Travis Swift

I've ran both and think they are great motors. I chose Garmin because of their customer service reputation compared to Lowrance. And yes I've had Lowrance products in the past. I'm sure he will love either one though!

I have a friend that sells Garmin and installs them and what Garmin does is pay the service centers $100 per install for the Force so yes they encourage it and it gives the installers some cash flow. I understand the warranty part though I guess I don't blame you there. I broke a part on mine the first time out and it was my fault, I ran into a dock and cracked the head. I called them and admitted fault and asked If I could purchase a new head, no sir Mr. Swift they said we will just mail you one out and overnight it to you for free and yup it was there the next day free of charge even with me admitting fault. Super impressive.

You know me well enough Andy to know it was the Nectar of the God's AKA Busch Light 😁

Bobby me and a friend installed mine in under a "six pack" ahahahha. They send easy to follow instructions and that Force is the most consumer friendly trolling motor on the market for putting together. I bet you could do it in less than an hour.

I thought I had read a couple years back that Beaver was going to quit stocking Stripers and start stocking way more walleye instead and I guess that is my assumption is that they came thru the gates and that is why the boom on Trock but probably dead wrong. Tablerock has been interesting this year, one guide friend caught Trout on Tablerock like 2 or 3 days in a row this spring and one day they caught like 8 or 10 on top water baits they were magnum rainbows and he said they were schooling on top eating shad. I'll try to find a picture. I know that there have always been a few on Tablerock but this was unprecedented.

Lilleys posted one a couple weeks ago that I think around 7 pounds and they said when they cleaned it that it had a 10 inch rainbow in it's mouth. And I think they said it was caught across from the resort. There may end up being some big ones up and down the lake as they disperse some I would think. Same with smallies.

I had never met him either but really enjoyed reading his posts on here. He seemed like such a good man and the amount of knowledge he had for the Rock was amazing. So sorry to hear this news

Have you done the latest update on the Force? It was for the spot lock and now that i've done that update its money!

I love mine and have nothing bad to say about it. Garmin is constantly listening to it's customers also and make any updates needed. The spot lock feature was great but the head moved alot and it backed you up quite a ways before it locked in place but about 2 weeks ago an update came out (cause they listen) and it tamed the spot lock feature down a ton. You 100% won't regret buying one, it's probably the best money i've ever spent on a piece of hunting or fishing equipment and i've spent a BUNCH thru the years.

If the water is running hard that park in Hollister where Turkey creek runs in is money for sure! Don't forget the public docks at the landing, the one closest to the Bass Pro fish house can be amazing fishing at times.

I've used a ton of trout rods for throwing jigs straight but my favorite right now are 7 ft light action Falcon Bucco's (they are $59 one piece rods). I used to be a 6'6 guy but that 7 foot will cast the jig even further and I feel like the extra rod helps with the playing of the fish. I always always use 2 pound test line no exceptions. I used shimano reels for years but they got to where they suck on taney if there is any moisture in the air they become hard to reel. I took the advice of alot of guys on here and went to Pflueger Presidents and couldn't be any happier. Good luck to ya.

Hard to compare anything really. Old 16foot boats, Color Clectors, new 100K boats electronics that look like an aquarium etc. The biggest difference too is the fishing itself, fishing was way easier on many many places back then with WAY less pressure. You just can't compare, you must just admire. To me many are hero's and freaking amazing. These guys are living many of our dreams and are just amazing fisherman and good people.

BASS is anything but "diluted". These are up and coming stars that can hang with anyone. I'm enjoying the heck out of all of them. By the way if Boyd had a bone to pick with Brandon he wouldn't of invited him to "his" league when he created it I wouldn't think.

Well I said before it started that losing fish was Steve's issue and he lost two that cost him close to 13 pounds that if he lands he's running away with it. I'm sick for him, I want him to win so badly

I'll be buying some then! Thanks Bill

I want Zaldain to win badly. I've fished Ray Bob alot and with the water set up high like this I truly believe Steve Kennedy is going to be tough to beat and I love him too. I think he's possibly the best swimjig fisherman on the planet and it's setting up perfect for him. Losing fish has always been his Achilles heel so he's gotta land them this week for sure.

The two experts I got were 7'4 extra heavies. I flipped with them all day at Ray Robert's this year. They were so light and sensitive, and strong and I caught several fish including a 7.1 the last day. Those are the only two I had so I can't say how the rest of the line was. I didn't like the original experts, I broke several. The T1 Caras are still my favorite rods ever. But I hear the new Caras are going to be awesome too. Can't wait to get my hands on one! I've been a Falcon man since 1995. I was a senior in high school and saved up 4H money to buy an Original.. That was the only line of rods they made at that time, the lowrider came a couple years later. darn did I love that rod!

It was crazy earlier this year Midway USA sold falcons at garage sale prices. We bought Buccoo's for $60, Lowriders for like $75 and Experts for $125, it was insane. I personally bought 9 rods, I had friends by almost that many. We were all big Falcon guys to begin with and we all upgraded our arsenal's, I sold all my old Bucco's and Lowriders and upgraded.......I did keep my old Cara's. But by the time I sold 9 old rods and bought 9 new rods I actually made money. Wish I had bought more Experts they are flat fantastic rods!

I always direct them to Lilleys dock and tell them to ask for Phil and to tell him that Pete from the forum sent them and that Phil would load their kayak up and give them a ride to the pick up site...........😆

The bad thing on Taney is they aren't just kayakers they are people on vacation that have no idea how to use one, where they are going etc. I can't count on both hands the times I have seen them with no life jackets, seen them in fog that was insanely thick, seen little tiny kids, seen then in pouring rain or with storms coming, had them stop me and ask where they were and how much farther they had to go etc. The kayak company dumps them in gets their cash and away they go. I don't want to even say what it is we call them. But it's freaking nuts, dangerous and getting worse all the time. If someone hasn't been killed yet it's a matter of time. Not if but when sadly.

Dang Pete really sorry to hear this! Hope you get back to fishing soon!

Lionel told me tonight it's no longer for sale. He is staying on as an owner and has a new partner. This is good news as he has really done alot to the place it was getting pretty run down but he's put alot of work into it the last few years. Best part of it is, he's simply one of the nicest people you will meet.

I will say this on the Force, do NOT put it on 100%, go across the lake and forgot you did it.......I did that last year and went to make a 90 degree turn and I kid you not I ended up flat on my back on the back deck, I threw me backwards and I feel down in the boat, over the seat and onto the back deck......lesson learned. I have an aluminum boat mind you but that sucker is POWERFUL.

Blue Haven is for sale down lake too, Gary is also a friend of mine and he's been wanting to get and move to Florida for several years.

It's been for sale for a couple of years. They had it sold last year and the buyer backed out during covid. I did see they posted that they have a new partner. Lionel is a friend of mine, i'll shoot him a text and ask him.