Nitrofreak

I can remember my Great Grandfather,my Grandfather and my Father all taking me to local waters, Mostly fresh waters, to go fishing for anything that would bite. My Grandfather and my Father purchased my first fishing rod and reel when I was 4, It was a Berkley cherry rod and Daiwa spinning reel, Which I still have today, That was 44 years ago, Unfortunately I never had the chance to use it fishing with my Great Grandfather but it does remind me of those days.

Good post!! Me personally, I love the mornings and the evenings, Either one will do but if I get a chance to be on the water I am there ALL DAY LONG and I usually pay for it too with a sun burn or something. ;D

x2 Not only do the children not have the money but they just don't have the patience to learn MOST of the time and if you are not catching any fish their attention span gets even shorter along with their temperament...Note: Adults can sometimes be more difficult.

I strongly disagree. I have caught fish off floating docks with people on them. Fish use the shade created from the dock. Its like fishing any other part of the lake there is a top, middle and a bottom of the water column. you need to find out where the fish are active in the water column. Many times the fish will be suspended under the docks. In my experience a weightless senko, wacky rigged is one of the highest percentage baits you could use in this situation. If there are boats in slips pitch it between the boat and the dock. If there are pilings that hold the docks in place fish will hold tight to those also. x2 But I have better fishing around them though after they have been there a while I have noticed...Not sure if it is because the grass grows under them or what. But definitely a weightless senko wacky rigged works great!!!

There is just something about having a bearing that runs dry that drives me bonkers... Metal on metal with no lube even when the bearing is intended for use that way. The way I decide if a bearing needs to have some type of lube is to look at it and see if it is sealed on both sides. If so, No maintenance should be required. If not, Locate the owners manual or contact the company for proper maintenance. If you cannot get a answer to your question then I use sewing machine oil, But no more than 2 drops, I do not use grease due to the fact that grease holds dirt...Not to say that oil does not hold dirt...But oil also allows for an easier clean up when servicing the unit in question.

What part of northern Va., D.C. area? I use Gamakatsu G-line and Excalibur silver thread and Berkley mono 10-12# (clear blue) Mostly around here. You never know whats going to take your bait and start ripping with it in these waters. LOL

x2 But I have a question or two. When it shuts off is it like you reached over and turned the switch off or does it stumble and putter then die? And when it does die, Does it start back up hard or easy or do you find yourself having to prime the fuel system again to get it started?

WOW, Congrads and WELCOME !!!

x2

Sent you a PM, and Thanks for your reply!!!

FUNNY!!!! ;D But still not worth that much!!

That explains a lot of it. Thanks for the heads up and for being a stand up guy about it all !! Looking forward to hearing from you again.

5:30? Do you like to sleep in? LOL I am at my favorite spot by then and fishing it!! Make it 4:00am and you got a deal!! Maybe he's referring to the tournament banner, launch in our club out in the Northwest is 0600, daylight permitting. For fun fishing I agree 0400 sounds good! I am sure of that, I was only joking about that part, But I truly am heading down the water by 4am so if we are ever in eachothers neck of the waters I would like that!!! By the way thank you guys for serving!!!!

You haven't run into Long Mike have you ? Ha Ha, That's funny, I have seen some of his post's and he really knows how to crack a guy up!! ;D But I would love to meet him one day...I think.

Go to craigs list and e-bay and check your local listings in the news papers. Since you have a family, I suggest at least a 14'. Not sure of the area you are from but most all of the Jon boats I have seen have around 10 hp engines and work pretty well, But you can power it with a strong trolling motor too if your waters don't allow gas engines. Good luck and have fun!!!

5:30? Do you like to sleep in? LOL I am at my favorite spot by then and fishing it!! Make it 4:00am and you got a deal!!

I am only stating ALL of us are different and some things must be looked over and forgiven. This is a fishing site with a LOT of well rounded, VERY intelligent people that have a lot to offer. If someone has a problem with another persons question or statement about fishing then they should take it upon themselves to educate in a private forum or simply do not reply and not turn a question or a statement into a grammar lesson for all to see. TJHfishn, Sorry to hear of your misfortune but I am glad that everything worked out for you. Good luck and I hope you enjoy and catch lots of fish with your new gear!!

Wow, Math and a grammar class. Some of us do have issues putting words into proper grammar, (Myself included) But should you not PM the guy before embarrassing him in front of the whole site?

Awesome, Really good looking Ranger!!! And there is nothing like your first drive in your first boat!!

Welcome!!!

Welcome!!!

I try fishing them always, Mostly parallel no matter what I see on the sonar.

Yes, sure was nice having you take the 5 1/2 trip with me to pick it up, I'd probably still be missing! And to think how we stumbled upon that boat........I brought you inside to show you the absolute lemon I was going to go rush and buy and happened to look at the Portland area and for a few hundred bucks and miles more.............love at first sight! Even when I upgrade I'd like to keep that boat, maybe pass it on to my boys. You got some pics? Sure does sound like an interesting boat with a good story! I'm gone right now and don't have any pics with me, but I'll probably post some when I get home. It's a 92 Ranger 372V with a 150 Merc XR6. HuntFishspokane and I took a 5 1/2 hour trip through some of the most beautiful part of the country IMO, mostly along the Columbia River, met a real gentleman who couldn't have been more helpful, even after I got it home! He held it for a couple of days for me and had people calling about it when we were test driving it. Just special to me because it seems like someone was looking after me. I came real close to buying a boat that I'm almost certain would have been a lemon and I would be miserable with it right now. Cool I am looking forward to them and your right that guy was pretty good to you!! Congrads sounds like a great boat!!

Hey thanks Mike, You keep looking he may change his mind yet again and I hope you get one!!! Just keep an eye out they are every where you look and one will fit your needs!!!

RW - good advice indeed - I'm certainly not known for my "patience with plastics" (or jigs)! I like to keep moving. The "power finesse" technique described in a recent Bassmasters magazine article certainly hit home for me! I know if I want to go after quality fish, I will have to change tactics eventually, both fishing from the bank and from my canoe - just gotta make an attitude adjustment first. : Having said the above, I still think that, based on the results of the bass club and other local anglers, there may not be as many 5lb fish to be had as on other Tennessee lakes... :-/ Goose I have to tell you that I had taken his advise from another post where he mentioned pretty close the same tactics as here and I have to tell you it works and works well. I am catching bigger and bigger bass all the time and I am somewhat like you I had to re-teach myself if you will to have a lot more patience and believe in what he was saying and if I had the chance to shake his hand I would. You really should convince yourself to give it an honest effort I promise you it's worth it!!