Hans

I have 3 or 4 Lew's Boron rods that I bought maybe 25 yeas ago. Still my fovorite go to rods. Very sensitive. Had 2 of them out on the lake today. Hans

I use a rope as well. I have snap hooks on each end of a 23 foot rope. I snap 1 to the bow ring and the other to a trailer cross bar I tuck the slack under my rod holder strap on the front deck. I just back down the ramp, float the boat off and pull forward until the boat just beaches. Then get out and unhook the rope from the trailer, park the truck, get in and fire her up and back off the beach. Works very well. I can drop the boat in out of other folks way, and get my truck out of the way as well. People can still put boats in while I am parking the truck, and I don't have to deal with dock traffic as I am way over on the other side of the ramp. I do about the same to load. I beach the boat at the far side of the ramp out of the way. Then back the trailer right next to the boat. Get back in the boat, back up and drive on the trailer. Hit the bow hook and pull out to the far side of the parking area to make her road ready and I'm gone. Hans

My boat is the same size and locker layout as yours. May be the same boat. Anyway, in the rod lockers, my boat has aluminum stringers running the length of the lid. I took some medium paper clamps and screwed them to that stringer. I can hang bags of plastics from the clamps and they are out of the way. I did this on both sides and can store about 30 bags in total. I also pack the center locker with standard boat stuff, but try to keep it as deep in the locker as I can. Towards the front part, I made up kits in 3700 boxes. One is a worm kit and in it are all the items needed for rigging worms, another is a jig kit and another is a tube kit, but you get the point. I only need to take out the one box and I have everything I need to rig that type bait. Weights, hooks, and the baits themselves. This keeps the front deck clear of all the tackle boxes that used to be laying around before I started making up the kits. I stand them up and write what box has what on a label so I can grab what I need without searching around, plus upright, I can get more boxes in a smaller space. You will find what works best for you over time. Hans

Well there is a post that I printed out and will keep in the boat!!! Thanks Raul!!!. Hans

Most of the manuals are available at www.huminnbird.com I had to get one for my 400TX A pretty good deal is the 595c GPS and fishfinder. I got one last month and really like it. It mounted right on the quick disconnect from the 128 I already had on the boat, so I did not have to drill any new holes. Just had to change the cable clip in the quick disconnect. Took about 15 minutes and it was up and running. Hans

Grew up in Panama City FL, now living in the great state of NH, Chester NH to be exact. I love it up here, they are just another bunch of rednecks with a different accent! Hunting, fishing, and lifted 4x4s, just like home. Hans

Thank you Dr. Raul! Very good prescription. Sat. morning here so I guess I'm off to find a tackle shop and get it filled! Master card go boom. ;D Hans

I'm in worse shape than that! I'm in Japan working till the 13th and have to look a photo of my boat on a laptop screen for the next 7 days!!!! I got the withdrawls real bad over here! Hans

NBR, I really like your description of "sweet". I am new to power trim. My last bass boat was over 20 years ago and was a stick steer 14' with an old beat up 50 rude on it. Total piece of junk, but it got me to the fish. I just got an NX750 and had to learn how to trim and drive this boat. I stumbled across the same solution just by trying to learn. I found just where the steering was right and the engine sounded "sweet". You gave a perfect description of the process. Hans

I use a 2004 Dodge 1500 shortbed regular cab 4X4 with 4" lift and 35" tires. 4.7 engine and auto trans. Pulls my NX750 just fine in standard or in tow mode. Have not needed 4X4 to pull out of ramp yet. I have owned a bunch of trucks, but this is the best I have had by far. Hans

I would not say I collect, I just don't ever seem to get rid of old tackle. I still have all my stuff from 20 or more years ago, and still use it all the time. I don't think I have anything that would have collector value, but still remember a fish I caught with this rod or that rod 20 years ago and think of how much fun it was, so I guess they have value to me. Hans

My fav is my 20 year old Lew's BB1NG. I still have all my "original" Lew's rods and reels and still use them everytime out on the water. All of them are over 20 years old and are as good now as when new. My second favs are my old Shimano Bantam mags. Also about 20 years old. They have matching Shimano Fightin rods with them. I guess I just like the older stuff ;D Hans

This has happened to me a few times. Once with a Zara Spook. I tossed it out to the edge of some lilly pads and got the old birds nest. I fixed it up and looked out to the pads. Could not see the spook so I gave the rod a good yank and a 5 pound bass was on the other end! Taught me a lesason about waiting for the ripples to go away when casting top water baits! Hans