mattk22

So, the bass in our local lake just aren't biting. I have talked to a bunch of guys and read some forums and everyone seems to be having that trouble right now. They are suspended in about 7-9 feet of water. Some water depths of 10ft, some water depths of 18 feet. but the bass are always in the 7-9 foot area. What baits should I try? Today we tried crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, soft plastics, and spinnerbaits. Almost got shut out, just can barely get them to bite. Any suggestions?

What do you guys think about fishing rip rap early in the morning, good place to start or wait till mid morning? How would you fish it early, crank, top water, spinner, senko?

so I have some spinner baits without trailer hooks, and want to put some on. But, the tubing that comes with the trailer hooks are still too big on the main hook and come off. Is there another tactic I can use to keep the trailer hooks on?

what snaps do you guys use, i want to start using some for my crankbaits???

Not actual seats. I mean allowable capacity. Glass are always lower then equivalent alum.

why does the Z6 just have a 3 person max limit on it and hold less weight then a 175? I have a four person family and that won't work, i need something to take the family out on. am i stuck getting a Z7 or alum. if i need a 4 person boat?

It is my first real foray into cranking. I have done some, but is was with a spinning pole with a lot softer action. I just ordered a Lews Tornament and a 7' Veritas Winch. I needed another pole rigged up so I wasn't swolitching baits all the time so it was a good excuse for a cranking setup.

thanks guys, will give it a try

I have an 87 Mercury 45. It starts up really easily, but when I get it out to my honey hole and shut her off, when I try to fire her back up it is flooded. There is gas coming out of the carbs and rolls down the motor case. Now, every time I take it out of the water, I remove the fuel line so that may be what keeps it from flooding when I start it each time, not sure. This is my first 2 stroke, so I do not know a lot about them. Is it possible that the pressurized gas tank is creating a siphon after I shut the engine off and continues to pull gas into the engine? Could that be a bad fuel pump (I am guessing not since the engine is off)? It seems to run really good when I have it running. The only other issue I have had is that every now and then when I run it at full power it won't run at full speed. If I hit the electronic choke once or twice while running, that seems to get it going and it flys for 45hp. Any help would be appreciated.

I am using Floro, it just don't "feel" the bottom or structure very well. Maybe it is just a feel thing that I will get used too. This isn't my ideal crank rod, that is what I was wondering if another rod would help my feel, but it doesn't sound like it will, it will just give me better ability on hook sets and casting correct?

I recently bought a Abu Garcia Veritas Rod. It is 6'9" med/heavy and i just have no feel with it. This is my first casting setup and it is paired with a Garcia Revo SX. I am mostly cranking with this setup. Do I have to stiff of a rod? Is it just this rod? I was thinking of trying a Lews Speedstick in med. any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks Nitro, glad you have experience with both.

I am looking at going to my second boat, upgrade from the first. What are the main differences in these two boats beside the alum vs glass and the engine sizes and cost? I know the glass is supposed to ride a little better, but do they fish any different? Anything i should think about when looking at the two?

That shaft is rotating loosely in that hole. thats the problem. if that would stop it would work fine. Do you think i could just put a small dab of glue on the outside to hold it to the wall of the hole or is there something else I can do?

So, I had my new boat out this morning. Everything on her is great. The only issue is on the trolling motor. This is my first trolling motor and I have one question. The arrow on the top that gives you the direction you are headed spins freely so i have no idea what direction the trolling motor is pointed. Is there a fix for that? Is that common?

i mounted it last night. i put it back in the battery/gas tank compartment infront of the transom, i just leave the lid cracked when i am charging it. seemed like the only logical spot to put it. I called the manufacturer, and they said they have not heard of any problems mounting it there. thanks for all the info!

So, ideally I would like to put it under the steering console. But, that would require me to have to buy extension cables to get to the back of the boat and they seem to run about $25 a pair, I really didn't want to dump another $50 for cables. I have a Dual Pro charger and it says it is completely waterproof. And the instructions say there is no particular place you should or shouldn't mount it, just have to make sure the area is strong enough to hold the weight if you are mounting it vertical. I was thinking of mounting it on the rear fishing deck right in front of the motor, do you guys think that would be OK or have any other suggestions? I could do it in one of my rear hatches, but then I would have to get in the boat to plug it in and unplug it every time, and I have very little storage on my Tracker TX-17 in the stern the way it is. It is decent sized and would take up a good portion of one of my 2 small dry wells.

Hello from Ohio. I used to fish trout in western PA through High School. Moved to Ohio and a few years ago bought a house with a pond. Finally through a line in a few months ago and I am hooked. Just bought my first bass boat yesterday, can't wait to get out on the lake, I live within two miles of a great central Ohio lake. I have trolled the forums for a few weeks, love learning from you guys. Thanks a lot and I will be around a lot more!

found it, thanks

I have been in, driven boats before and they always have a drain plug, there is a hole in the back of my boat, but doesn't look like there is a spot for a drain plug. should there be? Thanks for the help, i have been trolling the forums for a while and you guys are a great resource. excited to get my boat out. thanks.

Fry i grew up in Somerset, I gotta get back there to fish one day. i just switched to baitcaster, and i say the same thing. every time i use mine i can cast further and further, just takes practice. get a crankbait on it and i can get it out there a good bit. good luck!