oteymc

Thanks to both of you!

I need you to check my thinking here. I am replacing my 12v trolling motor with a 24v. I know how to wire the batteries in a series. What I need help with is charging. I currently am using a 2 bank on board charger, one bank for the starting battery, one for the trolling battery. What I am thinking I will do is use the same charger and put one bank on each trolling motor, then use a separate charger (one I currently use to charge a battery for my pond boat, it just hooks up with alligator clips) for my starting battery. My question is, since the trolling batteries will be joined in a series, do I need to disconnect them or have an isolator switch when charging. Will it mess things up if I don't? Thanks, Otey

Table Rock for sure. Ever been to Trophy Country?

I caught my biggest bass at Saddle Creek a couple of years ago while on vacation. That is a great place if you ask me.

I'm not sure how many of you know about this show, but I was working in a vendor's booth this past weekend and it was a good time. The show was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, which is something to see in itself. The theme of the show was land and wildlife management, so there was a variety of vendors, seminars, and celebrity appearances throughout the show. Because I was working, I did not get to hear any of the speakers, but I did get a chance to meet a few people and see some really neat stuff. Bill Jordan, Johnny Morris, and Roland Martin (among others) were all there for Bass Pro Shops. Jeff Foxworhty made several appearances, including a brief stand up session during the banquet and Craig Morgan concert. Bob Lusk with Pond Boss had a booth there and I had a chance to meet and visit with him briefly. Also the last day of the show Craig Morgan and his family walked around the show and visited about every booth including the one I was working in. This was the first time I had spent any amount of time in Nashville besides just driving through, and I loved it. We made a trip downtown one night and listened to a few bands play, what a treat. Overall, a great time.

I would obviously like to hear more before I commit, but I would like to help if I can.

http://groton.patch.com/articles/potential-new-world-record-striped-bass-caught-in-connecticut-6#photo-7283110

Not sure that bowfishing is the answer, but we should all wage war against the asian carp. They are taking over a great deal of rivers in the midwest. Shoot away! By the way, don't growing plants give off oxygen as a by-product of photosythesis?

sounds delicious, when's the fish fry?

Ok, found them now. Thanks for all the help!

I guess the Charity Islands are the ones south of that bay?

Lund - thanks, that helps a lot. I only have a 17 1/2' ft bass boat. I definitely would not try to go out when the waves were too big. I do have a gps on board. Not the fanciest, does not take a chip - but I would find a good map.

Oh, cool. I have only lived here since December. This is where my wife grew up. It's fine, growing on me. Not a lot of great fishing, but I travel enough to get my fix. Thanks for the help everyone.

I sure wouldn't mind catching some walleye either. Is the bay hard to navigate? Decisions, Decisions.

One other thing - my brother and his fishing buddy have run down to Bull Shoals every once in a while. When we got into that school, he sent him a picture of that one small mouth, with a message "we have been fishing the wrong lake!"

I will be in Caro, MI (kind of by Saginaw) the middle of the month and I'm thinking of taking my boat. Where should I go? I've heard all about the smallmouth in Lake St Clair, only 2 hrs away, is that a lake that someone who has never been on it could go and find fish? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Otey

The lake was still high, but had come down a lot recently. I think it was around 922-3, I don't remember what normal pool is, but I believe it was about 8-9 ft high. The clarity was about perfect. Any other lake, you would say man it's clear, but for Table rock it was fairly dingy. Which I thought was better than the fish seeing you from the ramp.

The 4th of July weekend was closing in and my wife wanted to go somewhere. We decided on Branson, and convinced my brother and his family and also my parents to come. I took the boat, and we were able to get some fishing in on Table Rock. I had been on the lake about three years ago, but had very limited knowledge of the lake. Got some advice from a few people on here, and away we went. The plan was to fish early until it got hot, then off to the attractions with the family. The first morning I was by myself, caught a few smallies right off the bat, on a long tapering point, man I couldn't believe how those small mouth fought! The next morning my brother joined me and we found a good school of smallies right off a point that dropped off steep. Had about 12 to the boat in 30-45 minutes, he also caught a nice Kentucky, I caught another in the 19 inch range. Then we tooled around the lake and picked up a few here and there. The next morning we convinced my dad to come along, which is unheard of because he doesn't really like to fish, and he is in full cowboy gear - long sleeve shirt, hat and boots- no matter what (he is a real cowboy, owns a ranch and is horseback every day). My goal was to get him on one of those smallies, but we just couldn't find them again. The water temps were about 5 degrees higher, and they must have scattered. He did have a good time and said that it was nice being out on the lake and seeing the beautiful scenery and enjoying the quiet of the morning. I think he now gets why my brother and I are so ate up with fishing. I caught one smallie, one lm, and a huge hibrid white bass - that was it. My brother and I tried to go out that night late, but it was storming, so we decided not to chance it. Over all, we had a great time. Sorry, some of the pics are really dark.

Good job Ken! Never get tired of hearing about people catching fish!

Well, we had a great time. Caught fish every morning. Mostly small mouth. I did catch one large mouth, and my brother caught one Kentucky. I had never caught a smallie before, that was a lot of fun. One morning we really got into a school of smallies, had about 12 to the boat in about 45 minutes. Nice lake. Found them off of points in 15 to 25 ft, caught a few deeper and a few shallower. Caught them on everything, but had most on Deep cranks and soft plastics. We never mad it to Aunts Creek, because of the time it would take to get back and get to the other family stuff. We mainly fished out of Indian point. The last morning when we were loading the boat, a guide who I had visited with the first morning I was there told us that the Kentucky's were out in front of points at 42 foot during the day.

I appreciate it guys. I hear you about the State Park area, that is where we put in the last time I was there! I will hopefully be out before most of those are in, we are doing family stuff during the day - my brother and I will be sneaking off each morning before the wives and kids get going (and hopefully the skiers). I was kind of hoping the jig bite would be on, I suppose just start point hopping? If anyone has any other pointers, I would sure appreciate it. Not trying to win any tournaments, just don't want to get skunked! That is about the third time someone has mentioned Aunt's Creek. We may have to try it out. We will be in Branson, but getting up an extra half hour earlier won't bother us. What's the difference between 4 or 4:30? Thanks again, Otey

My family has scheduled a last minute trip to Branson for the weekend. I am very unfamiliar with the lake, although I have been on it once before. We are staying right in Branson, but I can put in anywhere. We figured we would fish the early mornings before the big boat traffic, and maybe some evenings. If you could suggest a general area to try and a main strategy, that would be great. Thanks Otey

The Heat donated all the t-shirts that were pre-printed with "2011 World Champions" to a 3rd world country, but were recalled because they were worried there would be a choking hazard! I don't hate Lebron and am not a fan of him either. I found it hard to root for him or the Heat because of all the bragging and predicting "not one, not two, not three.." championships before they played a game. Also all the stupid comments he made along the way and after. Every time I started feeling sorry for him, and thinking "He can't do anything right", he would go out and mouth off some stupid comment - he really brought most of it on himself. If you are going to mouth off, back it up - or don't be surprised when it is shoved in your face later. In the same way, I'm not going to mouth about them now, because I would probably have to eat my words next year about this time. I don't blame him for leaving Cleveland, and the "Decision" didn't bother me that much, but I can see why it bothered people. What I would have had a problem with if I were part of the Cleveland organization (owners, coaches, etc), is that they had to find out the same way everyone else did. I would have thought they at least deserved a phone call before he went on air. I know when I was thinking of leaving my current company, I went and sat down with my boss before I even started looking. I just thought he deserved to know from me. The amount of money has nothing to do with it, a little courtesy would have went a long way in that situation. It was hard to feel sorry for the Cavs after the owner came out and said some of the things he said also, though.

Did he finally win it the "right way" this year? I got so sick of everyone saying Skeet should of won it last year. They changed the rules, and he won it again anyway.

I am seriously interested. I never know about my work schedule, but if it works out and the cost isn't too bad - I would for sure try to go! I guess I will be the first to ask, is it safe?