nathanhooper

Got out late last night. Saw a ton on the sonar, but nothing took. We didn't spend much time out though. The heat just drains people this time of the year. Next year will be better. Ton of fish 30'-35' by the dam. Saw some good marks deeper when doing turns. Might make it back out tonight, we shall see.

You guys made my day! I'm sorry, long story short is that I have not been on the water since last time I posted. Early April? But this weekend we finally are getting out to do some family camping and I'm loading the boat as we speak. It's been so long that I needed to refresh my memory of what I did last year this time and I signed in to look at some old posts. I'm feeling pretty stressed today for a number of reasons(not least is that my boat battery is dead) and when I saw my name it made me smile to think that I was remembered. Lol. It's the little things in life. So I'm going out this weekend and I'll give a report back. I know it's no excuse to quit posting for so long but I've been focused on a number of other things in life right now. I'm hoping next year will be a better one.

I hear you. I will for sure, looks like next year though. I am seeing some transom mount motors going for well under $100 and figure it would be worth it for this summers fishing with live bait. I remember thinking about how I could make the experience easier on my last year.

Good to know it will work like that. The main use of the electric trolling motor, right now, is for when I am pulling Alabama rigs for whites and live bait drifting for stripers. Both methods keep me in relatively deep and 'clean' water. So avoiding rocks and trees are not issues for me really. My boat is 16', drafts very shallow (4" I think). The bow mount I have is only 30lb thrust and it pulls it fine, most of the time only staying on 2-3 speed depending on wind, maybe in high wind getting up to 4. I would think that it might take a bit more umph to push than pull, but 45-50 lbs should be fine.

My only thought that what I am thinking about might not work is the whole steering of it all. If the trolling motor being on the back will steer the boat one way or another when turned then I think it would serve my purpose. But if the boat will just want to keep going forward, or drift one way or another, when the trolling motor is turned then I would rather not fight it like that.

Problem with this approach is the maneuvering of the outboard into the right position and also the desire to be able to stop the motor without having to go all the way up front. Good idea though.

I wish, oh how I wish, I was not a titewad(or an idiot). I watch an auction site that gets "returns" from online retailers. They had a minn kota with I piolot and copilot, and the whole shebang come through. I am not sure what the max bid was on it, but I watched it go for $530. I watched another come through before that, which would have let me upgrade like you suggest, but had not really thought about the want at that point. The last fishing trip has got me really considering now. Plus I am really wanting to stay as low as possible. I see some transom mount motors going for fairly cheap and that's what prompted my question.

I have, but I am looking more for the quiet approach and there is not much room on the transom. I actually have one, a 4 hp sea king(I think) but just do not see putting it on. Maybe I'll sell it to fund my other approach. Looking for something to get me moving very slow for trolling live bait, and quiet.

Most of my fishing, if not almost all (99%), is trolling of some sort. As I am finding out what I like, and how I like to fish, thoughts hit my head about how to improve the 'fishability' of my boat. One of the top improvements is when I completed my center console last year. Made a huge difference. But now, with how I have my sonar setup and rod holders, I am beginning to see the need for a change in my trolling motor. I have a bow mount that has a foot control attached. Very old, but still works. The problem is that its on the tip of my boat, great for pulling where I want to go, but not so great for rod control and watching the sonar. My first thought is I would love to replace it with a newer model that can be controlled wirelessly. But I do not have the cash to drop on them at the moment. So my next thought was a transom mount one, with a little extension handle so I can control it from my console. The console sits close to the back, more so than most bass boats anyways ( I do have a small section I can stand on and fish from) so a extension handle would not be too bad. I really like this idea because it puts me into the position that is most comfortable and works great when running my outboard. But the only thing that I am unsure of is how effective a transom mount is at pushing the boat vs a bow mount pulling. Would it be a constant fight when making turns and such? Or would it be like running my outboard, just slower? Just curious if anyone has done it this way. I would leave the bow mount on for those times I do use the casting deck, and maybe one day will be rich enough to buy a fancy remote controlled unit I can use from the console anyways.

Yum! I am going for a mixed bag on Sunday. Crappie are on the menu. I will have to remember to put my down imaging on board. I remember, probably the last time I caught crappie, that I went over a big brushpile/tree and then switched to DI and told the guy in the boat with me that there were some fish hanging right above the brush. Sure enough, pulled up a slab.

I resemble this remark....

I've been catching and releasing them sticks for a while now. I figure they ought to go back for such a good fight. If you ever find one that swallowed one of my cranks I'd gladly come get it from you. Glad you had a good day hope this Sunday produces for my brother and brother in law. They don't get out much.

Just because I like you Terry, I am going to stay at work today and let you have the lake.... lol

I think that would be the only way I would feel comfortable doing it. But then my luck is the fish would get tangled in it and watch supper swim away.... lol

I actually put one on last year. A friend did not need his at the time so I figured I would try it out. It works, very well, almost too well, but in order to get up past a certain speed - but below the idle speed without - you have to rev the engine way high. Makes for a very noisy trolling trip, not to mention very fuel inefficient.

I agree with the rest. Its hard to describe, and easiest to learn first hand. I spent countless hours scouring the internet trying to understand it all. I have the 571 DI which helped a lot with determining trees vs fish, but when I came across a deal on a color Lowrance unit my HB just waits as standby. The best way to find out is going over area that you can see some what and trees in the water. Look at how they show up. Drop a jig over the side of the boat, near the transducer, and watch how it shows up. That will kind of give you an idea of what fish, or non fish, might look like. J Doc started a thread a while back that had quite a few pictures on it and descriptions. It may or may not help.

I've thought about buckets and such, but am just not sure how I wont find a way to get tangled in them.

Don't mind at all. I only have speed on my phone, I use the Navionics app. But it says I was doing average of 3 mph, up to 3.5. Honestly, its just how my boat runs. Its the lowest I can throttle it down. I am eyeing an electric trolling motor though that might be the ticket for this. But truth be told, I ran this speed all last year when pulling cranks and had good success. It only does not work if I am trying to pull alamaba rigs for whites. Then I have to use my bow mount electric. But the bow mount is not heavy duty enough to pull quick enough for cranks without eating up my battery.

Have been having a lot going on around the house, and with the kids, so I am now down to grabbing the fishing moments as they come. After reading Terry's report I was hungry and jealous (in that order) for some walleye. So I saw a few hours I had Saturday evening and hit the water. Its been a LONG time since I have been on the lake on a weekend like that. Makes for a tuff time trolling anywhere guys who bank fish are at. At one point I was trolling past a point where a couple of guys were walking down to fish. I got past them as they were putting down their gear. Then a few seconds later I saw one of my rods go back. I picked it up and started fighting a pretty good fish.....only to see the bank fisherman fighting the same one. lol I had both my lines back 150'-175' and he figured I had already passed by far enough I guess. Oh well, its the way it goes. But I went to my preferred spot and managed to pick up a couple that were just at 18". One was male, and I think the other was a female. But that's what I went for, so I decided to leave (still had work to do at the house...). I am quite pleased with the way this lake is turning out the walleye. This will do me well for my lunches through the week and the next time I'm out I will be taking my brother and brother in law. Should make for a fun trip. Both fish were caught on flickershad in 12' FOW. I'm not the best at describing, but I would say they are secondary points is where I got them. If things repeat themselves, this should hold till close to the first of June then they will move out to the 16'-20' FOW mark. But one key up here around the dam is that it has to be very dusky for them to bite well in the shallower water. It was very cloudy Saturday, but I could still see the bottom in 14' FOW. Just have to make sure the lures are back far enough for the boat to pass over and give the fish some time to come back I guess. I need to get a sticker for my boat to put on the windshield or something. Where do I pick those up?

Nice. Any day that's a limit is a good day.

I like a slight chop when fishing for the walleye. They seem to bite better. I also fish the dam area, it should kick up good for the next month and a half. Well, mid May they do get a little deep for bank fishing though.

I am curious though....how did you get him to pose for that picture? He is WAY to close to the water for me...lol I'm a nervous wreck each time I get a keeper walter up to the boat. Once I had one spit my lure I instantly now think that it is a precious gem on the other end of the line.

Yum, them things are great. Nothing like catching a fresh meal!

Thanks for the update. I've been locked up just like them sounds like. I am hoping to get out this weekend and make another go at it. I've never hit it at the time where people talk about the 100's mark. I do remember for the last few years that they still have been biting for a couple more weeks. Hope that trend continues.

What size minnows are you using for the whites? I have been using umbrella rigs, but figured that minnows might be easier.