MrGiggles

I guess it's been long enough to post an update, even though there really isn't much of one. Aside from a couple of dead coil packs, I haven't had any more issues with the Merc. Doesn't seem to leak or burn any oil. The weight kinda sucks. I've thought about trading it on one of the Tohatsu 60hp triples, as I've heard they are pretty lightweight for a 4 stroke but haven't pursued it any further. There seems to be a big weight penalty going from a 60 to a 75, more than 100lbs in most cases. Going from the 75hp Suzuki, I gained 3-4mph on the top end. The boat porpoises terribly, which has been an issue with every motor that's been on it, although it's worse now. The point at which you get trimmed up, the motor starts to sing a little, and the steering lightens up, is also when it starts to bounce, there isn't much overlap there. I have raised the motor up on the transom nearly as high as it will go, which made little difference. I'm not sure that much could be done about it.

Been almost 2 months, no trouble. Leveled it, tinted the front windows, and put some new rubber on. Was able to sell both of my old vehicles pretty easily, the used market is still hot. Also had to put a seat cover in, whatever fabric those seats are made of stains really easily. The display seems to read about 1mpg over actual, my average has been just over 18. The Chevy was always 13-14.

Definitely not a pike but the coloration is weird for a Musky. Wonder if the hatcheries are playing with a new strain, I googled "spotted musky" and it looks just like a strain native to the great lakes.

Just going back through my records (posts on here. ) I didn't have a boat until June of 2017 so no data prior to that. 2018, caught fish on beds 5/7 and 5/8, the next week they were gone. Water temps were low 60s. 2019, no bed fish but we were flooded out badly towards the end of May. 2020, hardly fished, lakes were a zoo, peak Rona lockdown. Caught fish on beds at Pomme on 4/22. Stockton was a dink fest. 2021, also dink fest. Fished more for walleye than crappie that spring, noted water temps at 66* at the dam on 5/2. 2022, flooded out but caught fish on beds under marooned docks and in the bushes on Pomme on 5/9. 2023, haven't been to Stockton in the last couple weeks but caught fish on Pomme last week that were spawning or just about to. As you can see I have always had a lot better luck fishing the spawn on Pomme.

I think the last spring that I remember the water levels being somewhat normal like this year was 2018. I'm sure that has something to do with it.

Guys have been catching them shallow for the last week or so on the upper end of Stockton and Pomme.

If there was a trophy for the most jigging raps lost in a day, or most bluegills caught on bottom bouncers I'd be in for sure.

I've had success in early May. Pretty much as soon as the spawn is over and done with. If I could only pick one color flicker, it would probably be blue tiger.

Buddy and I caught a few last weekend so I gave it another shot. This batch was really good. He fried some at his place, and I made some later, just cut it into steaks, seasoned it well and grilled it on the Ninja. It was excellent, put it side by side with chicken and aside from the texture I doubt you could tell a difference flavor wise.

I was out on Saturday and never went further up than Crabtree. Some trash in the water but it was not muddy at all. Probably the busiest I have seen it so far this year, lot of boats out. Walleye are still coming up and doing their thing. I had two keepers and one short, along with a couple whites and a bass. I did pretty well with crappie on 3/14 but not so well this time around.

Betcha there's a serviceable one at Scotts Salvage in Humansville. Bring tools.

I have a buddy that did the doordash thing while he was out of work recovering from surgery. It can be pretty lucrative if you play the game right.

I've been seeing guys catching them on Facebook in the river. Still a little early I think. I was up at the dam on the 2nd and caught two male walleye up shallow, both oozing milt.

I'm sure. Nothing lasts forever, there isn't much that hasn't been touched on my Chevy. The rear diff and transmission have been rebuilt in the past, the transfer case needs it. I've been into the engine to replace the seal on the oil pickup (if you ever get lifters ticking on an LS, it's probably that O-ring, not the lifters themselves), and changed the rear main. It still runs fine but burns quite a bit of oil. From what I have read many problems with the Ecoboost were limited to the early models, and remedied later for the most part. Timing chains are an issue but that's a problem for everyone, even Toyota. We've been using timing chains in some form since the 80s but evidently they still can't figure out how to make them work in a vehicle.

Right, those 99-06 GM pickups were made to last, but they lost me once they started the cylinder deactivation business. They're not nearly as bad as they used to be, but I'll still pass. Biggest thing I can say, you would think the V8 would have the lugging power, and the V6 would need to spin up a little to get anything, that's not the case at all. Those turbos are tiny and spool up instantly. The 5.3 needs to rev.

Been thinking more and more lately how it doesn't make much sense to have two vehicles with how I drive. I've got an 06 Silverado 5.3, and an 08 Mazdaspeed 3. Both gas hogs in their own right, the Mazda gets mid-high 20s but requires premium so knock 20-25% off of that for the added cost of fuel, might as well just drive a truck, I've been spending around $100 a week between the two on gas alone, and the Chevy has 345,000 miles so you have to wonder just how long it's going to want to keep going. Ford seems to have gotten it together after their engine fiascos in the past, the Ecoboost appears to have proved itself and gets pretty impressive fuel economy. So I bought one, 2015 F150 4x4, with the 2.7. I had been shopping for a couple weeks and missed out on two or three trucks in that time, they do not seem to last long at all in my price range. XLT package so not too fancy. Column mounted shifter, and knobs/switches for the HVAC. I cannot stand automatic climate control. Plain peanut butter cloth seats. I did not want a crew cab because they come with the 5.5ft box, but it's growing on me. Fold the back seats up and there's an impressive amount of room back there, that's out of the weather and secure. In my search, I only found a couple extended cab models. The size difference is pretty amazing, park it next to my Silverado, which has been leveled but is otherwise stock, the F150 is 2-3 inches taller and a good bit wider. New trucks are just big. The trip computer said 19.3 mpg average before I reset it, so we'll see how it does. Fuel savings alone should offset the cost some. Might see how it pulls the boat later.

I caught everything except the smallie on a slab rap.

I just got in from running out there, found a few crappie in a deep school, nothing too exciting. Fished by the dam until 6:30 looking for walleyes and only caught one smallie. With how the forecast is looking I don't think it will be very long.

I would like to know this as well. I hate how everything is going to a stupid mobile app that never wants to work right, or needs an update every time you use it.

We had a few when I was little. Not that any of them are known for being intelligent, but the silkies were especially creative at finding ways to kill themselves. Found one dead under a feed dish one time. The meanest rooster has nothing on a territorial goose.

Don't throw away your old transducer. Those cables can be repaired, it's a pain but people have done it.

I was out on Sunday. While fishing in some of those thick schools and not getting bit, I managed to snag the pictured carp and a large shad. They were bunched up super tight. The crappie were pretty scattered, but I did catch 3 keepers and two keeper walleye, so not a bad trip. No whites this time which I thought was odd, I had been catching them just about 3-1 for every other species.

I've heard that term used interchangeably but they aren't the same. Blacknose are native to the white river system, magnolias are some kind of hybrid that were bred to stock in ponds, they're sterile. I catch blacknose on Pomme quite a bit, every once in a great while on Stockton.

Definitely open the lid. Don't be like me and heat a squeeze bottle upside down with the lid closed. You'll get a honey geyser when you open it.

You must not be far from me then, it's almost in my backyard. We used to run cows on that ground, the boss sold it to Flora. The railroad used to run through the west end of it near the highway, the mound and bridges were still there. I have never been in that operation, one of my tenants is a clipper there and seems to like it. They pay better than anything else in the immediate area.