Chaz Hickcox

Mine should have a top speed of 70-75, but with my Triumph Prop and settings on the jackplate 69 is all I can get. With that being said, 65 is plenty fast for me.

Just curious, this will be my first season in a draw tourney, any advice for taking on nonboaters?

Anyone Fishing Virginia Region 13 this year?

Ice is gay

Balance beam is the quickest way to do it. The pros do it, but they don't tape it (or rarely do). Having to weigh and write down weights and what not takes too long. I personally want a fish in, culled and line wet within no longer than a minute if I can help it. Slowing down to write down weights and get a scale online takes to long IMO. As far as everything else, depends on the tourney rules and the day/water you're fishing. Around here fish can turn off in a heartbeat and I cull immediately when I can. That's just my success.

You have big fish...... :. http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/record/recorda-l.htm J francho, I just had to comment on WI monster record striped bass at 1lb 9.3oz. I know y'all don't stock up there, its just funny because that wouldnt keep down here.

I plan on being there Saturday.

The Castaic Original Hardheads are great and inexpensive. They work much like shallow cranks, but have a great swimming action. I've caught a lot of fish on the threadfin shad.

I would like to get into punching matted grass. Back Bay in Virginia Beach is getting loladed with grass again. This year I was using bronze eyes and rage tail shads and toads to get to the bass, but that technique really only worked well when the water was low. I know the fish are in the same areas, but they don't want the topwater all the time.

It really depends on personal preferance. I like it on the jack plate for a few reasons, one its above the bottom of the keel and is protected, and second it allows me to view the area I'm fishing before I decide on that location. Also with the use of bouys I can motor around and mark the ledges. Then on the TM I use normal HDS sonar to see where I'm at it relation. Also, you can get the two linked and still use the si. Overall the side and down scan is always being used in the back, while if on the tm you only get it when its down. Just my two cents. Other things to note, don't have both sonars going at the same time they may interfere with each other.

Beautiful Jaguar for sale, I'm not sure where you're at in regards to Tennessee but this boat looks pristine and it's a Jag with a 225 HO for $18,500. Most guys will travel quite a ways to sell a boat. I bought mine from a cat up in Vermont and met him halfway just south of Philidelphia. Depending on the hours on the motor that is a great price for a 20' boat. Look here: http://basscatowners.yuku.com/topic/10072

Great baits, but I will have to see how the Xcalibur squarbills compare in the spring. LC did get me a nice second place on Vets day, but again, comparatively the XCs look exactly the same (some coloring differences, but...) As far as the other crank baits, I dunno, Bomber seems to make a quality product without the rapala issue.

Don't Muskies eat bass too? Musky waters seem to keep bass around, why couldn't snakehead waters? Also, look at what the introduction of Stripers did to the Colorado River System, esp Lake Powell. There's the issue, competition for food, not snakeheads eating bass.

Chewed a bit (Not terrible, just cosmetic) out of my keel guard with ice down here a few weeks ago, is there any ice up there? If so is there anywhere that has a reprieve from the D*&$# ice?

I will Have to agree. I just bought my first Bass Cat this fall, used 2004 Pantera IV for about $18k. It had roughly 300 hours on it, not a lot but not a little either, great Maxxum Pro 101 TM and a 200 Merc Opti that is impeccable. All I can say is that when I was a kid my dad had a Ranger and I just got out of a Javelin. I have been in a lot of boats that my friends own, Skeeters, Rangers, and Tritons, but that Bass Cat is probably the best ride I've ever had. As far as storage, I have so much I don't know what to do with it all. It's amazing. Those guys over at Bass Cat literally thought of everything for those boats and their customer support is awesome. Go to Basscat.com and look in their owners board and their used bass cats for sale section. I also forgot to mention, but I had gotten mine with a 55 Gal drum of oil for the engine. Now that was specific for the seller, private party, but was a great addition. Bass Cats ride on a rail when you've got em trimmed down in a creek, and the hull design actually makes for a tremendous hole shot. Basically the back of the hull is flared a little and acts almost like planer boards. Look at the picture and you'll see what I am talking about. She handles rough water really well, better than my buddy's Skeeter. Overall the best boat I've owned by far. Also a good experience was reclending.com for the financing. No matter what you are buying or who you ar buying from Tim and the rest of the guys up there will take care of everything for you. They will even get you into a really good aftermarket warrantee for your engine. Not to mention those guys are anglers too, so they know what you're for.

I hear ya. I just upgraded from a 93 Javelin with a 150 Johnson on it to a 2004 Bass Cat Pantera IV with a 200 Merc. I've scared the heck out of myself at 69mph on the chine walks. Took some time, but with a friend of mine who's used to the 'Skeeter Walk' that helped me I've got it down. As far as the TR 20, I know Triton makes a d**n fine boat, and another friend of mine has a TR21 that he absolutely loves.

Excuse my ignorance, but for what purpose?

Sorry to hear you had to give it up. I just got back into it myself from something like that. Spent from 2001 to 2008 fighting overseas and missing every summer. As soon as I went non-deployable I dove right in. Trust me you won't lose the itch and once you get back into it you probably will be able to learn and apply a lot more (Basically you forget and lose A LOT of bad habits). Good luck with school, looks like you should be working for a big photographic studio or publication in no time.

Flippin Creatures (SK Game Hawg and Rage Hawg) SK Rage Tail Shad Zara Spook (One Knocker)

I miss 48* water. :'( Winter is stupid.

Game Hawgs and Rage Hawgs have been the best for me too.

I would agree with that. I used to have one or two of the LC's because that's all I could afford. Yes they WERE worth the money, but the Xcalibur is just as good for less than half the price. LC has some differences in tiny details in the colors, but that hasn't seemed to make any difference for me.

X2 I was just talking to a buddy about that today. Never would I buy from a pro, they're way too hard on there stuff. Generalizing is a bad thing. Actually most pro's keep there boats in tip top shape. They are always on display and are kept looking good. Some will put the boat trough the riggers from time to time, but most take care of their stuff. I have a friend that purchased a Ranger from Brent Ehrler lasy year, and 2 friends that bought boats from Byron Velvick. All three have been great boats, and probably get more abuse with their new owners. You have a point, but then again it's not an attack on their character. I know that if I didn't have to pay for my boats because they were provided by a sponsor then hell yes I would do things in that I wouldn't do in my Pantera IV. I get the point of memorabilia, and I work for a guy who owns one of the boats used in the '09 Bassmasters Classic. But for everyday joes like myself buying abused from a big tournament trail is not ideal. If you have company cars you drive for your work, you would notice that although they are maintained to a T by the company, they probably see a mechanic more than normal cars, but are probably the worst used cars to ever buy. Because people on the job worry first about the job, not the equipment. Those cats out there are literally on the job, if they beat up their boats trying to win to get the only paycheck they'll see for that few weeks, then yes they are going to abuse the boat. In short don't buy any vehicle that's been used in a professional fleet unless you're buying for memorabilia sake. And people who are against generalizing are ignorant, generalities are the only place to start, whether you are talking cars, boats, cultures, people in general. Often those generalities are broken by a few, but that's why they are generalities and not hard line rules. GENERALITY: Pitbulls are highly aggressive, dangerous animals. EXCEPTION: My sister's dog is a pitbull and that thing is sweet, kind and great with her kids.

X2 I was just talking to a buddy about that today. Never would I buy from a pro, they're way too hard on there stuff.

X2