BillyBob

Most tournaments are held on public water and that alone gives everyone the right to fish where they wish. We as tournament anglers have no more right to it than they, and should act accordingly, rules or no.

Too many times I see guys confusing the word "pro" within the context of quality or degree of expertise. BASS requires one to buy a membership into the A.B.P. (association of bass professionals), this alone gives you "pro" status, to fish the front of your boat in all six open tour events. But to stay exempted from one year to the next requires you to stay in the top fifty, of the more than 200 in the field, including some twenty or so "elites", and this is where the "cheese gets binding". Don't get hungup on the word, anyone can be a pro, expertise, execution, priority management , and skill sets, are all words to contrast good from average, exceptional from ordinary, or as most would say "Pro" from Amateur . I'd much prefer someone refer to me as a "good stick", or"good angler". If the word "Pro" was an adjective for how good someone was, why then would B.A.S.S feel the need to put "elite" in front of their best ?

Steering was toooooooooooooooo slow!

Doesn't sound like your having fun. You could be up here with 25 feet of snow!

Side imaging lets you look at the bottom for up to 150 feet on both sides of your boat. Now realize that if your in rough or uneven terrain you won't see that far, because the first hilltop will stop your sonar and shadow is all you'll see from that point out. Traditional downlooking sonars you'll have to zig-zag to see channels and cuts, SI you can spot right off the bat. I don't much care for the computer interpreted images and you can't speed with the thing..4mph..no rough water either...but still a good tool. Its just another tool in your arsenal. Just like building a house...you need a hammer, but try building it with just a hammer and nothing else. If I had to have just have one unit , it would be a console gimbeled 979csi. Forget about it on your trolling motor, you have to run straight. So I still use my Lowrance for the detail and speed.

I've fished with Jim and Wes...and their both good sticks, I'm also sure their pros were happy for them!

Around Leesburg, I can believe it. A guy was shot in the room above me in the wild card in 06.

Soft cloth and denatured alcohol.

Ditto! I think his boats worth way more than he's lettin on ! :

I've never met an angler whose sponsored by someone he doesn't like. Moreover never met a sponsor who didn't like his angler!

Was at a boat and tackle show last weekend, and a bait mfg. asked me if his bait company that was still making baits in america ment anything to me? I said yes, but on the way home I got to thinking that I hadn't paid any attention to it, so when I got home I looked at what I bought, only his said made in the USA. Guess I'll look closer from now on. Mean anything to you !

Examine for a minute,... why would a nutbasket that was going to take his life, do it at McDonalds and take a perfect stranger with him? I think its to be remembered in some fashion, and thats why they shouldn't even report it.

Say what you will, but the number one reason for pairing is to keep the other guy honest. Its probably not fair to pair boaters together and have different rules for them like 50/50 time, when other boaters get the front all day. The closest I've seen to fair, ... angler/co-angler with observers for missing co-anglers. But that said the rules are rules and if you don't like them don't enter.

Your trying to get a bass to think human. Theres a term for that, but I can't remember it. Is it a log up there floating or a cloud? Truth is, his brain don't think that way...what little there is of it! Ive had both and it don't matter, but only to you. What color you like is more important.

Doesn't hurt ESPN's schedule either that theres no conflict with college football.

The ultimate is a 520c up front, 27x in console, and 997csi gimbeled on the side. Tie the two lowrance units to one GPS antenna . Make sure its 3 feet from either head unit, or you run the risk of burning the antenna unit out. I like it right in front of the console, starboard side. Antenna for 997 in the back corner of the boat. Have three different transducers! Trolling motor skimmer, thruhull for 27, si on transom. Temp. on bow and 997, use GPS on 27 and 520 split screen, side imageing full screen, no ziggin and zaggin, its great. Don't use thru hull for front...you loose maybe up to 20% detail on thru hull tranducers and no temp. I only live 20 miles from you if you want to see the setup.

2005 TR196 DC , Mercury 200 EFI, 26 tempest, 5" over trans, full load, 67mph gps, 72 mph alone and empty. Takes awhile to learn to drive it past 62 because it will chine, but if the boats setup and the props right you will learn. A trophy 25 4-blade, improved the handle and gained me 1 or two mph. Just traded it off but I'll always have a spot in my heart for her. EFI 3.0L, last yr they made them...seemed to be about 5mph faster than the opti. and at wot not that much worse on gas.

that 115 v4 loves the gas!

I've got all the winners...just need the pw. ;D

AND...shes from the Great State of OHIO !!! Goooooooooo Marcia !

Lowarance 135 would be my cheaper choice. Don't mount whatever you get, on your trollin motor, gimbal mount it so you can see it from bow and drivin. So many times your drivin when you spot good structure or fish. Shallow water is where you don't need it. Takes years to develope the knack, so hang in there. Some of the best I know use a garmin on a cord that plugs into the aux/ cig. hole for power and has an internal antenna. they both drive and bow ride with it on that long cord. But thats for GPS

LKN, I have went through the very same thing myself, just thought you might go for the 21 being a somewhat bigger guy than me...for the record I think Triton wasted their time and money building the 21-X2...my 20-X2 has been on order for a month now. If you custom order your colors go to the factory, like I did, you'll love it!

They are backin the trailer to far into the water.

When all your testing is complete, and the deal is done...lets see how close I come. Triton 21 X2 Elite package , ProXS 250, Motor guide 109 36v, Lowrance 420in the bow, Lowrance 27x indash. Make sure to put a Tempest 26 on your Merc

Condition being equal, pick #1. Astro was a brunswick boat that for its time had a great ride and the merc of that day was the best around!