Crookedneck

I used a 25 count package of their 1/0 EWG last year. Never had a problem with any of them.

The bait monkey stole my credit card last night and ordered some Northstar swim jigs in... Stinky Pinky Chartruse and White Perch New Gill Bull Gill And I think there might have been a finesse jig or two ordered too. Now I just need the ice to melt so I can get on the water...

I'm starting to think winter is here to stay this year...

I recently watched a episode of Hook n Look where they showed matts and heavy cover fishing. Really good show, it showed how much light actually penetrates the heavy matts. They also talked about different types of cover and where the fish will be. Got to have a good trolling motor to get in and get those fish out if you can't haul em out.

Tugs if you need a piece of work to start with pm me. I've got a wicked Largemouth I drew up that I would be willing to share with you, if nothing more than an idea or starting point. I drew it up for a t-shirt design but it would be cool as a tat. Funny thing about tattoos is that they can be addicting. I was the first rule breaker in my family I got my first ink 20 years ago...man I am getting old...since my first I have gotten several more. Both my brothers, one of my sisters, and not to long ago my father got some ink. No fishing related ink yet.

The 55lbs thrust for your 17' boat is probably a little underpowered. I only say this as I too have a 17' aluminum. I too had a 55lb thrust. I do a lot of river fishing so current is always a factor. I got tired of loosing power. I found a used Minn Kota Maxxum 74. The wiring in my boat for my trolling motor was a 14 gauge wire. This undersized wiring was also causing drainage in the batteries. This is caused because heat is generated in the small conductors. When heat is generated more amperage is drawn therefore draining the battery faster. This wiring was ripped out and 6 gauge now replaces it. The upgrade in the trolling motor and wiring has now allowed me to fish all day long, regardless of wind or current. Is your Edge able to switch between 12 volt and 24 volt? When you say heavy duty wiring how heavy duty are you talking? Charging methods can also prematurely wear down a battery.

A recessed trolling motor foot petal will help, as well as learning to use both feet on the petal if you don't already. I also find my feet will hurt in heavy wind and waves. From balancing your weight differently.

10 degrees 10 inches of snow 12 inches more predicted between now & Saturday...need I say more...

If you ever need a fishing partner let me know while you are there, I have yet to fish Sturgeon Bay, but it is on my list of places to fish. If you ever decide to take a trip across to the Marinette/Menominee area let me know, I can show you some areas on the lower Menominee River area.

Thanks for all the comments. This was a fun build. With a lot of challenges.

Fuji Alconites are a good choice and American Tackle Halide guides depending on which ones you chose are a very good guide for the money.

That is a sick boat. Would love to have it for running over to Sturgeon Bay and up to Bay DeNoc fishing...

Those are all good. Top water too..

So many choices, not enough $$$

I am a Safety and Training Manager in a weld shop of 420 welders and fabricators. We build steel pressure vessels (hyperbaric chambers, air receivers, oil seperators, ect.). It is a challenge needless to say. But, I am home every night and get to see my family daily. Before I grew up and had a family I spent 12 1/2 years in the U.S. Army as Military Police. Other than no longer wearing a uniform, honestly about the same job...

I am in the market coming up up also. I have not messed around with the HB much. A buddy of mine had a problem with his Lowrance HD7 this last year. It kept powering down. This winter he called CS and they had him send it in. After they looked it over they told him that there was a known problem with this graph leaking at the SD card slot. The unit was out of warranty but they could fix it for $200 or he could take his pick of a couple of the newer touch screens for a reduced price. He ended up getting the new HDS9 with a touch screen for $400 and trade in on the old HDS7. Needless to say he was super stoked. He just got the unit a couple weeks ago. He does nothing but rave about the CS now. RW, what are the main differences that make the Raymarine better, in your opinion? I was looking at them tonight. Thanks

Looks good. I had a 14 footer and I had a 6 horse motor on it and it pushed it pretty good. A 6 horse on that would probably make you feel like you were flying compared to a canoe. We all start somewhere. Good luck.

If you go to an electrical supply store you can pick up some wire gel. It lubricates as you pull. Then evaporates. Or you can use a little bit of dish soap. This will keep the wires from rubbing one each other and wearing the insulation off. Just remember a little goes along ways. If you can pull the thing in steps it makes it a lot easier versus pulling one long stretch. Good luck and keep us posted.

LOL! Nitro I got a feeling that you are known around your town... Just stay away from my boat when you are lookin in the windows...

I wear a buff. Probably one of the best pieces of bass fishing protective gear I own. I did a couple tours overseas and got pretty beat up by the sun over there. Ever since, if I am in the sun, the skin on my lips will burn very quickly. It doesn't matter if I put SPF90 on my lips they get burnt. Then the skin falls off. Weeks of burned cracked lips....Last summer I bought myself a buff. It took a little bit of getting used to, but now I won't leave home with out it. I will probably get a second one for this year. I wear glasses and as long as I keep it below my nose I don't have a problem fogging up. My one fishing partner hates it as it somewhat muffles my voice when I talk.....maybe I should get him one too.

I have used(still have one) the Kinetic. It's a decent reel. I have the burner (the older silver one). My first one the drag failed one day while fishing spinnerbaits on a big smallie. I sent it back to Quantum as it was still under warranty. I got a new reel back 10 days later. I used it regularly last year. It is fairly easy to dial in. I use the one last year with floro on a 7' MH to throw 1/4oz T-rigged plastics. I have no complaints about it. I have not used the new red ones KT100HTPA. I've seen where you can get them for around $50-60. I'm probably going to try the new Catalyst this year.

DVT and Jeb2 are both right on with their posts above. Living in the northern part of the country, micros do ice up alot faster in colder weather. One of the benifits is less snags in a locker. Threading your line through the micros can be challenging for some.

My wife started fishing with me a couple years ago. It started with a time here or there. This last year when we got a bigger boat she started going more often. Once she started finding sucess she loved it. Now she wants to go every time I go as long as the weather is nice. If she gets tired of fishing, she hangs on the back deck and listens to music. Here she is with a couple 3.5 pound smallies. She had a whole live well full of fish before I could even get rigged and a line wet myself. I am looking forward to this summer.

Check the year again. I looked it up and the 366 fish and ski, according to what I could find started being produced in 1989. And it was rated for upto 110. But, iboats could be wrong. Just saying

My advice is to get as big of a trolling motor as you can afford. I have a 17' aluminum that I have a Minn Kota Maxxum 74 on. I had a smaller trolling motor on my boat initially, that just didn't cut the mustard. Fishing lakes is different than fishing rivers due to the current. But, wind will affect your fishing day if your trolling motor isn't strong enough to handle the load. Get the biggest you can afford. just my 2 cents. Mike