lknbassman

Good guy, met him at this years classic. Let us know how it goes. Good luck today!

Yup, what Paul said. Find it once and you find it over and over year over year. Next step is figuring migration routes for each season and then are on your way to knowing what your fish do depending on the time of year. Good stuff.

Good thread indeed. Why we fish varies from angler to angler but most lead in the same direction; love of the sport, self analysis, getting better at problem solving, the challenge of increasing skill and reducing luck only, comradery with other anglers, tradition, etc. All are legit and none outweighs another. For me it's all of the above plus a chance to spend more quality time with my best friend Jesus Christ and try to slow my own busy self centered mind down enough to realize where I am and to be thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the moment and the theatre in which I'm performing; hopefully with rod in hand and fish on the other end of the line.

It's good with or without the rain. In our lake the sunny days push the bass up under boat docks which is about the only cover we have. The rain and clouds get em out roaming a bit more and you can have more luck fishing structure that's not too deep so yeah, it adds another dimension to fishing but I don't like being wet and hate having a wet behind. Goretex is great but it's always hot in the spring and summer so I leave it packed and just deal with being rained on if it's warm enough.

This time of year, find the spawning coves/bays that they are going to be heading toward and intercept them. Then find their food/baitfish and imitate it. This time of year if it's still pre spawn and they have not moved up to spawn yet out there think Points, Points, and Points. Get my point? If they have just move a little farther back in the creeks on the way to the spawning areas and pick them off before they get to the beds. Handle them carefully and put em back ASAP unless you are in a tournament as the females hold the future of your fishery in their bellies. Should put you on a path that you'll continue to develop as you travel it. Hope it helps.

This time of year I'd say just the opposite. The North West factor is often more reliable this time of year as the water warms up there faster in most lakes. Right now if you water is still cool and is just warming up as it is in lots of TN which it looks like that's where you are try some North West creeks on your lake for bass fishing. The idea is that the North West part of the lake is buffeted from cooler winds coming from that direction and dark bottom bays will heat up first. This isn't a rule but it's a good start if you are just getting started. Do some looking into the "In Fisherman" website to get more info or just google the North West Factor in bass fishing for more info on the theory of it. Also break the lake up into thirds if it's a big reservoir and fish the mid lake mouths of the creeks and also about a third of the way back into them. Same thing, the headwaters at the upper third will be colder and the lower part of the lake if it's not a hot hole discharge will be colder often too as that water is clearer usually and a lot deeper with the dam down that way. If the surface temp is warming up then start heading further back in the creeks while looking for the right contour line depths to follow. Use your electronics to find baitfish if you can and figure out where the bass should be depth wise (look in 12-20 feet as a general rule this time of year) on your map or graph and then go find you some secondary points or other irregularities or known structure to focus on that you think might hold fish as you fish your way back in to the creek. If you have some good flats to fish that are near the main lake and lead into spawning coves, those can be paydirt big time so pay attention to your map for those also. If your water is still cold which a lot of Mid and Eastern TN is, fish SLOW. Jerkbaits that suspend, TX rigged worms, Carolina Rigs, and of course jigs with trailers are all good slow presentations to use in chilly water (sub 55 degrees). If it's warmer (55 degress and up), then speed it up some and start throwing your spinner baits, rattle traps, etc. and get that reaction bite going until you get into the mid 60's and then start looking for fish to be on the beds which is where we are in NC right now. I'm trying to figure those out at the moment without actually fishing the beds. Hope it helps you some.

Paul, good insight on your write up. I agree with the bream spawn being a hot time to fish for bass as it's "payback time" for the bass nest raiders. I fish a Brian's Bees prop bait around that time and catch a bunch of fish but it's too early for that to happen right now as it's only about 65 degrees on average surface temp. That being said, I trying to figure out how to catch fish that are not on the beds as I'm not a proponent of bed fishing, I say leave em alone and let em make more bass for us to catch in future years but that's me and everyone does thier own thing so it is what it is. I've gone back out into the mid creek areas and fished points, docks, and the right contour lines but am getting a lot of followers and few bites. With the spawn on in full swing on Lake Norman, I'm trying to figure out how to pick off the ones coming in and the others that are done and moving back out. The only fish I'm seeing with any regularity are those on the beds and I'm not messing with them. The lake has enough issues with stripers, gar, no grass, clear water, a ton of bream, etc for me to get in there and mess it up for them even more. Any ideas on how to catch em away from the beds during this time or is it just that grey area time wise when you either bed fish or you don't fish? I'll be out there throwin regardless but I'd like to boat more like I did during the intense pre spawn sub 60 degree bite that we had going on a few weeks ago. Jerkbaits, worms, and jigs on points crushed previous catch numbers this year but now it's hard to buy a bite if you are not aggrivating one on the beds to bite. The big females are in there, I've seen them and they are HUGE. The males look like yearling bass next to some of these sows. Thanks for any input on techniques to think about as I wait for the bream spawn to begin and the true Summer patterns to emerge.

RE: Do you think those were pre-spawn, or post spawners? Pre's will have noticeable swollen pearly bellies (eggs). Post will most likely be thin in the flanks. Any idea which they might have been? Thanks. I think they were pre spawners that had not moved up yet only because the spawners I'm seeing have bruises on them and look skinnier to me. These fish were fatso's and then some.

So guys, with a spawn as long as you may normally see in say FL or TX, are you sight fishing almost exclusively during those periods and fish migration is not as much of a factor? If not sight fishing are you working to pick fish off that are moving in to spawn or moving out after they have spawned? What puts particular patterns in to your minds during those periods or does one particular pattern become the dominant one other than sight fishing?

Love it man. Zona is just what this sport needs, a guy who doesn't take it all so seriously that the fun gets lost in the process. It's a sport and yes we love it, some try to make a living at it, but it's supposed to be fun. Kind of like golf but that's another topic in itself.... The WGFS is great and I'd personally love to spend the day in the same boat at Zona. I'd definately bust a gut, sing a few old 80's hair band tunes, probably learn something really cool since he's a great angler and hangs out with the best anglers in the world every day, and just have a great time. Zona, if you read this, call me dude. We'll party and have a blast. ESPN should do a show where he picks a guest and comes and fishes with one of us either in a local club event, tourney, or just goes fishing and having a good time. It'd be great and the best part is it'd be real just like the rest of the shows are. It's great TV and I'm glad he and KVD put the wood to Shaw and Roland especially after Shaw was talking some smack when that spinner bait popped out and flew over the boat. I almost fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard. Those guys are living the dream and Zona shows us the lighter side of it because we all know it looks like a tough road to hoe in the world of professional fishing.

Saw the same thing this weekend. We are in a definate spawn cycle here in NC and there are a TON of bass on the beds. I'm not a bed fisherman (don't believe in that part of the sport, to each his own) so I fish the mid creek secondary structure & cover where I hope to pick a few off coming and goinig to and from the beds which just happens to be where I found this exact same thing going on. The spinner bait bite here has been tremendous the past 3 weeks so guess what I'm throwing? Yup, my favorite spinner bait. The water is around 62-68 in many parts of the lake, the water is crystal clear, and I'm targeting cover in the 12-20 foot range and calling up fish left and right but they are not eating all of the sudden? I bail on that spot, motor to another hole that I have luck with and come up on this big ol school of sunbathing pigs. Just bobbing around like a bunch of apples with no particular agenda, they are just hanging out going though what looks like 5-10 foot vertical changes. So I throw way out past them and bring this spinner bait through em hoping to get some love; NOTHING happens, they just look at it, swim along beside it, wink at it, but don't bite it. I don't have any dynamite with me so I go to the rattle trap, then the floating trick worm, then the fluke, crankbait, still nothing so I put my rods down and just hung around them with the TM on low and watched them since they were not buying what I was selling that day...... Wish I could explain what was happening but I can't . All I can say is I got up close and personal with the biggest single school of big bass I've actually seen with my own eyes in open water and enjoyed it for what it was since there was no catching them with any artificial lures I packed that day. Frustrating? Yes. Educational? Not so much, can't say what was taking place... A memorable experience? Absolutely, just another chance to see GOD's creatures up close and enjoy them for what they are. Big ol lazy no eating my $400 worth of every darn bait made including my "A Game" arsenal floatilla of fish....... I still love em anyway, but I'd rather catch em and put em back.

Wondering if you guys have any input on this as to how long the cycle goes on? What actually drives it? Lunar phases, water temperature, or does it just go on for a certain number of weeks typically and then as some move out, more move up and spawn well into the Summer? The spawn is most definately on right now here on Lake Norman in NC and the bass are all over the beds. I'm wondering how long they stick around and when fish generally start their post spawn migration patterns and begin to inhabit their Summer time locations? I know they will reverse their routes; Beds > mid creek structure/cover > deeper water Summer time location just as they were in Winter before warmer water started showing up and the days got longer. Anyone got anything valuable to add on this topic? Would love to hear from you on this. I've not heard one significant data point so far that I'd consider credible. Nothing so far points to how long the cycle actually is and what dictates a shift in patterns. I have instead heard a crap load of mumbo jumbo that's less than half baked scientifically or based on anything other than what some guy heard at the boat ramp yesterday... Let's hear from you guys who follow fish migration and take this as seriously as the rest of us who do. What's your take on the spawn cycle? Thanks for your input, looking forward to reading your interpretation of what takes place this time of year.

Guys, it's done. The decision has been made. The deal has been structured, and the testing is over. Before I reveal the finalist of these intensely scrutinized boats, dealers, supporting people etc, I just want to say thanks to all of the dealers I've dealt with as I traveled down this path toward my final decision. I'll also say that it's really even more evident now with this caliber of boat than say a high end bow rider or ski boat (both which we've owned) that a person is EXTREMELY comfortable with the people he or she is dealing with as there is a lot more "hands on" with a bass boat than other categories all things being equal. Due to the heavy use things may need more attention/repair than they might on another category of boat. This does not mean that they are inferior quality wise at all, just the contrary, all of these boats are built to tournamet specifications and are solid units, the fact that they get used and so much is demanded of them immediately is what I'm getting at. I rarely got into our cobalt and put hammer down to get to a location, cut the engine, allow momentum to carry me forward, all while I race up front and quietly drop a trolling motor down. This super aggressive start and stop has to wear on the whole rig so it's a safe assumption that something might give on a bass boat before another type simply due to the type of use it's under. That all being said, I am very happy to say that I will be in a Triton boat, I'm buying it from the most customer focused marine business I've ever been involved with (and I've owned a lot of boats, types, sizes, categories, etc over the years). Anglers Choice Marine in Martinsville, VA is staffed with genuine hard working people who will put your needs before theirs in order to make you happy. They did me anyway. This is not a shameless plug for them, they earned this commentary and provided me with guidance unlike any other dealer I've worked with regardless of boat brand or type. They have a man there (Mike) who took time out of his own personal day off to run a boat with me. Probably does not sound like a big deal to some, but would you do it? Woud you do it if you knew this? Mike is not a sales guy, he works in the service and parts area, it at the end of the day is not measured on which boat I buy or how much or little I spend. There is no commission on the table for him, he did this because he genuinely gives a hoot about how this thing comes together for me and for that I am very grateful. He and I went through the entire process together, he was with me on every test drive, endured about 1000 questions, some over and over...., and maintained a true professional demeanor while having fun showing a seasoned boater but absolute green horn at bass boat driving how to put a bridle and a harness on a dragon and control it. Not an easy chore and not one that he does every day. Take note of that, he is an exception to the rule as are all of the people who make that business so successful. Now on to the decision....(drum roll please)..... After careful evaluation, numerous test rides, too many conversations with boat owners to recall, input from fellow anglers and experienced bass boaters (ALL OF YOU) via this, my final 3 boats were a 2007 TR21X HP w/a 250 Pro XS, a 2008 20X2 w/a 250 Pro XS, and a 2008 19X2 w/a 225 Pro XS on it. I've decided to buy the 2007 TR21X HP /250 Pro XS boat package. OK, I know you need it as the team at Anglers Choice did as well so I'll give you a minute............ Ready? OK, here we go: Here's the deal, I love both of the X2 boats as if any of you have read this thread must surely know. The decision came down to these elements: 1) Chinewalk - This is a bigger deal to me than most of you since I've got no real experience with a bass boat of this magnitude. I have over 1000 hours of boating experience with other high powered boats but these are unique to themselves as you all know. Regarding Chine Walk, they all do it, some more than others but there is no boat that I've driven (all brands included) that did not do it to some degree once you get near 70 MPH. Therefore that decision criteria became a moot point since it applies to all of the boats I'm looking at. Bottom line; I need to learn how to drive a bass boat. It's not a cigarette boat, it's not a ski/wakeboard boat, it's certainly not a bowrider or a cruiser, it's a rocket and I need to learn how to do it the right way. I'm committed to it and will get it figured out in time. 2) Platform - I really thought the 20X2 would fish a lot differnt than the 21 or the 19 and the reality is that they all fish pretty much (not exactly) the same even though the beam is narrower on the bigger boat. The difference is noticeable meaning the 20X2 has the more stable base by a SLIGHT margin but it was not that much different in the end. 3) Space - The 21 actually has more room (go figure right? It is 21 feet...) Here's why I bring it up; I intially thought just the opposite after riding them on different days but my last lake test was done with them literally side by side and having driven them on the same day within minutes of each other, I concluded the 21 is bigger where I needed it to be (total length, TM to seat post distance, rod lockers can accomodate 7'6" single piece rods w/no problem), 3rd passenger seat for the rare occasion that I take 2 people with me (most likely a buddy and his son) for some bass or crappie fishing. 4) Speed - The 21 blew the other 2 away. Enough said, it's faster. This was not a key critera for me, but it very well might be for the guy that buys this boat from me down the road. Here's how I see it. At 68 MPH they all started to chine walk some so you gotta drive them all. Top end WOT on the 19X2 was 74, Top end on WOT on the 20X2 was 73 (probably will go up 1 or 2 after break in), and top end on the 21X HP was 79MPH. Here is how I view speed and horsepower; I liken both to say ammunition or money, it's thought that one can never have enough of either. However if you don't have enough of one or the other when you do need it, you just might find yourself in some real trouble.... This sounds cliche like but it's pretty accurate; Just because you have it does not mean you have to use it but man it's much more comforting to know it's there than not.... 5 Cost - The 2007 is a used boat. This was a critical factor and unique to this situation as this 2007 is a once in a lifetime find in my opinion. It has 7 hours on it., is in mint condition, and is loaded with every gadget and accessory Triton offered as well as top notch electronics, a 36v TM, top end trailer, etc. The motor is actually still breaking in (double oiling) as the Pro XS's do that up to 10 hours of use. Another angler bought it new last year from this dealer and decided a few months later that bass fishing was really not his deal and instead went for another boat suited for another type of fishing application. This means that I'm buying a new condition (and it is immaculate) boat while someone else finally gets to take the depreciation hit. If I buy either of the 2008 models I will take the hit (which I had resigned myself to) and that is not sound economic thinking from a pure price stand point if you can avoid having to do it. If you can always get more boat for the same money, it will make the back end of the transaction (sale) go that much better for you. To comparably equip either of the X2 boats in this particular situation would mean spending a LOT more money for a smaller boat. Again, not a good idea in general when buying a boat regardless of brand. All scenarios come with a give and take right? So what do I give up by going this route? A little bit of deck space width wise (less than 2" overall), a little bit of hole shot that I make up for in top end speed, I don't get to pick the colors from the factory. I can live with all of these considering I'm not skilled enough to run 70+ MPH, fish alone most of the time, and I'm actually very fond of the color scheme on the boat which is a bonus. So now, what do I gain? Full motor warranty, a more well equipped larger boat for less overall money than I'd spend on a well equipped 19 foot, a bigger engine, more hp, a greater range of travel distance, more overall room, an in flight education in how to drive a rocket ship, a quality relationship with a first class dealer and service center, a much better economic position on the back end when it's time to look at another boat down the road. My research shows me that a 21 foot boat with a bigger motor will always bring more $$ resale wise than a 19 or the 20 foot boat with a comporable or smaller motor. This is a well known function of the marine industry and a lesson I've learned the hard way in the past. So that's it. These particular circumstances say buy the bigger boat for the same money. It's a no brainer. Is it my first choice? No. Is it the smarter choice? Without a doubt. So now the question comes up; Chuck what would you have bought had this 2007 TR21X HP boat not been available and this unique opportunity presented itself? I would have purchased a 2008 19X2 w/a Pro XS and top tier electronics without a doubt. I just love driving that boat and I can deal with the shorter TM to seat post issue after really fooling around with it some and getting it just right. The 19X2 is the most enjoyable boat I've ever driven and believe it or not it does fish like it's bigger. Nothing against the 20X2, I just liked the 19X2 better, it's just plain more fun to drive to me, is very easy to maneuver around docks and tight spaces, and will be MUCH easier on the wallet when at the gas pump! I plan to take delivery of the boat this week coming around mid week. Thank you all for all of your input and guidance. I hope that if a new buyer is looking to do the same that they find this thread and have a chance to see how somebody else went about it from a practical, financial, and technical stand point. At the end of it all, you've gotta love what you buy regardless of price and I'm sure that I'll be happy with my decision and also become an even more proficient boat driver and tournament fisherman along the way. Good luck to each of you this season. May the Lord bless each you with tight fishing lines, good health, and prosperity. My best to each of you and yours, and please have a safe and happy boating season. Please support our fighting men and women in uniform, try (yes it takes lots of patience) to take a kid fishing like somebody did for each of us, and most importantly thank Jesus Christ for your salvation. If you don't know HIM, email me and I'll introduce you. Thanks again to every one of you. lknbassman -Chuck Daymude cdaymude1@windstream.net

I bet that thing is scary. That TR w/the HP hull is a rocket and the pad makes that boat a driver. I'm going for the X2 hulls for sure and tomorrow is the big final test drive day then it's decision time. I'm putting the 19X2 and the 20X2 both with max hp on them in the lake at the same time and will be stepping from one to the other on the water to drive them within a few moments of one another to get the best possible feel for both vessels. Should be fun, I'll get you guys an update when I get back. Thanks for all the insight gentlemen, this has been great.

Billy Bob, thanks for the input on that. I'm not going with the 21X2 as it's just too much boat for what I need to be doing and a lot more money than my budget will allow plus I don't think I have anywhere to store that thing as it's so HUGE!!! The 20X2 and 19X2 are the finalists for me for certain, I'm running both again side by side mid week this coming week now that I've eliminated everything else I know that I don't want. I will do the final comparison with them both in the water and stepping from one to the other and hitting the hot foot until I figure it out. I can't think of a better way to do it, not even going to put them on the trailer, it's in the water from boat to boat until I'm satisfied. That is my game plan. The people at Anglers Choice Marine www.anglerschoicemarine.com up in Martinsville, VA have been super patient with me as I have gone through this process and have also shown me the utmost in professionalism and legitmate make the customer happy guidance. They even sacrificed one of their main guys to ride with me in the TR21X HP w/the 250 Pro XS. Now I know they pulled straws for this lake test since it involved me getting my first real taste of chine walk with me behind the wheel (fortunately nobody was hurt; just scared to death a time or two, or three as I tried to figure it out). Thanks Mike, you are the MAN!!!!!!! The guy is the quintessential "Braveheart" in my book for riding with me in that missle. Now, if you guys know anyone that needs that requires high 70's to low 80's & wants to haul a** in a super hot looking 2007 TR21X HP rigged like none other (I mean this thing is LOADED) with less than 10 hours on it, call Anglers Choice up and ask for Sandi or Nick Loganadan and go buy that boat, it truly is flawless and is a ROCKET SHIP. The former owner traded or bought something else and this boat is literally in new condition which is why I have been struggling with my decision to go new or buy that beauty. The bottom line as others have mentioned to me and a belief of my own is that it's just not only about the money, it's about getting the best boat for me. I've really come to conclude that it's not right for my specific application plus I'm scared of it. Hey I'm not a liar and it's better for a man to know his limitations sometimes, this is one of those times at least for me. I learned that at the Richard Petty driving school a year or two ago as well; NASCAR looks pretty easy on TV sometimes. I say go get in one and see how you do... because it's not and I had that same feeling of terror driving that tuned down stock car out at Lowe's Motor Speedway and I was the only one on the track! Now try it in traffic? No thanks and that what driving that super fast Triton would be like for me as we have a TON of boat traffic out here and if I have the power...well let's just say I might try to force the issue and you all will be reading about me in the paper going "I knew that boy should have bought the X2 hull, he's no professional boat driver, what in the world was he thinking?" So all that said, next Saturday (Feb 15th) will be decision day for me weather permitting. I look forward to sharing with all of you my final decision and how I came to it so that it might help you or somebody you know down the road go through the process. There is no question that I certainly would not be nearly as educated as I am now as a buyer without everybody's help on this forum. Thanks again guys for all of you honesty and input. Will update you soon with the good news.

I could not agree more. It's like dental floss (very waxy), binds on itself when under load (fighting a fish, trying to get unsnagged, etc), and worst of all changes color in stained water. Mine actually turned tan and was as visible as a neon sign when the water cleared up which means I threw it away. This stuff is the worst product I've tried yet as far as line goes next to Suffix Siege 10# mono which was like spooling up with a slinky due to it's super high memory. My 2 cents on braided line are; use it only when you have to i.e. fishing heavy cover, vegetation, or really stained water where line detection is not that big of a deal. My favorite brand is Spiderwire Stealth in low viz green. You can spool up with 20# since it has the diameter of 6# mono and it casts a mile and lays in the water like wet thread; it's just limp with zero memory. It's super strong with a palomar or trilene knot and has the greatest sensitivity of any I've tried and like Burly Walnuts who's on this forum, I've tried a lot of lines and thrown away a lot of cash doing it... I am a big fan of the co-polymer lines as they have little stretch, not too much memory, are strong to thier weight ratio, have good knot strength, and are super affordable. I'm using P-Line Flouroclear right now on just about everything and when I respool here shortly will use it on all but my vertical presentation rig that I'll be sight fishing with as I'll have that spooled up with 100% Flouro (P Line or BPS XPS most likely) as both are top notch and not as pricey as some of the others. Hope it helps.

Thanks guys for all of the feed back and help. It's been a really great process and thanks a ton to Anglers Choice Marine up in Martinsville, VA (2 hours each way from me) who are making this process as smooth and professional as they can. Billy Bob, you are real close, that's a darn good prediction for sure. I'm running the 20X2 next week and then it's decision time. Will keep you all posted.

Drove the TR21X HP Hull w/a 250 Pro XS this weekend on smooth water and decided it's not the unit for me. Likes; speed is amazing, looks are first class, it has a super smooth ride. Dislikes, storage is way too small compared to the X2 series, lists a lot when fishing near the gunnels and far up on the bow, has a really small rear deck, livewells are seperate vs one large one with a divider (better for big fish - striper, catfish, etc), motor back wash when coming off of plane was severe, chine walk tendancy is way too severe even for an experienced boat driver in my opinion compared to the newer techology that's out there. No reason to have to fight it so hard if you can accomplish the same thing with a different hull. You will give up some speed however I'd suspect. That is a great boat for an angler seeking really long distance high speed runs for tourneys but it's not what I'm looking for.

Update time men (and ladies if you are out there); I spent the day with the champion dealer in Monroe, NC and took a good hard look at the 210 and the 200. The 200 is too small for me to get behind the wheel comfortably or else it'd be a contender. The 210 elite is a beast, that is one massive big water bass boat. I think in some regards it's more bay boat than bass boat since the hull is so huge and deep. The angler is 24 inches above the water when fishing from the bow which is pretty darn high up there and also in synch with where you'll find the price tag on that dude. I'm going to ride it this week so I'll put up some data on that afterward but know by looking at it that the ride will be superior to the others just based on size and deep V hull design alone. However the fishability and the sheer magnitude of it are in some respects not as attractive as the lower profile boats so I'll let the lake test do the talking. Jason Quinn just pulled the string with Champion and got his rig(s) from the same dealer so he's had enough Nitro it seems and passed on Ranger too as Genmar owns both Champion and Ranger boats which does say something to me when a mans annual income is on the line, he's got to be able to get back to the scales on time or it's all for nothing right? As for dealing, there's not much going on with this dealer, he's at around 56K for the 210 elite and high 40's on the 200 which is a good 9-10K higher than the 07 Skeeters and Triton's I'm considering. I'll be shopping around the country to see how consistent his numbers are. The fit finish on that boat is second to none I'm sure but I also have to ask the question, how many guys can really justify almost 60K (which is almost to the number where it will be after I put on dual GPS systems, livewell lights, buy a cover, etc) on a customized/personalized bass rig? I'm sure a few but at what point do you reach diminishing returns due to the bling bling factor such as painted/gel coated under sides of consoles, etc? Not sure yet but my initial impressions are that it's just overkill to the limit and the gap in money over the other brands is a real big one to over come unless one is navigating the great lakes on a daily basis. This lake is a bruiser, we live on it year round and we also have a 26' bow rider that weighs over 6,000 pounds and it gets the crap beat out of it all summer long as we have 40 and 50 foot cruisers running this lake all summer long so I really wonder if any bass boat is going to be any better than any other in those conditions which is where the lake test comes in so I'll let you know. Heck I've almost been thrown off of my own dock while fishing from it when those monster cruisers come plowing by because they are NEVER on plane and just crush boat docks but it is what it is so... One thing is for sure, I love the 250 Pro XS the more I learn about it. That thing is clearly the best bass boat engine out there, hands down. I've talked to countless technicians, Mercury Marine racing guys, and other motor owners and power heads on Yamaha's and Evinrude's particularly the new ones are prone to failure at a much higher rate. This does include the new version 2 of the HPDI per the technicians at numerous dealers and they all sell both motors. The Merc is a superior product from an engineering stand point, that much is pretty hard to argue when you get into the technical underpinnings of them all and take time to really see how it's built and on what premise so I'm on the right path in that regard. I will be driving the Skeeter ZX225, Triton 21X HP, Triton 21X2, and Champion 201 elite this week, it should be a blast and I don't plan on working much this week if I can avoid it. I'll keep you all informed on how it goes. Thanks again to each of you for all of your wisdom and help!

WOW, when we catch one here in Lake Norman in NC and it's over 7 lbs we're fired up. That beast would eat one of my good catches like a largemouth eats your everyday shad. That is incredible. Nice job angler, be proud of what you accomplished!

Guys, thank you all so much for the help. This is a huge deal for me and my family and as you guys are well aware this is a ton of money at least to us it is and we just want to do it right the first time and make sure we don't have buyers remorse. I've tried and tried to get a look at Champion and like Legend which I also want to see they are not in my area and I'm not sure a trip to Arkansas to see Legend is in order but I have not ruled it out. Right now it's really a foot race between Triton and Skeeter although one of the dealers in our area is being courted by Champion to pick up their line so I may have a shot at seeing one before too long which I'd really like to do. The note on the condition of the boat market is certainly true as these guys are all calling me and emailing me several times a day doing thier best to earn my business. In that regard it's a good problem to have but is overwhelming to a rookie bass boat buyer like me. I'm taking my time although trying not to take too much as our pre spawn bite starts shaping up around mid february depending on the weather. The test rides resume next week with the TR21X HP w/the 250 Opti Pro XS and the ZX225 w/the HPDI 225 going at it side by side on the same day. I'm towing one and the dealer is towing the other and we are going to run them head to head and understand every nuance between them before we leave the lake. It'll be a great test for those two boats anyway which is going to be great. I'm really eager to see if the chine walking is unique to the Triton vs the Skeeter. Let me know if there are things to look out for or be aware of feature wise that I might otherwise over look. The oxygenator article mentioned by Al Wolbach earlier in this post is definately worth reading and thanks so much Al for pointing that article out. Again guys, thanks a ton for all of your help, this continues to be the best place to get good sound advice from the most experienced anglers.

Had a great conversation with a Skeeter dealer in my area who also happens to sell Triton as of last year so he gave me the skinny on the two boats. Clearly he's not going to bad mouth one or the other as he sells them both but instead point out the subtleties between them. He did say the Triton would run faster than the Skeeter all things being equal particularly the HP hull. That's not really a selling point for me if I'm soaking wet or scared to death running it wide open... However he did say that the Skeeter will in fact ride better in rough water due to it's hull being lower and knifing through the chop more so than the Triton which also is why it's a bit slower (makes sense from an engineering stand point to me). He also mentioned that when fishing, the Skeeter boat would sit much lower in the water than the Triton which I like as I skip a lot of jigs, senkos, and other soft plastics under docks as that's our primary pattern post spawn and into summer/early fall. Getting up close is required on this lake if you want a big bite so that might be a good thing to think hard on. I'm going to go ride a ZX225 w/the Yamaha 250 HPDI on it. He's got a couple of 06's that are trades and some 07's that he did not move as well as 08's so he's got inventory and wants to sell a boat something bad. All things considered, is the Yamaha/Skeeter package among the top boats in the opinions of you tournament anglers who have seen and ridden in the others? Is there a huge difference in the i Class Skeeters than the ZX series? Anything I might want to look out for or steer clear of regarding Skeeter boats? How about things to ask for that should be included? Right now my must haves are dual 520c's ethernet'd together, a 36v TM (either brand is fine as I've had both and they are both OK), cover, keel guard, oxygenator, hot foot, pro tilt trim, etc. Thanks for any added input.

Catt, that's great feed back. Thanks a ton. Do you (or any of you other anglers) feel as if one boat brand has a tendancy to chine walk more than another? I know how to drive those that do so I can control it but is it symptomatic of a particular brand more so than another? Re: Skeeter, I like thier boats from what I've seen, never been in one, don't know if I fit or not so I'm hoping to see them at the upcoming boat show in a couple of weeks. I don't know much about Yamaha outboards as I've never owned one other than that they are expensive to repair just like the other brands are. My thinking is that Merc is a safe buy for resale as I'm thinking exit strategy on anything high dollar that I buy as I might want to upgrade or fall out of love with it in a few years and don't want to be stuck holding the bag for too many pennies. Also service in my area is easy for a merc as there are not a lot of bass boat dealers around here for soe reason and the ones that are sell evinrude and merc almost exclusively. Regarding the Legend boat, I think the thing is just incredible (the alpha 211) so I have some thinking to do on how to approach that one as far as going to Ark to visit the factory, meet the owners, test drive one, etc but will be giving skeeter a good hard look. If yamaha will pony up the warranty that merc has on the table and I just loved the skeeter boat I'd definately consider it. Thanks again guys for your insight on this process, it's helping more than you know. Will keep you posted as I'm supposed to drive an 07 Triton TR21X HP w/a 250 Opti Pro XS and some kind of custom jack plate on it next week. Will most definately bring my rain suit with me. ;D

Fellow anglers, thanks for sharing your wisdom. This is a frustrating but also a very fun process as it's taken a long time to get to the point of having this problem of having to choose but is of course a blessing to be able to have this as a problem so I'm not complaining believe me! Here's the score so far: 2007 & 2008 Ranger's are out, I can't fit in their boats with a hot foot period. The local dealer and I have tried every way to make it happen and my bigness is too much for em to tangle with. Too tall and too big so I'm done. Basscat is out too at least the 20 foot PUMA is as the TM footpedal recess was so far forward on the bow that I felt unstable in rough windy conditions which I sought out for my day on the lake and I felt more worried about being tossed vs focusing on fishing. The boat felt narrow to me also for some reason even thought the beam is sizeable. It was made to go fast which is awesome of course but not my only motivation to buy. The lean post/seat was helpful with the TM position issue but the boat overall just did not turn my crank as much as I needed it to for 44K the styling was a little dated. The Triton 19X2 gave me the same feeling as the PUMA did - cramped when on the TM for a guy my size. The bigger Triton's; the 20X2 and 21Xhp both are the overall front runners right now and are both rigged with 250 Opti Pro XS's which I really like and come with lots of electronic goodies. I did speak with the co owner of Legend boats today and really like what they have to offer and thier philosophy on business and customers. I also think they are the sharpest looking boats on the market with their fade gel coat schemes. They are just beautiful looking boats and trailer packages. But how does a legend fish? I don't know because there is not one in NC that he or I know about and there is no dealer here in NC so I'm stymied in that regard and may actually have to travel to Arkansas to see the real product and demo it. This is asking a lot and then I of course still have to fork over 42-45K and wait 6-10 weeks for it to be built if I pull the string on one. So it's kind of a stretch but is still a consideration... Champion is next to be considered so that's where I'm off to once I can locate a dealer and set up a lake test. All of the dealers are very helpful and they all have excellent boats to offer. For that price range they should right? So at this point it's a matter of the little nuances between them now that will get sway decision so I'll keep you posted. Thanks to each of you who have taken the time and care to provide your input, it's been very very helpful and I really appreciate it. I'm very lucky to be able to do this and don't take it lightly, I want it to be right and to the right the first time so your help is greatly appreciated. If you have additional thoughts or things I should look out for please point them out to me. Again, thanks to each of you. If anyone can comment on the Triton X2 hull vs the XP hull I'd love to hear from you in terms of driveability and controlling chine walk or if you need to worry about it. Thanks again to each of you.

Bassmasters, I am getting ready to pull the string on a tournament class bass rig. I have the cash for it now and have been testing out several new models & makes. So far I have it narrowed down to Basscat, Ranger, and Triton. My preference so far has been the Triton 20X2 over the Ranger Z20 & Z520 as well as the Basscat PUMA for price to performance ratio considerations. Would love some insight from you guys, not just opinions but real insight on why any one of these might be better than the other. The engine frontrunner right now is the 250 Pro XS over the Evinrude E-Tec. OMC upset a lot of boat owners back in the old days when they went under and bailed on supporting older Evinrude models. Technically speaking, I'd like your opinions on the engines also. Thanks for any help.