Triton_Mike

I agree with all of the above. Wider and higher sides if you can afford it. If you can't afford it personally I would hold off until you could. If your really gung ho in getting a boat now I'd get a shorter wider boat than the longer skinnier boat? I fished out of a 1242 for years with a 30hp and caught a boat load of fish out of it. But I'd go for atleast a 1442 or 1448 or a 1452 would be even better. Mike

blanked, You do have a point. The reason I like the Bass West magazine is because it covers alot of western techniques that aren't very popular here in the SE/NE US of A. Most of your tactics (not all) start in California and work their way slowly eastward. Things like Swimbaits, dropshot, split shot etc etc. You can pretty much take what they are doing out west and apply it to any lake USA. Not all california lakes are deep and clear but most of them are. I'm partial to the Inside Line because I write for them but I do like the Inside LIne because it's more across the board on where the articles come from ie SE, NE, West, Mid West etc etc. I do enjoy both magazines very much and I enjoy reading articles by personal friends ie Terry Battisti, Gary Dobyns, Jarrett Edwards, Mike Whitten, Andy Cuccia, Pete Robbins, Dean Sault etc etc. Mike

If you had to peg me to 2 magazines I would pick Gary Yamamoto's Inside line www.insideline.net and Bass West www.basswest.com. These 2 are the best for fishing information in my opinion and the articles are in detail and original. T Mike

I have a 16ft boat and have a 82lb thrust Tour Edition Motor Guide. You really can't go wrong with the new Digital Motor Guides. They are running absolutely flawless! Here is a picture of my boat www.tritonmike.com/boat.html T Mike

I have to say I don't think your gonna be able to get one of them high end Triton or Skeeter jon boats for 10-12K. A 150hp motor almost costs that much alone. I'd definitely go used if I was you. T Mike

Lets see she has been caught 3 times total that we know of. Long, Dickerson, Weakley. Why wouldn't she be caught again????? T Mike

I know Triton and Xpress are top of the line aluminum jons. YOu pay dearly for them too. But they are very well built. T Mike

I'm not getting into this one this time. Enjoy it guys T mike

My livewell is the ice chest you see in the boat. It's got aeration in it. T Mike

What Chris said!! It's by far my #1 sight fishing bait for bedding fish. T Mike

Here is my almost step by step tutorial www.tritonmike.com/boat.html T Mike

Undo 8 screws and all the wood can come out for cleaning . It took me a few days to figure out how I was going to build it so I could clean it but 8 screws ain't bad T Mike

Okechobee, Here is a step by step on how I did mine. It's still a work in progress www.tritonmike.com/boat.html T Mike

Good Job KU... Mike

OK Matt Fly, If a chinese dude weekend angler with a cork and bobber catches the WR on it do you really think someone is going to pay this guy the big chips for his story? Would you buy the same cork and bobber he used? I am not saying the guy won't make ANY money. What I am saying is if a guy is marketable he'll be alot closer to the cool Million than the chinese guy in my story. T Mike

I agree with Matt 100%. He made a very good example if a hispanic person caught the fish fishing with a cane pole. IS he an instant millionaire?? I seriously doubt it. Now if KVD caught it with his marketing abilities you bet he'd be in the chips. Another thing. Takahiro Omori won the Classic 2 years ago. He didn't benefit nowhere near 1 million bucks. It's all about marketing. Yes the chatterbait guys and sweet beaver guys would benefit but if the hispanic guy can't speak english or even worst can't market himself he's not going to get much of squat. Theres a HUGE difference between marketability and catching a WR fish. T Mike

Listen to KUbasser.. Used fiberglass boats are the best deal going. You can get a 5 or 6year old 19-20ft boat for almost 19K and probably cheaper if you look hard. The key is knowing what to look for in buying a used boat. I will NEVER EVER buy a new boat again. Too much depreciation when you drive that bad boy off the lot. Boats are by far the worst investment you could ever purchase. Best place to look is the Boat Trader magazine or several Boats 4 Sale places on the internet. T Mike

basscat, Call Dual Pro. They have the best customer service team on the planet. If there is a problem they'll have you a NEW unit on your door before you can check your email the next day ~ Dual pro number is 1-800-742-2740 Tell them I sent ya T Mike

Personally, I would reccomend you get the rivets welded. All of them. IT's probably less painful that way. If your not going to pound it in waves that welding job will probably last you your lifetime and look more professional. Whatever you do don't use no JB weld or quick fix. I'm the father of all jury rigs and I've tried that already and it no bueno. T Mike

Here is a pic that I mean by making it look seamless. another site T Mike

OK Marlboroman. How do you combine 2 pictures and make them almost seamless? What is the actual procedure called that does this? Mike

YOu can use the dropshot any place you can use a C rig. Shallow, deep, or horizontal. I would say that 10% of my dropshotting is done vertically. Here is some articles that might help answer other questions you might have. http://www.bassresource.com/fish/faq.html#drop T Mike

Lowbudget, IS this the software ie the one with the little girl on the front of the package or with the chinese lady on it. I'm with you photoshop is over my head!! I need something tons easier LOL. http://www.freegiftworld.com/gift.html?nopop=1&CID=39217&ADTGID=8344&SID=KE69452&xid=0 http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Microsoft%20Picture%20It%21%20Premium%2010%20Software:1991553448;_ylt=Ag1BaJ0hzKkqt2ie2jGIgVgbFt0A;_ylu=X3oDMTBic2hxMGNhBGx0AzQEc2VjA3Ny?clink=dmps/.22.microsoft_picture_it.22./ctx=mid:5,pid:1991553448,pdid:5,pos:1,spc:14489115,date:20060319,srch:kw,x: Mike

LowBudget?? WHat programs are you using for those pics? I like them. T Mike

Mitchell?? $3500 for a grizzly without a trailer?? I paid like $1200.00 for mine without a trailer???? Granted I got a left over model from the previous year and BPS gave me a good price break. They retail for 1899 without a trailer and I bought a used Magic tilt type trailer seperate for the boat and I came out like $1700 for boat and trailer. I came out $1000.00 cheaper than you did . Enjoy your RiverHawk it's a great quality boat. I fished out of a friends Gheenoe for alot of years. Great boat. T Mike