CBedo

Let's say that you hit that 340 million dollar powerball on Wednesday, and decide you want the best of the best on your boat. What electronics would you have on this thing? I'm thinking a LCX 111HD RAM mounted on the console, but not sure which model for the bow? What else would you want?

I guess you have two points, Madhouse. 1) Would I be happy with a ten grand rig. Answer: Probably not, I want a big monster (with warranty) with a big front deck to fish team tourneys. 2) Should I buy "on time" as you say? Answer: Financing is better than paying cash, if you have better alternative investments. Even though I will finance this thing 15 years, I expect to pay it off in 5 or less. If over that five year period, I could make more money investing somewhere else than what the loan costs me, then it makes sense to finance (as long as you still have financial flexibility and are not overextended). And I do expect that, so this is not a question of whether or not I will finance, but HOW I will finance. I do understand what you're saying though, and appreciate the thoughts.

I have used worm binders in the past and they work great if it is your boat, but if you have to pack light as a non-boater in a tournament, I like to thin them down a bit. Instead, I have started using the Plano 3730 (or 80, can't remember) boxes. They are taller than the regular 3700s so you can put whole worm bags in the box. Just put in what I need, and throw it in my carry case. Usually you can split the dividers in two, but if you're fishing big worms it might be more of like 2/3 or 3/4. This is fine, since yo can put hooks, sinkers, beads, scent, or whatever else you might need in the smaller spots. I carry a couple of soft plastic boxes, and a couple of hard bait 3700s, and then throw in one spinnerbait wallet, and I'm usually good to go.

Bird Watcher -- what my grandfather used to call people who only fished the banks (looking at the shore and trees I guess). Also Bank Basher. Zig-Zagger -- what he called someone who fished offshore structure using their electronics (before GPS) since they had to zig zag all over a spot to find their brush pile or hump.

Sounds like smallie territory, so don't listen to me. Listen to guys like RoadWarrior and others will smallie expertise. But I'd if you're gonna fish smallmouth in clean water, you gotta have the jerkbait in your aresenal. Pointer, Rapala, Rogue,......

Also, I am exploring a home equity loan since that interest will be tax deductible.

I'm getting close to pulling the trigger, and wanted to get you guy's thoughts on financing. I'm planning on putting down about ten grand, and then financing the rest for 15 years, although I assume I'll pay it off in 5 or less. But I figure going out fifteen, if for some reason, I have a tight stretch, I should easily still be able to make my payments. Any thoughts on who to finance it with would also be appreciated. I hate my bank! Has anyone used any of the internet resources? Thanks for everything

Yes, I've looked at Rangers. In fact, the Ranger Z is probably the boat that is leading the hunt in my mind. But I'm looking for info on the Legend, because this one is on the list as well right now.

Mercury has their own "net." That's exactly what smartcraft does. You can get as much or as little info as you want about what's going on with your Merc. Only problem is that their system is not the NMEA open standard. It is proprietarty to Mercury.

You would only need one receiver, BUT your other unit has to be able to display maps and process the gps files. So in essence, you'll still need two GPS units. I actually like having two, even if they are linked. I like being able to set waypoints on the bow as I find structure or fish, or to be able to follow a trail around a grassline. But I also like having the GPS on the console to be able to get to those points.

Anyone have any opinions on the Legend bass boats? I saw one that had a sweet paint job, and crawling around in it, it looked pretty well laid out. I hear that they will have a 19 footer rated at 225 this fall with some changes to the design to make it even better. I'm buying a boat sometime before the end of the year, and this one's in the running.

I see that Ranger has announced that every 2006 boat will be wired for LowranceNet. My question is as a bass fisherman, what benefits will this provide to you? The first one that comes to mind for me would be waypoint sharing between the bow and console units. What do you guys think?

Nice one. Good observation about the pads too O2/CO2 process. Understanding this can help you in the spring time as well when the water rises and floods new vegetation. When the water first gets into a piece of cover, we all know they can be fish magnets. But have you noticed that as that bush or vegetations starts to die, that even though it looks like a key spot, you don't get bit there? It's the same phenomenon. It is using oxygen instead of producing it. But there is hope! As soon as thing is about dead, then it is GOOD cover again, and the fish will move back in. Hopefully, understanding this will help you have a more efficient day tossing that spinnerbait or pitching that jig!

I'm just starting to order supplies to make some jigs. My girlfriend actually ordered me a lead pot and some supplies. Pretty darn good girlfriend if you ask me....I'm sure she has an agenda! lol I'd like to build a rod at some point, but definitely want someone to hold my hand on that one. P.S. Dang, just noticed this was already my 200th post. I guess I have opinions! Can't be good when your 200th post mentions your girlfriend.

If the pads or the wood is in the back of the coves where creeks come in, both could be good. In the fall, usually bass are following the bait. Usually baitfish migrate back into the coves from the main lake in the fall. Put a single or doubletail grub on that jig and swim it like a spinnerbait. If the pads are thick enough, and the jig is light enough, you can actually pull it across the pads, and drop it in the holes. As far as other baits, topwater around bait is always good. Also, crankbaits on the edges of the creek channels and lipless cranks and spinnerbaits in the same areas work well. Good luck.

I often use a jig as a drop shot weight as it allows me to cover two sections of the water column. It is legal, but you need to check before you use it in a tournament, as some tourneys have rules against multiple lure rigs. One important piece of advice if you do this though, be very carefuly when you tie the palomar knot to the drop shot worm. If you fray the tag end, then the jig connection will be weak.

Have any of you found a great price for a Lowrance iFinder H2O Plus (the plus is a map create, a reader, and a card I believe)? I was thinking of getting one for when I'm in the back of the boat. Then I could transfer data between it and my 332C. Thanks

Intersting findings. It would be interesting to see if you wait until next summer to fish it again, if you then use that same jig, if they remember it. Also, it would be interesting to see if you pound them with a different bait for a while, if you then go back to the jig, would they remember it. I believe that bass definitely get conditioned to certain lures, but, their memories don't work the same way ours do, and over time, that pavlovian conditioning loses effect if not continually reinforced. (I believe this is one reason why fishing the beginning of the year can be so good in places where there is an off season.)

And for those curious about my original question. I got an email from Ranger that said with engine, batteries, trailer, gear and some gas, I need to be able to pull about 5000. When I add everything up, I get somewhere around 4000 or so.

I'll more than likely end up with one of the big three's 3/4 ton diesels. Besides for the boat, I hope to add a Lance camper to it sometime in the next year.

I am an "Insider." It's not that expensive, and you do get alot more content (what you used to get as a regular member). Also, you get some discounts, and preferred status at some tourneys I think.

I love my Solar Bats. I have the moss green lenses. They are awesome. And the pair I have, you can remove the stems and replace them with a goggle strap. That along with a foam insert cuts out all the incoming light, which is great for spring time sight fishing.

I was reading an article about playing to your strengths and started thinking. In playing to my strengths, what do I unconsciously avoid? What do I not have confidence in? And then, what should I do about it!? Although, there are many things I need to work on, I seem not to throw very many crankbaits. When looking back, this seems out of whack. I guess I just don't have a ton of confidence in them but never really thought about it until I started reviewing my logs. What am I going to do about it? As we come into the fall, I know that a crankbait can be deadly, as a search device during the transition, and as a catcher when you find'em. I plan on "overusing" a crankbait to some extent, as to get over my "crankbaitphobia." I'm sure we all have degrees of "weakness" with certain techniques. What are you guys' weaknesses? And what are you going to do about it?

Personally, I think it depends on how long you've been driving a bass boat and what type of water you primarily run in. If you've been driving a bass boat for a long time, then you've probably mastered the one hand steering and proper acceleration/deceleration techniques. But I find it easier (I learned with a hot foot) to keep both hands on the wheel. I think that if you run big water (like Lake Mead), where it can get rough in a hurry and you might be looking at a long run to get home, I feel safer with both hands on the wheel. Lastly, you might not want a hot foot if you have to idle out of big stump fields. It is a little tough to stand up to see what's coming and steer out of the stumps and still keep your foot on the hot foot. JMHO

I'm thinking of maybe a Chevy 2500 with the Duramax. I'll be pulling this thing lots of miles.