Nitro 882

Not too far to St. John's River or Rodman Res.

Went to Headwaters in Fellsmere Fl a couple of years ago in February. Caught a few bass but it didn't live up to the hype, for me a least. The lake is very "fishy" looking and I'd like to go back some day and have the true Headwaters experience. My problem is with the road to get to the ramp. When I went there it was about 5 or 6 miles of the roughest "washboard" gravel I've ever tried to ride on. You can't go slow enough to eliminate the harsh ride. At one point I stopped and removed my graphs as I could see them vibrating violently in the rear view mirror. My trolling motor was also bouncing like crazy but I didn't think it was as susceptible to damage as my electronics might be. A couple welds on my new (1 year old ) aluminum trailer broke and one fender needed rewelding. Held it in place with a bungy for the return home. I've explained why I'm hesitant to return but the lake's reputation draws trophy hunters from all over the country and beyond. Has the road been improved or did I just pick a bad time to travel it in the past? I used to snowmobile in my younger days and if you didn't hit the trails while they were groomed you encountered the dreaded "moguls" and ruined your machine not to mention your spine. I expect a few to tell me to "man up" or , as the parking can be limited at times , to just stay away and not bother and add to the congestion but I'm 77 and would like to go there once more if I didn't have to risk breaking my rig. I've got to haul the boat 1500 miles back home in the spring and don't need it to fail me. By the way, that 6 miles of bad roads takes an eternity at 10 mph when your cranked up to possibly catch your PB. 😉

Thanks to Capt. Phil for his perspective on an issue that has to be close to his heart. The info I read might have been dead wrong but it was very recent. Included claims of spray boats on Toho 5 days a week during October '23. Capt. Phils read on this is the only sensible explanation. It took some time but common sense prevailed. In no way would any state intentionally destroy such a valuable asset. I have a sneaky feeling that there are some local fisherman who would rather us "snow birds" stay the hell home and off their precious "honey holes". As busy as I've seen some ramps with all the weekend tourneys etc. , I can't blame them. Happy holidays to all. 😉

I'm getting excited about my upcoming annual 3 month (Jan-April) Florida vacation. I tow my boat down and I get to fish 3 to 4 times a week. I've been fortunate to be able to do this for the last 17 years and, for most of that time the puzzling "war against the weeds" has been in full force. Some have said that the affected lakes are headed for total annihilation with the fishing industry being an obvious victim. Others claim that the "war" is only targeting invasive species and is necessary for the waterways to remain viable. As I can't imagine the State of Florida intentionally destroying the fishing industry which is worth some $13 billion (fresh and saltwater) annually I choose to believe the claim of targeted removal of invasive weeds. Having said that, I've recently read some current articles detailing increased spraying activity with some lakes suffering irreversible destruction of all aquatic life, weeds and fish. One hard to believe report claims the near total absence of all types of weeds in The Big "O". (I did that cause I can't spell the actual name). Would like to get some current info as to what I'm going to experience. By the way, over the past 17 years, even with the dire predictions I have always managed to catch a respectable number of "bucket mouths". Hopefully this year will be the same, or better. Thanks in advance for your input. Tom

Thanks to all for the prompt replies. You gave me the confidence to take the next step. I'm going shopping. ? I'm going to insist that, if I bring my boat to the dealer, I can tow it with the new truck a couple of miles before I commit. It wont take much for me to know if the 6 banger will satisfy me. As I said in my original post, I won't give up the comfortable feeling on a 1500 mile trip that comes from the ease in which my 5.0 ltr pulls my toys. I have to look in the mirror occasionally to see if the trailer is still there. Thanks again to all.

I developed a formula for the kind of weather I will fish in. Rainy, Windy, Cold-----pick any 2.?

Looking to replace my 2016 F 150 w/5.0 V8. I have found several potential candidates at reasonable prices and mileage but it seems they all have 6 cylinder engines. I'm an old fart and it seems that years ago a 6 cylinder engine could hardly get out of its own way let alone tow a load. Every January for years I've loaded my 800lb. motorcycle into the bed of my truck, hooked on to my 18 ft. bass boat and headed to Florida (1500 miles) for 3 months. I am continually impressed with how easily the 5.0 V8 handles the task and I won't settle for less. I've heard some good things about the new technology V6's and would like to hear from those of you who have experience, good/bad, towing with a 6 cylinder F 150. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Thanks Weber, will do.

Several years ago I was touring the area on my motorcycle and on Rte 2 just approaching the small bridge at the north end of the island I noticed about 20 bass boats launched and launching. I turned around and while pulling into the driveway I ran into a guy who claimed to be the owner. He had several nice cabins on and just off the water. Said he was a retired Marine and said he and his wife had recently bought the property/business. All the boats were there practicing for a tourney coming the next weekend. Anyway, he was a real nice guy and we talked for quite a while and I took his card with every intention of booking a fishing trip in the near future. As usual, stuff happens and I never made the trip. Now I want to book a trip before the weather turns too cold and I've lost his card and can't find his website no matter how I "search". Would any of you fellas have any experience with this fishing camp or any contact info. I saw this layout with my own eyes and thought it was perfect for my purposes however, any info on your experiences in similar fish camps in the area would also be appreciated. The recent results of the Elite tourney on Champ have got my blood up and I'm ready to go. I'm sorry, the cabins I'm referring to are on the north end of South Hero Island.

I need some guidance. I have a Nitro 882 bought new in 2005. As expected, it started showing signs of oxidation that got bad enough that I decided to try to do something about it. I watched several videos and got the confidence to start the project. I bought a "kit" containing oxidation remover, polish, and wax. I also found a product from Jamestown Distributors that is called a de-waxer/de-greaser which cost about $25. It's actually generically called "toulene" that you can get at the hardware store for $10. After thoroughly wiping the boat down (use rubber gloves as toulene is very caustic) I wet sanded the entire top of the boat with 3 different grades of sandpaper, 600/1000/1500 grit followed by the application of oxidation remover, polish, and wax. A lot of work but turned out looking great. But wait---2/3 days later a dullness appeared similar, but not exactly like the oxidation I was trying to remove. It's hard to describe but imagine the boat hull was a glass bottle and you blew smoke into it and took a still photo. In any event, the bright shiny surface I was trying to restore was gone again. Now, if I wax it or wipe it down with BTS or a similar hull protectant the "smoke" disappears but only for a day or two then it's back. Where I need guidance is did I permanently damage the gelcoat by being too aggressive with the wet sanding etc. or, because I was fearful of doing just that, was I not aggressive enough and, therefore, didn't actually remove all the initial oxidation? I'm happy to go through the process again if needed but I don't want make matters worse if that is not the right thing to do. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Thanks Tom but just to be clear. My stock pedestals are 2 1/2" diameter with a button at the bottom than is supposed to release it from the base when pressed. Your suggestion of thread penetrant suggests that you are thinking that I now have a threaded post that is stuck. I don't think the OEM pedestals are even still available. I guess my question really is whether or not the tall pedestals with the 3/4" post at the bottom are stable for big guys like me. If so, I'll happily replace them but I want to be as sure as I can be that, whatever I end up installing, they will be stable so I don't have to worry about having to destroy my newly installed carpet to correct my mistake.

I'm having my boat recarpeted and am considering replacing the OEM seat pedestals/bases. The originals are comfy and fully functional but I'm fed up with having to use a pipe wrench to remove them when I want or need to. Yes, I have tried to grind them down to loosen the fit several times to no avail. I've tried not to over do it so they don't end up fitting sloppy in the base and uncomfortably rocking. I am looking at the kind that have the 3/4" post on the bottom that fits in the 3/4" base plate. I also want a tall (30") pedestal which is usually used with a "butt seat". I am 6'6" and 325lbs and a normal height pedestal is too short for my comfort so I mounted a fold down backrest seat on my stock front pedestal and it's perfect and very stable considering its height. I'm reaching out to you Big Boys out there for suggestions on a suitable pedestal/plate replacement that is stable and easily removeable. Also, if someone has found a fix for the "stuck" pedestals I currently have I'd be happy to keep them and save the money. I just have to make a decision now before the new carpet is installed. Thanks in advance.

Heading to Florida for my annual 3 month bass fishing trip tomorrow morning. I usually fish the Kissimmee Chain and the Harris Chain. I've been going for about 20 years and I always wanted to try fishing for redfish as I've watched tourneys on T.V. and it looks like fun. It seems that all the typical bass fishing gear is well suited for redfish so I'm set in that department. I tow my bass boat down and I've always been afraid to dunk my old trailer in salt/brackish water for obvious reasons. Last year I had a new all aluminum trailer built so I'm ready to give it a try. I would appreciate some guidance on where to put the boat in for a reasonable chance at some reds. I would imagine some consideration has to be given to tide conditions etc. that wouldn't come into play when freshwater bass fishing. I'm located in Kissimmee near Toho so directions from there would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

My dad arrived at Pearl Harbor on his birthday, December 16, 1941. He was in the Navy and remained there for the duration of the war. Funny, I may have missed it but I didn't hear a word of praise or remembrance from our administration about this day that was to be " a date that will live in infamy." Shame.

Seems like a lot of people responding here share my experience that tournament fishing is not for everyone. I'm 76 and have fished all my life. A few years back a friend got me to join his club and I fished their tourneys for 3 or 4 years. Early on I realized that this was extremely different than the kind of fishing I had always enjoyed. Someone once said, "most fisherman fish their entire lives and don't realize it wasn't the fish they were after". I had convinced myself that I was good and savvy bass fisherman and I boated enough fish to support that theory. But, when it's 10 o'clock in the morning and you don't have a fish in the livewell, I would get a knot in my stomach and I would start trying to figure out how to skip the weigh-in and avoid the embarrassment. So I quit the club. (By the way, I did win one tourney and also had "big fish" that day so I didn't totally suck.) Dad always said that a man should figure out what he doesn't do well and ----don't do it. I'm back to leisure fishing but not very productively. I fish like the "old man" that I am. I get to the lake about 9 am/10 am and leave about 3 pm/4 pm even though I realize this is not necessarily the most productive time slot during the day. I enjoy this time on the water as I have realized that "it's not the fish I am after."

While fishing a small tourney, I was having a good day. Started culling after about 2 hours and culled several times before the tourney was over. Started putting my fish in my live bag for the weigh in and realized I only had 4 fish. I thought I had my limit early in the day and began culling accordingly. In these small tournaments we fish, we only pay first place and "big fish" prizes. I came in second by 12 ounces. Four years of college shot to hell. Duh!!!

Hey Toxic. I don't know if anyone else reading your post truly understands but I had the exact same "miracle" experience meeting my father again sometime after his passing. So real it shook me to the core. What a wonderful gift. Keep fishin my friend. Grampa is watching.

I have 2 gauges (water pressure and trim) that need replacing. At 6'6" and 340 lbs, there ain't no way I'm getting in under the dash to deal with this replacement. Can the dash itself be removed for easy access to the gauges?

Just a quick update. I replaced both regulator/rectifiers and that fixed the problem. Thanks all for your input.

Thanks, but I literally just installed a new starting battery the week I left for Florida (January 5, 2022).

Brought my Nitro NX882 w Merc xr6 150hp outboard to Florida again this year and I just noticed the voltage gauge on the dash shows the alternator is delivering as high as 17 volts when running about 3500 rpm. This seems a little much and I'm wondering what problem this might indicate and is damage being done to something in the electrical system. I've got another month of vacation in Florida and it's almost impossible to have a shop take my boat in and perform the necessary repair work quickly so I can get my fishing in as planned. Can you guys tell me how big a problem I have and is it something I can fix myself? Thanks in advance.

As I get older (75), and my boat ages along with me, I have started being more concerned about issues on the water that could leave me stranded in the weeds somewhere on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. I see that, if on the ocean, there are several towing services that you could contact to come save your bacon if needed. Is there a similar service for central Florida fresh water lakes? If not, what should you do as the sun sets and your boat won't start and the mosquitos are licking their lips (do they even have lips?) and the gators are growling. Looking for survival tips. Thanks.

Hi guys, I have a 2005 merc 150hp XR6. Just recently, the little chirp that happens when you turn the key on has stopped. My understanding is that the short "chirp" simply indicates that the alarm system is operable. I'd like to address this without going to the shop where it is very expensive even if you can find someone who can get to your issue in less than a few weeks. Is there a simple fix? Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.

I hate to admit that I'm not fishing as well as I have in the past. I say it that way because I believe the fish are there, I'm just not keying in on them for some reason. I just turned 75 and I'm starting to think that that has something to do with it. I've become happy with "fishing" as opposed to "catching". There is no urgency. I fish too slow and too long in one place. I don't get to the lake until mid morning instead of just ahead of sunrise as I used to and I head home mid afternoon instead of fishing til dark as I used to. I take a picture of every good size bass I catch (usually 4# and up) and I've got more pics than you could carry (if they weren't digital, lol.) I keep repeating the old saying "most people fish their whole lives and never realize it wasn't the fish they were after." As if that will make me feel better. Here's a recent example. I'm fortunate to be able to spend 3 months every year in Central Florida fishing, primarily, the Kissimmee Chain. I just got here last Monday and fished Lake Toho yesterday. I started punching heavy hydrilla mats-nothing. Moved in and fished the Kissimmee grass swimming a speed worm and a Big E Z across the surface- nothing. Fished a weighted Texas rigged senko deeper through the grass- nothing. Moved further inside to the pads and swam the speed worm over the top dropping into holes as I went-nothing. As the sun got higher I punched some cane mats, hyacinth and more hydrilla-nothing. Nights have been cold but the water temps ran between 61* and warmed to 68* later in the day with clear skies, 76* and light winds. These methods have all proven successful at various times during past years. Actually, I had been bragging about the fact that last year was, numbers wise, my best Florida trip to date. My downhill trend started when I returned home and began Spring fishing in New England again. Adding insult to injury, I returned to the ramp just as a tournament weigh in was wrapping up. I could hear the top-ten results announced and the weights ranged from 13#'s with 3rd being 18#'s, 2nd 19 #'s and 1st place 21#'s. Big fish was 8.53#'s When I was younger and got skunked I would simply say that "the fish weren't biting today" or , the bigger lie, "there are no fish in this lake." After joining a club and fishing regular tournaments it became clear that someone always "figures them out." Thanks for letting me blow off some steam. Old age doesn't seem to make anything better and I'm starting to blame my poor fishing success on aging as well.

Making claims and actually taking responsibility are very different actions. My initial concern, and reason for my post, comes from a review I read that described a failure of a vortex hub which led to irreparable damage to the axle spindle. According to the reviewer, Tie Down would not take responsibility in any way. The help came from the guys boat dealer who, because the boat was just 1 month out of warranty, shipped him a complete new axle. It took 3 months to finally get the axle and install it. There is a video of the entire process which is informative. So, if you tend to not question a companies sales claims that is your prerogative. Me, if someone yells "DUCK", I tend to duck. Someone once said, "believe nothing that you read and only half of what you see."