flechero

The Eagle you selected is a gps chartplotter only - NO SONAR. (according to the links you provided) You are not comparing apples to apples. Eagle is made by Lowrance so as for quality, they are good. I have had both brands over the years and had no problems with any of them.

Mr. Wehmeyer, Thank you for taking the time to post here. Your expertise and input is greatly appreciated! Hope you check in from time to time and clear some of the battery questions up. Ben, A thanks to you for asking Mr. Wehmeyer to jump in here. He validated everything you said. -keith

A lot of that depends on the lake and time of day. In general, I much prefer a (decent) breeze for buzz baits, (except early morning) and will throw them even in high winds if it "feels" right. Spooks and stuff can work either time but are much harder to "walk" well when fighting waves of any size. When night fishing, I throw a buzz bait in calm or wind, but only throw a spook on a still night. I guess the biggest factor is your own confidence... if you are comfortable with the amount of wind. The only problem I see is that when I buzz in high winds, I see a lot more short strikes and misses.

I agree with a lot of the above info as far as techniques... but I would like to suggest that it takes a commitment, first and foremost. You have to be willing to go a day or two or even three without your comforts... and possibly without success. Like in the beginning, it's another learning curve. Learn to: -fish deeper (you have to learn to detect subtle bites on worms, jigs, etc.) -fish more structure (not cover) -trust your electronics Summer doesn't always mean go deep. Don't be afraid to fish shallow in the summer time... here in Tx, we fish many summer days in the 100's and can still catch shallow fish even in the mid day heat. There are lots of good articles on summer fishing and deep water fishing. You should definitely read some of them.

Try lighter line or a leader of fluorocarbon. If they rushed you, you had a good bait picked out. I'd try lighter line and be careful you are not too close to them. Many times all is right but the angler crowds the fish and then it's VERY hard to get the pick up.

I would deck at the seat level. It's easier to do because the seats can be used as support, it will require less work and weight to support. Northern, or probably any Tractor supply or paint store will sell a metal primer that actually eats the rust. I bought a rig like that many years ago and painted the trailer (by hand with a brush) with the rust eating primer and it was great... it actually smoothed out the rust and stopped the formation of more. Since that boat has rivets, it might take on some water. (most old riveted aluminum boats will at some point begin to leak) you can (and I would) glass resin all the rivet lines. It will seal them and be watertight for many years. You can get fiberglass resin at Home Dopot or Lowe's, or most auto parts stores. It is as easy as painting. Follow the directions on the resin can and prep the areas with a drill and fine wire brush, to clean and promote good adhesion) My old boat leaked bad... it would fill up 2-3 inches per hour... after the glass resin, I left it in the boathouse for 4 years, in the water and it never took on a single drop!

RW, I'm right there with you but I let almost all the line out. It only takes about 2 minutes. spinning reels - about every other day out, needed or not. Never have line issues. baitcasting reels - well, on the rare occasion I get a bunch of twist I do the same

When you post info a week after the catch and 2 weeks after you got it, from some anonymous source... it comes across like a made up "lets keep the story alive" kind of talk. I would have been more inclined to belive it at this late stage if you had said "a friend of mine, john doe said....." Looks like "Mr. Brown" had a little fun with you after all.

Reelmech, Just because they know how to snag a fish doesn't mean they did. I know how to hot wire a car but when I need a ride, I still call a cab. Suggesting they snagged this fish just because they know how would be like suggesting you snag all your jig fish because you also know how. See how silly this can become? I mean no disrespect here, just trying to illustrate how crazy we can get. From the opinions on these threads it seems no one has ever hooked a fish outside the mouth, I must really suck as a fisherman because I actually do hook a fish outside the mouth on occasion.... by accident. :-/ Sorry to drift off topic Roger (and Mods) but reading these threads is kind of like watching a "drive by."

Reelmech, You have one of everything I ask about... too bad I don't live in Ks!! I have the 5C70HF built and leave Thursday night for a weekend of "field testing" ...lol It feels good and I think the 6' 6" version would see a lot of use in the places I fish. I did some looking at specs and the 66HF has a little thicker tip than the 785 so I think it will be more like what I'm looking for. Of course the tip diameter doesn't necessarily mean it's heavier since the mandrel and materials are different, but I think it will translate in these rods. If not, I'll have another worm rod... that is a pretty good "worst case scenario" huh? ...lol Thanks for the feedback, Keith

If that is true, why add to the B.S.? At this point, why claim info from a source? At least lend some credibility to your story and make up a name or something. Instead of another week of "I heard this" and "no but I heard this" etc., etc., etc. why not just come out with it, if this "source" is in fact real. If you have any real interest in finding out the truth, why the secrecy? That sounds more "fishy" than everyone claims the story itself to be. But if, however, your story is correct... what then do we think (or believe) of all the witnesses on the scene... maybe ALL the witnesses have lied, and lied big. Your "source" probably heard that this fish was spotted and not caught... Besides, I think that anyone that knows dixon could look at the video and see where they are. You are a week late with "new" speculation and conspiracy theory. *Edited for decency. KN. Apoligies to anyone that saw the original.

Posted yesterday by Mattlures:

I had a 15' modified V for years. Even with just me and the gas tank, 10 hp wasn't even close to getting it to plane. A good friend has had 5 or 6 little boats (all 14'-15' aluminum) over the years and the only ones he had that would plane with 2 people and gear, both had 25hp. You should be able to find reasonable priced used motor... I personally wouldn't buy a new one in that size due to new price. And the little motors are easy to work on and not too expensive to have worked on. That's just my opinion... of course, if I have plenty of money, I'd buy new. ...lol

That's what I needed to know. All but 1 of them is offered as a blank, so I might sell the 2 new ones and finance some blanks. One other question, Have you ever built a 3C66HF ? I wonder how it feels compared to a MBR785C in IMX? I had the old (10-12 yrs) model MBR785 which was rated Mod-Fast and had a heavy tip and when I got the new MBR785 they had changed the action to fast and the tip is much lighter... I miss the old one for short range heavy cover pitchin'!!

Avid, I wasn't calling you out on it, many people have said it. And many people say something similar whenever a BIG fish gets caught and released. But this fish has proved that they can live on for a long time to come. This may have been her last time but she has lived way longer than people thought she could which only proves we are not as smart as we think, or that much of our research is flawed, on the lifespan of Bass. Even if this particular fish is a freak of nature that lived longer than any others, it shows me that we have been wrong about these big and old bass. There are enough people watching her now that if she goes belly up, we will probably hear about it.

Matt, I knew you wouldn't be comfortable with that. I have a bunch of you baits already, but posted links for a previous poster that wondered where to buy them. Glenn stepped in to remind us you had the link already on your posts. (somehow I missed that) Anyway, that's that. By the way, I'll be "excercising" several of your creations this weekend for the first time, for real. (they look great in my pool)

Reelmech, Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for... honest opinions. All the rods in question are matte charcoal colored IMX blanks. I didn't want to dive into stripping one and then find out it isn't worth the time and effort vs. buying a new blank and starting from scratch. Do you mean you would strip the matte finish blanks? Or did you mean you would start over either way? Thanks, Keith

I'm sorry that I didn't change my tune a little sooner... I guess like most people, I have been caught up in these WR threads. I know I have called out some of your comments and responded to posts in a way I normally wouldn't. The funny thing is that we agree on most of this and I think we only differ on the initial gut feeling. (although I'll still tell myself she lived to be caught again!) ...lol No kidding there! I still get the shakes on big fish... luckily though, it normally hits me right after it's in the boat. Would my luck hold on that fish... I bet not!! ...lol (If I ever stop getting the shakes on big fish, I suspect I'll find a new hobby) Take care, Keith

Glenn, I assume I linked a site you don't approve of, if so, I'm sorry. (as to my post getting deleted) The link on Matt's posts are only to the 5" baits and do not have the 6" trout baits. (which is why I listed both) Sorry for the confusion. Keith

I pose this question for a couple of reasons. I have a few IMX rods that are old and a couple that are new... I like these rods a lot but now that I have been building rods I don't use them. I'm considering stripping them and starting over with good cork and a fresh set of guides. How difficult is it to get the old guides and finish off, WITHOUT harming the blank? I've read stuff in the past that some are easy and some not but never brand specific. To anyone that has replaced guides on Loomis rods, did they come off easy? It looks like they are all wrapped with regular nylon thread and no CP. So I assume the finish completely penetrated to the blank. Would it be worth my time to strip them or just sell them and buy new blanks and components? Thanks!

I like head on at that size with a little speed (and less trim will level the boat more for a reduced pounding impact). Speed and trim will greatly affect the best angle... if you get up on plane and go over them it's best... but depending on the size of the boat and spacing of the waves, it's not always possible. Had a few days where they were to big to go over like that... sometimes I'll go 90 degrees and ride in between 2 of them. It's hairy the first time but I got used to it and have used that trick a few times to get home. And then there are times you can't or don't have a choice because of where you are when the winds kick up... in that case hang on and do what you can. Every boat is different and every boat operator has a different comfort level. I've spent more than a few days at home when the winds were high. (the older I get the more days like that I skip) There is something about peeing blood at night that takes the fun out of fishing on days like that. ;D

Sounds like a great trade off to me! Now you'll be even better rested to get up at 4:00 A.M. to take the new boat out fishing! Good job! (I'd buy new BR furn. if I could get a new boat!!)

Rolo, I was actually confused on you original post. It sounded as if you were suggesting that females didn't take baits on a nest, that would suggest everyone snags females... I was only saying that they do in fact take the baits quite regularly, even if to simply clear the nest. You may be right that "this" bas did not... on the other hand you may be wrong, it may have inhaled and expuled it quickly to "blow" it off or simply clear the nest site. We will never know, either way. I doubt he would have give up that early, those guys will fish a bed all day if needed, this fish was hooked early in the morning. I am truly curious about one thing though - why do you believe he snagged her intentionally? Also, why do you think the fish is dead? I'm beginning to see a pessimistic trend of thoughts here. That may be our whole miscue... I'm a "the glass is half full" kind of guy. I'm fine with us simply seeing things a different way but like I have said before, it bugs me to see so much negative speculation about a person with no track record to match it.

Avid, I don't disagree on the stress but I'm pretty sure that's what was said last time she was caught, and the time before that. The same thing is said all the time about big bass that are caught... yet they keep showing up again. Cart7, Happens all the time... fishing worms and lizards. They pick up the tail, begin to swim off and I set hook- I have probably done it 20 or more times on lizards over the past 20 years. If he was using a jig and it had a trailer of any length, it could happen just as easily. Rolo, We all have caught (legit with hook inside mouth) females off a bed, MANY DO INHALE IT... I agree that some will not but many will and we weren't there to make the assumption that he tried to snag her.

I've read that these guys will sit on a fish all day, if needed. This fish came up pretty early in the morning so I don't think that was the case. Besides, he wasn't the only "trophy hunter" in the boat... so if he couldn't get it why not have the other(s) try? I might be able to fathom that idea if he had been on her all day and this happend just before dark or when the park was about to close. That is the exact problem with all these threads about this particular fish... so many people think they know what others are thinking. (not to single you out, as this was a very minor example of this lately) All the speculation and assumption seems to lean to the side of wrong doing which is why a few of us have jumped on the defensive.