Jeff P.

I am seriously considering buying one of these units. I am looking at the color screen model. I want to use it mainly for marking hot spots on my lakes, as well as mapping and navigating. I want a portable GPS so that I can also take it with me if I go hiking, and also to use in the truck when I go on a trip. Does anyone have one of these, and how do you feel it is suited for the above purposes? Is there a different handheld GPS that you would recommend over this one? Any other tips or info is greatly appreciated.

I would suggest contacting Humminbird support. They were very helpful to me when I had questions last year about my Humminbird fishfinder. You can get the number from the website www.humminbird.com

I just got a circular in the mail yesterday from the Springfield, MO store but I found this on the website before I got the circular: they are clearing out the '06 models of the Extreme and Pro Qualifier baitcasters to make room for new '07 models. They have last year's reels on sale 33% off. I just ordered a Pro Qualifier for $69.88 on the website, when I see in the circular that you can get it for the same price at the store, and they throw in a rod for free (not sure which rod, but the circular says XPS series rod $59 value). That's a heck of a deal, since the Pro Qualifier reel is regularly $99.

I use rod socks also, and I like them alot. I get the ones from Bass Pro Shops, but I'm sure there are other products that do the same function. These are easy to put on and take off without fuss, and they keep the rods separated and protected inside the rod locker. I considered using some type of tubes (like golf club tubes) but I'm afraid I'd end up bending some guides because I know that I don't always pay close enough attention when I'm pulling out/putting in the rods into my rod locker compartment.

I just caught this show Friday morning for the first time when I took a sick day from work. Seems like a pretty good show, I'll be setting the recorder for this program to see if it turns out to be a good one.

I started off using the improved clinch when I first started bass fishing. I had some problems with that knot, so I started researching other knots to use. I came across the uni knot last year and the rest is history. So versatile and very easy to tie. Now I am somewhat forced into learning the palomar this year to tie dropshot hooks, but that's the only time I'll be using any knot other than a uni knot.

Dodgeguy, I called Pflueger and they do sell replacement handles for the medalist, but the lady on the phone says that the handles aren't interchangeable because they have different drive gears? Not sure she knew what she was talking about, but I couldn't refute what she said. I guess I'll take a trip to the tackle shop and see if they have the 2 reels to compare and I'll see if the handles interchange. Good news is that the replacement handle is only about 6 bucks or so. Thanks.

I tried the search but didn't find any previous posts. Has anyone replaced the wooden grip knob on their president spinning reel with a rubber grip? Any suggestions where I could find a replacement rubber grip? Thanks.

Does anyone have information whether they will be producing a 101 (left hand retrieve)? Thanks.

On the lakes I've been fishing the past couple weeks, the fish are apparently in a transition phase, and the majority of the fish I would say are in a post-spawn phase with a few late spawning males guarding some remaining beds. For the past few trips, I haven't been able to catch them on anything except 1/8oz spot remover and either a finesse or trick worm, or a 4" tiki stick. Not getting any action at all on topwaters, spinnerbaits, crankbaits (reaction baits). We have water surface temps that are in the low-mid 70's, stained water with about 2-3 ft. visibility, and very little natural cover. The main cover is boat docks, and the occasional laydown log. Most all of the fish I've caught recently have been in 8-12 ft of water that is adjacent to some deeper water (20-30 ft), and the dropoffs are semi-steep. The bait almost never gets hit on the initial fall, most hits occur Also, there is not very much action at all except during the low light periods first thing in the morning and from dusk 'til midnight. I'm quite confident I can catch a few throwing the spot remover and finesse worm rig, but I'd like to expand that to some other presentations. What would you suggest?

Thank you for the info. I contaced Humminbird tech support and their reply was to use a two-part slow cure epoxy. I plan to install this new transducer in exactly the same spot/position as the existing one. The old unit was inside the hull down at the bottom near the bilge pump, and worked well until the transducer kicked the bucket. I'm going to remove the old one, sand and clean the mounting area, and install the new one in the same location.

Which would you recommend? Is one or the other product more difficult to work with? Does one of the products offer a distinct advantage over the other? Thank you.

Looks like they have it on sale at Cabela's and other places on the web for $54.95. It seems that price is before rebate, so I will definitely be considering a mk106. Thanks for the info. Jeff

I have a 2-bank onboard charger for my two trolling motor batteries, but I have to hook up an external charger for my cranking battery. I really like the convenience factor of plugging in my charger for the trolling motor batteries, and would like to get a charger for the cranking battery that will recharge the battery and also keep it charged up (plug and forget). What type of charger would be recommended for this purpose? Thanks.

I just recently purchased a Humminbird 565 fishfinder. It comes standard with a transom mount transducer. This model fishfinder has a dual-beam sonar, 20 degree cone and 60 degree cone. I would like to mount the transducer inside the hull, and Humminbird offers a transducer exchange program so I can exchange the transom mount transducer for a puck transducer that is designed for mounting inside the hull of a fiberglass boat. However, the puck transducer only appears to be a single-beam (20 degree) transducer. I called Humminbird tech support to clarify, and the person I talked to said that I would not lose any capabilities of my unit. I will call back again tomorrow to get a more clear and defintive answer. So I have two questions for anyone who might have experience with this: 1) Do I have to give up the dual-beam capabilities of my fishfinder by mounting the transducer inside the hull? 2) What are the drawbacks of mounting the transom mount transducer inside the hull of my boat, instead of trading it for a new puck transducer? Thanks very much.

I wonder nowadays with the new hooks if they really do rust out like people say. I would speculate that it takes a very long time indeed for some of today's hooks to rust out. When this situation happens where a fish has swallowed the hook deeply, and I know the fish has a poor chance of survival, I'll keep the fish to eat.

A tip that I've heard repeated several times is to learn through experience just exactly the feel of your jig when it's in the water. When your jig hits the bottom, very slowly lift it up and "weigh" it. As they say, most often you don't feel that tell-tale tap tap or thump on a jig the way you do on a plastic worm. A bass will often pick up a jig and you'll never feel the pick up. But when you start to lift your rod tip (here's where a little bit of softness in the tip will help) and the jig feels heavier or mushy, there's a chance that a fish has picked up the jig, and you need to set the hook before the fish spits it back out. Yes, you are going to whiff a few times, and you'll see your jig go flying by your head as it comes out of the water, but that's going to happen.

I am beginning to think that this is one of my own downfalls. I think the OP (original poster) stuck with the baits he chose for so long because he thought they were the same baits the bass club guys were catching them on, and he deduced that he should catch fish too because he was throwing the same bait. This is not always the case. Sometimes you gotta give the fish what they want, not what you want. I know there have been days when I said to myself "I'm gonna catch a fish on this spinnerbait if I have to throw it all day", and I often end up frustrated. I guess that probably means a significant part of fishing success is found in the space between the fishermen's ears.

I recently finished up a boating safety course, and one point that was made about anchoring is that you should anchor from the bow only. Anchoring from the stern (rear) of the boat can be dangerous, for the reasons that F Rod stated above. It is much easier to get swamped when you anchor from the stern.

Clear water will warm up more slowly than water with some stain to it, all other factors being equal. The stained (also muddy, murky, etc) water has more particulate matter, either organic or non-organic, to hold in warmth.

I also purchased an inexpensive pool thermometer from Wal-Mart for around 5 bucks or so. It works very well, just tie it on the end of your line and cast out to the area you want to get the temperature. I also T-rig my thermometer, but I peg the sinker about 6 inches ahead of the "bait".

Hello, I am going to do my first solo boat launch this evening. I bought some rope and a hook to secure to the bow eye on the boat. I plan to tie this off to the truck bumper, back down the trailer, and launch the boat with the rope attached to the bow eye. I'll use the rope to secure the boat to the courtesy ramp while I park the truck. What type of knot should I use to tie the "hook" to the end of the rope? Just a regular double knot? Thanks.

Thank you all for the replies.

Welcome to the forums. I'm also in Northwest Arkansas, and I would advise you to check out the Sunday classifieds in the Daily Record and also the Democrat Gazette. The past couple weeks there have been a bunch of good ads on boats for sale. Unfortunately Beaver Lake is about 15 feet low at this time due to a bad drought last year, but it will come back. You can also stop in to the tackle stores around the area (start with Hook, Line, and Sinker and Hawg Country Tackle, both in Rogers). Good luck in your search, and feel free to PM me anytime, I'm only about 15 minutes from where you are and have lived in the area for over 25 years. Jeff P

I'll add mine to the forum. I just got a 2002 Nitro NX 882 w/ 150 hp Merc XR6. (Same one I had posted about earlier). I am very happy to finally have my first boat. I have a couple questions, I'll just put them all in one post to save room. 1) Cleaning carpet - I have read that a solution of distilled white vinegar and water will clean the carpets right up. Please share your tips/methods on cleaning the capet in a bass boat? Can I take it to the car wash and just spray it down there? 2) I read a reccomendation about using rod socks to prevent tangles when you store your rods in the rod locker. I was thinking I'd just wrap the line around a guide a couple times (picked up this tip on a Jimmy Houston show). Anyone use the rod socks and think they're great? 3) If you were going to put together a small toolkit for emergencies, what would you include? I have some tools in the truck for on the road emergencies, but I want to put together a small toolkit for on the water. Thanks.