Lund Explorer

I'm going to agree with Tom, take it to someone who does this for a living. The only extra cost is going to be an hour worth of labor, and then you'll know it was done correctly. A good mechanic also knows what to look for in the ways of trouble, line water in the lower unit.

"Time to lock this one up - And throw away the key!"

Be happy that they don't have teeth. Around here, you either get bit off or get slimed when you get that hammer handle in the boat. My guess is that these fish are attracted to your T-Rig as it drops to bottom, and then are triggered to hit when it quickly lifts off. Good pattern if you can repeat it on a consistent basis.

It's been almost 100 years since the last true pandemic and the world has learned quite a bit about containing the outbreak of such things. Of course there will always be a dedicated group that will fall victim to fear. One simply needs to look at the viewership numbers of Faux News to see that this is indeed true!

Blah, blah, blah! Same exact thing that was discussed weeks before when Glenn started a thread about people questioning the weights of other people's fish. It all boils down to the fact that you think you have some special ability to "know" the true weight of any bass by looking at a picture. Until you can provide real proof over just another one of your baseless opinions, you can count on being called out on it.

It only took five days. I wonder what it really weighed?

I've seen several causes for this. Like Raul said, slack reeled onto the spool will create loops of loose line going onto the spool. You can also create twist by using plastic worms that aren't perfectly straight on the hook along with other lures like in-line spinners. Try these things to see if they help. 1. Close your bail by hand and make sure there isn't any slack in the line as you start to reel. 2. After the fact, DO NOT pull the twist off the spool with the bail open. Close the bail, loosen the drag all the way, and slowly pull the line off just like a big fish is pulling it off. This should remove the loops with letting them knot up.

I hope you paid for your "doctor's" breakfast afterwards. One other off the wall thought. Wouldn't that bait make a great addition to a Tazer? Should add range when you're aiming at the bad guy, and when you're fishing, the shock should take away quite a bit of the fish's fight too!

Yup, you answered the #1 concern. Only thing I would add is to get in the habit of removing the hitch when it isn't needed. Those darn things will rust right into the receiver if they are left in.

I'm going to offer advice that is quite a bit different than the "Pay Cash" folks. Nothing against that idea, but loans are made every day for all kinds of consumer goods for car/trucks, boats, RV's, etc.. However, I think you need to take into consideration something entirely different. What can your payment get you? Even though you didn't give all of the information on your loan, I am going to assume the following. A loan of $20k with an interest rate of 11.25% for a period of 60 months (5 Years) would mean that you would be making monthly payments of approximately $425 per/month for the used boat you are looking at. Now consider what $425 per/month could get you in the way of a new boat. Considering that a new boat loan could be as low as 3.9% and then extending the length of the loan to 144 months (12 Years) that same payment amount is going to get you in the neighborhood of a boat worth $50k. There are other benefits with this arrangement. A new boat is going to come with up to date electronics. It will have a warranty that a used boat isn't going to have. The technology on the engine should save you on fuel consumption. The only real negative to buying new is having to absorb the initial depreciation in value, but consider what the used boat is doing as well. After five years, your new boat should still be worth at least 60% of it's original price. How much will a boat that is 20 years old going to be worth? Like I said before, there's nothing wrong with paying cash, if you can do it. But I'll bet the vast majority of such purchases are made with a loan. As long as you can afford the payment, you should try to get the most for that amount that you can. Paying a used boat interest rate is going to take too much of what you can afford.

Fish + Location + Presentation = Success! In-Fisherman came up with this formula many years ago, but it is just as relevant today as it ever was.

They ALL have a really important reason to leave it on. In case of an emergency. I can still remember the day my Son-in-Law got a total of 23 "emergency calls/texts" in a three hour period. From dawn until about 10am he was keeping up with me fairly well. And then it began. When we got home I thanked my daughter for giving me the chance to move ahead and kick butt! Phones, Wives, and Babies - Should all come with a mute button!

The wife manages to catch a big old good one every once in a while. This one came from the 2011 Road Trip on Kentucky Lake.

Unfortunately, I get to listen to whatever ring tone the person I'm fishing with has on his phone. Over, and over, and over.

You know you're close when the flash and the sound arrive at the same time. In my case, it was an oak tree that got vaporized 50 yards in front of the golf cart I was riding in. The other half of our foursome were half that distance away and ended up being showered with chunks of tree bark.

If people took a close look at my boat they would know I'm a member here. I've got a Bass Resource sticker on the windshield! What I've been guilty of is ending what I like to call the rolling boat show. I can't count how many times on the way home for a long tournament day I would have someone pull up in the left hand lane and pace me while they checked out the boat. The poor guy drooling while his wife is nagging the hell out of him about how "You're Never Going To Own One Of Those!" Hey, I got in the slow lane so the guys that keep up with the Greyhound Bus can get around me, not so I can get stuck in traffic. As soon as I would come up on slower traffic in front of me, I'd flip the turn signal and start heading left. Usually I was only half way to the wreck when the wife would start screaming at the poor sap before he'd slam on the brakes. Boat Show Over!

I always store my rods and reels in the house. Each fall I bring them all inside and go over each one until the pile is done. I strip the old line off and clean/lubricate the reels. Any that are in need of repairs that I don't feel comfortable doing myself get shipped out. All of my rods are cleaned off and I inspect line guides for wear that can be repaired as well. It also makes it easier to get them all ready as spring approaches. I'm spooling line before the snow is gone.

Poisons are fine as long as Mom doesn't have a cat she really likes. Many vets warn of the residual effects of these poisons on the next critter in the food chain.

It's a lot cheaper to attach of bait keeper to a rod than it is to replace an eyelet.

Sounds like you found a really cute girl to run behind!

Am I the only one around here that limits their choice of truck due to the "A-Plan"?

I increase my hook-up ratio with Offset or EWG hooks by "Tex-Posing" the bait.

Not a problem as the Lions are used to players having a drug problem. For many years, the entire defense has been drug up and down the field weekly!

Moth Balls or Dryer Sheets - It's your choice.

In high school I ran cross country, but that was 40 years ago. In basic training I ran when I was ordered to, but that was just a little less than 40 years ago. Today, I've learned just how much beer and/or chili I can get eat to avoid any kind of the runs. That's good enough for me!