ChrisAW

Not looking at where you were from before, the above is probably more likely. I would have figured they would have spawned down there by now. But, never know.

They are up cruising look for a place to make a bed for the females to come up and spawn. I was seeing the same thing all day yesterday, was able to get a few of them to bite. Trick is being well away from them and making longer casts. Sight fishing is fun, but it often doesn't work unless they are on the bed and only pick up your lure to move it. If you can see them, they can see you, and are VERY easily spooked. If you visit the same place often, you'll notice beds start popping up soon. Make sure to hang back and look around for a little bit, see if you can't see a sandy or bare spot on the bottom, and look closely for a fish or two to be hovering around it. If you keep back or stay low, cast past the bed. Bring the bait into the bed slowly and just shake it in place for a little bit. You'll probably be able to pick up a couple of females on their bed before too long.

I'm not sure where your getting the thought that tungsten weights help with bite detection on a dropshot? I understand that theory on a texas rig or other techniques that the weight is infront of the hook, but you have a direct connection to your hook, a bite feels obvious on dropshot. Tungsten may help with identifying bottom structure, but tungsten does not change bite detection on ds.

I went the Sunday after open and caught 20 or so small keepers, all on an LC jerkbait. This was at the Heron Lake in the Holly Rec area, since my motor is down for service. Me and the girlfriend went to Lobdell today and got a lot of practice casting, thats about it. I did see a LOT of fish jumping today. Only one I actually got a good look at was a carp. Definitely not as good as a start as last season.

I don't see why not. Can't hurt to try.

I did pretty much everything you said in your post. Another sign that I didn't mention is that when its backfiring, I can see smoke or air movement coming out from under the flywheel, as well as small amounts on gas/oil leaking from the top of the crankcase. It did pretty much exactly what you're describing about how it revved on its own. What was the cause of this you think? I know a couple people that I described this too and mentioning the backfiring, smoke from under the flywheel and the gas/oil, they said the same thing. Seal is bad on top. But I was playing with the carb and the float a lot, so I could have done something there for sure. Last adjustment I had made was trying to help keep it from completely swamping itself, I made the float shut the inlet valve completely when level. The plugs were coming out dry now, but still black/suity. Edit: And I was able to get it to run better from this. It will rev under a load now, and was idling/running without stalling. It just kept backfiring no matter what I adjusted. The backfiring would stop if I gave it any throttle for the most part as well.

Well one of the first things that my buddy mentioned was that the crankcase seal on top could be going bad, but he had seen no sign of it. Until I just called him telling him that it basically tried to blow itself up, and was revving on its own. Apparenly this is a definite sign of a bad seal, so I guess we get to break it down and really get to work on this thing.

I have ran it without the cover, doesn't do much. I could see the coil being a problem, but not sure how I could test it to be sure. It has spark, but it could be a weak. Any tips?

I bought a Mariner 30hp for the 15'7" Smokercraft I bought this winter. Having problems with gettimg it to run properly. Ran alright when checking it out but after getting it in the water it doesn't have any power, won't run full rpms and wants to sputter and cut out. Plugs are black and are coming out wet. Has good compression, 130psi. Cleaned carb, but am having problems with making sure its tuned correctly, as I'm not familiar with them. So far, we have checked the fuel pump and it had one of the metal leaves or whatever bent out, so fixed that. No leaks. The reeds are in very good shape, look freshly replaced. Has spark, but hard to say if its weak or not. Float is not taking on fuel/is air tight. I could used some help with the carb though. Not sure how the float should be adjusted. Usually level when resting right? Well when I did that it wouldn't start at all without starting fluid. Adjusting it so it would be resting below level, it is getting fuel again and starting but running like poop. Acting the same and plugs are still coming out wet\black. I plan on replacing the needle/seat, but I have a feeling that's not the only issue here. I did read someone had a problem with a blockage in the exhaust port. So I plan oon checking that out as well. Just looking for more info or any suggestions as to what else could be the problem here. I'm getting depressed, season starts on Saturday here and my boat isn't going to be ready

I can tie that knot just as fast as any other connection knot that you use.

A lot of the YUM plastics were on sale for 1.50 here as well. Cant say I felt like buying any of it, but each one has had something different so if you have more than one near you, check them all out. Only thing I've bought lately has been the clearanced Trokar hooks. 6x 3/0 Worm Hooks for $3.00 a piece, and 4x 4/0 flippin hooks for 5.00 a piece.

I bought the bigger Zebco Omega Pro for my girlfriend to use this summer. It actually feels really good for a spincast reel. Drag is smooth and will be plenty strong for bass. I actually stuck it on a Carrot Stik and its very light. So far she loves it, but we have yet to actuall fish with it. I admit I'd probably try to use it for skipping docks if I would have tried that out before learning to use baitcasters for skipping.

I tie direct to spooks without problem. The only sammy I have, I tried all different ways and I cannot walk the thing. A friend of mine who swears by Sammy's also tried to walk mine and couldn't either. So seems that mine may be defective in some way.

When we get a calm day here in Michigan I will get the camera out. I know the exact measurement from our fence to the other side by our small garden is 215 feet. I'll try to get video casting from one to the other property line.

I am right there about the same distance for a majority of my fishing. But with my DD cranking rod, 7'6" MH with an ounce lure, I can consistantly reach out to 200 or more. My back yard is almost a perfect square acre, and casting across it is about 215ft feet. I'm usually right there from one end to the other, but a tailwind can push further if there weren't trees about 250 feet away. That is my only exception.

Both play a role in my local lakes, so both are great. I still watch the last set as well as will be ordering this one.

You must be a perfectionist about your baits if you have to boil the Pit Boss to get them to "run" right. I could see this to be a problem on big swimbaits, but I have yet to have one not have the same exact action every time I've thrown one. And you are gettting what you pay for. You're just paying more for other others who also include scent/salt. Neither of which have proven to me to make a difference in my fishing.

I punch with a micro guide rod. Nothing is going to clog them, short of ice.

Eyedabassman is right. I would have the same thing happen when I worked there. But I can tell you it is NOT a Gander problem. We had more 13 rods come in broken from their own warehouse than ours. And then there are the customers... Yeah, I'm sorry but you can't blame the retailer for things outside of their power to control.

Gamis keepers are not fixed. They still come loose. You can glue them back in place and they keep working. Trokars ARE welded shut. They are not an open eye. I am going to try the VMCs but have not had a chance to buy any yet. The only thing im worried about is the epoxy closed eye instead of welded.

I've never called in, but I did ask for days off to fish tournaments or for practice days. Since I was practicing what I worked for, they couldn't really say no... And now that I won a paid day off for employee of the month (Still in my first year at current employer, no time accumulated yet.) I will be taking that day off near the C&R opening in Michigan to go to St. Clair.

Lower guide count and different blank. They don't feel the same to me atleast. The individual rods are Micro guide as well. I did forget that they pair the ones sold individually as a combo like they do with the rest of their rod/reel models, but the ones that were on sale in the Classic ad were a lower end model that is not put together in the store.

The Bionic combo's are NOT the same rod and reel being sold individually. They do not put them together in store, the combo's are put together at the factory and shipped to us that way.

It's been one day... Theres a good chance he has a life outside the internet.

We can't fish until April 27th. Ice out doesn't mean much to us here in MI. (If you're law abiding.)