Longball22

I have a Lowrance Elite 7 and Hook 7 that have been removed from my boat. They're a great unit for the money in my opinion, but the one terrible thing with them is the map refresh rate, particularly with a Navionics card installed. You'll notice every software update that Lowrance releases for these addresses this issue....

So my HDS 5 Gen 2 stopped powering on last weekend during the BBT. I called Lawrence today, and was astonished at what they told me. Unit is out of warranty, but still covered under their discounted replacement plan. Here's what they offered: $275 for a replacement, $475 for an HDS 7 Gen 3, $928 for the 9", and $1250 or so for the 12". Having a hard time saying no to that price on the upgrade to 12" I'm currently looking at Gen 3 information, and I was reading the fine print and noticed something that I believe is noteworthy. the 7" and 9" have the same screen resolution, which means all the 9 does is give you a bigger picture, not a clearer one. If you can see the 7" fine, I find it hard to justify the extra $$$. The 12", however, has a much higher resolution (1280 x 800 vs. 800 x 480). This would equate to much better clarity of your picture. I will say, however, that I think Lowrance did a great job of making their demos so this isn't as noticeable. Looks like I'll be moving my HDS 7 Gen 2 touch to the console, and put the 12" at the bow based on what I saw playing around at Bass Pro tonight. If that HDS 8 you have is a Gen 2, a lot of folks really liked that particular unit. If you aren't concerned about the latest and greatest bells and whistles, I'd look at some of the deals Cabela's is running on Gen 2 touch stuff. For $900 with $100 in Cabela's bucks, this would be hard to beat in the 9"range. http://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/electronics/boating-electronics|/pc/105591780/c/105681780/sc/105684480/lowrance-reg-hds-9-gen2-touch-sonar-gps-combo-with-hdi-transducer/2130800.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-electronics%2F_%2FN-1102704%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105684480

After catching 6 short fish on them all day today, I threw all of mine in the lake. Definitely made me feel better, and freed up a ton of space in my boat. On a serious note, I store mine in a small duffel bag that has similar dimensions to a pack so I can stuff them in. The cutting the package down suggestion got the wheels spinning. I wonder if, rather than cutting them individually, just cutting the "bezel" around the perimeter of the pack would be worth the effort to cut their bulk down. Maybe rubber band several packs together after doing that to keep them in tact.

A little late to get this up, but thought I'd post. Went out Saturday afternoon with my Dad after the rain, and caught 13 fish. Fished some points and gravel and caught SM, K's, and a few meanmouth (all shorts) on the ned. Seemed like you either pulled up on a spot in 15-25 ft of water and started catching, or needed to move on immediately. After some good catching, my Dad was stepping off the back deck into the boat and tripped himself up, slowly dancing over the side of the boat. All was well, and he saved the rod in his hand, but a few lessons learned: 1. I have never seen the inflatable vests deploy, and I was amazed at the speed in which they do. He said it sounded like a jet was taking off underwater. 2. I don't have a boarding ladder on the back of my boat (2006 Nitro). He was able to step back in off of the cavitation plate, but that was a challenge for him. We may re-evaluate the boarding ladder situation. After a bunch of laughing, and taking my wet father back to the dock to dry off, I went back out and focused on bluff ends. Ended up with 5 or 6 fish off one bluff on an underspin and 3.8 keitech, including a 19" smallmouth and 22" walleye on consecutive casts. (Pictured below) Went out Sunday AM and was more of the same, with about 15 fish (mostly shorts) until they seemed to turn off a bit around 11.

If they're the same orange ones I have, I think you can get them in the craft section at Wal-Mart for like $3. They rust easily, but do the trick on small rings. Yep... https://www.walmart.com/ip/Craft-and-Jewelry-Split-Ring-Pliers-5.5/35670440

This is how I typically operate as well. Having sonar and DS side by side on my graphs, particularly over trees, helps me give a sanity check of where the fish are in the trees. Bill hit it on the head, the CHIRP definitely helps with target separation, but I think having downscan would be the better value. Just my personal opinion though.

My vote goes to outlawing tubers. It appears that you have to take common sense/awareness of your surroundings and stow them under a seat, or neatly up your @$$, so you can give the person you're towing a good ride.

A dock with a fish cleaning station on it is hard to beat. Seems to group them up a bit.

I use one of these (meant for spinner rigs and the like) and keep about a half dozen drop shot rigs tied up. Just have to tie to the swivel and hang a sinker, and I'm off to the races: http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/tackle-storage/tackle-binders-utility-boxes|/pc/104793480/c/104777280/sc/104620680/tackle-tamer/2170979.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ftackle-binders-utility-boxes%2F_%2FN-1100380%2FNo-48%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNP%26recordsPerPage%3D48 The line memory is a little annoying if they've been on there a while, so I keep a fly fishing leader straightener close by to eliminate the coils. At night after I've screwed up all of my rigs, I enjoy a cold beverage (or 6) while refill the keeper.

$5 to get through the gate at Port of Kimberling.

Thumbs, did you read the title of my report? I never strayed much beyond site of the 13 bridge. By the way, got to try my Cabela's Arachnid baitcaster today. I'm in love. Thanks abkeenan for bringing that one to light. Throws the Wart further than I've ever been able to with my Lew's or Shimanos. Might even buy another one while they are on sale for $110.

Got to the lake mid-day today, and got out for a few hours this afternoon. Wind was blowing a little hard for my liking, but got on some banks that were blown and caught 3 fish. All LM, in less than 5 feet of water on prototypical crankbait banks. Best is pictured below, 4.5lbs, 21" long. Best fish I've had on this lake in a while. Other two were about 3lbs and 2lbs. Missouri Craw wart (post-rap) did all the damage. Wish I'd gotten on the water earlier...... Should get out all day tomorrow, and hopefully the wind hangs around, but dies down a little. Was hard to hold the boat this afternoon.

I've gone to Maxima almost exclusively on spinning and baitcasting equipment. I've also used P-Line and had pretty good luck, but I'm just more confident in Maxima.

I'll back anyone up on the Cabela's Guidewear. I have the 100mph bibs from BPS as well, and while they both do their job, I think the quality of construction/pockets are better on the Guidewear. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is a down vest. I've tried down jackets under my Guidewear, and I feel constricted. I prefer a vest when I'm hunting or fishing, because it traps heat in your core, but allows ventilation from your armpits, which I think helps me keep from sweating more than anything else I do. I walk a lot when hunting in Iowa, so this is the hardest thing to manage. Also easier to cast with a vest on than a full jacket underneath.

Has anyone tried the Daiwa Lexa? Good reviews on Cabela's, and they're on sale for $80 right now.....

Bo, I apologize if that came off as offensive. That was not what I meant at all. I just meant that you seem to examine conditions before you decide to put your boat on the water. Most reports I've seen on here have been that the conditions are tough right now. My assumption, based on what you've posted in the past, is that you're waiting for conditions to improve before squeezing in some time on the water. I certainly appreciate the information you've provided on this forum, and have bought and use your products. I would not have said anything that was meant to offend you. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Bo only seems to fish/post when there are fish to be caught/conditions are right. Coincidence.....? Probably not.

I have an Abu Orra, not the S, that belongs at the bottom of the lake next to Champ's Lew's spinners. Not sure if they did any better with the Orra S, but there's my 2 cents.

Cabela's has them for $125.99 right now. Mine is in the mail. Thanks for the info!

I'll second that on the PQ reels. Really hard to beat them at that price point, particularly if they are on sale. Was disappointed that this year they paired them with the junk carbonlite rods for the same price point, rather than marking the price down. I've also picked a few PQ refurbs up at the BPS Catalog Outlet for $60 a piece, and have been pleased with them as well. They also have a 4.9:1, which is what I have on my Wart rod.

I have a 7' medium action Abu Garcia Veritas - Winch 2.0 that I love to throw. I hate the standard Veritas rods, very stiff. The winch series is the cranking specific rod, with a more moderate action, and I think it is great for smaller cranks. $99 at Academy or BPS, etc.

Thought this was the best "synopsis" of what the top 10 were doing there: https://www.flwfishing.com/news/2016-11-05-top-10-baits-from-table-rock-lake Nothing too crazy in there, but I was drawn into 4th place Greg Bohannan's crankbait in the picture: Skirmish Baits A10 crankbait. So I did the homework: http://www.skirmishbaits.com/product-category/medium-diving-crankbaits/a10-wide-wobbling-crankbait/ http://www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1527028-early-season-crankbait-fishing-tips As if you didn't need another reason to go online and buy more Wiggle Wart imitators...... This company actually has some good looking baits, in some appealing colors.

I'll go ahead and lighten things up. I'm with Wrench about putting them in 14' jon boats. This is what I want the race to the weigh in to look like: I think a high school kid might find this more fun than riding around in a 50k bass boat.

Are they selling live bait (particularly minnows) there?

Agree with trying Bill Beck. I go out with him a few times a year. Invaluable information. 417-335-1867