly where you had planned it and you can almost see your bait moving through the water. The boat seems to almost steer itself into the proper orientation and distance from your target. You don't make a sound without even trying. All people have the ability to be in the zone but only some of us can recognize and appreciate it. There was an actual scientific study on the zone and your brain functions completely different when in it (I think it starts transmitting alpha waves, whatever that means). It can be scientifically measured and identified but very few people can actually make it happen when they want. Most of us just recognize it when it does and ride the wave.

I have been looking for someone to help me get a grasp on what I have and what I want/need so I appreciate you taking the time to help some of us newbies out. I purchased my first boat last april and have been using the electronics that were already on it (it is a Nitro 591, 2007/8). I have a Lowrance LMS-480 on the dash with GPS and a Lowrance X-135 on the bow (they are not networked if they even can be). The units are both a little old compared to some of the stuff I have been researching but the 480 on the dash actually seems to have pretty good resolution and I can generally tell whats going on down there. My first problem is that the unit on the bow SUCKS. I mean it is basically a fancy depth finder/thermometer and generally doesn't show anything. I will pick up my trolling motor (transducer is on motor) and turn on the dash unit and where the bow unit showed nothing, the dash unit shows all kinds of fish. I don't know if I am up against a bad transducer, bad transducer mounting, bad settings (I have played with them a lot so I don't think it is that) or just a bad model of finder. If there was an inexpensive way to make what shows up on my dash show up on my bow I could get by for another year while I'm learning. I have also begun researching what I want to get in the future. I have contemplated just getting a new bow unit and using the dash unit as is (with its GPS). I don't have a great need for waypoints or GPS in general as I usually fish waters I am very familiar with and if I venture out to far, I could technically do with a map but the mapping software seems to be tied to GPS. Part of me wants structure mapping and side scan and all of the fancy stuff they try and sell you on with their websites but I really don't know how much it would help a beginner like me. So far, I have kind of settled on a wish list of getting an HDS-5 on the dash and networking it to a less expensive (but still able to use all the networked functions) unit on the bow. Then only having one transducer on the stern (and removing the trolling motor transducer). I don't mind spending a little money but my total budget on this is probably around $1500. I do not tournament fish or take my boat to other lakes. My knowledge right now is basically limited to what you can find out by going to the Garmin and Lowrance websites as I do not know anyone that is versed in these and didn't have any luck finding a knowledgable person at BPS in Tulsa. Any help is appreciated and I will probably keep bugging you until you are tired of answering my questions. I will however come buy from you when the time comes (if you get any kind of commission).

I don't know anout you but i had a rough time today. Nothing on the wart and only a few on a jig (no keepers). I probably should have thrown a bitsy tube some or spinner. Hope you faired better.

Excellent. Just got a new rod for those kinds of lures today that is medium action. Took it down to the dock to play around and was reeling real slow up in the light to watch the action and a big one swam by (and promptly saw me and left). I will definitely throw it around tomorrow.

Did anyone go to the meeting? I couldn't get down to the Knob on a thursday but am interested to here what was said in the meeting.

I used to think that but did some research and currently most scientists don't think it is diuretic (maybe a mild one). It depends on how often you drink, ho much you drink, and how strong it is. Below is a snippet I found to that effect (I've seen many others that say basically the same thing. It certainly isn't a bad idea to drink lots of water but for me, going out early in december without a thermos full of cofee would be like going without a pole. Water is lost from our body through respiration from lungs, skin, renal, and gastrointestinal tract. Many factors such as age, activity level, health, diet, and environment can affect the water balance in our bodies. Some research has shown that caffeine intake can also be an important factor that can affect our fluid balance. In one study, 12 regular caffeine consumers were told to abstain from caffeine for five days at a stretch and they were then given 642 mg of caffeine in the form of coffee. The urine output of these individuals increased when the caffeine was given. Another separate study done on eight men tested the effect of 45, 90, 180, or 360 mg of caffeine on urine volume output, so as to see its effect as a diuretic. Coffee containing caffeine at 360 mg dose led to a substantial increase in the urine output. One limitation to these studies is that they did not evaluate the impact of caffeine when it was consumed on a regular basis. A onetime dose may affect the body differently when compared to daily consumption. Initially it was said that caffeine had no significant impact on final urine output. Subsequent studies have also shown that diuretic effects of caffeine are dubious in nature, as caffeine containing beverages did not impact urinary output any differently when compared to other beverages. However, this does not mean that caffeine does not increase your need to urinate, as it is a mild diuretic. Coffee consumption levels is what will dictate your reaction and your tolerance level. Thus, the eventual effect of caffeine and coffee will vary from person to person and you will need to monitor your reaction and tolerance to caffeine to determine how you are affected by it. Water was, is and always will be the recommended choice for optimal hydration, so be sure to include it as part of your daily fluid consumption. Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/is-coffee-a-diuretic.html

I wish i had a clue how to fish the wart. Never had any luck on TRL with stick or crank baits. Unless top water is on i just throw jig or dropshot spoon. Makes it simple but someday im going to need a few more weapons in my arsenal. Maybe i need to hire a guide...anyone free sat or sun?

Under armor medium thermals, thick jeans, and sweats on bottom Under armor medium thermals, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, and fleece on top Wool socks and tennies on feet. My hands and nose get cold below 30 but my body could sleep outside when it is 0 out.

Yeah. If you have a meeting on the weekend i'd love to come by.

Excellent. Im going to try some new spots this weekend. I have only been fishing 4 or 5 places near the island (near the slip) but have been wanting to fish up the kings.

I bought my first bass boat this april and got a nitro 591 (equivalent to z7 or z8 i thin) with 150 optimax. I am very happy with it. I wouldn't consider it small an it does over 60. It is definitely not of premium construction but there isn't a lot that could break that j couldn't fix on it. I don't think you really need anything bigger than a 150 if its your first one. It rakes a while to get used to them in general. Check the transom real good for cracks and get the compression test. Personally for me 16' does seem a bit small. .

I'm wondering if they are soliciting input or just informing us of the plan that has already been finalized.

Good to hear someone found a way to catch them. I mostly threw jig and had bites but they were to picky this weekend for me. Spoon at docks got a couple but for the most part i couldnt even find fish.

Good to hear someone found a way to catch them. I mostly threw jig and had bites but they were to picky this weekend for me. Spoon at docks got a couple but for the most part i couldnt even find fish.

Hmm. I hadn't even thought of not using my console and now sonar at the same time. Maybe that is why my front one is always gimpy. Thanks for the tip. I think I'll be getting a new one for the bow soon. Any suggestions?

That's the rod I have for my baitcaster. I don't have a lot of experience with other rods but I love it.

I'm hoping tonight and tomorrow morning might be better since the front moved in. I'm not expecting top water to light it up but I have been having a rough go the last few outings in this heat wave and am thinking some of my usual spots might produce. Any advice besides just doing what I usually do (football jig) when it's not 100?

I have been hoping they found a way to regulate or outright ban the boats designed to throw huge wakes but had I bought one it would severely hack me off. I feel the ozark lakes are a bit different and their narrow shape causes them to be a much bigger problem than on some o the more wide open lakes I used to visit in Oklahoma and Texas. With most of the lake (especially on the upper end) a narrow channel all the boats tend to be going in the same lanes and it compounds the problem. I'm not sure the solution and I'm sure whatever it is it will seriously tick some people off and im also certain they will find away around whatever restrictions are put in place. I think some courtesy would go along way from some of these guys. For example, when 3 pontoon boats are tied up together in a smaller cove, don't make repeated runs up and down the channel 50' away with max wake. I know I stay the hell out of the water with my bass boat when they are out in full force. Everyone needs to be allowed to do what they like on the water but we don't want TR to become like lake of the ozarks either. P.S. I also vote for banning the out of water exhaust systems. Some of those boats are ridiculously loud.

I also am going to be doing more and more night fishing around shell knob and was going to ask for pointers. I used to do ok throwing a craw dad (before I was turned onto jig with trailer) off if the docks around there and slowing my retrieve (it was usually colder). Now that I'm in boat I'm a little perplexed. I pretty much plan in doing the same thing I do after the top water slows in the morning (jigs, spinners) in the same places. Any additional tips would be appreciated. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?k1f4ma

There is absolutely no refuting that people are having an impact on the climate. In a finite system, in which we are a part of, we must have an impact (same as algea, squirrels, and bass). The main argument of proponents of global warming is that we are releasing huge amounts of CO2 into the air that would otherwise not be there and that CO2 has the effect of trapping more of the suns energy in our atmosphere, thus warming it. With all of the plant life on earth releasing CO2 there is some level of CO2 in the atmosphere that the earth has, thusfar, balanced out to create an incredibly steady climate. There are arguments that could be made against man made climate change such as: The earth will find a way to balance this extra CO2 such as increased number of plants The rate which people are putting CO2 in the atmosphere is not high enough to overcome the planets ability to regulate it The rate which people are putting CO2 in the atmosphere will not cause any detrimental effects for XX years My biggest issue is that the argument played out by pundits and deniers is just a diversion or scare tactic and usually doesn't follow the scientific method. If you are going to refute science you better do it with science or it will fall on deaf ears (and occasionally gullible ones). Personally I'm not that concerned about the planet and high CO2 because I think that the earth will be fine in the long run as the higher temperatures make life easier for plants which in turn scrubs out all that CO2 and returns to normal. The problem is that if the warming happens to fast, the entire global economy crashes and mass famine and drought kills billions (just a hypothesis). People cannot hurt the planet. No matter what we do a few million years after we are gone the planet will be getting by just fine. As for the renewable energy discussion, it is important to remember back at the turn of the century when a new form of energy became accessible it was the government that stepped in and subsidized it to make it compete more with the ruling energy of the day. I am talking of course about oil and how it was subsidized by the government to compete with coal. It is good to remind people that if the government had not done this, we would have continued to make steam powered cars that run off coal and not been at the forefront of the oil boom that put this country in an enviable position for much of the next century (not to mention what might have happened during the two world wars). Government subsidy of an emerging technology is not in itself a bad thing even if parts of it are mismanaged and some bad decisions are made. With all of that being said, we should not be heavily subsidizing renewable energy at this point. We should be switching everything and anything we can to natural gas. That is the only short term solution to help us transition to more renewable energy. We have to think not only about the climate, but also national security, and our economy. Converting to natural gas, while still dirty, is much cleaner than oil, has a similiar cost to convert to energy, would increase our national security, and should not harm our economy (it would probably help). That will help in all areas that we should be focusing on when it comes to energy policy and give all of the other emerging technologies some time to catch up (not to mention create a boat load of jobs). Then when the time is right we will have much better, cleaner, and cheaper options. Just my 2 cents.

I read a few things that says there are a few trout that get into the Bryant from the rock bridge fishery (on this sight) and also read that the spring creek is the largest tributary of the Bryant. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?p0nski

Agreed. We did 27 miles in 3 days last year in low water (stagnant) conditions and while it was certainly doable it cut into our fishing to much and we basically had to row for three days. I'd rather float a distance were I purposely have to slow down (and fish) than have to paddle to pull out on the right day. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?hpqycs

I designed boat lifts early in my career and investigated using the plastic lumber for the pads. It didn't work on a lift very well because we only had two points of support an plastic lumber warps easily. A trailer it might work on because there is usually more tie ins between pad and frame to keep It from warping. I would just use some good old treated lumber though. Countersunk carriage bolts are fine. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?cog1ls