Tom H.

Flowers and Potted plants , now thats a good idea ;D , and don't knock my trailer , that bad boy is OLD ! besides I'll get around to painting it when I paint my floatable flower pot , Sam - I've already decieded to implement much of what you laid out . Now it's going to be about time and money to do what needs done . I'm thinking that the middle seat is going to be taken out . Plan on decking the front end so there will be storage there , also want to deck the back and put a floor in . This will be a trolling motor only ride . So I don't need to worry about gas tanks taking up too much room . Give me some more ideas fellas . oh btw I'm thinking about painting it sky blue : Ya know kind of camoflage myself from the fish

As some of you know my boat was stolen awhile back , and the land owner gave me a v-bottom to replace it . Well now I need some ideas on how to go about making this vessel fishable . I know that I'm going to add a front deck , but would also like to add a floor . I need to make this as easy to move around in as possible , I fish quite a bit with my grandpa and he only has one leg . Anyway without further ado . Here is my project View from front to back View from back to front Now I will tell ya'll that I am not a big fan of V-bottoms . I'm still on the look out for a decently priced 12 -14' xtra deep,xtra wide flat or semi-v . I just want this one to be as comfortable as possible to fish out of until I find what I"m after

7.2 lbs LM - on a 12" manns jelly worm / t-rig with a 4/0 culprit quicker sticker hook

LMB - 7.2 lbs SMB - 3.4 lbs Bluegill - 3/4 lbs Crappie - 1 3/4 lbs Channel Cat - 8.7 lbs Blue Cat - 15.3 lbs White Bass - 1 lbs Stripped Bass - 3 lbs Bullhead - 1 1/2 lbs Carp - 10 lbs White Perch - 3 1/2 lbs Northern Pike - 4.5 lbs Musky - 2 1/2 lbs

Here is a shot of my 4 yr old - HR Hill's BigCreek Black Jax MH - "Jax" for short . Next to my kids , he is my pride and joy

Fluke - Wish I could have got more names to fill it up , but the tourney hasn't been in Peoria in years , maybe someday I'll take it to another one and get to fill it up

Heavy Shot and Tungsten have knockdown power , but as long as you put the shot in the right place steel'll kill em every time .

Daniel - We were fishing the IL River , using cut asian carp as bait . Actually have several other pics of nice fish (4 -8 lbs ) that we caught today . All in all it was a real good time , especially since I don't catfish that much . you can see our bait of choice on the front of the table

While going threw some things today , I ran across my old rug , It has several autographs from when the BASS masters tourney was on the Ill River back in the 90's ( man I feel old now ) just thought I would share .

Caught this guy tonight . I know he isn't huge compared to some standards , but for my neck of the woods , he is a good fish , weighing in at 15.3 lbs on 2 different scales . ;D

Fee - by the Phish

I know what your feeling - Someone cut the chains off of my boat and lifted it off the trailer a few weeks ago . Really sucks

I'll snap some pics and post em in a new post , when it stops raining . I must admit that I'm not a big fan of V-Bottoms , but at least its a boat and my fishing won't be ruined .

The land owner is a real good guy . He was just sick that someone decieded to sneak onto his property and rip a boat off . I was actually surprised that he gave me the other boat . The thing I really don't understand about any of this is the perps could have just backed up to my trailer and taken the whole d**n thing . Instead they choose to cut the chain and padlock and just nab the boat . Idiots. Any suggestions on redoing a V-bottom boat guys ??

Boostnut - I live in Canton . A small town by Peoria . The boat isn't anything special , just a 12' extra deep ,extra wide jon . Olive drab green in color , Has two holes in the front deck from where a trolling motor bracket ripped out . On the back of the boat is a white pvc pipe that is used to hold my fishing buddy ( I lost the bracket somewhere) Registration number is IL 1447 BH . Sticker is good till 2010 . On another note . The land owner gave me a 14' v-bottom to replace the boat that was stole . So now I have a winter project to work on . Let the fun begin . I can't begin to tell you how angry I still am . I've logged countless miles driving and walking around looking for that boat . Contacted the local boat dealers to let them know incase someone tries to trade it in . Talked to several guys that are in different clubs . Hopefully someone will run across it and get back with me . :'(

> Okay so I swung by one of my fishing holes today after work . Got down to the ramp and someone has lifted my boat of my trailer . NOW the boat was locked down on a private lake . Only 6 of us have access to this piece of property . I have checked with the other 5 guys and have contacted the local authorities . I left my boat there on Saturday knowing I would be back to do some fishing and bring it home today . Never in my life have I ever expierenced anything like this . What BS . If a fella wanted a little 12 ft jon boat , go buy one . Don't cut my locks and walk of with mine > Just had to vent and I hope this doesn't ever happen to any of you guys Tom

It's a fish , get over it . send it to me and it will be covered in Andy's Red Batter and cooked . Fish are like any wild animal , they all reproduce . Don't sweat one fish , like I don't sweat when I shoot a mallard hen . THERE are MORE to take that one's place

Hey fellas - I tried to remove the hook myself , but it was actually buried in the bone of my knuckle , I'm fixing to go back out tonight and catch his big sister if I can . I'm going to have a replica of this fish made . I have his/her measurements . Well worth the trip to the hospital , if you ask me

This guy sent me too the hopital to have hooks removed out of my knuckle last night , but he was well worth the expense . He weighed in at 6.8 lbs (according to my berkely scale) . After a few pics he was released back into the lake I caught him from. If you look closely you can see the rapala hanging from my knuckle in my right hand .

Let me suggest Mortal Fear , Turning Angel , and Footprint of God , by Greg Iles Also The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury All good books for sure .

Man thats a tough one to answer - I rotate my fishing holes daily - from small ponds to small lakes to the river - Makes it nice to be able to change things up all the time .

Thanks for the info guys - I've got an old duffle bag , I think I'm just going to pull the boxes out of my other 2 softsides , and put them in it instead . Besides IF I were to buy another box my Ol' Lady would probably kill me .

Hey guys - I'd like to get some input on these bags . Pros or Cons . I've been thinking about buying the V12 , but I'd like to know what other folks that have these bags think about them . Any help is greatly appreciated regards - Tom

Here in Central Il - Gas is running about 3.65-3.69 a gallon , dropped about .20 cents , since the weekend

Spring Lake is a nice lake to fish . As long as you can find the fish I would say come on down and fish it . Catch most of my fish there early in the morning and the bite really dies off at about 9:30 or so . Never fished it in the evening so I can't help you out there