bipr8

The lake/pond is small (77 acres). The pond is basically a 4' flat with about 8' near the spill-way area and a creek channel that runs down the middle (about 6'). The water temp is about 40' (today). The weather this week is to be warm (fri. low 60's, Sat. high 60's, Sunday (day of the tourney) high 60's. Water is stained (1-10, 10 being muddy, I would give it a 7). Question: Do the fish come up and sun (like turtles) when warm/hot weather hits in the winter? Will they not be affected much due to the water temp not drastically changing? My gut reaction is to do deep water (spill-way area and creek channel) the 1st half of the day and then as the sun gets high, hit the banks and hope they did too. Anyone have any success stories on warm days in the winter?

The 18" HP with a 150 and a few upgrades was $25K after all was said and done!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I bought a used boat.

GET THE BIG ELECTRIC MOTOR **If you are fishing electric lakes only**. I live in NJ where 90% of my tournaments are Electric ONLY. In a larger lake, it will take me over 25 minutes to cross or get to a spot (and my boat is one of the faster ones). A slower boat may take 50 minutes and would be limited to staying close to dock.

Dont skimp on the TM, get the biggest one you can afford. I have 2 on my 14'. A 12V (42lbs?) and a 24V on the back (60lbs?). Wish I had a 24V in the front.

Plans started bidding possible within 1 year further action possible in about 6 months pending approvals scope of project being determined

Get a tube (U-boat). They are sweet. Easy to use. Good stuff.

As Per Denny Brauer: Colors: White -- clear water Chartreuse/white -- stained to dirty water Chartreuse -- dirty water or for smallmouths Gold Shiner -- in Florida and any lake with gold shiners Red -- in Texas Weights 3/8-ounce for any conditions 1/2-ounce for windy conditions, imitating larger baitfish and dirtier water 1/4-ounce for imitating small baitfish, fishing for small bass or tidal waters Blades Tandem Colorado/willowleaf -- most situations Tandem Colorado/Colorado -- dirty water Tandem Colorado/Indiana -- stained water and in areas that receive a lot of fishing pressure Single Colorado -- for letting the spinnerbait fall along the cover Single willowleaf -- in heavy vegetation and for smallmouths Always vary your retrieve to see what the fish want. An erratic retrieve around cover often draws a reaction strike. As a general rule use a slower retrieve in colder or muddier water, and use a quicker retrieve in warmer and clearer water.

senko for nasty grass that hangs on to your lure kinda weeds. Whacky senko for healthy weeds that stay together.

For $40.00...why not. I have a jon that has had leaks for years. My feet get a little wet after about 3-4 hours, but nothing major. I put a marine adhesive on the rivits every year and that does the trick for a little while, but never lasts. Take it out once though and make sure you can get 6 hours out of it without sinking. If the water comes pouring in, it will be more of a headache getting rid of the boat than its worth.

http://maps.google.com/ Great site for aerial maps. Click on where you need to go (zoom in, etc), and then in the top right, switch the view from Topo to Satellite

I am in NJ where the water temp at a particular lake was b/t 60-64 degrees (lot of beds around). I caught a 3 1/2 INCH LMB on a 2 inch crankbait. Is he a fish from last years spawn that hardly grew ? Can't be from this year......can he?

I catch most of my cruisers on a carolina rig or weightless senko.

Been to rangerboats.com They dont mention anything about their "Sport" series. I assume they no longer make it. Thanks for the suggestion though.

What are the main differences b/t the Ranger "Comanche" series versus the "Sport" series?

I have been a terra server fan for year. Found one better.... http://maps.google.com/ Zoom in and then in the top right go to satellite view. **You will NOT get depth lines with these, only a satellite photo**

Get one, their sweet. Get the Trout Unlimited "Big Horn" http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=44942&hvarDept=175&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=5&hvarSubCode=2&hvarTarget=browse I have tried 3 this spring and I went back to that one (which I had before). I got a smaller one, sent it back, I got a "Pontoon" type one that I wasnt thrilled with even though it was expensive (sent that back). Get big flippers and neoprene chest waders.

No Luck, We worked it like we always do. Hits the water, let sit for a couple sec's, twitch, twitch, let it sit, twitch twitch again and that was all it took.

Was on the Triton Website today. Cant find any pricing for their aluminums. Anyone know what the 176 and 186 sports go for? How about the 176 or 186 Magnums? (Looking for a 75 or 90 on the back) Anybody been in these boats? Big front decks? What are your opinions?

This happened to me last year (Mid June). For over an hour bait were crashing the surface. My buddy (3rd time out fishing) was throwing a senko and caught a really nice fish right in the middle of the bait fish. Me being the experienced fisherman thought "I'll show him" and went with a spinnerbait. Nothing. He caught another nice fish. I went to a buzzbait. Nothing. He caught another nice fish. I went to a shallow crankbait. Nothing. He caught another nice fish. I went with a a Pop R. Nothing. He caught another nice fish. I finally went to a senko and killed them. He caught 9 fish and I caught 5 in an hour. The smallest was 15". The largest was a tad over 6lbs. He would have limited out in an hour with over 22lbs (keep in mind it was his 3rd time out bass fishing). Best bag I would have ever seen in my parts. Needless to say I have created a monster. He may be more addicted than I am now. I'm still jealous and a bit awed by the display he put on. Oh yeah, he did it all on an ugly stick combo. Man I hate him. Even though he has bought about 3 more poles and reels since then, everyone still calls him Ugly Stick. At a tournament we were at together, friends wanted him to wear black and yellow and fish as an "Ugly Stick Pro". Funny stuff.

I use speed clips (Normans?) on my cranks, usually the more shallow running 0-8ft. I have seen no ill affect to their action. I have yet to lose one either due to a faulty clip and I have used them for about 5 years now.

The prices for the boats listed are book rate. Prep/rigging/delivery/tax charges were NOT included. I kept it simple and went with the bass rate. The trackers extra foot of deck space (beam) sounds like a big difference. Maybe worth the $1,100.00. I like the Mercury outboard more too. I like the G3's price, livewell, and Front TM (MinnKota) better. I'm torn really, dont know what to do.

I have been looking at both of these boats also. Specifically the Tracker PT 185 and the G3 Eagle 185. Price w/90 hp Tracker (w/Mercury ELPTO)- $14,495.00 G30 (w/Yamaha TLRD)- $13,400.00 Beam: Tracker- 83" G3 72" Bottom Width: Tracker- 54" G3- 56" Trolling Motors: Tracker- 46# Motor Guide G3 40# Minn Kota Livewell: Tracker- 18 gal. G3 27 gal. What is the difference b/t bottom width and beam? What contributes to more stability? What contributes to more deck room up top? I am obviously looking for stability and deck room (probably would rather have deck room over stability if I had to pick for the waters I fish). The Tracker has an additional 11" in beam but 2" less in the bottom width? Whats up with that?

I have a guy in central NJ who redecked mine (14 ft. jon boat) in 3 days (friend of mine). He would do it at a reasonable price if you want it done in a hurry. e-mail me at bipr8@comcast.net if you want me to pass the info on.

Lakes that are unlimited in NJ: Hopatcong, Muscenetong, Greenwood, Deal, Deleware. Anyone know anything about these? ??Cranberry?? ??Pompton Lake?? ??Budd Lake?? Probably a few others too?? Anyone want to add to the list?

I would think right off the bat that it is WAY to expensive. HOWEVER, is it decked out? Come with front and back trolling motors? Electronics? Trailer? I bought (at a reasonable price) a 14 1/2 ft. aluminum Jon GRUMAN boat. It came decked out. Front trolling motor, back trolling motor, fish finder (cheap, but it does the trick), livewell built in, 3 batteries, nice high seats and with a trailer for $1,200.00. This was from a stranger (not Grandpa's friend, whom I would think would cut you a little break). MINE DID NOT HAVE AN OUTBOARD. But old outboards are often more trouble than they are worth (even though Johnsons can pull their weight for a long time).