J-Doc

HOLY SHAD BATMAN!! That's bigger than most crappie! Man that's a big ole bait right there. Let us know if you get the record.

I finally watched it last night. Was neat seeing your area on national TV. I assume he bought that Bass Cat from Mobile Marine? I know he said he borrowed the boat from a friend and that friend used to have a Champion. Looked like a new rig to me. Knowing all of that made the show more interesting to me. You have more of a connection to the show. As for the show........ I'll stick with Beaver. There are better sized crappie in Beaver in my opinion. But I must eat at this place in Fayetteville! That looked great!

Yep. I thought Xi5 was for birds and not for Lowrance. If it's not linked in at the console, the non touch model could work. The 9touch could be a good option but for trolling, the 10is great. I watch 4 views on the same screen. GPS, side scan, down scan, sonar.

You don't want a wet noodle for a rod. Good strong backbone, medium limber rod tip, good strong handle and reel seats. Cabelas makes some nice trolling rods for a fair price. I'll have to check out the BPS rods suggested above.

I currently use 7ft Medium heavy Abu Conolans. Graphite jig rods is what they were bought for many years ago. Sensitive rod tips. They are WAY overkill but I catch crappie with them trolling. Just turn down the drag. If by yourself, turn on the bait clicker. That way when a fish hits, you hear the clicker. Flip it off, reel em in! :-) I'm about to start playing with a dipsy diver. Adds depth to baits without using downriggers. Leadcore can get baits deeper also but 10lb flouro seems best all around. Downriggers is almost like cheating. Much more control, tighter turns, full on trolling.

Gen2 HDS 10 IS what I have. I don't have to have a touch screen and now that Gen 3 is out.....you should be able to scoop up (2) HDS10's for the price of one HDS10 touch. Or a 12. Think about that. Two 8's or two 10's on the console (drool). Not kidding. I bet you could get the 10 for $1k or$1.22k with the LSS2 unit. Maybe even below $1k. 3 is about what mine averages. And I feel ya on getting thrown out. Almost happened to me once.

Yep. I've been up to LOZ twice now. I'm familiar with the drive. Direct from factory......me like!

That's no lie. Or change spots or baits. Nice trolling motor! I got the 80lb Fortrex. I can hit 3.5mph (gps) on my Ranger RT188!! Lol!! She's a screamer. Bet it would do 4.5 with the 112lb thrust. That's craziness!!

Oh I bet it does. I like how it's laid out like a Creastlner or Lund but a glass package. Great big lake boat. I got my little RT188 in July and I'm already looming at my next boat. Lol!! Probably 5yrs down the road but boat shopping is so fun. :-) My next one may be a deep v river aluminum jet boat like they use in Alaska. Ride good on rough water, power to boot, great troller. Then again I may get a bigger bass boat. Who knows. But it's fun looking.

Yes they are proud. Why I ordered a spool on eBay. Lol!! Life? Not really. I never trolled with mine like that. Power yes. Mine would pop too which is why I upgraded. Big difference. Never popped again wide open I'm windy water for half a mile. 65lb thrust Kota 24v.

What I meant was I don't see any of them on either tour (FLW or BASS). That surprises me. I'd expect a few. Legend has come on the scene strong the last several years. Maybe Charger will as well. Even f they do.t, oh well. As long as they stay in business and make great boats.....good for them. That 186 and multi species has me thinking....... And I just got a new ride. Lol

I got two Cabelas line counter reels about two years Avon. Haven't done anything to them but use them a lot. I think I might have added some "Hot Sauce" lube when they were new. Come to think of it, I should clean them this weekend. So thanks!! Lol For the price point, those are about the finest reels you can get. I'll probably buy two more. For trolling rods, some 7-8ft Ugly sticks would be great. You don't have to have hi-dollar trolling rods. It's not about sensitivity. It's about having a flexible rod tip where you can see the action of the bait, not losing a fish due to a stiff rod, and something that's tough enough to handle the occassional big fish. As for trolling, look at the sticky above this forum. More info than you can read in one night. Lots of info there. Oh and buy the dang Flicker Shads. Start off with.6mm and 7mm in Pearl White and use some barrel swivel snaps. Smaller the better. And 10lb flourocarbon line. And as some think, you're randomly catching fish by just driving around. You're not. Think bass fishing. Where would you throw cranks baits down a bank? Now apply that and troll them behind you at a select depth and place the baits I'm the strike zone. Watch your graph, Mark waypoints, etc. It is a very methodical practice that has taught me a lot.

Just saw some photos on their Facebook page. Just cannot see why they are not more mainstream and as popular as other brands. These are some slick looking rigs. Very nice looking. I'm very impressed. And the price point is highly competitive. Yet I've not seen them at a boat show or anything. Really odd. Super nice rig man. Bet you're very proud. I would be.

Quick question.... What is composite about it? their website has some nice pictures but doesn't really showcase their storage and construction of their boats but notes a composite construction. It is a fiberglass boat correct?

Man that thing is nice!! Love the colors. Forgive me but I have not heard much about these. What does it run? 72-74? Sweet looking rig. I really like how the hull is designed. Looks like it could cut wakes well.

Check car audio places. Last resort but they should have it. Multistrand is what you want. I ran 6ga. on my old boat. Man what a difference. Had a bit more power and never overheated and shut down my relay on long runs after upsizing from 12ga to 6. Otherwise order it online. I've got a roll at home I could sell ya if you get desparate. I think there is enough to run full length of a boat twice. I can look. I ordered a big spool of it and it's just sitting there. Forgot I had it actually.

I've been in the back and most I saw was in channels. Jan 1 people raced back there first thing and I didn't see them catch a thing. Mine came out of the channel. Nothing on the banks or in her back. The saying on Beaver is "Shad today, gone tomorrow". They move in and out all the time. I know where you're talking about. They come and go like the wind. Big ball of bait.

Nothing wrong with bundling up. Man that's a nice report and gotta LOVE that the Ned caught quality bass. It's not a small bass bait. It's a fish bait. Catches all kinds. Lol! That's Beaver for you. Catch them good in one spot and ghost town on other areas. That's where knowing where the fish are is key and that can change overnight. Great job!! Btw, I too thought Monte Ne seemed a bit absent. It's been that way most of the winter so far.

What hurts is knowing they are out there fishing and getting up to date reports and pictures.......... While you're stuck at work. And not fishing with them. THAT's what hurts.

And careful what you Google. Don't want to find stuff you didn't intend (wink)

A certain guide service told me he would cruise the shorelines finding brush to sink. All he would take was blocks and cable for supplies. Find a brush and say "Oh that's a 2-blocker" or "that one's definitely a 4-blocker". :-)

I'd think it would not sink on its own. Especially if green. And it is a bait hanging magnet.

Lol!!!! Now that's a good one. All serious to the end. :-)

I'm an architect so they need to be "pretty trees". You know......the Bob Ross variety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Wo1ubuzAE To legally place brush piles, I think you need a permit. The AGFC want to know the locations so they can log them and such. Rope rots I'm told (makes sense), chain rusts, cable....seems to do well. Cable and clamps are more affordable than chain and doesn't impact the ecosystem either. To me, that's what's more important. There are enough brush piles in the lake now so my advice is to place it where you have a secret go to spot that no one ever fishes. And deep enough that you can fish it year round. And NEVER use chicken wire. Somebody thought that was a good idea. I have about $35 worth of baits on a couple of them like that.

Wish I could have taken advantage of the great weather. I received some nice Ned jig heads in the mail yesterday. All I need is time and some reasonable cooperation with the weather to test and learn a new technique. Very nice bass btw.