22RangerZ520R

Thanks. No sir, got it at Renegade Marine in Leitchfield. They beat all of the 25+ dealers I contacted by a couple thousand bucks. I did talk to Day's though and tried to get them to at least match Renegade, but they wouldn't. I knew exactly what I wanted and I just dealer shopped to see who was going to give me the lowest OTD price, period. I did the same with my truck and my wife's Grand Cherokee. I'd walk into a dealer with my build sheet and lowest quote so far in hand and if they couldn't beat it, I walked out... Appreciate it sir.

Thanks man, appreciate it. Thanks!

Picked her up this week... - 2018 Ranger Z520L w/G2 - G2 w/ upgraded power steering and hot foot - Atlas hydraulic plate - Ultrex 112 - (2) Solix 15 Mega's (1 flush at console, 1 on BBT mount at bow) - Humminbird 360 - (4) Northstar/X2 31 series AGM's - tilt steering and dual trim levers

Thanks! Yours looks good, I thought about putting a baitfish or lure in my mount, but I probably won't

I don't know total numbers for 2017, but I do remember my best bass fishing trip of my life happened in 2017..... I broke my PB 5 times in four days... The five that broke my previous PB that trip were: 12lb 8oz, 9lb 4oz, 9lb 4oz, 8lb and 8lb. I had a 34lb 8oz bag one day, then a 35lb bag the next day and then the final day I caught just one single fish the whole day, but it was a 12lb 8oz gorilla!!! I'm smiling ear to ear just typing this and remembering that trip!

Thanks. Yes sir, same fish. Watched her swim away, an awesome feeling! Thanks! I was leaning towards #2 prior to posting this thread and I'm still thinking #2... I'll post pics when I get it. He told me it'll be complete by February on my largemouth and then March-May on my smallie... Yeah, I'm thinking #2... Yeah, it's going on the wall in my office. I like the lower nameplate too... LOL. Thanks! Well, I'm heading back to Chickamauga in a couple weeks! Plus, there was a 14.53lb caught a couple days ago, so your plan "B" might work............!

Thanks I'm leaning towards #2

My taxidermist gave me 3 options for the layout of my PB (12lb 8oz) replica mount... Which do you like?

I had (4) NRX 893C's and that was the most versatile casting NRX I owned IMO. The 903C Conquest is the same, it and the 904C Conquest I think are going to be my favorites. When I fished the 903C I used the same exact baits I had previously used on the 893C NRX and the Conquest handled them perfectly. I'd say once you get past the 5/8oz - 3/4oz bait range the 904C will be a better choice. If you throw 5/8oz or less a majority of the time, I'd get the 903C and vise versa with the 904C.

I will do the same thing when I reach retirement... Except my house will be on a lake in the south! (Which ever lake is the "hottest" at that time for bass.... )

Yep. I use Calcutta 400D's for my deep crankbaits and big swimbaits...

I have 10 of them. I use them for all of my techniques, they handle just fine... I have braid on one that I use for frogs and big topwaters. I have 15# Tatsu on most of them and 12# Tatsu on a couple. 15# is the biggest line you can put on them though and not spool yourself on a long cast. I don't throw smaller crankbaits a lot, but when I do the higher gear ratio isn't a problem for me. The drag is plenty strong. I have all 10 of the Aldebaran's paired on Conquest rods, a dream combo to fish with!!! I've used up to 1 1/8 oz flutter spoons and 1oz+ topwates on the Aldebaran's, handled the baits just fine......

I'm going to go with this......

I think the 903C would handle the Ikas just fine. How are your rigging the Ikas? Weightless, bullet weight, etc.? It's going to depend on your reel and line weight also on casting distance, etc. On my 903C Conquest paired with my Aldebaran 50 and 12# Tatsu, the Ika would cast a mile. I also had (4) of the NRX 893C's and I think that rod is the most versatile NRX casting model. I can't comment on the Fenwick, I've been strictly high end G. Loomis & Shimano for a very long time now...

Thanks man, appreciate it!

No sir!!! I haven't won or inherited a dime! All from hard work and great money management! Paid off my house back in 2012, been 100% debt free since... I was 31 years old back then and not too many that age own their home (and everything else) free and clear. I've also been dumping a ton into my retirement account since I was 23, hopefully I'll be able to retire a little early... I did the Dave Ramsey debt free "freedom" scream in 2012 it felt GREAT!!!!!!!

A pic of my rig will make you feel really fine then about spending money on gear! ($75k / 2017 F250 Platinum & $86k / 2018 Ranger Z520L)

Congrats on the PB!

Yeah, I wish... LOL Love em'. I had 4 Sustain 2500's before them. You can't feel the gears at all, super smooth/crisp feeling. There isn't a back reel/anti-reverse lever, which I never used anyway. I've only been out on the water once with them, but did catch several in the 3lb-4lb class and one 5lb on the spinning combo. Drag handled great. I almost went with Stella's, but I'm very happy with the Exsence 3000's. And I like the matte black finish on them, simple yet elegant looking. Feel one in person at your local shop and you'll end up getting one...LOL.

We shall see...... And yeah, kind of a weird name

Cool. I remember fishing Loch Raven every weekend when I was in officer candidate school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. I caught a bunch of nice fish, largemouth up to 5lb and smallies up to 4lb 8oz. I'd rent a boat with a trolling motor and be out all day long! I remember jumping off the bridge there too...LOL. I caught some small pike too.

They're working great! I did a review of them in the main rod/reel/line forum...

Heck no! I did tournament fish a long time ago, but quit. I fish Monday-Thursday to avoid the weekend warriors and googans!!! Nothin' like getting to the boat ramp and being the first one there, then having the lake to yourself! Or at most seeing 1 or 2 other boats all day vs 100 boats! As far as overkill..... There's no such thing! Like I said earlier, the nice equipment makes the fishing experience for me that much more enjoyable! Nah, not right now. It's going to take a while for them to "prove" themselves, but I'm not closed minded to switching to a Vexus for my next boat in the future. There's no question that all boats right now are compared to Ranger's as being the top of the line, but that may change with Morris buying them and everyone else out... Vexus may become the new "top of the line" brand bass boat, time will tell..... I'm curious to see what they look like when they show the models off at the 2018 Classic. Definitely a lot of buzz going on about Vexus right now and I will be watching them closely.... I wish. If so, I would have got all my combos for free! I only could swing getting the 14 Conquests by selling all of my NRX's and putting that money towards the new ones. It wasn't that much money out of pocket to upgrade...

The_Vue's & islandbass, I added pics to the "Show off your stuff" pinned thread for ya'll...