cravenfish

I live close to Richmond, VA. I fish two Bassmaster Series circuts and one BFL circut. I also fish some other tournaments in-between like Championship Teams and Castaways. But I no longer belong to a club or federation, just due to conflicts with tournaments. This year I will have fished about 18 tournaments ( that is too many ). Next year I'm only fishing one BFL series and one Bassmasters Series. This should free up more time to practice and keep up with the stuff around the house. I almost had to come and fish Patoka, one of the regionals for the bassmasters series is there Oct. 14ht or so. BUT I didn't qualify for that one, so I'll be at home.

WHY????

Did you buy the boat? and where are you located at?

Chrism, I'm glad you said what I thought. Some peps. just dont know when to shut up. ;D

$600.00 for two years, you better get it. I keep my boats for only the time the motor is under warrenty. and I run a Yamaha 250HPDI. as for the boat you are looking at, its hard to tell much from a pic. If you think that this is what you want then put it on the water and run it. If you dont have much experince driving bass boats bring along someone that can drive it and give you some help. Good Luck

With 2 men, livewells full and plenty of gas in the boat its not going to pull but so good of a hole shot. Check your motor and see what RPM's you should be running, then go from there. Aloso check and see what prop they recomend you run.

I keep the pedastal in the front of the boat, I stand all the time and lean back against it if we are in rough water or are going to get rocked by a wake. Sometimes it makes for a good head rest after you fall to your knees because you just lost a nice fish ;D

Yamaha HPDI

If you are only spending $8500.00, then be happy with what you can get. Your options are going to be limited. I fish alot of tournaments and dont think Choppy water would bother anyone. When you get into those chops that are over 3 foot alot has to do with the driver. I have a ranger 521 and have fished out of alot of other boats. Everyone has an opinion and mine would be if your not fishing tournaments, then pick the days and places you go fishing. If they are calling for 30mph winds, stay in small creeks on stay home.

You won't be disapointed with the quality of the Ranger, BUT!!!! you wont be running 70 MPH. I have owned rangers for the last 20 years and love em' , I now have a 521 w/ a Yamaha 250HPDI. Good Luck, but the longer you wait the higher the price will be

I think you would be throwing $ away. On a 85hp you wont notice alot of difference, I would wait until you need a new prop then get a SS.

Ranger 521vx, Yamaha 250HPDI, 6" hyd. jack plate, 73.2mph on GPS, Fully Loaded

2005 Ranger 521VX with a Yamaha 250HPDI

I fished out of one not to long ago, they ride rough,fast and the finish on the one I was in wasn't all that.

Try a weightless Fluke rig it with a 5/0 hook. This should work if the water is clear to stained

CONGRATS" on your new boat purchase. Wear your life jacket. GOOD LUCK & GOOD FISHING

Here we go! Potomac River( several ) Buggs Island( Kerr ) Gaston Lake Anna( Virginia ) Local Pond( 1 ) My most recent High Rock Lake 7.03lbs

You need to use a 30lb braided line, it will cut through the grass and it will cast as far as anything. If you think the fish will see the line you can tie on a 18" leader of Vanish

X-TRUED, Your post is so true. It made me laugh ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Nick, Be sure you check that transom, Skeeter had some problems in the mid 90's with their transoms. You may want to call the Skeeter folks in Texas and tell them what you are looking at and see if they may recomend a local place to take the boat and have them check it for you. If it all checks out it sounds like a good deal for you. If you need more help with Skeeter drop me a PM I know a few folks that rep their boats and we'll see if they can be of any help. PS, make sure mom is OK with towing it. ALSO, I'm glad your on the west coast so I don't have to fish against you , GOOD LUCK!!!

RW is close, change from Gamakatsu to Owner( heavier ), and switch to a braided line. FatBoy wasn't as close, if you wait for your line to start swimming off you wont catch 30% of the fish that you feel. I rather set the hook and miss a fish than wait and see if my line starts to swim off. A quick hookset will help land more fish.

I would say El Salto, by way of BASS' Monster Bass Chalange.

Nick, It was nice to read an artical about a young person as yourself,that is not negitive in anyway. Keep up the good work and I'm sure your a young man your mother could be proud of. If your ever around Washington,D.C or Richmond,VA let me know and I'll take you fishing.

Look into what a jack plate will do for the boat. It will improve your overall handeling, hole shot and it may or may not improve your top end speed. But with only a 115 it sounds like you are getting max. performance/top end anyway. I have a 521 with a Bob's 6" hydraulic jack plate and a Yamaha 250HPDI. I love the hydraulic jack plate for taking off in real shallow water.

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