senile1

Welcome to the community!

Welcome to Bass Resource, John!

Welcome to BR, Andrew!

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum, Zack!

There appears to be some confusion about what power loading is. I always thought it was loading the boat by driving it onto the trailer. If that is the definition, there are good ways to power load, as mentioned by others in this thread, and there are damaging ways to power load. I back my trailer down until the bunks are completely soaked. Then I pull the trailer up to the proper spot so that my boat will glide right on. I approach at a no wake speed with my motor trimmed up and with no additional throttle my boat glides right up to the bow stop. I suspect that those who fish a lot out of their boats have learned how to drive onto their trailers under minimal power, though I am sure there are those who just don't care and like to goose it anyway. I also suspect that new boaters who are first learning how far into the water to place their trailers may end up using more power to get the boat on because of incorrect trailer placement. I use other methods as well. I have also had a dead starter battery and driven my boat up to the trailer with the trolling motor, lifting it just in time to avoid the cross-bar frame members. In these situations, I have extended my winch strap down to where the boat stops on the trailer so that I can connect it to the U-bolt. Then I step onto the frame members, walk up the trailer, and winch the boat up. (Beware of wet trailer frames. ) This is much faster than using a rope to pull the boat onto the trailer though it isn't as safe. If you are going to own a larger bass boat I think it is important to learn to use different methods to cover every type of circumstance.

Always remember that these lures can be used at any time since you never know with certainty what the bass will want for the day. Having said that, there are always rules of thumb to go by. I have tried to provide a concise description of when and how I use these baits below, but an article could be written on each of these lures so I hope the small amount of information I have provided will at least give you a starting point. Remember, also, that there will be subtle differences in the time and place when each of these are used by different anglers based on their different experiences and bodies of water. (Temperatures referenced below are surface water temperatures. I do not cover all the different ways to fish these baits but you can use the search function to find in-depth threads on these subjects.) Spinnerbait - Use when the fish are active and especially when they are feeding on baitfish. Also, these lures are more effective when there is wind creating a chop on the water. They can be used in any season. For example, you can slow-roll or yo-yo them in cold weather and then you can burn them or wake them in warmer weather. The location that you should fish them changes too, based on the weather and the season. There are also different uses for spinnerbaits based on the blades attached to the arm, but you can use the search function to read up on that. Buzzbait - This is a topwater bait and is more effective when the fish are active. Since fish tend to be more active in the warmer months (Spring through Fall) the probability of success is better in those months. However, they can catch fish at anytime. Rattletrap - This is another bait that has a higher probability of success in the warmer seasons, Spring through Fall. Rattletraps can be deadly when fished over, around, and through vegetation. They can be fished deep as well. Jerkbait - This bait is used more often in the transition between the colder and warmer months, such as during prespawn when surface water temperatures are in the 40s into the 60s, and in the Fall when water temperatures are going the other direction. However, they catch fish in warmer weather too. For example, I have had success with jerkbaits in post spawn periods. When the water temperatures are cold, you generally want to make your pauses long between jerks of the bait. When warm, you generally decrease the time of the pauses. Crankbait - This bait can be used at any time but for me, it is better when the fish are active. However, depending on how you fish the bait you can pick off lethargic fish with pauses after bumping cover. Temperature Definitions are based on my location in northwest Missouri. Hot: 80s on up Warm: 60s - 70s Cool: 50s Cold: 40s down to freezing

Nice fish, Avid.

Yeah, I agree. Where are the darker colors? Otherwise, if these have the action of the other Rage Tail baits I am sure they will end up in my tacklebox. On another note, that is one nice pair of smallies!

One down, three to go . . . hopefully.

BobP has explained it perfectly.

It could be useful though it won't tell you if a battery is going bad as Rhino stated. I use this cheap, little Minn Kota tester. You can get it with a volt reading . . . http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/product.do?part=167668&BASE or you can get it with marks corresponding to full, 2/3s, 1/3, and 0 charge. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=Minn+Kota+battery+tester&gs_upl=1453l6857l0l7701l28l16l2l9l11l0l331l2820l1.11.3.1l24l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1440&bih=744&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2296434891490531481&sa=X&ei=FCafTp65Js_fsQLj8LDxCQ&ved=0CEQQ8wIwAA However, when I am on the water I can determine with accuracy when batteries are getting low, based on how well the t-motor is pulling the boat.

I laughed pretty hard too, especially after I read the next post after it.

lol. I wonder how many remember that movie.

Excellent fish! Welcome to the forum.

Nice job, Goose! Is that two years in a row now, or more?

Nice fish, Big-O. And congratulations to your friend! What a nice one to catch after 15 years off the water. I'll bet his heart was thumping!

That's a beautiful fish, Dwight.

Thanks for the notice, Glenn.

I have always had tremendous respect for Nolan Ryan and for his abilities when he played. Who knows what kind of won-loss record he could have had if he had played for good teams during his career. Having said that, I'm a Cardinal fan, born and bred. I hope they have another rabbit to pull out of their hat. They will need it because that Texas Rangers team looks pretty tough right now and they are definitely on a roll.

The Cardinals are in the Series again. On August 25th they were 10 1/2 games behind the best second place team in the National League at the time, the Atlanta Braves. They passed the Braves on the last day of the season and ended up 6 behind division winner, Milwaukee, grabbing the wild-card slot. Now they have knocked off the Phillies and the Brewers to make it to the Fall Classic. The Texas Rangers are a very good team and have not lost consecutive games in almost two months. The Cardinals will have their hands full. I hope they can pull off another upset but starting pitching will have to be better. Their much maligned bullpen pitchers have pitched magnificently in the playoffs so far and were the instrumental factor in winning the NLCS.

Below are a few basic things you can do to find structure, cover, and forage from the bank, and hopefully you will find fish near these items. Fan Cast a lure that can be dragged on bottom. By counting it down in different spots you can determine an approximate depth in each of those locations and you can slowly map out the bottom of the waterway and find drop-offs, humps, holes, points, etc. One of the better techniques for doing this is a carolina rig. This can take some time. Keep your eyes peeled for rocks, timber, stumps, and vegetation that can hold fish. A good quality pair of polarized sunglasses can help immensely in finding these areas because you will be able to see down into the water. Watch for baitfish activity like bluegills or other sunfish feeding. Bass should be close by. Watch for birds like herons and pay attention to the areas they choose to feed which is another indication of baitfish. Humminbird makes a wireless fishfinder that you can attach to your line. This will help you to find fish holding structure as well.

That is a common technique to use when fishing shallow with a senko type worm, especially in the Spring through Fall seasons. I hope you have success with it.

I know nothing about this model of boat, but I can give you some pointers on what to check and look for. Regarding motors, it is always worth the money ($150 - 200) to have the motor checked by a mechanic. It is better to spend two hundred dollars up front and avoid purchasing a lemon than to make the purchase and have to spend a few thousand for a new or used motor later down the road. Motor (I can't tell from the pictures if there is one): Check lower Unity oil. Milky color means water is getting into the lower end. Check motor compression. Spin the prop and watch for wobbles which would indicate a bent prop shaft. Check for bent blades and skeg. Boat: Check underneath for gouges especially in the pad area. Check for flex in the transom. This should definitely be solid. Make sure all electronics work. Make sure the bilge is empty and take the boat for a test drive. Check the bilge afterward. If there is an abnormal amount of water there is probably a leak somewhere. Check compartments and livewells. Make sure the U-bolt used to connect the winch is firmly in place. Trailer: When the boat is taken out for a test drive, place your hand on the wheel hubs of the trailer afterward. They should be warm but not hot. Check the lights, the bunks, and the supports for cracks, rust, problems, etc.

Every game they play will be tough from here on out. Go Cards!