hootersdoug

Mine is on a floatie keychain in the glovebox of the boat until I launch.

My 95 Skeeter/Merc 150 has made a creaking sound when the motor hits the second set of rests on the power trim. Any ideas?

If you are doing anything in Wisconsin or Il. , send me a PM. I would like to enter some tourneys again, but don't have the cash to put myself in as a boater.

Any ideas on what you are going to do to boost the economy if we all get a $600 or $800 check from the government???? I have been wanting a GPS/Fishfinder upgrade for 3 years, but haven't had the $$........maybe this year!!

I think it is just that we don't believe you????

Not much experience, only have bought 1 used boat, but if you do the correct homework, you will come out saving a lot of $$. I bought my 1995 ZX150/Merc XRI 150 5 years ago. The only problem I have had was I had some work done on the trailering hook, which the seller pointed out to me when I bought it ($500). Other than that, I haven't had anything else go wrong. I did have the seller take it to a marine mechanic and have the compression checked, told him that I would split the cost if I didn't buy the boat (he towed it to the marina). I got the boat for $10K, new, the same boat would have been way over $20K (?). I went fishing in a tourney with a local pro and asked him about buying something that he knew about. It is amazing how the guys who fish the local tourneys know who takes care of their equipment and who does not. The reason I got a good deal on the boat is that the seller was upgrading to a 21 footer and needed the cash for the downpayment. When I took my boat to my marine mechanic to have it winterized after fishing @ 30 days the first season I owned it, he said that it was the cleanest '95 he had ever seen. Offered me $12K for it!!!! If you do the tire kicking as mentioned previously, you can get a lot more boat for a whole lot less $$$$$

As some of the others have already said, be careful how you use your new found freedom while in school. During college I was taught a lot of new things by people that were really into what they were teaching, made a lot of friends, and developed a career throgh which I could buy a bass boat. I also saw the other side of the coin.....a lot of people who drank so much that they flunked out and wasted thier parents money, one who killed himself from driving after drinking too much and one who died of alcohol poisoning. The common thread through most of the failures was wonton misuse of alcohol. Don't get me wrong, I did my fair share of partying, but I also used the resources provided to me by the state and my parents to get a degree. Enjoy the years of college, they will take you from being a boy (or girl) to being a man (or woman). Dont forget to do at least one road trip.

Took a drive up to Manitowoc Wi last Monday and Tuesday to go out fishing with my Dad in lake Michigan. It was one of those times when on the way back to Chicago on Tuesday night I had to look up and say a big thanks to the guy upstairs. On Monday the lake was calm, perfect for a day with Dad. We quit fishing at about noon with 9 salmon in the box. Went back out Tuesday morning and had the boat on the trailer at 10:30 with 10 fish in the box. Over the 2 days we caught 19 fish, 6 of them over 15 pounds, every one of which I "made" Dad reel in. It was one of those days that makes up for 100 of those small minded bickerings that every one of us has had with their fathers. ( It also made for some happy regulars and cooks at Hooters who got some fillets that were swimming one or 2 days earlier!!!! Spend the time when you can..........they are hours that can never be replaced

I noticed that the bride was smiling while walking down the aisle.......guess she knows she gave her last _________! You can fill in the blank!!

Thanks for the replies. With gas prices, I might opt for fishing around Wisconsin, which is about half as far. I will keep you posted on what happens!!

I have a vacation coming up the last days of Aug, first days of Sept. If I live in Chicago, would you head north to Winnebago and Sturgeon Bay, or south to Tablerock or Kentucky Lake??? I have caught good numbers in Winnebago, and good numbers and size at Little Sturgeon (6 lber). Just asking for other peoples preferences. Thanks in advance......Doug

Hey hookem, what does your subscript say auf english????

Sorry mods....one of these days I will figure out the right place to post!!!!

Wait until the bait disappears before setting the hook. It is easy to find out if you set too early, you will have a face full of frog!!!!(Not that I have ever done that myself!!!!) When I am using frogs in heavy cover, I use 80# Power Pro and ski them in as much a possible. I think that any braided line will do the trick, it cuts through the weeds pretty well if the fish does get its head down.

Lake Geneva in Southern Wisconsin is gin clear also. I use 8# test line for 2 reasons, 1, it is harder for the fish to see and 2, it allows you to cast a lot further. I seem to get more bites within the first jig or 2 when using a sinking worm. On days when I seem to do better, I do a lot of fast fishing, but look into the water constantly. I go back and fish slower in areas where I saw a lot of fish the first time through.

Anyone else out there have good luck with Chompers. I guess they would be catagorized as a skirted grub???? They seem to do a good job for me. Also, when do you all decide that a bait, whether it's a worm or any other plastic, needs to be changed? I usually use it until it won't stay on the eyelet when you set the hook and miss.

We have them on the menu at Hooters, but we use slices with a horseradish dipping sauce. They are selling pretty well!!!

From a guy who knows a lot about women from working around a lot of them..........all of the above advice is right on. Don't ever think that any woman is "too hot" for you, there goes your confidence. Other input from some girls at work What they like: Notice if they have changed their hair. (they probably could have bought a nice rod reel combo for the same $$$$) Let them lead the speed of progression of the date. Any thoughtful gift. ($$$ is NOT the mark of thoughtfulness) A phone call later in the day if they have told you earlier that all is not going great. Real people. There were also a big list of dislikes, but lets focus on the positives. A lot of the girls also mentioned that most of their best relationships have been with guys they knew before they dated. If you are a fun person to hang out with, you will obviously be a fun date, so don't always approach a woman you are intersted in with dating in mind. Let them get to know you as a friend first.

I had posted a while back that the bow ring on my boat was loose......Upon further investigation, I have found out that the problem. Skeeter obviously fitted a wooden block to the inside of the bow, then covered that block with fiberglass, drilled the holes for the eyelet (a U bolt) and sured it up by using a rectangular stainless piece on the outside with cinch nuts, and drilled holes in a metal plate on top of the wooden block covered in fiberglass on the inside with bolts torqued down on the plate. The problem is that the wooden block has rotted away and from trailering the boat home this spring the ring has lengthened the hole on the outside of the keel about 1". Here is the question, could I fill the void where the wood was by drilling a hole in the top of the fiberglass and filling that void with some resin or would it be better to take it in to be repaired by a pro. I am pretty handy, but don't want to screw up my favorite toy. Will the resin bond to the inside bottom be strong enough to keep it from coming loose from future towing/loading? Any advice would be appreciated.....Hootersdoug. If you lean toward the professional, anyone know any shops around the Northwestern Chicaco Burbs????

I have to side with the buying a used boat. You can get a heck of a lot more boat for less money. Look for a newer one that is still under warrenty if you are concerned about repairs, but you can get a great deal if you check with some of the local fishing tourney trails or clubs. The added plus is that used boats have a lot of the bells and whistles that a new one dosent. KVD fishes out of a Nitro, dosen't he????

I am currently looking for a truck to tow my @ 3500lb Skeeter. I am leaning toward a Ford and here is where the question comes in, I don't really have a very hilly area to drive through to go to any of the places I normally fish, so is there a need for a 5.4 L over the 4.6 L? Just looking for some feedback from those of you who have similar trucks. Thanks in advance!!

Great looking boat!! If you ever need anything worked on, check with Mr. Ernst in two rivers. He has done all of the work on my and my dad's boat. Great work and cheap!!! Ill keep an eye out for you on the water!! I fish around the Manitowoc area pretty often. Saw a lunker (6+ lbs for WI) eat a bluegill on Pigeon Lake last year. Let me know if you want to do some fishing on Winnebago some time this year!!!

Call me computer illiterate, but what the heck is a sticky?? Along with this, I need help on how to post pictures on this site. If there are directions on the site somewhere, please let me know. I tried to post some pics of my goose hunting trip, but the site gave me a note that resembled that there were too many bites or bits or something like that. I would greatly appreciate some help here. Thanks in advance ----Hootersdoug

Where are you fishing? There is nothing quite like using a buzz bait or a scum frog. You just have to be careful when setting the hook or you will have a "Between the Eyesfull" of your bait. The buzz bait allows you fish a lot faster than using worms. I think I still fish too slow when using them. Any opinions on how far apart the casts should be when buzzing? I would guess that every 15 or 20 feet???

Being able to trim your motor from the casting deck is great. A lot of times when I am in the shallows using the TM, you dont have to do the bass boat ballet to the cockpit to trim it out. Great addition to the boat!!!