mdaugh

Why you wicked little devil you ;D So do I go 100DSV or 200D for the Citica? I'd hate to get one or the other and then regret missing out on the drilled spool of the D or the weight savings of the DSV.

Yes, it most certainly "can be done". With that said, what are your exact plans for it. Are you talking about laying down some plywood for the floors to have a nice flat surface to walk upon, or are you actually building casting decks? You said you were just building them for storage, does that mean you will never be standing on them and fishing? If that's the case you could build them very very light and all would be well. But if you ever think you will want to fish from atop the decks, you will have to reinforce and support like everyone else, which does add it's fair share of weight to your boat. As far as stability, if you feel comfortable on them after your build, then by all means fish on. A 10' Jon isn't really ideal for the project but I suppose it could work like any other. What is the width of your boat- Which is the most important thing concerning your stability.

Hey guys, I am pretty set on buying a new Citica combo in the upcoming weeks. Just had some questions before making the final purchase. The 100DSV looks like it would be a better fit with its smaller size but If I'm correct, it does not have a cross drilled spool like the 200D? How much of a factor is this in casting light baits and overall distance. I also noticed it has 3+1 bearings instead of the 4+1 on the 200 models. Is this a big enough factor to just go ahead and get the 200 model. I like the 100DSV's size and weight, but like the features of the 200D. Which is sort of swaying me towards a Revo S as well and it comes in at a light 8.6 ounces like the 100DSV, and has 8+1 bearings and a cross drilled spool. Sort of getting the size of the 100DSV and the features of the 200D. Any thoughts, I know the Citica has been talked about alot, but not all the issues in the same thread. I've researched the bearing issue a little here and there and understand more bearings is not necessarily better, but I would assume as long as it's from a high end company, ie... Shimano, or Garcia that the more the better??

Picked up the books today and I am already halfway through Iaconelli's Fishing on the Edge. It is a great story so far and also has some tips and strategy inbetween chapters here and there. Anyone who is fairly serious with their fishing will like this book I'm sure. I could also see how a nonfisherman or woman could like it as well, but their is some terminology used that might not make exact sense if someone had never bass fished. Request it at your local library and read it for free!!

I just had the local library find me copies of both Sowbelly and Iaconelli's book "Fishing on the Edge". I was looking for fishing books, more of the biographies than anything else and these two popped out and looked good. The books are in now and I'll pick them up tomorrow, should be good reads.

I agree RoadWarrior. I think that most people once they get into the high end equipment will never go back. With that being said though, I also think it depends on how serious fishing is to you. A once in awhile hobby, a once a week type thing, an all weekend every weekend, or a fish whenever humanly possible and think about fishing whenever not actually fishing, LOL! Someone who will never dive into this sport that deep will probably never be able to justify a Loomis Rod and a Revo Premier. But others I think slowly get more and more interested over the years and eventually do. It also is nice when over those said years that it takes you to fully appreciate the finer things, you aquire one hell of a job to pay for them!!!! ;D

Was scanning the Cabelas catalog tonight and saw their low profile Prodigy reel. 6+1 bearings, 8.6 oz, 1 piece aluminum frame. Looked to be a pretty nice reel. It's right at $100. Just wondering how this house brand reel which I've heard is made by Daiwa compares to say the Citica which everyone seems to love. Considering they are in the same price range.

I've noticed most of the same reels are available in a combo deal from Cabelas and Bass Pro. The difference is, Cabelas is offering for example the shimano Citica with their Fish Eagle II rod for $170 and BPS is offering the Citica with their Extreme XPS rod for $170. Isn't the Extreme Rod a much better rod than the Fish Eagle II? And if so, why is the Cabelas combo price not CHEAPER? LOL Do they honestly think we don't look at their biggest competitors very same type of combo's prices.

Guys would it be possible to buy one of these onboard chargers and just keep it in the garage to charge the battery instead of installing it on my jon. I really don't think I need an onboard charger but they are light and actually seem more portable than a portable, lol. Also, what type of difference in electric bills have you guys seen that leave your battery plugged in 24/7 , 365..

Sounds like a plan jhoffman. I'll have to look into it this weekend if it EVER quits raining here, lol!

Well I am certainly not expecting to get up on plane with any trolling motor!! LOL I think it has just been awhile since I've been out in a boat fishing for any period of time. My previous bass boat, a 17' HydraSport had a 70lb on the bow and was foot operated. It moved it well but like I said it's been a long time since I've sold it and I may be thinking it moved alot quicker than it did. I'm happy with the 55lb and will be even more so when I get it moved to the bow.

Seemed really hard on my transom today with a 55lb. thrust trolling motor. Wasn't shaking or twisting really, but prolonged use cannot be good for it. Anyone reinforce their transom? This will be an electric only boat so I'd like to keep the 55lb. for my main propulsion. Maybe I just need some good blocks in between transom and screw plates?

Took the jon out today for the second time for a couple of hours. I hooked up the transom mount Minn Kota Endura the guy included with the boat. I expected it to really move the boat around but I was only impressed with the 5th and most powerful speed. 1-4 left alot to be desired. Could this be my battery or the fact that I'm pushing instead of pulling the boat? I know you can pull a chain alot easier than push one but I thought a 14' aluminum jon and one person inside would move better than it did. There was a HUGE difference between speeds 4 and 5 but very little difference at all in 1-4. 1 and 2 felt like it wasn't even on. Any suggestions or past experiences with this motor??

Yes, I'll be flipping the head and running it from the bow from now on, until I get it decked and can move it to the rear for my main thrust and get a foot controlled TM for the bow. Was nice to be out on the water again though I'll say that. My previous boat, a 17' HydraSport Bass Boat was super nice, and I have to say I miss it but it was nice getting in some reallllllly shallow water and not worrying, and trailering and unloading was also a breeze with the jon. I like the reverse thing but I'd rather use the forward speeds to move forward, the reverse speeds are just too slow it seems, so I'll flip it and move it to bow.

1st time with the 14' jon on the water was today guys. Hadn't fished from a boat of my own in a long time. It was quite a bit different than my old bass boat and I wanna deck this thing ASAP, lol. I find my biggest gripe was no foot controlled trolling motor. Every 5 seconds it seems like I was having to readjust the boat from the transom mounted trolling motor. A real pain, but I'm sure I can make do until I get things where I want them. Anyone else find boat control is hard to keep while fishing with a transom mount trolling motor you have to move by hand?

Well thats what I'm trying to understand here. When the switch is set to 6 amps it shows it way less charged than when the switch is on 2 amps. It shows it about 3/4 of the way to full on 2 amps. This electrical stuff is not my forte' >

So your saying the battery may not charge at all because it sat for awhile?? O is it mainly my charger that is the problem??

Hey guys, I am heading out to the lake tomorrow with my old "new to me" jon boat and the guy I bought it from threw in a DieHard deep cycle marine battery. He only used it once last year and I assume it's been sitting since then. The charger that I found in the garage I'm hoping will work to atleast get it charged until I can buy a nice charger for a deep cycle battery. My question is I took off the top caps or whatever they are called and filled with distilled water, how much or how high do I fill? And these should be left off while charging correct?? The charger I'm using is an Exide 12volt 6/2 amp manual battery charger. Will this work for tonight?? Also, it has a gauge on it numbered from 10 on the left side to 0 on the right side. An empty battery is above the 10 and a full battery is above the 0. This confuses me. Also while charging you can set it to charge with 6 or 2. It is reading right about the number 6 on 6 amp, but goes over to 3 when on the 2 amp setting. Why would it show under half charged on 6 amp and over half charged when switched to 2 amp setting? I'm confused???

Yeah, I thought they were more general but didn't know because I have never fished up north here. I appreciate the reply FM!!

"Cue the Gilligans Island Music" ;D Taking my "new" jon boat out this weekend to the lake. Can't wait to finally be fishing from a boat again. It's been some years since my last bass boat. I'm looking forward to making a complete #$@ out of myself while backing the trailer down the ramp. HAHA I've started a checklist already. Cooler, tackle, lures, sunscreen, food, drink, fully charged battery, camera, liscence, and last but not least the boat plug that I have forgotten on one too many trips in the past!!

Hey yall, recently got a 14' jon and planning to head out this weekend to Salt Fork Lake here in SE Ohio. Local baitshop - saltfork outdoors, gave online report a few days ago saying water temps are around 70 degrees. Anyone have any info if the bass are still in pre spawn areas for the most part or if they are already on beds?? I've never fished here in Ohio before on any real lakes, just some smaller ponds, and never from a boat up here. Looking for any tips or comments. Thanks as always, -Mike

Anyone ever used this site before for your home lake? I stumbled across it and typed in 2 lakes about 15 mi. a piece from my house and it brought up some reports and water temps not by any one person but direct from the site. Both lakes had about the same temps. Could anyone go to this site and then check your lakes water temp there vs what you have seen from being on the actual lake recently?

Thanks everyone. Just got back from trout fishing the Williams River in West Virginia. Had a blast, but it's good to be home so I can start fishing with the new boat. I will probably fish it for awhile and then tear into it later this month hopefully. Looking forward to it thats for sure!

Don't have the digital here at the house but may be able to get some with a camera phone for now. Can't wait to fish it a few times and then start the project!!

Thank bud. I will take a look at it. Although that is for the Humminbird model 110 fishin buddy. Humminbird I guess bought out BottomLine as I don't think they make finders anymore. I have the actual Bottom Line Brand Fishin Buddy that was out about a year ago or so I think, maybe even before that. I hope the Humminbird model's controls are the same. Anyone else have any info or an old manual laying around. Thanks as always!!