SnowBass23

x2!! I'm not sure what kind of boat/trailer you have or the specific issue you are facing. But, since you mentioned the 'second time' you take it to the lake it reminds me of my earlier problem. My tracker came with pretty small trailer guides, and the first time I went out there was a bit of wind. I put the trailer in too deep and this ended up with the boat going on straight, but then floating off center when I would try to pull the boat forward. To fix that I found that getting the bunks completely wet, then pulling forward so only the first foot or so of the bunks was under water, I can approach the trailer with just enough juice to keep it straight and glide the boat on. This way, as long as I hit it straight it stays straight. My hull has ridges that corespond to the trailer bunks, so if you are right or left too far the hull will not sit straight/can't hook up the transom saver, etc. Good luck and let us know.

The 'sweet spot' for me is not where I can barely use power and still make it to the roller, but instead it is how far to have the bunks in the water so that the boat will line up properly. If there is just a tad too much bunk in the water, then any kind of current/wave/wind will blow my boat just enough that it doesn't sit straight when you try to pull the trailer out. On my local ramp I back the trailer in until the bunks are covered, then pull forward until fenders are a couple of inches out of the water. I can usually glide on with minimal power and be lined up just right. Sometimes I still have to winch it up the last foot or so.

I'm with you! I think part of our bass fishing "culture" is the telling of fish stories. I myself will certainly round up to the next half pound if nothing is on the line. If I'm actively competing with buddies then I'll snap a pic of the fish on digital scales. And to be honest, I expect the same kind of exagerations from my fishing buddies! There's certainly a difference between exaggerating and outright lying in my book. Last year my wife caught a big ol' hog of a bass right after the spawn had ended. This fish had an enormous mouth and was just as skinny as could be. She weight in just over 6 lbs. Now, we all know how much heavier a large girl would be before spawn compared with after. So that day I kept saying how a month prior she was probably around 7.5 Naturally, by the time I got home she was pushing 8 lbs. As I told the story to friends she kept gaining a Qtr. pound at a time, until finally she was a 9 pound bass. Somewhere along the way my wife asked me one day how big her bass was, and I couldn't remember the real number. I'll always say I've just caught a couple of dinks when I see someone on the water unless I know them. I'll also *cough cough* lie about what I caught them on when a stranger asks. If they were all on plastics then I caught them on spinner baits. If they were on cranks then I caught them finessin'. If it is somebody fishing with kids, especially the ones that rarely take the kids out to fish then I'll answer honestly about what is or isn't working.

For a long time I wouldn't touch bass. Not because I had anything against eating a few here and there, but because I prefered eating catfish or crappie. Since I have learned how to prepare them better I really love the taste now. It irritates me when I go somewhere and see the same guy, every single time, keeping every single fish he catches, bream/catfish/bass, big or small. But, if he has paid for a license then that is certainly his right. If you haven't tried it, soak the fillets in milk for a while. Then roll them in flour. Take some mustard (I like goulden's spicy brown) and place it in a bowl. Use a basting brush to brush the mustard on the fish. Then roll it in your favorite breader mix. Fry a couple minutes on each side. Most of the mustard cooks out, but it leaves a great slightly tangy taste. Even for people that don't like the fishy taste of wild caught fish, this really improves the flavor.

My progressive policy doesn't unless you specifically add it. Even then, there has to be signs of forced entry into the lockers and there is a $500 deductible.

Everyone else has summed it up well. There are certainly pros and cons to both options. I have fished out of a sit on top kayak for years now and love it. It works great in in a ton of different places and is relatively easy to launch. It will make you sore after an entire day of fishing. As for the gear, the jon boat loaded on a trailer will definately be simpler in that you don't need to load all your gear every single time you go. If you load the kayak on top of your car like I do, then every single time you put in or take it out of the water you will need to load and remove your fishing gear. Even in the kayak I carry several rods way more tackle than I could ever possibly use. Including drinks, snacks, and essentials.

Xs 2 If I ever saw the cat I would happily go that route.

Hi all. Off and on we have problems with neighborhood stray cats that climb on the cars and everything else. I've been concerned with them getting on the boat and doing their business on the cover, the carpet, etc. This weekend I pulled the cover back to charge the batteries. When I went out this evening there were green mountain dew droplets on the cover and it stunk to high heaven. Fortunately, it seemed to be on the cover only and not on the carpet or seats. I know once cats start marking their territory it will be a continual thing. Does anybody have any suggestions on what might keep them away? I've yet to see them actually on the boat, so something that deters when I am not around is probably best. I've heard to give mothballs a try so I'm picking some up tomorrow. Any other ideas? Thanks, SnowBass

Oh sweet! This topic hasn't been beat to death! I'm just kidding, but seriously, you can do a forum search and find a ton of posts about the banjo minnow.

I find that interesting because he has his own line of BPS rod/reels matched to a specific task. They even say "Topwater", "Crankbait", and so forth on them! But, simpler is usually easier (just maybe not as much fun!).

Most if not all of my irritations come from pleasure boaters. It seems most fishermen will happily help each other out, and NOT be the biggets jerks in the world on the ramps. I can't say the same thing for guys with huge ski boats. They seem to be the ones that end up with either the wife or teenage son backing the trailer while he screams and yells from the boat helm. Then they proceed to gun the engine as hard as possible to get the boat on or off the trailer. I was one of those unthinking guys that bought a boat on Friday, and then launched on Saturday, warm summer weather without any practice. Luckily an older fisherman helped me out and taught me a lot in about 10 minutes. Now I will happily help someone at the ramp when they have a problem.

Ditto on crowding ramps...But I draw a line. If it is a fisherman that just doesn't know how to get his boat back onto the trailer then I will happily help him. I for one have certainly been there. But, if it is some jack@$$ that just wants to waste space and slow everyone down I have no mercy! I also despise pleasure boating idiots that pull the boat out of the water (still blocking the lanes) and then talk to their buddy that happened to be passing by. Get the **** out of here!!!! Idiots that talk on cell phones while driving. People that can't use blinkers. People that stop 15 feet back from the white line at a stop light. Seriously, you are stopped just behind the line, and next to you is an empty space because some idiot is 15 feet back. What is up with that? People that flick cigarette butts out the window. Spoiled brats driving nice cars that mommy and daddy bought. People with hellish/bratty children that look at me, and as if to excuse their children's awful behavior say something like, "You'll understand when you have kids". NO. No, I won't. Because my parents weren't afraid to kick my butt when I needed it! When I see people keeping every single 2" or 3" fish they pull out. People that say "my mistake". What does that even mean!? When you say something like 'hey, how you doing?' as a greeting and the idiot responds 'fine, thanks' because they aren't paying attention. Yeah, a lot of things aggravate the crap out of me. That's probably why the doctor just diagnosed me with advanced hypertension and prescribed some medicine. Yeah right, like some magical little pills are just gonna make all the stupid people go away! Just kidding...well, sort of.

I'd have to say that some of the most hated things on here have treated me pretty well. I bought a banjo minnow kit long ago and have caught quite a few bass on it. I've never used a slug-go so maybe they are comparable. I've had the kit for years so I'd say it has paid for itself. I also like berkley gulp! products as well as storm soft plastics. The one that is shaped like a grub on a jig head (I can't remember the name of it) has done really well for me. My worst purchase is allowing the baitmonkey to make me buy crankbaits. I've only ever caught one fish on a crank and yet I have a ton of the things that have never been casted.

As a kid restricted to shore I never understood why boaters would get right up on top of me when they could go anywhere else in the lake. Nowadays, if I'm in the boat I make sure to keep well back from any shore fishermen (or boaters for that matter!). As far as on land, as a general rule 20 feet is too close for me, but I know there are times when there is no choice but to be closer.

Not far enough south, here either! It was 40ish today, but hit about 60 at some point. Should be warming up nicely in about 4 weeks!!!

He's still thawing out! ;D

It sounds like you've weighed the pros and cons of why it's good for you. If it were me, however I would really encourage you to check into some used boats. I bought the Pro Team 175 last May. Although I certainly love it (it's my first boat) I also realize after doing some more looking around that I could have gotten a whole lot more boat for what I paid, just by getting something a couple of years old. I'm not necessarily saying getting something bigger, but you might find something you like in that size range at one heck of a steal price.

I have one of the monstrous green ones and it rocks. I haven't been using it in a while but plan to start carrying it again as a deck bag for my boat. I'm surei n the next few weeks Wally will be restocking them as they start moving hunting stuff out.

First off, if you haven't already you might want to search this topic here as it has come up a few times before. Basically, they all have their uses, it jus tdepends what you want out of it (couldn't be clearer than mud, right ). I use a Prowler kayak and it is awesome for getting into out of the way places, small creeks, sloughs, and places that a lot of boats can't get too. I also have a bass boat for zipping from place to place. Fishing by yourself a kayak would be a good deal. However, you can also carry a lot more out of a jon boat, as well as have the ability to stand up and strech your legs. But, the jon will probably also have more additional costs, such as registering it, towing it, storage would be another big issue. Basically you just have to weight the costs versus the benifits. Those of us that use kayaks to bass fish absolutely love 'em, but they aren't for everyone.

I'm in southern Alabama, and I fish from both kayak and a bass boat. When we are in kayaks, which is typically in smaller waters (creaks, rivers, smaller ponds) we see a ton of water snakes. Some that are harmless and then others like mocassins (sp?). You just have to be prepared for it and pay attention to what you are doing. In the boat I occasionally see them but much less than in the kayak. I went wadeing with a buddy once and we caught 54 LMB during the day. The whole time I was paying careful attention and watching every step. At the end of the day, I changed to flip flops as we loaded up the vehicles. I suddenly looked down and realized that 2 or 3 times I had stumbled past a copperhead that was laying on the ground with its mouth open, hissing at me. I so easily could have stepped on it just by being careless. You just gotta keep your head and pay attention.

For everyone complaining that he only catches big fish, I know what you mean! They always do that crap on hunting shows too... Host walks out into the woods, sets up a stand, and 10 minutes later a trophy walks along. I'd much rather watch the other 6 hours that guy sat in the stand freezing his butt off! 8-)

Yeah, go with waders and you'll be fine. Like everyone else said, let somebody know where you go and wear the pfd! We have had some spills here where somebody falls in in DEEP water and I've yet to see someone's feet come up, but when you start taking water on in your waders it is certainly a different sensation trying to move and get to safety. SAFETY FIRST.

There are no Cabelas stores near me, so I've only ordered via catalog or internet. I have been into many BPSs. Senko, I'm curious why you don't have anything else good to say about BPS. I've never had any kind of issues with them, and that has been with years of ordering and going to the stores. Like everyone else has already said, there are items that BPS has that Cabelas might not, and vice versa. Both are my two favorite stores.

I screwed myself over that one, and my wife still holds it against me. Last year their promotion was a $750 BPS card if you bought it before Apr 15. It was the weekend before, and I still thought I could talk the dealer down. So I left, and when I finally settled on a boat a few weeks later it was after the 15th, and they reduced the card to $400. Oh well... :

I forgot to mention the $925 dealer prep charge.