Carl1969

Any tips or advice for fishing the Talley Bend area? Might try to get out with the missus one evening next week. Was thinking maybe cruising up to around Cedar Bluff, or maybe down a couple miles & explore that cove/inlet to the west. Hot Spots map only talks about bass in that area. Anything else interesting there? We don't really care what we catch, just wanna get out & hopefully catch something tasty for supper.

Ha! My uncle took me to both those places last week. Charley's- good eats & torture for a fat kid. The desert section will give you pre-diabetes just lookin' at, but man oh man, was that strawberry-rhubarb cobbler & gooseberry crisp incredible. Get there early, like an hour early. We got there an hour early & there were 20+ folks already waiting. Cow Patties- can only speak to breakfast, but their "Haystack" was great. Fair prices, dang good grub & good service. Will definitely be going back to both with the missus.

Had a jar of ghost pepper jelly & it wasn't marked. Daughter was NOT amused when she made a PB&J one day 🤣 Almost as funny as the time she ate a fresh tabasco whole. She asked what the little orange pepper was, then asked if that was what Tabasco sauce was made with. Dunno what she was thinking, 'cos she's not a wimp, but she ain't no pepperhead 'n just popped the danged thing in her mouth & munched down. Goofball. I just handed her the jug of milk & laughed.

My name is Carl, I was born in 1969 & didn't want folks to think I was 13 y/o with Carl69, so.... Pic is my goofy butt on Truman last week on my maiden voyage as a boat owner. Glad to see I'm not the first to consider a pirate flag 😆

The propeller on my 25hp Evinrude 2-smoker is only marked with 4 dots arranged in a square. I'd like to buy a spare prop, but I'm seeing pitches from 10-15 listed & no idea what I have. Not necessarily looking to change pitch as the boat runs good & without a tach, wouldn't have any idea whether the motor was running in its happy spot. Any advantage to a 4-blade prop?

I want to get my hands on some fresh habaneros & see how bacon wrapped habanero poppers do in the smoker.

Sweet. Thanks fellas.

My little boat came set up with a 30lb trolling motor running off the starting battery. I'm sure that may be okay for a few minutes here & there, but I need to power a fish finder as well & don't think that's gonna cut it. What's the simplest, no hassle way to add a deep cycle battery to run the trolling motor & fish finder? Is it as simple as picking up a decent battery & an "Add a Battery" kit? I'm assuming I'll have to spring for cables & know I'll need a marine battery box. How do I know what size to get? 24, 27, 29? Or do I just go for the most reserve capacity I can afford? I'm buying a Noco jump box to keep in the boat, so can't imagine I'd ever need the deep cycle as a backup starter battery. I would like to upgrade to a bow mount, foot control 45lb trolling motor at some point, so something that can handle that & the Garmin. Mounting location? Starting battery is in the port rear corner, with a 6 gal gas tank starboard. Maybe mount the deep cycle starboard rear & place the gas tank between the batteries? There's room & I'm thinking it'd be balanced side to side. What say ye?

Very nice. My uncle's got a camping spot at Pomme for a few days next month & we're looking forward to it. Cousin & his wife, along with a couple of my "kid cousins"/cousin's nephews are expected as well. Shaping up to be a grand time.

Sounds like we're in the same boat (boo, hiss, I know), with the exception of my starting basically from scratch. Been reading, Youtubing, asking silly questions & getting out with more experienced fishermen as often as I can. I can think of much worse things to do in retirement, but this is exactly what I wanted for mine & I'm lovin' it.

What's a K? Just curious.

That looks like the kinda water I'd like to explore.

Bigfoot saw me once, but no one would believe him.

Well, we didn't get skunked, but it was close- just way too hot. Surface temps over 90 by 10AM. We got 5 nice, 10"-12" crappie bouncing jigs off the 83 bridge pilings. A couple whites or wipers were hitting the topwater baitfish Thursday afternoon, but only onesies & twosies & never seen again. We trolled a lap or two around the island, but nothing & we only saw one other boat land a fish while we were out. But, I got to hang out with my uncle (with whom I've had minimal contact for the last 35 years- good dude) who was more than happy to help keep me from screwing up my maiden voyage as a boat owner. Little boat runs out good. Uncle, self, full livewell & cooler of beverages maxed out the max weight capacity & she came right up on plane & got with the program. Very pleased with the boat & can't wait to get back out.

Thank you. I'ma give 'er hell, that's for sure. I've been dying to do some real fishing since I was a kid & since I was fortunate enough to retire early, I've got a whole lot of catching up to do.

1) Get out on the water as often as possible. 2) Keep learning & working on "mastering" fishing techniques. 3) Learn how to find/pattern the species I'm interested in. 4) Catch a few suppers' worth of crappie. 5) Catch some eater size white bass &/or wipers. 6) Catch at least one keeper walleye.

I've got a fair selection of rattle traps, poppers & crank baits in either silver/chrome or natural (shad, 'gill, baby bass & the like) in sizes appropriate for bass on down to bluegill. I think I'm set up for about anything I'm hoping to catch/likely to encounter. Crappie/bluegill jigs, tackle & baits for drop shotting & Texas rigging, swim baits, even a couple slip floats & bobber stops. I can read & read & read & scour internet forums & "learn" all about a subject, but the proof is in the pudding. Guess we'll see if they'll bite what I'm offering.

I can't even imagine.

Awesome. Thank you! Will definitely let y'all know how we do. Don't expect great pics, though. I'll try, but suck at pictures & doubt my 70 y/o uncle is any better. Lol! He's bringing his 16' Tracker & I'm bringing my new to me little 15' Lowe along as well, so my uncle can help make my learning curve a little less steep & I can get some practice, puttering about during the heat of the day. Never owned nor piloted a boat in my life & am more than a little freaked out by "big" water, so I'll take all the help I can get.

My uncle & I are fishing Thursday & Friday & putting in at Fairfield. Any tips on getting into some fish in that general area? Uncle & his buddy are after cats & I'd love to get into some crappie or white bass. Wouldn't mind trolling a bit in the hopes of maybe a walleye, too. Any tips or advice on getting bit this time of year would be greatly appreciated.

I like to play with the exotics. An old Army bud in NC had a friend who grew them & he'd hook me up with pickled Carolina Reapers, Trinidad Scorpion salsa & other assorted preparations of the like. Most of the deer I harvest become jerky & my marinade for 10lbs of jerky typically includes 6-7 whole pickled Reapers, the same number of dried ghost chilis & a bottle of Scorpion hot sauce. Another NC friend got into the spice game a couple years ago & gave me a couple bottles of his hot sauce 'fore we moved up here. The mango habanero is great, but his "Blood Sacrifice"- Carolina Reapers & blood oranges, is next level.

@Ketchup Big thanks for taking me out. It is hugely appreciated, even if we didn't even need to wash our hands after. We'll get 'em next time. It's kinda funny in a way, 'cos I remember getting dejected/frustrated as a kid not catching anything & I have a low frustration tolerance as it is. 'N even though we didn't land anything, I never felt bored, frustrated, whatever. I was content hanging out on the water, getting pestered by bluegill & getting one close to the boat every now & then. Maybe karma's keeping me humble by reminding me that fishing don't equal catching. "Bad" day on the water certainly beats a good day most other places & I'll chalk that up as a lesson learned. Big thanks as well for the technical instruction. I'm all about some learning, so any time you wanna impart some knowledge, just shoot me a time, location & uniform & I'll be there. So yeah, no fish in the boat, but I had fun learning a bunch of cool stuff. Net win, in my opinion.

Good talking to you on the phone. Looking forward to getting out on the water with you tomorrow.

Shoot me a time & place (other than this Sunday & Monday) & I'll be there, good sir.

Thank you. That is hugely generous of you. I'm retired, so getting away is no problem, but... I'm a keeper/eater kinda guy. If there's a possibility of running into crappie, bluegill, or maybe even some whites while chasing bass & you don't mind me keeping 'em, I would love to take you up on your offer.