flechero

I fish almost the same, day or night. The only noticable differences are the colors I use and the amount of grief I catch when I get home. ...lol

I guess I'm not unique here... my home lake is not my favorite. It's a great lake, and numbers usually cooperate but there are many other lakes I'd choose first if time and gas didn't figure into getting there.

Nothing wrong with being frugal or budget minded... but sometimes it costs more to shop around that much! ....lol

Ok, I hope this doesn't come across as demeaning. If you have spent a few hours time in those years of looking for a cheaper alternative, isn't your time spent searching, worth the few extra dollars? Most good topo maps are $5-$7 or so, hot spots are what? $20 ? The way I see it, if you spent even an hours time looking for a cheaper way, you have already paid a "hefty" price and you have no map. Here's another option if you just don't have any money. (I do this to preview new lakes since I have to download the data for my LMS332 anyway) Go to Lowrance's website and download the free demo of one of the units like the LMS332C then go to the free "enhanced Lake Maps" and download the ones you want. You can run the demo on your computer the same as if you had the unit. If you want, you can print screen on any zoom levels and then you'll have a (non waterproof) paper map with the GPS info. Depending on where you live, there may or may not be many lakes listed near you.

Actually, Venom lures makes a kit of 4 or 5 of them, it comes with the blades, snap locs and slpit rings. You just use your own jig. I was at Barlow's a couple week ago and saw them, I think it was like $4 for the set. I'm sure you can find them locally if you have a Venom dealer. If not, Barlow's also does a mail order and internet business.

I think it happens to almost everyone, especially the hardcore. It's happens to me every couple of years... usually has lasted a few weeks to a few months. You don't really loose the passion, it more like you just need a little time to recharge. Remember the old saying, everything in moderation? Well most of us fish well beyond moderation! ...lol It's you body and mind saying "time out, I need a rest." I wouldn't worry about it, you'll be back into the swing of it as soon as you're ready. LBH- Very cool, you are the king of paying it forward!!

Yup, left handed, left shoulder. Valascus, I saw your post last week, I cringed when I read it! At least mine was something I could schedule, I can't imagine just falling like that. K_Mac, When I had my surgury, I was out of work for a week & a few days and no fishing for 5 solid months... I spent most of my days on this forum or the rodbuilding forum... it was the only way to keep from going nuts. LBH, That explains why you are on the forum morning, day and night! I thought you had a laptop in the truck! ...lol Lets all try to heal up this summer and have a big time productive fall!! My best healing wishes to all, Keith Ps. We got any Indian healers on this forum? This would be a great time to have one! ;D

Seems like I've notice a lot of other people referencing injuries or illnesses keeping (or at least limiting) the amount of time, or the type of fishing they can do. I had rotator cuff surgery in the fall and was way ahead of schedule on my rehab... was cleared to fish "full throttle" or as the Dr. put it, any freshwater fishing was ok. He obviously forgot that it was a hookset that finished off what was left of the cuff last year... I had been very careful, to the point that I was using lighter rods and even spinning tackle a lot, just to be safe. Well, Wed. night I fished and got caught at a really awkward angle when I got nailed. As luck would have it (read that as unlucky) I had a 7' hvy rod in hand when I turned on it, I swung hard out of instinct and strained my shoulder pretty bad. I don't think it did any "damage" beyond a GOOD reminder to be careful a little longer. Anyway, I've been icing the heck out of it and praying it was only a close call. I'm feeling good enough to fish this weekend but will have to be smarter than I was on Wed. Enough of my pitty party, who else is on light duty?

Sounds like timing... you are a little too quick (or a little too slow). It's kind of like topwater at that point, wait to feel presure, don't set it on sight alone. (all that does is slow you down a second which is the reason I think you are a tad quick based on what you wrote.)

If i was buying one today, it would probably be the Delta, or Jet... simply bcause they are quality equipment, at a good price, that I can (because I would) also use for my woodworking. Just for turning cork, I use a drill with one of Andy's mandrels, mounted and supported. Consider Andy's advice, he's a master wood turner.

Sounds like your wife and mine have been emailing back and forth!

BT, You won't catch any flack from me. I don't keep fish but not because I don't believe in it, I just don't like them. I used to be a hard core C&R type (preaching C&R to people) but then I learned that there is a good reason for the lake's limits... they need to remove some fish to keep populations in check and provide better balance. I wish more people would keep some. I had the opportunity to speak with a parks and wildlife biologist a couple of years ago. He really enlightened me as to the reasons that fish need to be removed. (normally smaller fish) Anyway, once or twice a year, I'll keep fish for a friend or relative that asks for them.

I can't imagine your water gets as hot as ours... we used to fish a place that sounds similar, even in the dead of summer when the surface temps were in the 90s, there were always fish there... but we only caught big ones at night or when the temps were down a little. I would pole in there, but I like to try new places enough that if it didn't pan out, I wouldn't be discouraged. I'd be inclined to wait for a nice cloudy day or a cool day after a few warm ones. The bug nets are cheap, and nice too keep around for night when the skeeters are hunting us! (just don't let anyone see you in it!) ...lol

I certainly would try it. I understand your concerns but what we see as choked out, may just be the surface... they likely have paths and travel lanes under the surface. Also, when we think it's too hot for them to be shallow, the lillies and weeds provide shade and water several degrees cooler. If nothing else, at least fish the front areas that have 2-3 feet. The other option is to fish that area at night. Sounds like the only real drawback is the difficulty in keeping the trolling motor from bogging down.

With all of the superstitious fisherman here, I would have bet someone would have said... "The first thing I throw - is a quarter." Maybe I was the only one that used to do that.

Here is a thread that should help you... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1147654036/2#2

Madhouse, You can rekindle that feeling again... change lakes, or hunt a different fish, from LM to SM or vice versa. I now live near a lake with SM, never fished for them until last year... I've started over in a sense, but the learning curve is much faster the second time around.

But unlike golf... I can take a beginner out and catch fish and have a great day. I can take a new golfer out and they will still get frustrated. The best thing you can do for a beginner is TAKE THEM fishing with you. No matter the tally of fish caught, you will help and teach them 10X more by taking them vs. them reading.

Lots of good suggestions so far. But for me, in a case of "have to catch" and being limited to one bait. 6" Zoom lizard, salt & pepper. The reason: It's one of the few baits that works for me in every lake, pond and river I have ever fished, in any state. Although, I would have considered a rapala cd-5 in the original silver/black back... but not knowing the cover situation, the lizard is a safer bet. I can use the lizard in open water but can't use the cd-5 in a swamp.

That would make just about as much sense as having seperate records in track and field, one set for black athletes and another for white athletes. No offense meant to anyone... I'm a slow, white guy. ;D

Hey, I just looked at some of those blanks in Mudhole... since I was looking at some for me anyway. The SCIII blanks in your spec range are anywhere from .6 oz to 1.2 oz depending on what you like... They don't list the Loomis weights on that site. And my Shikari catalog is AWOL at the moment. My guess is that the SCIII is probably going to be your best value (for a high end blank). If they are anything like the rest of the SCIII line up, I doubt you'll be able to get much lighter or better performing without spending a lot of cash. And if you do your part on the build... I seriously doubt you would ever look back at it and say something like "I wish I would have used a different blank." Having said all that, I would at least call Andy Dear and talk to him about the CTS blanks before ordering something else. The few I have held and "wiggled" have been extremely light and very impressive. They fall in about the same price range as the SCIII or a few dollars more but it's withing a few %.

Ronnie, I'm glad the time has come! By the way... Who you calling rich?!?!?!? ...lol I'm no where near it, but I'm dedicated when it comes to saving for fishing gear!! ...lol I'm afraid I don't have any experience with a blank like you want... so the best I can do on a blank suggestion is to only point out some types to look at. St.Croix SCIII, IV, V; CTS Tournament series; IMX, GLX, Shikari SHX are all high quality and light weight. Remember that there is a bigger difference in the weight of the components (and decorations) that you will add on, than there is between most of those blanks so the weight of the blank may not be the best determining factor. You only need a few cork rings, so I'd go with Andy's burl, even though it's a little heavier than regular cork... I believe the quality negates a few grams of weight. A graphite skeleton reel seat is both light weight and cheap. Guides are a tougher one... Ti frames are VERY expensive in those large spinning sizes but there is a potential to shave some weight also. If you can stand the looks, the REC recoil guides are the lightest and also less expensive and more durable than the traditional Ti frames w/ ceramic rings. For that rod, you should only need one reamer, the size small, from cabela's or mud hole... If memory serves me, it's under $10. But if you have a large round rasp, it will do the job... just go slow and check fit often. The whole time I am typing this, I keep going back (in my mind) to the blank. That would be a good question to post on the .ORG site... many of those guys build 6'6" & 7' ultra lights and lights so they will have some input and be able to speak about specific models. Let me know if I can be of any help. Keith

Seems like if that is good enough to put someone away for murder, it should suffice for verifying a fish. I don't think anyone was carrying around a sony handycam back then, good grief. As for weakley's fish... I'm not going back there

I think you definitely want a 24v. As for thrust, all I can tell you is that my boat is fairly heavy, 19' Champion w/ 175 and I also carry way too much crap around. I replaced my old TM with a MK 65# great white w/ the "4wd" mount. It pulls pretty good, even in the central texas wind. If I need to go faster than that, I use the outboard anyway. I liked my MG better but it was only 50# and was a shade light for my boat. I think you are getting into more money than you need to if you buy a 36v or even a real big 24v... I can't imaging you needing more than 65# on a 16' boat, even if you have high sides that catch a lot of wind. Although if you can get a deal on the 70# tourney prize, I'd probably jump on that.

Like several others, this month will be higher than normal. (this week is over $800 ) A couple ($200-$300) hundred a month is normal but that includes my rodbuilding hobby as well.