NBR

My boat is an 18'11' Astro 18FDX that has a Procraft companion. In that era ProCraft and Astro were made on the same molds.The 17 footer will be okay with 2 people but I'm sure you will be over weight with 4 and pretty crowded with 4 regardless of weight.

Be sure to let it run long enough so that any condensation is evaporated off.

Any Wal-Mart with an auto department can load test the battery. I have used their marine deep cycle batteries with good success. They might not last as long as some others but my experience over time the longer lasting higher durability batteries and the Wal-Mart's cost the same per year. Be sure to charge after each use and then the night before you go just to top it off. It seems that I have read that they should be about 13.2 v when fully charged. I wouldn't keep it as a spare and you will be charged if you don't have a battery to leave with them.

I used the 2 2x10's method for a few years but I was saving for a trailer after the first few times. Loadin the boat, motor, gas tank and all the other gear got old fast.

I prefer bait casting because I am more accurate with a BCer than with spinning gear and I have better control over the fish. I fish unweighted Senkos down to 3" on 10# fluoro. If I am drop shotting I use spinning gear. My buddy uses spinning gear and I would say that if you don't want to spend the time to develop your baitcasting skills then use spinning gear.

I am also being challenged by the age bug. I use a rubber net which is easy on the fish and doesn't tangle the hooks. I have had small northerns and pickerel get their nose in a net mesh and go through so I don't use it on the toothly guys. Mine probably came from BPS but I'm sure the replacement rubber bag did. Mine has a round handle going throuh a round hole at the net end and after stepping on the handle and having it roll and near pitch me over board I keep the handle extended and the locking pin in place so the handle can't roll.

My bait casters are spooled with 12# fluoro for nearly everything except surface lures where I use a limp mono and my crig is spooled with braid where I use mono or fluoro for my leader depending how much off the bottom I want the bait. I like the fluoro because it sinks and I use the braid for sensitivity with the crig. If I was fishing more stained water I'd use more braid but I have this thing about the braid showing up in clear water. It probably doesn't make much difference. Remember these critters have a brain about the size of a pea. I can't forget since my wife reminds when I come home after a good days fishing but a poor days catching.

Why not call Lawrance/Eagle and Hummingbird and talk to a tech rep about your issues. I have called from time to time and alwaqys gotten reasonible answers. Most retail clerks are giving you their opinion based on training and for the most part the trining is poor. Some times you get an unknowledgeable tech rep at the company.

I'm with Road Warrior on this one. Our local lake is very clear and very deep. Lots of smallies but most people fish for lake trout, landlocked salmon and rainbows. Fifty fish morning are possible until about mid July and then 5 fish days become rare. Besides crawdads main forage is one or more kinds of smelt. I have looked for baitfish on the sounder and fished those balls but still with no luck. I'll find them someday unless like most years I get discouraged and change lakes.

I'm with the barbless clan. I pinch all barbs down before I tie a hook or lure on the line. Another way is to get a gadget called a "De Barb It" it snips the hook off down deep and has magnits to get the pieces of hook out.

Fish more often

If you are earlier in the year black flies are worse than the mosquitos. Lots of deet and camping on windswept points can be helpful. Follow advice on getting your food out of bears reach. I warned a friend about this and his party decided they were only out of Ely one day so they spent day two paddling back to Ely to resupply their food. I'd also take an extra spool of 8 or 10 # mono.

It has been a few years since I fished LOW but I would expect the fishing for smallies to be great. Personally I would prefer a boat in lodge. The reason being that drive in spots tend to have quite a few day fishermen starting out every morning so you might need to travel a bit farther. My favorite time in the area has been the second or third week in June. Shoot me an email if you want more info.

I am right handed. I bait cast right handed but I palm the reel in my left hand during the retrieve so I must switch anyway. I cast spinning gear right handed and retrieve lefty. I believe I am more accurate casting right handed.

Don 't use super glue you won't be able to replace if you pop the insert out again. Most times when you buy a replacement tip they will send you a glue stick. I don't know what it is called now but is used to be called ferrule cement. It has the same low melt temperature as that used on the original tip.

I too fish very rocky lakes. I use regular bullet weights but put them on backwards to normal so they won't wedge in the rock. I use what ever weight is appropriate for the depth from 3/8 to 1 ounce.

For the batteries sake you should charge after every outing and top off be fore you go if necessary.

With a soft rod 10 to 12# fluoro. Stiffer rod 10 to 12# easy casting mono. Fluoro will help get a bit deeper mono's stretch will help with hook ups.

I think 8# is way to light for pike. I usually use 12 and if I am specifically going for pike I'll use 17# with a steel leader. Having said that a few years ago when fishing for smallies we got a 14# and a 16# pike on 8# and 10# but we considered ourselves very lucky.

I've had one for over 20 years and it has worked just fine. I lost a set screw once and Berkley sent me one in about 3 days - no charge. I don't use it for spinning reels. More hastle than it's worth. Mine will hold a 3,000 yard spool of XL 12#

I agree on the In-Fisherman even though there are sever articals that I don't read for lack of interest. I pertty much agree with Raul except I thought it had been beat with an ugly stick. No reference to the rods intended. I had let my subscrition expire several years ago but granddaughter's class is in some sort of a magazine thing and they won't just take a donation so I'm hook into it for a few years.

I just use split shot. The bottom one is not squeezed to tight and those above with even an even lighter crimp. Works well for me.

I also subscribe to hauling damaged plastics home or some where else to the trash can. I to have seen pieces of plastic lures in my live well. I have also caught bass with a piece of worm hanging out of it's vent. I don't have a clue as to the damage the plastics might do but the bass seem to puke them up or pass them through so they would not always be fatal.

You haven't told us the actual casting problem. Distance, backlashes or what ever. Give us more information. What is the problem? What weight lures? Type and # test or size of line? How did you relube and what lube did use on bearings. What lube did you use on the gearing and how much did you use on either? How old the reels? What rods are you using? Having trouble after a very few times out tells us that some thing has changed; the issue is what.

I have a 68# with 0 to 100% speed control. If I remember correctly I bought it the year before the assisted raise came out and if I was to do another I'd buy one with the power raise assist. Mine has a built in transducer which is great. When I need a new TM mine will be a MK.