Dad_Golf_Fish

1. Topwater - just never try it. 2. Jerkbaits - don't own any. 3. Crankbaits - only own a couple and they never seem to get tied on. I guess I have a few things to work on before I think of turning pro.

To be honest, I've had a really bad start this year. The one thing I can do to do better is to keep trying!!!. I would rather learn from my mistakes of the previous outing than to not go again. If nothing else, I will use the time to spend with my family away from televisions and x-boxes and all the other crap, try something different from last time and continue to learn. If I fail again, so be it.

Yeah, but that was eastern time. Do we need to start three hours earlier for us left coast people? ;D

I haven't been around there much since the mid 80's, but once of the nicest areas I saw was around Ft. Spokane. I believe it was around Davenport. Another option is the short jump across the border to Idaho. I believe kids still fish free, but you would need to get a non-resident license. I did that about 4 years ago and think I paid around $25 for a three day license. The area I fished was Rathdrum, which is within the drive time you specified.

Less than an hour. The gear is already in the truck ready for transfer on arrival. In the morning, I get up, get dressed, uncover the boat, unplug the charger, mount the electronics, and hitch 'er up. I am now ready. I spend the next 4 hours waiting for the wife and kid to get up and get ready. On the plus side, the wife is great about prepping the kid, loading the coolers with food/drink, applying sunblock and bug spray to everyone who needs it...I'm so spoiled. The planning is a different story. That usually takes at least a week. The day after each outing is spent cleaning/detailing the boat. Then I decide where the next trip is to. Order any new baits (no local shopping in hicksville), spend nights studying topo/aerial maps, etc.. So yeah, by the time the trip is planned, there's not much more to do. You would think with all that prep work that I would catch far more than I do.

I have an '88 Cajun. If it is like mine, there should be the TM connector with a charge/run switch, the livewell auto/manual switch, and the motor trim switch. Does the TM work? I think the bigger models (mine is 16.5) also have livewell controls at the console and the motor trim as well. If the TM works and he has backups for the other controls, I would look at the additional work as something all boat owners find they need after buying a used boat. On mine, we ran the motor on the muffs, but the first trip out it would die whenever it was put in gear. Luckily, the local lake mechanic fixed it at the dock for me and I threw him $40 (15 minutes work for him). I also had to restore the seating to the original layout and found huge holes he cut in the fiberglass under his mounts. No TM battery, and some mold on the bimini. Now that everything is back together, the boat looks and rides sweet. It is also quite peppy for an 85hp. The family loves it, and people comment on how it looks. I complain to the wife about working on the boat, but secretly I enjoy it. If your friend is happy with the boat, and is planning on doing the work himself, I don't think it is a big deal. One final note: Most Cajuns were built up at the dealers. They were sold as a hull to the dealer who then built them to order. Do not plan on finding any owners manual, or "standard wiring diagrams".

This is just sad! In a two minute google I found more information (topo maps, satellite photos, etc) on this puddle than I've found on my local lakes and reservoirs in weeks of searching! I would like to try my hand at this just based off the maps, and would appreciate if anyone thinks I'm way off telling me so I can get better at these skills. I would try off both sides of the large point on the north side and ther smaller point on the south side. I would also target what looks like some type of inlet on both the northeast and northwest corners. Mind you, this is just my opinion. I am often wrong... :-/

The preview just saved me! I had a novel typed up, and when I went to preview for silly spelling mistakes (there may still be some) I see that the problem is solved. Oh well, I still give myself an "A" for effort. If it makes you feel any better, I'm in the same boat (no pun intended). My left turn signal is out. The entire light had gone out, and I just pulled the burned out bulb and had to go to three auto stores to find the right one. I replaced it, and then I had a very bright parking light, but no turn signal. When I went to the right side, it had a different bulb. I just picked that one up today, and now the parking light and brake light work, but still no turn signal. My turn to break out the meter and start working my way through.

You probably have a two filament bulb. One for the brake/turn which is brighter and one for the running/parking light. The chance of that filament going on both bulbs at the same time is a little remote (unless you back in with the trailer lights still connected). I would start at the connector to the vehicle and make sure you have a good connection there. If so, a pen type voltage tester (wire tester) from the connector back to each lamp socket until you find where you no longer have power. Since they are separate wire runs, I'd spend more time at the hitch/connector end.

I would say NOTHING, but I would really hate to kill the thread... :-[

tomac - PM'ed.

I would ask if that meant your 55 was going to show up for sale, but it doesn't matter. I couldn't afford it anyway. I can't believe someone stuck a !@#%&!@ 25 on this boat!

Isn't Oroville doing inspections now? I don't know why I should worry about it, but I would bet that as soon as I hauled out there... Englebright is ok if you like trout, but for bass, not so much. Beal_Bass - Yeah, the ice cream heals the skunk wounds. The vote for tomorrow's outing site still hasn't been decided. I'll post details after the trip.

About 15 years ago I used to have a 16ft 1960's something or other and towed it with an '86 Chevy S-10 on a bumper mounted hitch. Now I have a have a boat and a truck that I love. Frame mounted hitch!

I like the way you think! I'll ask around my neck of the woods. I already know one person who would be interested (besides myself). I haven't seen much of Beale, other than the road from the Grass Valley gate to the golf course. Of the two small lakes on the course, I see guys fishing the one on #7 from time to time, but I've never seen anything pulled out of there. Where do you fish on the base? We just had a conversation over dinner tonight about where we're going this weekend. I was thinking Scotts, but it sounds like the Mrs. might want Collins. I know the little one won't complain if she gets ice cream again after. I just need to remember the camera this time. I want to get to Bullards soon, but I want to do that on a non-family trip and get semi-serious. Last outing I only had one pole in the water and the little one was in control of it. She did get two fish though. By the way, since I have two live wells, and I catch and release anyway, is it some type of unwritten crime to use one of the live wells as a cooler? It would save some room on the boat.

Yeah, Collins does charge and they are about the most expensive around here ($11 vehicle + $8 boat), but they do have some decent fish. More size than quality. The trout are a bit on the "soft" side. Nice bass and bluegill though. I don't remember the cost for Bullards. Rollins and Scotts Flat are a lot cheaper. I like the no jet skis on Collins, but starting Memorial Day they will let the water skiers in. Seems like we have a few of us around this area. I was looking for a decent bass club, but the closest I can find is Auburn and it seems they mostly hit the valley/delta areas. Think we can find enough of us to start a small group and maybe some friendly competition? Is there one around already that maybe I don't know about?

MP3 player hooked to the onboard stereo (sometimes the only thing that's "hooked") when the youngster is with me. She must have her Shrek soundtrack.

Judging by lost tackle, something with sharp teeth and tight jaws. Other than that, either rocky flats or grassy with some submerged stumps. @Catt - thanks for the advice.

I have a glass 16ft. Cajun fish/ski. I believe the empty weight (boat/motor) goes around 1100 lbs. There are times I would like to hold off a point or just sit tight in the afternoon while the youngster catches her bluegill. What type/weight anchor would work best for this boat? Most of the lakes I frequent are small/medium size without a lot of current, but we do get some wind at times(20'ish on the less pleasant days). Suggestions are appreciated!

One thing to try is to remove the memory card from the camera and try it in a card reader directly to the computer or laptop. My daughter caught her first fish last weekend out on the boat. I went to grab the camera...Where's the camera? Still in the truck!

I'm about 40 minutes from you, although I'm at Beale most Sunday's with the family to play golf. I just got a new-to-me boat last week, so you might have just found a back seat! Maybe we can meet up at the golf course some time to plan an outing. Collins and Bullards are the better areas around. Collins updates their web site every week with the last week's fishing action. From what I saw there last weekend, the bass are still holding off the shallows between 15-20ft. Water temp was low 60's for the most part. On the other hand, there wasn't much serious fishing going on in my boat. With the wife/child along, the new boat owner mishaps, and just a really late start, most of the fishing was in really bad times. Still, a 1-2 lb. bluegill is still a thrill for a 6yr. old. Since fourbizz mentioned there aren't many from our area and your at my second home, I thought I'd register just to let you know we are here (plus all the great info I've read here in the last week or so). Just give me a shout and we'll work it out.