cbass12

Not sure if you're just trying to take the control panel with all the switches off or if you're trying to get that big plate off in the middle. If you're trying to get that plate off that is right in the middle, those little round black pieces in the corners are covering up screws. Pry the black pieces off and it should allow you to unscrew it and access everything behind it. This was how we got into the wiring in the bow of our stratos. Again, not sure if that's what you're looking to do.

Missouri state record, I think the guy caught it in 2003

My weekend starts in 5 minutes.... off to catch some smallies tomorrow around this time until about 2200 hours!!!

Our boat has a stereo but we only listen to music when we're anchored out swimming and drinking beer, never when I'm fishing. The only time the radio is on when I'm fishing is to listen to the royals games.

I've got two FD's and one FE. Great reels, but I wish they had not changed the reel handle the way they did on the new FE. The FD had been on sale for around $45-$50 at cabelas for almost a year but last time I checked they weren't on their website, so that model might be a little scarce anymore. Not saying they're not available anywhere, just that I haven't seen them for a while.

Mine too. She doesn't understand going out and just catching fish for fun. Every now and then we'll get a couple walleye or crappie and I'll bring them home, somehow in her mind that makes my trip worthwhile....

Pliers, sunglasses, sunscreen, phone.

If you're thinking about getting an explorer make sure to get one with a V8, the V6 I had did not handle towing very well.

Looks like the southwest side of the bridge. Nice healthy fish.

Not sure if the eyes were totally red or orange, but I caught a largemouth in Kansas this spring that appeared to have red eyes. It came out of a lake with largemouth, smallmouth, and spots but I don't think it was a hybrid. The picture is about halfway down the page. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/41660-for-us-kc-area-guys-fishing-reports/page-118

Bass Pro Excel Green. I know its cheap but I have no complaints, been using it for years. Not sure if it's technically mono, but P Line C-21 is pretty good line, just started using that recently.

^^ This. I've used it twice on a ramp, but would have been in big trouble if I didn't have it.

Casting: 6'6" M/F BPS Carbonlite/Gen 2 Revo S- Jerkbaits, Lipless Crankbaits, Topwater 6'10" MH/F Falcon Lowrider/Gen 2 Revo S- Squarebills, Large Jerkbaits, Swimbaits 7' M/F BPS Carbonlite/BPS Pro Qualifier- Lipless Crankbaits, Shallow Diving Crankbaits 7' M/F Vendetta/BPS Pro Qualifier- Chatterbaits, Shallow Diving Crankbaits, Swimbaits 7' MH/F BPS Carbonlite/Gen 2 Revo S- Deep Diving Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits 7'2" MH/XF Clarus/BPS Pro Qualifier- Jigs, T-Rig Plastics, 7'6" MH/F BPS Carbonlite/BPS Pro Qualifier- Jigs, T-Rig Plastics, Deep Diving Crankbaits Spinning: (2) 6'6" ML/F BPS Bionic Blade/Shimano Sedona- Small Crankbaits, Small Jigs 6'8" ML/F BPS Extreme/Shimano Sedona- Ned Rig, Shakyheads 7' M/F BPS Bionic Blade/Shimano Sahara- Small Swimbaits, Jerkbaits, Shakyheads 7' M/F Mojo/Shimano Sahara- Shakyheads, Weightless/Wacky Plastics 7'2" M/F BPS Carbonlite/Shimano Sahara- Shakyheads, Drop Shot, Weightless/Wacky Plastics, Fluke

Those motors are great. We had one on our '93 stratos until this spring. The steering cable snapped for about the fourth time so we finally decided to get one with more thrust. For a smaller boat you can't beat it, especially for $125. And if you're looking for information on the motor, get on Smithville Marine's website and go to the parts section. Type in the model number on the side of the motor and it should tell you just about everything you need to know about it. This was helpful for me this spring when the cable snapped.

Basspro has a Pro Qualifier/Carbonlite combo for $159. Can't go wrong with it if you're looking at the PQ. Another combo in your price range would be the Gen 3 Revo S with a BPS Extreme casting rod for $199.

4" Bass Assassin Sea Shad, Red Eye Shad

Lucky Craft slender pointer this past spring. Set the hook on what I think was a smallmouth and line snapped. That one hurt, especially because BlueBasser had loaned it to me to use for the day.

If you really want a Pro Qualifier I would seriously look into the carbonlite/PQ combo. Saves you about $40. The carbonlites are great rods, I've got 4 casting and 1 spinning and I am very happy with all of them.

I wasn't able to fish as much as I would have liked, WAY too many people on the river. Honestly that river is not big enough for the amount of people that float it on the weekends. Despite that I was still able to catch a few fish. We stayed at shady beach and I caught about a dozen at first light right in front of the campground. 1 on a spook and the rest were on a paca craw on a shaky head. I caught 4 or 5 on the river, all of them except for one came from the railroad bridge just upstream from the campground. Nothing big but they were still fun.

If you can, post a report. I'll be on the Elk River tomorrow with my wife and a couple friends. I'm sure it will be crowded, but I'm going to give it a try anyway. Plan on throwing a shakyhead most of the time and might try a small crankbait or popper.

7.1:1 gear ratio. I use it for flipping/pitching texas rigged plastics and jigs. Haven't used it for swimbaits but I think it would work well for that.

Can't say about the H/XF, but I have the 7'6" MH/F carbonlite and it works great for everything you mentioned. I got the PQ combo and its a great setup.

All your posts were read, and what I took away from them is that you feel you are the authority on fish scales, fish weight, fishing in kansas, northern strain largemouth, etc....

So what you're saying is you don't believe that a fish that big could have come from a state like Kansas?? You ever been to Kansas? Ever fished in Kansas? My guess is that you have not, so making assumptions about fishing in Kansas is probably not a good idea.

As long as we do this on October 5th put me down as a boater. I have a reunion with all the guys from my college baseball team the weekend of September 28th.