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Since you've probably already gotten back I'll say I would've planned on slow rolling a spinnerbait.

There is no magic temperature where something in the bass goes "Bing", it's time to spawn. Bass in a lake spawn at different times after the water temperature reaches 60 or a little above. Not all bass in a single cove will suddenly rush to the bank. The actually spawing process (not nest guarding) can last up to a couple weeks in a single cove where the water conditions are the same. You also have to remember that a fish is cold blooded and it's metabolism is directly related to the water temperature. In the spring, the warmer the water temperature, the more active the fish is thus the more nutrients are required for the bass to remain healthy.

1986 Champion 184DC 1987 Yamaha ProV150 Garmin 160's front and back MinnKota TM.

There's an awful lot of variables as far as muddy vs clear water goes. I'll try and cut to the chase and give you 30 years of experience rolled into some quick tips. This time of year, with water temps under 50 degrees, Muddy water is an immediate turnoff. I'll work on honey-do's at home rather than waste time on the water. Fish are darn near impossible to catch in cold, muddy water. Fish, in lakes that are usually clear - very clear, are effected in a negative way to muddy water. They'll bunch tight to cover or suspend and shutdown. Since clearwater bass use sight as one of their prime methods of feeding, the lack of being able to see their prey tends to throw them off. Remember this, the muddy water doesn't always extend vertically in the water table all the way to the bottom. Check points and dropoffs. Turn the gain up on the graph, you can sometimes see the mud line and find some fish hanging just under the mud relating to structure. Go with wider wobbling and noisier baits. Fish, in lakes that are usually off-colored, tanic or stained aren't as affected. Go with noisier, heavy vibrating lures around cover. Muddy water usually means heavy rains recently which indicates lots of critters have been washed into the lake. I look for incoming runoff, streams, etc. Bass will often congregate there awaiting easy meals being washed in. Lakes that have seen a rise in lake level will almost always see bass moving up into the newly flooded area. Smaller fish are up there looking for critters in the water and the bass follow them. I've found flooded, normally dry ground grassfields, can be a bass bonanza. Fish quick search baits like rat-l-traps, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, shallow crankbaits in these places. The lake may not be completely muddy. Look for edge areas where the muddy water meets up with clearer water. Target structure and cover in area's there. Hope this helps

Don't buy that POS boat. Every penny you spend on it will be a waste. The person offering that for free is probably too lazy to dig a hole deep enough to bury it because that's about all it's worth.

I've owned both. Motorguides are junk. Go MinnKota.

I hope your not losing these fish on single hook lures, if you are you need to work on your hookset because I can't even remember the last large fish I lost on a single hook lure. Treble hooked baits? Thats another matter. Patience, allow the fish to lead you around the boat if necessary and whatever you do, take your time. I've lost a few on crankbaits, one that would've been a PB, over 10lbs, it happens.

1. 3/8oz Black n blue jig tipped with pork. 2. Slow roll the jig on bottom 3. 7 ft 4. Secondary points, on western side of lake. 5. Chunk or broken rock on secondary point.

If I'm not mistake, the North American Fishing club was started up by Spence Petros, one of the old Fishing Facts guys. Reputable I guess. I never joined or took them up on their offers because I already get too many magazines.

I doubt they'd save anything. For them to save there'd have to be power supplied to the locator all the time, probably via a small battery on the locator. I'm guessing most of your GPS units have that ability but not a standard run of the mill locator.

;D

I forgot to add a couple other things to try. Downsize your baits, like a 1/8 or 1/4 oz spinnerbait or the 1/4 oz Rattletrap and burn the sucker past the obstruction. Instead of enticing the fish by s-l-o-w-l-y fishing your baits in front of them, which merely gives them more time to look over your offering, rip that sucker past the edges of the cover. Those fish have a choice, attack this thing, AND NOW, or it's gone for good, or ignore it. Just another thought. I'd also suggest using flourocarbon line if you're not already.

I believe you're right. That knot is basically a trilene type knot with the line doubled.

I suppose some men feel that urge to be superior to the woman, especially in something like huntin or fishin, a "mans" sport. I could probably listen to you for a few minutes and realize your no inexperienced fisherperson and treat you as such. Sorry you get that kind of treatment, you won't get it from me though. Ask my wife.

I echo all this advice. Originally got it from weight lifting in my younger days, the fishing only aggravated it. You must stop casting, rowing, etc. with the bad arm for it to heal. Period. Continuing to use the appendage only prolongs the problem. You'll probably need to fish with a elbow brace for a few years. One thing for certain, even after it heals you're more prone to suffer a relapse if you strain it too much. The tendon will reheal but unfortuanately, scar tissue is part of the healing. Scar tissue is not only not as good as the original tendon connection tissue, it's not very flexible either, thus the reason why you're more prone for relapse. I've not only suffered from that but seriously messed up the tendons within my right forearm and wrist. I have some issues casting now and I can barely roll cast anymore. Nothing seems to work right and I've lost a great deal of grip in my right hand. Let it heal, a few days missed fishing now is better than a lifetime of a messed up right arm.

As stated earlier, wacky rigged senko's. Scale down your line size if possible. I know it's tough because of the cover. Another thing, try fishing the lake at night or only very early morning or at dusk. I'd also plan on fishing the lake if it's windy putting a chop on the water to break the bass's ability to see you on the bank. Also plan on fishing that sucker in the rain or on foggy, misty days. Throw a fast moving spinnerbait then.

Learn to fish deep water structure.

While you can get so-called "trailerable" covers pretty cheap online, I'd advise against it. 1. Just about any cover you purchase online for your boat is a compromise. It just isn't going to fit snug enough nor fit perfectly right for trailering at speeds to 70mph. Inevitably, the cheap cover begins flapping in the wind which in turn wears your nice gelcoat finish. (Note, I once had a cover begin flapping at the rear. One of the metal tie-down rings beat the livin H*ll out of one of my chromed rear compartment vent covers. 2. If you feel you must cover to trailer, find an online dealer that sells a cover that was made for your specific model OR have one made locally. You're probably looking at around $600 minimum but it'll be money well spent.

If you decide to do it, with the tiller arm extension, make sure you take video's on your first outing. I'd really like to see that.

I've got one of those. I believe they're actually closer to $20. I don't use mine anymore, but it still works. (never bothered to take the little watch battery out of it) I had another one previous which I managed to mount to my dash. I never had a problem with the wires though.

Bassmaster has got an a 2 part series going on the best cities with the best close-by fishing. I can tell you one thing Scratch St. Louis off your list if it's on there! ;D I'd suggest Springfield Missouri. Nice, smaller town. Fairly cheap housing. Home of Bass Pro Shops Lakes close by: Table Rock - Largemouth, Smallmouth and KY bass fishing. Pretty good white bass action. Taneycomo - Trout Bull Shoals - Largemouth, Smallmouth, Stripers, Walleye and a nice spring white bass run. Stockton - Largemouth, Smallmouth Pomme De Terre - The ozarks hidden jewel - Good Largemouth and Muskie Within 100 miles Truman - Largemouth, Crappie Lake of the Ozark - Largemouth and Party Cove Norfolk - Stripers, Walleye, LM bass. Beaver - Stripers

That's usually an indication that it's time to replace the rod and reel. I'll normally just snap the tip off if it happens too often on a trip. No biggee.

I'm merely relaying what the BM article said way back in the early 90's. They were speculating if the record would fall, when and why. Apparently, bass larger than the WR had already been netted. (dead floaters)

Bassmaster did an article on the late 80's-early 90's monsters that were caught out of Castaic by guys like Crupi and Arujo. Those were a specific Florida strain hydrid that seemed to have the perfect genetics to grow huge. Unfortunately, that class of bass are long since dead and the fish and game people in California figured that they probably crossbred outside of their own superbreed and thus you see Castaic never had any big fish after that time.

This one isn't new but it's certainly a tried an true one.