cart7t

If I'm out on a lake close to home I'll consider heading home. If I'm down at the lake several hours from home and that isn't an option, I'll C-rig a french fry or throw a small 4 inch worm and try and make things happen. I'll also find the thickest cover on the lake I can and dead stick a bait right in the middle of it. If there's standing timber I'll find some tree tops along a channel break and vertically jig a soft plastic in the middle of it varying my depth till I find the fish or give up trying.

Best times for me and big bass? Pre-dawn, that hour or two before dawn breaks. My favorite time to be on the water because few people like to break out of a nice sleep to catch that time of day. Dusk to an hour or so after dusk. My second favorite time. Midday. From around 11 till 2 or 3 in the afternoon has been another good time. If I'm staying at the lake, I'll come in around 8 or 9, eat, snooze and then go back out to try the midday bite. My success rate fishing past 10-11 pm hasn't been great. I'll normally tie off the boat and catch a nap when night fishing. The mid-morning and late afternoon bite usually isn't worth staying on the water for.

Just for a point of referance. An entry level 18ft. fiberglass bassboat from most manufacturers will run you around $22-24k brand new with a non EFI 150hp engine. In an aluminum you're probably looking at around $15k. For $10,000 cash you should be able to easily find an 18ft used fiberglass boat from the mid 90's with a 150hp engine or you could get an even newer used aluminum for that kind of money. Because of your location, you're going to have fewer bass boats to choose from unless you expand your horizons and use the internet to find a boat and be willing to travel to get what you want. When using the net, make sure the boat owner has taken many, many pictures of the boat from numerous angles. If the boat has any cosmetic defects he should be willing to take closeups of said defects. He should also have compression numbers available on the engine and be willing to allow you to test run the boat when you come look at it. I've bought a couple boats long distance and was pleased with both of them. The key is knowing what you want and finding it and then, not being afraid to drive several hundred miles with cash in hand to buy the boat that day. If you're not comfortable with that you're probably better off trying to find a boat locally. As for Ebay? I'm a regular Ebay seller and buyer but I'm a little leary of buying something as substantial as a boat. I've heard good stories and also BAD.

The fish symbol option on a depthfinder is NOT a reliable indicator of the presence of fish. Most instruction manuals will state this.

I've never done this before. Exactly what are we challenging the other angler proceeding us on the list to do?

There are 2 businesses that always sound really attractive to get into but almost always wind up being completely different than expectations for those that try it. One is a fishing guide and the other is a fishing resort owner. I've known guys who have done both. Some got out and others stayed in but they all said the same thing, the job became something completely different than what they envisioned originally. Something to think about.

What kind of boat, aluminum or fiberglass? Do you have access to the inside of the hull?

I just saw you've got a 1978 85hp outboard motor. While that may work perfectly for you right now if I was a paying customer I might raise an eyebrow if I showed up at the dock and my guide for the day was going to be taking me around in old equipment. I'm not knocking you boat mind you but most guides at least mention the kind and age of the boat and motor you'll be fishing out of in order to provide a peace of mind for customers. I know if I was forking out $150-200 a day for a guide I sure wouldn't want to be wondering if the day was going to be ruined due to equipment problems because of the age of the boat and motor.

For what you'll spend fixing that thing up you could go out and buy a decent fishing boat. Not to mention the time involved. Unless you're into fixing up boats that one's going to be more time and work than it's worth. Chainsaw the boat up. Try and get what you can for the parts, motors and trailer on Ebay and get a decent boat.

You need to thoroughly check out the rules and regs of TX for guides. I know in Missouri you must have passed a Coast Guard boat operators course, be certified by the Red Cross in CPR and life saving techniques as well as have a specific minimum amount of liability insurance. BTW, make sure you notify your insurance company of your plans to guide, there are often clauses in most boat owners insurance policies that don't cover you if you're using your boat for commercial purposes. You'll also need to have enough equipment (ie spinning or spincasting equipment) for inexperienced clients and quality equipment for more expereinced anglers. This includes lures. You'll need extra lifejackets of various sizes. Is your boat ready and is it big enough for a couple extra anglers? How old is the boat? Your reputation will tank quickly if your boat is too small, not in top shape, uncomfortable or has equipment malfunctions. Just a few things to think and plan for.

Those early trackers were bad for leaking from the rivets. I knew a couple guys in my bass club back then that had those early 80's trackers and they invariably wound up having to have the rivets fixed. I wouldn't be surprised if the wood decking and flooring is rotted unless it's been replaced previously.

NO WAKE

Try holding the choke on a little longer on the initial start. My Yamaha is the same way from a dead cold start after the engines been idle for a couple weeks. My engine actually has a manual choke lever on it you can pull (though I rarely use it).

I'd deck front to back across the top of the bench seats. As stated, V bottoms can be notoriously tippy when you stand up in them. You might want to try the standing thing with you in the front standing and another guy on the back bench standing. I'd also suggest foam anywhere you can cram it when you're done for flotation. Either buy the foam in the can or polystyrene sheets that can be cut up.

Uhh... I hope you kept those 68-69 Bassmasters, those rare, hard to find early issues are worth a fortune on Ebay! Been getting Bassmaster for 32 years. It's quality has gone downhill and most issues I don't even read. Fishin Facts was a great mag even though it was multi-species. Very good in-depth, technical articles. Same with In-Fisherman.

I've never had the patience nor confidence to effectively vertically jig Hopkins type jigging spoons even though I keep a few in the boat. Same with the Little George fished the same way. Next on the list is the spinnerbait. I fall in and out of love with that bait from year to year. I've caught a ton of fish on it along with some monsters but it's not a high confidence bait for me for some reason.

RoLo is right. There are many species of crawfish that inhabit different areas and in some lakes, several different species within a single lake. They vary in color from species to species but also according to the time of the year. originally posted by KU_Bassmaster Storm lures used to make a special wigglewart color for Bass Pro shops only distributed through their Midwest dealers that matched this crawfish specifically. The color is SV/SP53. Olive green back, Chart sides and flo. orange belly. It's a very hot color in the spring. The lures can be found on Ebay and usually run around $18-25 apiece when you can find them.

No, you just don't reel r in. Cast, let it sit, give it a pop to spin the props, let it sit, repeat. Vary the amount of time inbetween jerks. Sometimes a really erratic, quick action will get attention, sometimes long pauses inbetween jerks is what does the trick.

1999 Ford F-150 Supercab. 80,000 miles on it. Tows my 18 1/2 foot Champion rather well.

Beaver is going to be tough period. Like Tablerock, it's sister lake, it's a finesse style lake where you're often fishing extremely deep with small finesse type baits. You can get buy without a depthfinder but a trolling motor is a must. I'd suggest doing whatever you can to get one ASAP.

Because you're trailer was on a steeper grade, the engine was required to invoke more horsepower than usual to get the boat up onto the trailer. The power tilt will only hold the motor out until the force of the engine pushes it back in. It happens most of the time I put my boat onto the trailer. Nothing to be concerned about.

I always unplug mine. Old habit I guess.

I can't believe anyone here actually thinks these occasional weekend warriors, many of whom barely know how to operate their boats, would have anymore courtesy just because YOU'RE in line waiting for them. : ;D I've seen it all and yes, the guys that wait till the boats ready to go in the water and then begin untying and loading it always get angry stares from me. I'll also speak up if they bother to respond to my stare. The absolute worst and most unbelievable thing I ever saw was a guy who backed his boat halfway down the ramp on a very non-busy day, got out of his tow vehicle, proceeded to pull the drainplug on his lower unit AND DRAINED IT DIRECTLY ONTO THE BOAT RAMP BEFORE HE CHANGED THE FLUID!! > I couldn't stop, I found the local water patrol officer and turned the guys boat and license number in to him. I don't know if the patrolman ever caught up to him but I sure hope he left him a ticket on his windshield!

Small baits will catch both large and small fish. Large baits will catch primarily large fish, the trade-off is you'll be catching fewer fish but of better quality. If you don't mind the long lulls between larger fish then use larger baits by all means.

I saw the ad but it didn't honestly effect me one way or another towards the product. I use some Berkley product but that ad would do nothing to make me want to try Gulp. BTW, in the same vein. How many thought the Etec ad with the guys clothes all coming off except for the bikini bottom underwear was funny? ;D That ad was friggin hilarious and quite frankly clever enough to make me remember the Evinrude Etec. I'm afraid Berkley tried the same thing and fell flat on their face with this one.