Owasco

Tuck, Were those Sonars complete with cables too? The Dicks in Vestal NY had a few but only the unit itself. They were clearly display models and were a bit beat up, but I still thought they were pretty good prices. I'm just not sure how easy it is to find all the components.

-15 last night here. Still about 3 below on a sunny day. It's sickening. At this rate we won't be on the water untill mid summer! July can't get here soon enough.

Went back tonight and picked up: 1 Abu Garcia Revo S/Allstar Combo 7' Med Heavy $49.98 1 300 Yd 50 lb test Stren Sonic Braid $9.98 1 Berkley Powerbait 5" Power Shaky Worm $1.48 1 Rapala 8" alumapro Pliers $12.48 1 300 Yd 20 lb test P-Line Flourocarbon line $10.98 (Regular Price) For some reason the monkey's bite doesn't seem so painful the last couple of days. Call me a masochist but it felt kinda nice.

I visited 2 of our local Dick's last night. I bought: 1 St. Croix Casting Rod $22.50 Regularly marked 109.99 1 St. Croix Spinning Rod $22.50 Regularly marked 209.99 1 Field and Stream Casting Rod $9.99 Regularly marked 59.99 1 Quantum Catalyst Bait-caster $24.94 1 Rapala Thug $1.97 I'm going back tonight for a Daiwa bait-caster (lefty) Forgot the model. $24.94 Deals are outrageous!

I visited 2 of our local Dick's last night. I bought 1 St. Croix Casting Rod $22.50 Regularly marked 109.99 1 St. Croix Spinning Rod $22.50 Regularly marked 209.99 1 Field and Stream Casting Rod $9.99 Regularly marked 59.99 1 Quantum Catalyst Bait-caster $24.94 1 Rapala Thug $1.97 I'm going back tonight for a Daiwa bait-caster (lefty) Forgot the model. $24.94 Deals are outrageous!

Expect to up your fish count by at least 10%! You need 4inch Junebug Senkos for early in the year up until the spawn and 5in Greenpumkin red flake for post-spawn until end of summer.. That's what I hear. It is exciting. Do you simply fish them wacky rigged? Can it be that simple?

#1 RageTail (Anything and Everything) Best baits that I've used! #2 Stanley (Mostly just the Ribbits) #3 Berkley (The powerbait works well) #4 Zoom (Trick worms) #5 Mister Twister (Curly tail grubs) I use a few others but not regular like the ones I have listed above. I would like to try the Robo Worms as I have heard they are great and I have never used a Senko either. I'm planning on adding them to my inventory.

That Pontoon looks like a steal! I might just get one to keep in the trunk of my 2007 WRX!

Where are you located?

Excellent Point Bassman! I don't do a whole lot of night fishing, but I suppose I could with the GPS unit. Thank you. You just helped me make my decision to keep the 480. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it works.......in a few more months

Good point Monte. It looks like the DI on the 570 is 80 Degrees according to Anchorexpress.com's website. So I guess my main question is does the DI of the 570 out weigh the GPS of the 480? What is your opinion on this?

Thanks Wayne. That just makes my decision to return my 480 that much more difficult. I like the idea of having the 60 degree sonar and DI. The biggest lakes that I would fish are the finger lakes in upstate NY so I don't know how much I would use the GPS. UGH! This is difficult.

I just received a fishelite 480 from BPS in the mail last Wednesday. After looking at the HB 570DI, I may return it. What I need to know is: Does the 570 offer both DI and traditional Sonar? Is it Dual Beam or just Single Beam? I Don't mean to hijack the thread. Thanks

Ha! Post of the Month!

If you drain them they come out a little whiter. Taste better too!

Thank you all for the responses. I decided to go ahead and buy the Eagle FishElite 480 because it can do most of what I am looking for. All the places that I checked had it listed at anywhere from $339 all the way up to $399. BPS had it on sale for $229+Tax . I also got free shipping on the unit. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who participated in this thread. Marc

Ha! I know what you mean. I found a humminbird grayscale with DI for $399. I'm considering the Eagle fishelite 480 which is $229 @ BPS. I guess what I mean is I don't want to spend $1500 on on. That is not in my "budget".

Thats what I thought J. You know the lakes I'll be fishing. I grew up on Owasco and fish the fingerlakes, Oneida Sandy Pond, and some smaller reservoirs like Whitney Point and as you have already directed me....Deruyter. I am leaning toward the Eagle fish elite 480 with the GPS and dual beam but that down immaging is sweet. I really don't want to spend $500 on one when I only spent $300 on the boat motor and trailer. Thanks for the response

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it! Humminbird has one model with down imaging and single beam sonar for $299. It does not have GPS. The down imaging is quite appealing. What is your take on that feature? Is it worth $70 to upgrade to DI but lose GPS and Dual Beam. A 60 degree cone also seams important for bass fishing. Thanks again.

I'm trying to choose a "budget" fishfinder. With all the options, bells and whistles out there I am completely overwhelmed. I just don't know what I should choose. I really like the idea of down imaging and would be willing to pay for it but, do I really need it? I was initially trying to keep it under $200 since I have never used one before. I found what I think is a quality unit at a great price with the Eagle Fish Elite 480 Sonar/GPS Mapping combo from BPS for $229. It's gray scale not color. No down imaging either. Does have GPS. Does the GPS work right out of the box? Ugh. Any recommendations? I figured if anyone can help me it would be the guys at Bass Resource. If it helps, it will be going on a 16' 1974 Crestliner fiberglass trihull that I just picked up for $300. Thanks.

I'll be new to boating this year so my goals are to learn how to properly use my new fish-finder, but more importantly, I have buy a fish-finder. Any recommendations? I would also like to improve with my bait-caster. I really want to get as comfortable with it as I am with my spinning rigs. I'm not as worried about catching fish. The fish will come. My baits look so delicious that I have to make sure my fishing partners have full bellies, otherwise I'm spending more time pulling hooks out of their mouths. Confidence is a virtue.....At least that's what I keep telling myself. :-?

Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning toward an aluminum v-hull. I'm sure the tri-hulls are more stable but I know they are heavey too. I just saw a bass tracker for $1500 with no major problems. The pictures look nice but I don't know the year. It looks to be in pretty good shape from the pictures. I am hoping to look at it sometime over the next couple of days. The listing said it was a 17 footer with a merc 40 hp motor. Could this be the one? Stay tuned.

Thanks GMAN. Thats pretty much what I was thinking. I was just floored at what some people were asking for the old glass tri-hulls. Thanks again

I'm looking for a little advice. I'd like to pick up a boat to fish with sometime this winter. I've searched craigslist and have seen what I think are great deals and I'm currently considering a few different options. I don't want to jump into anything too fast but I do want to have something by March. I've concluded that I don't need a real expensive bass boat. I just want something that gets me on the water and is somewhat versatile. I want a 14-16 foot aluminum V-hull with a 30hp+ motor. I have found many for $1500 or less. If they have a deck then great......I don't mind building one if it doesn't. My problem is with some other options that i have found while searching for my idea of the ideal boat. I've come across multiple fiberglass Tri-Hull boats (1965-1985) in the 14-18 foot ranged that are priced between $400-$1000. Most have motors between 55hp and 120hp. They are old but most have had regular maintenance on the motors and their owners usually say they run well, no leaks etc. I mostly bass fish but I will occasionally go out and fish for Walleye and crappy and just about anything that swims. As you can see I have alot of questions but I guess the main thing is, is it worth getting into one of these fiberglass tanks as opposed to an aluminum v-hull? If it helps you help me, I would be fishing the NY finger lakes Oneida, Sandy Pond and some smaller reservoirs. Thanks, Marc

I wonder if they can be texas rigged? 600/0?