jr45

I bought an out of state boat and I have to put the new ID number for my state on the boat. The previous own had painted their ID # over the gel coat. Anybody have any good ideas as to what to take the paint off with that won't harm the gel coat?

Compression test was done right before I bought it 4 months ago it was all good, but I guess that could have changed. It has only had premium non ethanol gas in it. I think maybe I am getting it flooded before starting it?? Maybe choking it too much?? It doesn't have the push in key, they guy who owned it make the choke a toggle switch thing on the dash. I can here it click on the motor when I choke it. I've been pumping the bulb until its really hard, turning key on, choking for around 20 seconds then trying to start. I jacked with it for 30 minutes last night and only got it to kick one time.

I bought a boat at the end of March. It has a 78 Mercury BlackMax 175 HP motor on it with hot foot. I took the boat out a few times this spring, then baseball and softball season happened and its been sitting. I am have a really hard time getting this thing to start. I also had a hard time getting it to start when I took it out in the spring. It was taking 15-20 minutes to get it to start then. Once it starts it runs awesome and I never have problems starting it again. Is there a trick to getting these things started. I have pumped the ball up, I have choked it, I've tried getting on the throttle. I don't know what I did back in the spring to get it started, it was never the same. The guy I bought from didn't have it but a few weeks, so he isn't much help. I really want to go fishing, but I want to be able to get this thing started. Thanks for the help! Carbs, and everything was replaced on motor this winter before I got it.

I can afford a boat. My wife doesn't care. My son is old enough now where he is getting into fishing, so I could take him. I'm no mechanic by any means, so I don't have the knowledge to fix stuff on it. I can check stuff out and make sure it works if I know what to look for. The boat would have to be kept outside as we don't have a garage. I would buy a cover for both the boat and motor.

I'm debating on buying a bass boat. I bought one 3 years ago and sold it a year ago. I guess you can say it was a bad experience with it. I had to put an unexpected $1000 into right after I bought it. I never used it much because each time I went to it wouldn't start or had other issues. I love to fish and usually fish out of my buddies boat, but he is not fishing hardly at. I'm not available to fish every weekend, but I would like to have a boat, I can haul down to the lake get in and go and not have to worry about the thing not starting once I get to where I want to fish (well aware things come up). Can I get a good used boat and expect this or am I just dreaming? I want something reliable even though it may only get taken out 2-3 times per month.

What should one look for when trying to pick a bluff to fish? I am going to try fishing some bluffs at late evening and night and have never really fished them before. I'm trying to figure out which ones to weed out. What do you guys use when fishing a bluff?

I was going to try and learn how to fish a shakey head. What works best on this set up. What weight line works good and what techniques are there? Thanks as always.

I bought a boat a year ago and it always sat outside and the fiberglass very, very oxidized/faded. Is there something that I can do to shine my boat up? Something that is not expensive, I don't have a whole lot of extra money. Thanks as always!

I'm going to be doing some night fishing this weekend and next weekend. I have never night fished this late in the year. What are some areas to key on? I'm assuming the fish will be shallower at night and most likely back in the creeks/coves? Thoughts?? The lake I fish doesn't have any vegeation if that matters.

Looking for any advice and tips on how to fish the drop shot rig. I know how to rig, just not 100% sure how to fish it. Is it only used for vertical fishing?

What is the best way to fish boat docks? Do you all flip into the stalls or do you just fish around the boat dock w/out putting your lure into the stall? Just curious.

The last 3-4 times I have been out, I have caught 0 fish of any kind size or type. I try and stay positive, but I don't know what to do. I night fish because of the heat and lake traffic. I really believe my problem is not being able to find the fish. I will admit I really have no idea where to start. I know about structure and cover and breaks, but I still never seem to find fish. My depth finder really doesn't show much besides total depth and temperature, its old and just not a good one, but I don't have $500+ to spend on a new one. I have been fishing deep on bluffs because the water temp as been 85+. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I really don't know anyone around me that fishes or anything, so I am on my own.

I have heard several people around me talk about catching fish with a jiggin spoon. I have never fished this before. How exactly do you fish this? What color work best? I be fishing mainly at night.

Does anyone know if there is another company that makes a worm simialr to the Hags Tornado worm. The closest place to me that sells the Hags is 4 hours away, and I am needing some of these by Saturday. I have a Bass Pro close but the don't carry this brand. Does Zoom or Berkley or someone like that make a worm close to this?

I am getting to fish for the first time in over 2 months this weekend. Baseball is finally over. I am night fishing. I am going to try some different things, as I know fishing has been farely tough where I am fishing in the warm water (85+). I thought about wacky rigging a worm, but never really done that when I have fished 30'+. Would you do that w/a carolina rig set up?? Or would I need to use my normal Texas rig type set up and just wacky hook the worm? What kind/size of worm would you all use for this and hook size? I am up for other ideas of different lures to use, other than the same ole jig and 10" worms that everyone elses uses. Thanks!

Anybody here fish a lot at night? I getting ready to fish quite a few little tournaments that are all at night, typically 7PM - 1AM. I fished a little at night last year, but found it tough. I am sure I was probably fishing the wrong spots. Anybody have any night fishing pointers? I'm think of flippin/pitchin the boat docks, what other areas would be good? What do you all throw at night time? I know during the day the fish are very deep, as the water temp. is in the mid to upper 80's, is this still the same at night? As always thanks for the help!

I have never fished a spook before. I bought a few because I have been hearing how people have been catching a bunch of bass on them. I am going down Saturday to try them out. How exactly do you fish these? I know you have to make them zig zag, but any more in depth help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the info. To aclark609, I fish Table Rock, mainly the upper end. I do own a boat and it has a fish finder, its not the nice new ones, but it gets the job done. I usually target points, standing timber, and chunk rock to gravel transitions. I usually fish spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and texas rigged plastic worms

I have read the posts in the Best of about finding fish. That is a huge obstacle for me. I want to become more consistent, and I know I can if I can find the fish. I think I'm observant, but maybe not. I hardly ever see bait fish on the water when I am fishing. Does that mean I am not in the right spots? If I could just get one good easy practical thing to do when I get on the water to try and find fish I would estatic. Thanks!

Well I just joined this site. I am looking forward to learning more about bass fishing. I have been bass fishing about a year and half and am wanting to take my fishing to the next level.