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Cold, muddy water = Stay home.

Most people who do deck inserts suggest using fiberglass resin to seal the wood. Whatever you do, don't use pressure treated wood of any kind. Pressure treated wood won't allow the resin to penetrate sufficiently. If you use marine grade plywood or a composite laminate no sealing is needed but the cost of those materials makes their use almost prohibitive. Aftermarket doors are available but very expensive.

Best thing to do? Probably put the plug back in. It'll make your day so much more enjoyable on the water.

Throw large 10" + dark worms. Fish very slowly. That is all.

Years ago there was a well liked guy in our bass club who decided to bring a newbie fishing to one of our tournaments. We all promised to take it easy on guy. Apparently he assured Gordon that he had a rod n reel he was confident with and knew how to cast. Gordon promised to supply the baits. The guy showed up at the lake................ With a Popeils Pocket fisherman. ;D Man, that was tough not saying anything.

Where do you live at and what type of lake is it you're going to be fishing? Fishing this time of year can be painfully slow.

When I first took an interest to bass fishing as a very early teen in about 1971 there was little if any kind of information available. My father wasn't a fisherman and could only teach me the very basics of angling for panfish, Bass were completely out of his knowledge realm. An occasional article in Sports Afield or Outdoor life and the only guy on TV in my area at the time was Virgil Ward. That, unfortunately was true of a lot of people wanting to learn about this relatively new sport (popularity wise). I remember my first seminar I went to. It was one of those traveling road shows BASS used to put on in the early 70's. Dance, Martin, Mann, Westmoreland & Rickey Green. To say I and many others were soaking up the knowledge put forth there like a sponge was an understatement. There just wasn't the info available back then. Not till I joined BASS and recieved Bassmaster, found In-Fisherman magazine, joined a Bass Club and then had guys like Dance and Martin on TV in my area did I really begin to learn fishing. I'm not saying that anyone should depend on fishing shows to learn there fishing techniques from, there's far too many opportunities elsewhere. In fact, I'd suggest getting on the water with another experienced angler as your best teacher. Too me, un-knowledged anglers today have it way better than I and others did. The amount of info available is staggering. As for me, I watch fishing shows for the entertainment value primarily, though I do think there's something that could be learned from Al Linders Angling Edge show. That's a first class teaching tool there.

If you're merely wanting to join a club for experience and fellowship then I'd shy away from clubs that have an affiliation with any sort of sanctioning tournament body if possible. From my experience, you're throwing money away for dues to a larger sanctioning body that's throwing tournaments you have no interest in fishing. Add to that the fact the club usually gears itself around the sanctioning bodies tournaments and you'll quickly find you and others have little or no say in what direction the club does, especially where and when it fishes. Take it from experience, try and find a club that doesn't hook itself up with some organization. You'll enjoy it much more.

Here's my 1986 Champion.

I've got a Garmin 162 on the Dash and a pair of 1240 Lowrance flashers. One in-dash and the other up front built in. Flashers are nice. No nonsense and give instantaneous readouts of depth. I'll probably add a front graph in the future.

Bill Dance, easy. I'm also old enough to say I learned some of my first fishing tips from Virgil Ward and his old show. Behind them would be Jimmy and Roland. I also enjoyed Orlando Wilson.

Well, I know the City of Arnold had pitched a location down by me. Good to see they're coming but sorry to hear they're not building down by me. I'd have signed up for a job in a heartbeat.

Slow rolling lipless vibrating baits on deep water breaks. Fishing 10-11" worms on deep water cover or structure. In-line buzz baits in thick grass or weeds. Suspending jerkbaits in very early spring.

There are probably as many good reports on Nitro as there are bad. I can only tell you from my own observations that you get what you pay for. If you really look at a Nitro and start nit picking it it just doesn't stack up to other brands in the fit and finish department. It is cheaper than other brands but that price difference has fallen over the past few years. Try looking at entry level boats from other manufacturers like Ranger, Stratos, Triton, Champion, Charger, Skeeter before committing. You might be surprised what you can get a name brand boat for.

Buy a Champion. There hull and cap are bonded together. Beatch though if you want to take off the cap to do repair work.

I'm post at Bass Fishing Homepage and ***. I just discovered this place. Bass Fishing Homepage uses such an old style of forum software as to be frustrating to use. *** is the same too, and just horrible to use. Lot's of personal attacks, whining, and bickering going on there too.

You're on private waters so it doesn't matter. If you were doing that on public, the bait would have to be included in your daily possesion limit. 8-)