kjackson

I may take you up on that, if it's possible. I am looking into the new boat thing as well.

Great review! Thanks, but it doesn't make the decision easier... Are you going to do the same for the Tracker or just step up and buy the Ranger? I'd love to see a comparison.

I fished with Biffle last year, and he, too, fishes the Hardhead just like a crankbait, or at least, he did on that trip. His soft plastic is, gasp, the Larew Biffle Bug. He said that the combo "ruined" him. This particular bit of kit and technique is why I bought the mold and a new lead-melting furnace.

I don't but have a friend in Ohio who does. Since I'm heading that way, we've discussed his boat, how it is rigged, how it performs, and what he uses to tow it. Basically, he loves it, has it rigged with a 24-volt system, runs a 75 Merc, tows it with a Ford Escape. He used to run big glass boats, and he misses running down the lake at 75 mph, but he doesn't miss the gas bill or running a big truck.

Played with the new fluorocarbon a bit today in the pond. Rather than risk being accused of writing a commercial, I thought I'd add to this thread. The line is Berkley Trilene Professional Grade 100% Fluorocarbon XL. The XL is the important part as there is also a stiffer grade. I spooled a 2500 Shimano reel with six pound and filled the spool to the rim, just as I would do with monofilament. I started out casting a small minnow bait and then shifted to a small crappie jig. This fluorocarbon works like it was Trilene XL. It is limp, very limp. It doesn't spring off the spool even when tension is released. In fact, it stays on the spool better than comparable monos. While the bass in the pond didn't let me test out any other qualities, casting showed me that it was the best fluorocarbon I've used on spinning reels.

Just got off the water at Holiday Island. Not much was happening up there until I put the boat back on the trailer. It was an interesting drive back home!

My nephew works for Verizon, and he says that there are some places (the draw I live in for one) where you can't get 4G coverage. But there have been few places where I can't get through. South of town has some dead spots, but Eagle Rock area has been good.

You always make me wish I had been on the water as well. Maybe Tuesday ...

Yep, I have the answer: both will work, but 4WD may be better in some circumstances. I was afraid that if I did buy an AWD, I might end up on a ramp somewhere calling for help. That still could happen, but... I have been doing a ton of online research in off hours, and it is interesting. I looked real hard at the Toyota Highlander, but if I were to pick a 4WD model (older as I don't think that drivetrain is an option in the 2014s), it could tow 2000 pounds--not good. I need one that can handle 3500, or thereabouts for the safety factor. The boats I'm looking at all come in around 2000 fully equipped. But if I were to pick the Highlander with 4WD and tow package, it could pull 5000 pounds, the same as the 4Runner. The mpg would be the same, but the 4Runner fits me better. A friend has the same boat I'm thinking about--the 17-foot Ranger aluminum--and he tows it with a Ford Escape. He's happy with it. Anyway, the parameters have been set, and now it's all about finding the right vehicle. And the boat...

While I have yet to fish it, I just spooled some of the new Trilene fluorocarbon intended for use on spinning reels. It's Trilene Professional Grade XL (the XL designation is important). I loaded the reel to the lip of the spool and had no issues with the line coiling or jumping. Whether that will be the case with use, I don't know. I do know it behaves a lot like Trilene XL, and that line is very limp.

My thoughts are 4Runner, but I could downsize to a Highlander--I think. The Tundra I have now is too big for this place; it's a 2006 and takes a football field to turn around. I'm looking for a rig my wife can drive, so I can look for critters out of the window. Also, I'm tired of the screaming every time I look at a river we're crossing or a lake we're driving along.

Great report...

I'm looking for a new tow vehicle, and trying to get one that is both functional and economical. I've had four-wheel drives forever but am now considering buying an all-wheel drive because of the mileage and expanded choice of rigs. After this winter, I was pretty much decided on a 4x4 as what I would get, but now I'm wondering if all-wheel drive won't be enough. I'm also looking for a new boat, so asking what I'm towing exactly won't help. Right now, I'm thinking I'll end up with one of the Ranger aluminums, either one of the deep vees or the RT178. Tow weight will be under or around 2000 pounds. I don't see my new boat exceeding that weight. My concern is not at paved ramps so much as it is ramps that I've yet to use, like the gravel, low-water access ramp at Holiday Island. Is four-wheel absolutely necessary for towing in the Ozarks? Can I get by with all-wheel drive? Thanks in advance.

I have a boat I'm getting ready to sell that may be a bit too large for you, but... It is a Starcraft/Smokerraft/Sylvan (painted as a Starcraft but carried in all three brands) Sportsman. It was intended as an entry-level jet sled for PNW rivers. It's 18 feet long, has a 92-inch beam. It's a mod-vee-hull jon with a big flat floor, raised casting deck, built-in fuel cell (but no livewell), and runs a 50-hp Yamaha two-stroke. It sits on a galvanized EZ-Loader bunk trailer with oil-bath hubs. Right now, it is rigged for a 24-volt trolling motor system (including a two-bank charger) and has a Minn Kota Riptide bowmount. I also have a 24-volt transom mount for it as well. It is dirty at the moment and needs a couple of minor things done to get it ready to sell. I'll be asking about $5K depending upon the trolling motors. I will not be selling it with electronics, but I do have a couple of older units I could throw in.

Just to throw something else into the mix-- Storm's Smash Shad is another inexpensive bait in the Shad Rap/Flicker Shad family. It does work well, and last summer I had a day where it outfished the Flicker. It wasn't a major smackdown, but still... One thing I like about the Smash Shad is that it has a UV finish available, several in fact. I'm not saying that Flicker Shads don't, but they aren't noted as such in the pattern book. UV-reflective finishes are a big deal in the salmon/steelhead/trout/kokanee world for a lot of reasons, but the main one is that (generally) they are more easily seen by these species (depending upon life stage), AND they result in better catches when compared to the same lure without the UV finish. The kicker to this is that not all fish see in the UV range, and they don't necessarily at all stages of their life. On top of that, not much research has been done on various fish. I talked to Berkley boffins involved in the bait development end of things, and what I got is that scientists think that bass don't see in the UV range as they don't have the right cones or rods to see it. However, the guy in charge of soft bait development says that in his experience, he has done better on walleyes where he's supercharged the UV components in the baits he uses personally. My experience is limited on what we have here, but I do know that the Smash Shad does work well and is another option.

I'd add lakers in the spring and certainly cutthroat trout as well. Lahontan cutts would probably hit it, and if you could find brookies large enough, they'd bite. It would be a stretch to say that any of the Pacific salmonids would hit the little rig, but...you'd need to upgrade hooks and line, taking the finesse factor out of the equation. There is a range of saltwater fish that would be suckers for the little rig, but that, like salmon, is probably a stretch.

Thanks for the info. After this winter, I'm after absolutely anything that will bite and pull. I definitely would think seriously about walleyes...haven't caught one of them since I was in Minnesota two years ago.

Thanks for the report, Quill. I'm headed out tomorrow somewhere. I was thinking Beaver or the river but maybe the best bet would be to launch at Eagle Rock and head downstream a bit. If I'm a good boy and get my taxes done this weekend, I may hit it Monday as well. Of course, that depends upon the snow...

Good report. Thanks...

Good report...thanks. A buddy was fishing further upriver and ran into an 18-inch white. Have not heard back from him since he put that one in the boat, so I'm guessing it was slow overall. Disagree with you about the 'eye. That was worth cleaning. Good looking fish.

But the AGFC weekly report says that the walleyes and white bass are all in the river. Of course, "they" are still catching walleyes on main lake points 25-30 feet down...

Connie Peterson was the guy I talked to umpteen years ago, so I'm guessing Darrick is the relative...perhaps he took over.

You can, or could, get mushroom-head jigs on eBay for a pretty fair price. All the guy had was 1/16-ounce, but that can be a workhorse size when the wind isn't blowing.

I'm going to be selling my mod-vee jon-style aluminum. It's 18 feet, 92 inches wide BUT only has a two-stroke Yamaha tiller. On the plus side, it has a 24-volt bowmount Minn Kota Riptide with Copilot and onboard, two-bank charger.