Popeye

Update: Well I finally boated my FIRST bass in my "new" used ProCraft!! Admittingly it was a smallish 1 1/2 pounder that I caught on a Fat Ika, but it sure was NICE to get that "monkey off my back". After all, having the Bait Monkey permanently affixed is enough burden to bear:o) Bite on Otay was still SLOW. My buddy and I only boated 3 fish all day (all caught on plastics). It does appear that the BG bite is starting to pick up from what others were telling us.

THANKS, guys!! No worries - I took the ProCraft out for the second time yesterday and when I got home my wife helped guide me into the garage and it was MUCH EASIER this time. Not much effort at all. Seems I'm getting better and better at backing the trailer up the driveway slope and into the garage. NO clutch smell/burning at ALL!!!

A hearty WELCOME to the BR Forums - the BEST bass fishing site on the Net, IMO. I wish I could help answer your questions but I am no expert on fish finders. I'm sure the rest of the great guys and gals on BR will assist you.

Persistance and patience, along with the great suggestions from the other guys, WILL pay off for you! I can guarantee that IF you stay home, you most certainly will not catch any fish either! Now keep getting out there and start nailing 'em.

OK, RW, I finally boated a nice little 1 1/2 pounder on a watermelon w/red flakes Fat Ika yesterday morning!! Super glad to get "over the hump" with that lure and gain some more confidence in it (as mentioned in another post, I had one hookup last Saturday on an identical Ika, but the fish threw the lure as it was dancing around on top of the water). NOW all I gotta do is find those +5 pounders who'll gobble up this thing:o) THANKS to you, RW, for the great tip(s) on this plastic!!

Well, I'm heading to Lower Otay for another day of fishing with a friend from Florida who is in San Diego on business. This will only be the second time out in the boat and I sure hope I do better than last time and that the dang wind doesn't pick up so bad. If you happen to be out there and see a white with maroon front strip ProCraft, give a holler (I'll be wearing a RED teeshirt and tan shorts and will be on the back of the boat since my buddy is way more experienced handling the trolling motor than I:o)

Welcome to the BR Forums - the BEST bass fishing site on the Net, IMO! Super glad you finally decided start posting. Everyone's knowledge and expertise is appreciated by all.

A hearty WELCOME to the BR Froums to another fellow Hoosier!!! I too am from Indiana (Richmond) and I too just bought a used ProCraft V-150B with a 75 HP Merc last month, but I live in San Diego currently even though I bought a little 2 1/2 acre mini-farm in Northwestern Indiana to stay at when I am retired (although those plans have now been put off for at least one more year to pay for the boat). Where in Indiana do you live??

Drive DEFENSIVELY! Always expect the other driver to do something unexpected. Keep your attention on what you and the other drivers around you are doing EVERY SECOND you are behind the wheel (yes, even when you're stopped at a stoplight or stopsign). "Driving's a serious business" - John Milner, "American Graffiti"

Glenn: you and the Mods make GREAT decisions with regards to the well being of the fantastic BR Forums (all of them). I can honestly say that the BR forums are the BEST I personally have EVER belonged to. I have learned SO MUCH and daily enjoy reading all the posts of the other great guys and gals!! ALL of you folks are AWESOME, IMO!!! Many THANKS go out to you, the Moderators, and the members of BR!

A well deserved award for you Stacy!!!

A hearty WELCOME to the BR Forums - the BEST bass fishing site on the Net, IMO. IF I read your initial post correctly, you WERE able to snag the rig you lost overboard(??). If so, I'd say you indeed did have a great day out - your first bass catch and a retrieval of your lost rig. Congratulations!

Welcome to the BR Forums - the BEST bass fishing forums on the Net, IMO. Many great guys and gals here to answer all your fishing questions.

Welcome to both of you guys!! The BR Forums are the BEST bass fishing site on the Net, IMO.

Yep, I don't care much for Mariah when I'm out fishing either. I can handle the cold and rain, but can't do much to offset windy conditions.

A hearty WELCOME to the BR Forums - the PREMIER bass fishing site on the Net, IMO!! Thanks for serving your community the way you do!

Double DITTO to what Sam so eloquently said!! On a comical note: I like/agree with ablefisher's insight on the subject:o) True, there are numerous sports that lead to exciting moments but I find most of them boring most of the time (especially sans brewskies). When I'm fishing, the anticipation of what the next cast may bring is mesmerizing and addicting. Maybe that's why the old "just one more cast" is such a favorite phrase/thought for a lot of us.

A hearty WELCOME to the BR Forums - the BEST bass fishing forum on the Net, IMO:o)

As Kris Kringle said in "Miracle on 34th Street": "as old as my gums and a little older than my teeth." 58:o)

Pegleg - there's never a camcorder around when you really need one:o) It all sounded kinda funny or probably seems funny to you now, but at the time I bet it was a frightening experience!

A fish/fishing spot isn't worth fighting over for the most part. Now if I were landing some nice bass and someone tried to "muscle in", I might say something about that. I find that when someone approaches me and asks if I've had any luck, I just say something like "nothing all day" or "just caught some weeds/snags" and they usually meander off to somewhere else. Last Saturday AND Sunday I watched three float tubers drift directly in front of the area I was fishing from shore (about 25 feet further than I could cast) and they caught 3 - 2 pounders, 1 - 3 pounder, and a nice 4 pounder!! In fact, on Sunday I TOLD the float tuber to fish that area because of the 2 and 3 pounders that were caught the previous day and in LESS than 5 minutes he had caught that 4 pounder and a 2 pounder!!! Needless to say, I ordered me a float tube and waders when I got home (you have to either fish from the shore or use a float tube only on the lake I was fishing at). I was SO frustrated to see that happen and me standing there all day and only getting one decent hookup (the bass threw the Fat Ika I was using as he danced on the water - was quite a site since he was only about 5 feet from shore and 10 feet from me at the time). Most of the time the bass fisherman at the lake I fish are very courteous of others and will not infringe on someone else's area.

I kiss my bass:o)

A hearty WELCOME to the BR Forums - the BEST bass fishing forums on the Net, IMO!

My Boss has a 18' Skeeter with a 90 HP Yamaha 4 stroke and I love it!! More than fast enough to do the fishing we do and plenty stable. On the other hand, my "new" used '95 ProCraft V150B with a 75 HP Merc suits all my fishing needs as well. I'd opt for a "real" bass boat. That's what I did. Just my thoughts and opinion.

I normally keep 3 rods available with 3 different kinds of lures and if I don't have any success with one after about 15 minutes in a location, I'll pick up another and try that for about the same time before using the last different lure. IF the bass are hitting one of the 3, then I'll stick with it until it stops producing. After all 3 fail, which is kinda rare, I'll tie on something else.