slonezp

Does your budget include or exclude add-ons like graphs, trolling motor etc? A slightly used or leftover might be a better option to get more for less.

When I leave the boat, they leave the boat.

I always give them the right of way and go around unless they do it first

You can use a Hambys or Keel Shield. Keel Shield lists aluminum boats on their website, Hamby's does not. If your not beaching on cement ramps, it's overkill for an aluminum boat. I beach my Lund on mud, sand and gravel without issue.

What made it an "obvious" spot? From here it looks no better nor worse than anywhere else

It can be done. Are you going to be beaching on cement ramps?

Ouch!

I think too many people are stuck on small town mentality. Like it or not, big corporations push technology and keep pricing down. JM is a business man. I don't know what the real #'s are but if your selling 100 Legends for every 1000 Rangers, it's time to cut your losses. Look at the big 3 automakers and most recently Ford. They have been consolidating brands for roughly the last 10 years and Ford got rid of their car line aside from the Mustang and Focus. If they weren't in trouble, they probably wouldn't have sold to JM last year. Legend sponsored Anglers Choice Tournament Trail for as many years as I fished the trail. I've seen a number of them on trailers but only 2 guys in my club had them One was won at a tournament and the other was purchased. Nice looking boats, nice fishing platform, and a pretty hefty pricetag. One thing I liked about Legend was they were semi custom. You could build your own boat within reason. I don't know about in the south, but here in IL there was no dealer network. There was a manufacturers rep who would take you on a test ride in his flagship demo boat. fish for a half day with you, and then try and sell you. I'm sorry, but if I'm purchasing a vehicle, or making a large $$$ purchase I want to see the exact model I'm buying in person.

Rumor has it they have closed their doors and Triton's will be manufactured at the plant.

The trim stop is a safety feature.

Motor might be too low

Very nice.

Cool pic

Do it. Or a Lund. My transom is rated for 950lbs

Your thumb is your friend. I learned how to cast a baitcaster before there were all these fancy accoutrements they call brakes.(if you have to look up the definition of the word, you're probably younger than I am) We had nothing but our thumb to prevent backlash. The thumb still works today.

Hit the Fox Chain yesterday. Son was catching fish but I couldn't buy a bite for the first 2 hours. Picked up a few and the bite died around 10am. We headed to an area we hadn't fished for bass in a few years. It's a spot I regularly fish for crappies, but the bass have been hit or miss. Prespawn, I heard the bite was exceptional here, but never made it because my other areas were producing well. Anyway, we were greeted by huge pods of carp fry scattered all over the small lake. High noon, not a cloud in the sky with 80* water temps and the bass were gorging themselves on baby carp in 4ft of water. Had fun chasing them around for about 2 hours. We missed more than we connected with and didn't get anything over 2-1/2 or 3lbs. The bass were so wound up they were grabbing lures as we pulled them out of the water at the boat. I've only seen pike do that before. Was a fun end to the day.

Every time I fish.

I'm not sure about in Los Angeles, but here in Chicago, hot dogs are extinct in the wild and can only be found behind the glass windows in a grocery store. Have you tried worms, spikes, or crickets?

One piece of advice. Whatever you choose to get, learn how to read what you are looking at on the graph. Think of the boat as your tool box. Everything you put into that tool box is a means to be successful at fishing. If you don't know how to operate a tool in the correct manner, it will fail you and cause you unneeded frustration. You don't necessarily need to have the best as long as you make the best of what you have, Fish finders have been around for over 50 years and imaging for less than 10 years. Greyscale graphs have been the norm up until 10 years ago as well. No one "needs" imaging. That being said, I wouldn't own a boat without out it. So, as @12poundbassstated above, what's your budget? and What is important to you? Networking, mapping, screen size, ease of use, etc.?

Not sure what a shadow bass is. I agree with @Bluebasser86 that it closely resembles a rock bass.

Bluegills school up with the same class size fish. Sounds like you have found schools of small fish with a few larger ones mixed in. Large bluegills will school with other large gills and panfish. You are fishing the wrong school.

First fourth, first fireworks, and first funnelcake for the grandson

Early morning fishing. As far as the grandkid is concerned. When he's around, I forget about everyone else in the room. A different kind of peace.

A 12v motor will be adequate for most situations but, as stated above, more power is nice. Do not use a car battery. You need a deep cycle marine battery. All marine batteries are not the same. As you go larger in size from group 24 to 27 to 29 to 31, the batteries are larger in physical size and weight. The larger the battery, the higher the cost, the longer the run time you will get from it. Walmart sells a decent battery with a 2 year warranty for around $100. The battery needs to be kept in a case while in the boat. It's the law. A case will run about $10 or so. You also need a circuit breaker. The amp rating of the breaker will be determined by the motor you get. (It will be in the instruction manual) Breakers run anywhere from $10 to around $30. Minn Kota sells a case with a built in circuit breaker for around $50