edwin

IMHO, it depends on how you want to use the outboard. if it's just to putt around a small area and you have a trolling motor to get you back, the Seafoam idea is worth trying. That said, if you need to ensure it's good to go / reliable, only way (again, IMHO) is tear it down and give the carb a thorough cleaning. Lots of places that gas varnish will build up...can cause some real funky running conditions.

I'm a fan of an old stand by, the Zoom super fluke thrown weightless (lighter hook for slow sink, heavier hook for faster sinking) on a spinning rod. Works well for me along steep bluffs. Also, an added benefit of the spinning rod is that I can wear full gloves if the weather is cold and nasty.

I've had Trey go thru my reels before...quick turn around, fair prices, and he did a great job. No issue whatsoever

Congrats to the both of y'all...she's a beauty! I'm envious of your shared passion for the sport, and even more jealous of Donna's brilliance to recognize the single console benefits. Heck, on one hand I can count the number of times my wife has been in my fishing boat over the past 15 years...none of which were pleasant events for either of us Needless to say, she's not exactly unhappy to see my Bass Cat going to a new owner next weekend Enjoy the new ride, edwin

sale pending, going to it's new home next weekend.

Tnx Ham...already on the BCB site as well Hate to sell her but it just doesn't get used much, and I don't see that changing much for the foreseeable future.

Ultra clean, garage kept 2008 Cougar FTD. I'm the second owner of the boat (have owned since Oct 2009), completely trouble free and 100% ready to go. No idea what it will run with a tournament load as it's never been used in a tournament...I just fishing by myself or with my kids. The boat has never been wet inside since I've owned it. I can scan the original build sheet if you want to see it. Boat is currently at Table Rock Lake but can also be brought to St. Louis. Clear titles on boat, motor, and trailer. Merc 250 Pro XS with 160 hrs. Only issue ever was a coil replaced 2 years ago. Trophy 26in prop in new condition, prop lock, spare Trophy prop in great shape. HB 997 in the dash HB 1198 on the bow with transducer guard MG 82lb trolling motor hotfoot New Diehard Platinum 31m TM batts last spring Diehard Platinum 27m starting battery new in 2011 Updated latches to the current metal Perko style Aluminum battery trays Perko battery cut off switch 8" jackplate 3 bank onboard charger Deans BCB cover rod organizer on port side SmartCraft gauges remote trim BCB trailer with perfect bunk carpet retractable tie downs dual back up lights claw wheels with matching spare Gatorhyde finish Swing tongue $32k OBO Drop me a line at scottstl@hotmail.com if you have questions.

Just use your best judgement and be courteous to all fellow boaters.

I wish I had better news to report, but the last couple days have been tough fishing. I've been accompanied by my brother who's somewhat less than accomplished fisherman. We started out Friday with him throwing a couple of my finely tuned, freshly spooled Chronarchs. Didn't take but 30 mins to have em both trashed past their useful life...should have taken a pic of the birds nests as they were about as bad as I've ever seen . Moved him to the spin cast equipment and we were cooking with gas. Both Fri and Sat was pretty tough to pull together any kind of a pattern. I could find em deep as BB had mentioned, but they wouldn't' hardly look at the dropshot or spoon..no takers. We did manage a few shorts on single tail grubs (smoke with silver flake in the clouds, smoke and pepper when sunny)...as well as a few on the tube, small PBJ jig, and a WM candy finesse worm. Most fish were taken pretty shallow 6-10', tight to cedar trees with some wind blowing. Flat calm water only produced one fish but we needed to get out of the wind occasionally to warm the hands back up. edwin

Great suggestion, Champ. We left the sticks behind as the BassCat has spent far too much time on the trailer over the last 6 months and not enough time getting used. We're hopefully getting back in a couple weeks with the family, will have to get over there and thwack it around. Have heard great things about the course. I've never played there but have played Branson Creek a dozen times or so...love that track. Enjoy the weekend folks, will provide an update on the fishing later today. edwin

Thanks for the info Bill. I've got the Bass Cat loaded up, will be heading down that way this evening. Taking my non-fisherperson brother for a long weekend. We don't get to hang out much as we both have families with semi-grown kids that keep us in separate directions more that we'd like. Should be a great time catching up, BS'ing about the growing up days, and sharing a few cold ones. Good luck with the deer hunting. edwin

I love my Falcon Cara's for sure (think I have 5 of them). That said, I've picked up a few St Croix Legend Tournament rods over the last couple seasons. The top water rod is really, really nice. I'm also a fan of the jerk bait rod in that same series. Like Champ, I throw the topwater, spinner, etc on 17lb mono...Maxima for me please

Sounds like a plan...guess last year the time kinda got away from us before we made it happen. How's the first or second week of November look?

Sharp folks with great service...hard to find that level of support these days.

I'm pretty familiar with the inboard world as I own two of them now. Both are designed to create the smallest wake possible with no onboard ballast system. As mentioned, the wake boats have ballast systems that are nothing more than huge, closed live wells. They pump in / out just like a bass boat...in fact, some even use the exact same Johnson pumps as my BassCat. Additionally, the wake boats have to deal with the same dry tank rules as all other boats when it comes to zebra mussels. All the new regulations / laws in the world won't help if they can't / don't even enforce the ones on the books today.

I have a friend that's coming down for a week in early August, staying somewhere in the Aunts Creek area. He'd like to have his trailer freshened up while his boat is in the water for a few days. He says he'd like to get some rust spots on the fenders fixed /repainted, replace the trailer bunks, etc. Anyone have any suggestions on a gold place for him to take the trailer? tnx edwin

Not that I'm the expert here, but I'll add this - I've had plenty of experiences where folks have shown extremely poor judgement in the way they operate their boat. This applies to both the pleasure boater dragging a tuber while not watching where they go...but also to the T angler cutting off others while running at WOT, rude behavior when not running, etc. In the end, there is one major difference - the wally pleasure boater doesn't know any better or even realize what they're doing. I'd welcome the new rules to enforce keeping everyone responsible for their own wake.

one thing we really enjoy is taking a lake cruise up to Koppie's at Cape Fair or to as my kids call it "the carp place" at Campbell Point. We've gravitated towards Cape Fair 3 out of 4 times for the last year (twice at Koppies so far this year)...but the eating on the water followed by a nice lake cruise home is a welcome change.

I love it!!!!

One add'l suggestion I'd recommend over all things that have been mentioned - get ahold of the Bill Babler recordings of the discussions he's led when talking at MO Dept of Conservation events. I can't even guess how many times I've listened to his late winter thru early spring season seminar. He goes thru the various baits he uses, what rods / reels, what part of the lake, etc. Fantastic info!!!

I'm only a part time fisherman at most, but the best thing I ever did was hire a guide. I've learned more about my electronics, reasons why I'd fish that kind of area vs another based on conditions, learned new fishing techniques, etc. I shudder to think how my hundreds of gallons of gas and who knows how many days I spent driving all over h*ll and gone trying to catch fish.

Frank the headcover commercials were the best...thanks for digging that up!

Great comments, Champ. Reminds me of a Ping golf commercial from a few yrs ago where they encourage the customers to not quit their day job. http://unleashedhumor.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=665:funny-ping-g10-commercial-dont-quit-your-job

The other day, I was asking the gent at the Kimberling City tackle shop "why don't you put those guys over there BS'ing (those coffee drinkers ) to work building A-rigs?" Gave us both a chuckle...

Congrats!!!