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I bought a Crestliner Storm 1600 with a 20hp last year. I live near lakes with HP restrictions, hence the small outboard. I love my Crestliner. 8’ rod locker, 16gal livewell. Cost me around 14k after all the upgrades and labor. It’s a great rig for me. I’d look for a used Storm 1700 with a 40.

Chipmunk. Bass was around 3.5-4lbs. Caught it flipping overhanging brush.

That’s what I do now. I was think of a zip tie around the tail, inserting the clip.

I have an Ardent Smart Cull system that I really like (you can lock in the weights). I’d like to turn it from a penetrating to non-penetrating clips without having to spend $30. I’ve seen culling-specific clips for $9, but the reviews on TW are horrible. Has anyone found an inexpensive yet reliable solution?

Looking for opinions on the 7’ M Duckett Terex cranking rod. I have a 7’ Triad, but it’s too flimsy, even for cranking. I’d like something with a little more power. Anyone have a review?

Good to know! That’s a little over an hour away, but not too bad. The Suskie is 2hrs from me. I’ll check it out this spring.

I’ve actually been going to the Susquehanna River out of Columbia. Awesome stretch of river.

You’re talking about one of the most PROVEN fish catching series. Every pro has them in the box. The XD Series is probably the only deep crank you need.

I have two Xcalibur xr50’s Natural Craw series. They’re Red Craw colored (picture off internet for reference). Just wondering what they’re worth. I might sell them if the value is worth it. thanks!

I’m thinking about throwing my squarebills on my 6’10” M F Jerkbait rods because my crankkngnrods have little backbone to horse a bass away from stumps and brush. I don’t buy into the theory that a slower action “allows” the fish to engulf a lure. Have you ever seen a bass eat a plug? By the time the feeling of the bite registers in your head, that bait in already on its way to the crushers. Plus, I replace my trebles with stout ones, so I’m not concerned about tear-out. I think I’ll also have the added benefit of carrying a few more of the same rod. For instance, i have two 6’10” Duckett Triads, one rigged for jerkbaits and one for topwater/flukes. Carrying a third rod would give me the ability to also have multiple topwaters or multiple jerkbaits tied on if I’m fishing a place where a squarebill won’t play, and vice versa. Im just wondering if anyone does this, and if so, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks!

0 in Pennsylvania...

I have six MB’s. Probably the best value in casting reels available. Duel cast control and a one piece aluminum frame, sub-7oz for $140? You’d have to spend $200+ to get all those features in another brand.

Sounds legal to me. It’s not that you can’t BRING a big engine, it’s that you can’t RUN it.

I live near a lake that has a 20 hp restriction. There is a lot of sailboats that use this lake during the summer, and those sailboat owners pay for dock slips. The fishing is phenomenal, so a lot of local guys including myself on 16 to 17 foot aluminum boat with 20 hp motors. A boat like that is big enough for the surrounding bodies of water, but there are times when you’re on a full power lake with your 16 foot aluminum that you feel very small.

I love across the river in PA, but conditions are the same. I have success fishing jerkbaits, Jigs, lipless cranks, and blade baits. Vertical cover or banks, areas close to deep water access with bait nearby. If you’re fishing a small lake, subtle changes can hold multiple fish, such as slight depth changes or a hard spot on an otherwise soft bottom. In my opinion, locating these areas are more important than bait choice.

I paid just under $14k for my 16’ Crestliner Storm 1600 with a 20hp Merc (local lake has 20hp max). Sounds like this’ll be my last boat for a good long while. Haha

This brings the conversation full circle: I originally said that I was disappointed that Vexus will be a higher price point boat: not made for us little guys. And I’m not saying that buying most of your competitors isn’t the American Dream, but more competition = better prices. Maybe that’s why boats are getting more expensive? If the five or six top selling boats brands are all under the same umbrella, and they creep their prices up, what’s that going to do to the rest of the industry? WHAT HAS IT DONE SO FAR? Certainly hasn’t made anything more affordable.

He does not need more money, especially mine. This business needs to grow, and discontinuing brands like Legend, Stratos, and (I read somewhere) Triton doesn’t help. I work for a family owned business in an industry full of corporations. I root for the little guy.

What i meant was, “not owned by JM”

They want to build the best quality and charge whatever the price is that makes sense for said quality. I’m not surprised, considering these folks all come from Ranger. I’m sure the product will be top notch. still, part of me is saddened a little. I think the industry needs an independently owned, budget-friendly glass boat option. This interview makes me look even harder at Xpress and Crestliner.

That’s all I want it to be.

I went to Culinary School with the idea of being a Chef. I quickly realized that 60 hour work weeks leave zero days to fish. I graduated anyway (finish what you start), got a job as a manufacturer rep for a good company, and have plenty of time to fish on weekends/holidays. I’ve become proficient with the tools and programs that most companies use to track sales and profits. Now, with eight years of experience as a manufacturers rep, I hope to find a job as a rep for a tackle company. I don’t care much for food anymore, and haven’t in some time. I know I won’t fish MORE than I do now, but it’ll still give me time to fish, and talk fishing when I’m not on the water. In retrospect, I should have gone to school for business or marketing, but hey, lemonade out of lemons, you know?

Just read on the Bass Blaster that tomorrow (Friday), there will be a new boat company making themselves known. Word is several former Ranger executives and Forest Wood’s grandson are heading it up. With JM buying up almost all the big brands, the bass boat industry needs some new blood in the form of brands. Look at what Phoenix has done, Falcon is on the rise, and I heard Cobra is trying to make a comeback with the old Champion 210 Hull. Let us pray that they offer at least one value-minded option. The price of boats is absolutely ridiculous.

Released in 2006, discontinued 2010ish. They are big Baits, but bulldozers coming through cover. If anyone has any for sale, let me know!

I think you’re actually approaching your problem from the wrong angle. You THINK you have to go small/finesse to get bit in a highly pressured lake. You dont. If grass is the main cover, you just have to go in after them. id take the opposite approach and learn to PUNCH. Find the thickest, nastiest mats you can find, the kind of stuff other anglers are throwing to the edge of or frogging, and send a bunker-buster sized tungsten weight through it. I like a 1.5-2oz Strike King weight, 4/0 Hack Attack flipping hook, and a Rage Menace. 50-65lb braid, 7.5’ XH rod minimum. if you want to stay with a jig, the Hack Attack Heavy cover jig comes in a 1.5oz. D&L makes a 1.5oz jig too that’s pretty good.