gulfcaptain

To give you a quick reference and idea, go to Cabela's website, look up the Lowrance Elite 7 Chirp and there is a short video clip on there that can give you a quick overview.

I don't, when I go tomorrow I'll take a few, then when all the goodies are added, and then depending how I feel (not a big fan of the wrap that's on it but may keep it for now until I'm motivated to restore and buff out the gelcoat...lol) the before wrap and after removal. But may do that next year when I redue the carpet. Don't have time for all that work when I want to take it fishing.

I totally agree with the learning how to back a trailer in. BIG points in your favor if you can do this for your boater. Makes their job of launching way easier and they will appriciate it. Big ice breaker when you meet in the morning at the ramp and offer to back them into the water once the boats unhooked as well as retrieving the trailer and allowing them to load quickly with YOUR help.

You do know a 4 blade will give you a quicker hole shot but the motor will loose a little on the top end due to load. 4 blades gives you more prop in the water at any given time which will cause drag and although you're engine is running 200-300rpms below max you may have maxed out. You can underpitch and wind the motor up more and loose speed though, or overpitch and loose rpms. You might be able to go with a 24, but I wouldn't go anymore. See if you can test run the 24 and see if you get the performance you're wanting if they will let you. But you may already be maxed out where you're at performance wise. Making the jump from 56mph to 68mph is a pretty big change in performance though.

So did the test run and lake check. Always best I think to see how the boat feels on the water as opposed to the trailer. Big motor turned over right away. Trolling motor has plenty of power and quiet. So hole shot is right at 4 seconds before it's on pad and running....not bad, top speed with little less the 1/2 tank and 3 persons (approx 650-675lbs) with about 80% trim was 61mph. Cornered and held great at 45. Boat is running a 4 blade 25 pitch prop which may be a little much as it would only turn up 5000rpms but then may have not quite found that sweet spot on the trim as we never cavitated. Figure 2 guys and gear looking at probably 65-70. May test it later next month when I come back from work with a 4 blade 24 on it just to see how it responds as well as having them clean up the edges that are on there. So needless to say, headed back tomorrow to work out the details and have all the extras put on (2 7" units and a 12' Talon). And I didn't find the boat that tippy as some have discribed, but then I've worked on boats for years and been in some tippy boats and with 2 people up front, one in the back, it really wasn't that bad moving around honestly. So next year looks like I'll have something other then just my car to take me fishing along with my two boys. My 10yr old already wants to know when he gets to drive it.....lol

I do like the layout and it's solid other then well minor work. But from a base to start with, I can make it a great fishing platform well under what some used newer boats are going for and have all the upgraded bells and whistles. We shall see how she runs first today. The update will be coming this evening.

I'd say SK Series 3, 3XD, 5XD. Then a Spro Rockcrawler or you can go with the newer Wigglewarts. And then I would add a Rapala Shad Rap in the 07 size. Bait colors, don't go crazy, keep it simple. Get a couple baitfish colors, a red and a red/chartruese color craw pattern, and just because it works almost everywhere, a chartuese perch color. You get too far in colors you're going to spin yourself out. Keep it basic until you figure out what colors work best and then you can adjust accordingly and expand your colors. Also seeing where you're at, find something close to a blueback herring color in your baitfish and a shad color variation.

5 for what? Deep, shallow, lippless, squarebill, wake? Give a bit more info on your needs or what you're looking to use them and it would be easier to give you 5 good ones. Right now I could include a 3XD and 5XD but you may not be fishing in water deeper then 5ft where you're looking to fish which then they wouldn't be the right crank for that. Just asking for more details and we can give you a better answer.

I have a small waist tackle pack that I just slide the rods I'm not using between the pack and my back and carry them that way. Can carry 3 back there before it gets a bit croweded but 1 or 2 isn't an issue and quite easy, just have to watch out for bushes and trees that may get hung up on when walking.

Okay, think I'm gonna bite the bullet and get a 2000 Champion 203DX w/ Merc 225 4 stroke. Would like to imput and reviews from people who have a Champion or had.. I'm going to go test run it tomorrow and have read a few things about them and I do know that when I fished tournaments way back in the early 90's they were a great handling and riding boat to have second honestly to the Basscat's Panterra II. Have a great deal on it, haven't signed the papers. Any feedback on this size Champion would be appriciated.

The boat is just the platform. You can take a $2000 boat, add $6000 in electronics and upgrades and have a fishing machine for $8000 instead of $50,000. Just might not go as fast or be as pretty. Great thing about electronics, you can take them off the boat when you get another one, or sell them later. My thought is how much do I want the ability to use the electonics to locate and find what I'm looking for and how often opposed to how much I spend on it. And I would add two units that you can link together with a minimum of a 7" display on both.

Wow!! I just PM'd the op when he asked about another reel, boy did this topic hit a nerve for some and get hijacked into a whole different discussion. But lots of interesting reading and info.........carry on.

Some guys just know how to use their equipment better then others, and then some guys just fish with people that can't fish because it makes them feel better.....lol I have buddies that fish Shimano, but their lack of catching has NOTHING to do with the equipment and more to do with their unwilliingness to change presentations.

Check out Academy's H20 Ethos 6'8"M Spinning rod. Think they still have that model. Great rod at a very good price $60 IM-8 Graphite rod, nice components, and balanced well. Reel wise, look at the Pflueger President 6930 $60. Got yourself a nice $120 spinning outfit that will do what you're wanting. I still fish my Ethos spinning rod. Upgraded the reel but the rod is a great and works well for what you're wanting. Both found on Academy's site. Hope this helps.

I've ordered stuff from them, but never during the busy holiday shopping times. So they weren't as fast as TW, but when I wanted certain colors of Kietech's TW was sold out of I had my order within a week.

Don't want to hijack this post, I'll send you some feedback on a PM

I fish a few Falcon Bucoo's, the 7'MH Mod Fast will work with lipless baits as well as squarebills, but also purchased a 7'2"MH Mod Fast and it has a little lighter tip and have used it a bit for chatterbaits and dragging a small football jig with great success, but feel it would work well for a 1.5 size squarebill if needed. The 7'M is a great smaller crankbait rod and one I fish a Manns 1-Minus on only due to the action of the rod and feel I have when I fish it I can tell what my bait is doing, and if it's got grass on it as well. Not good for ripping it clean due to the action of the rod but I can tell without a doubt if a fish short strikes it or not. If I'm gonna throw a squarebill on a M rod though, I have a Smoke 7'6"M Moderate action that does fish them well. I did have a 7'6"M Crankin Stick in the older model of which I did return because I thought it was too whippy, but the 7'6"MH has a good action and feel. Actually use it to fish smaller A-rigs to keep from pulling hooks on the smaller jig heads.

I found I have a few different cranking set ups. Each has its purpose, none are an ALL DO IT rod. The rod I fish Baby 1-Minus and smaller cranks on won't fish larger squarebills or work well with lipless baits. rod I fish those on doesn't perform well on deeper diving 6-12ft baits. And the rod I fish deep divers on doesn't throw any of the above very well. Some are graphite, some are composite. One of them happens to be a BPS Crankin Rod as well in the 7'6"MH. If you have too stiff of a rod you will loose out on lighter baits and too "whippy", well you can't fish bigger baits. And none of my cranking rods fish jerkbaits since they aren't the right action. I fish braid on everything, which isn't for everyone but the rod actions are spot on for what I need for each bait, so you need to decide on what you're wanting. If you want a rod that is a bit stiffer, can fish squarebills and lipless baits from 3/8-5/8, I'd look at something in the 7ft MH Med-fast/Mod-fast action. But as for a do all rod, well unfortunately there isn't a do it all rod for cranking every way possible. Comes down to having the right tools for the job. I don't think I'd trust a mechanic that only used a cresent wrench even if it worked 75% of the time, and tried to make it work the other 25% when a good tool set would have all the required tools needed to do the job correctly 100% of the time. Just my opinion.

Are you missing them or pulling the bait away from them? Look into the a crankbait rod. I know they have Tatula XT line and a M or MH in a 7' lenght would work for both. If you're missing them from pulling the bait or pulling hooks the crankbait rod will help with the softer action.

You can change the hooks on the Tru Tungsten Free Ball swinging jig heads as well.

I agree on the rod, just not the action. Have an XF as well but my punching rod is a 7'11" Mod action. Helps with absorbing shock from such a short distance as well as the zero stretch of the braid. But to each their own.

They look like wolf fish.....then again they may be wolf fish.

Mexico......three lakes down there with all inclusive lodging and well guides to fish. El Salto, Baccarac(think that's how its spelled) and there is one other lake down there....Picachos or something like that. Here's one of the links for Billy Chapman's lodge. They pick you up at the airport and drive you back to the lodge which from my talking with him is about an hour and a half from the airport. Just a thought but only works if you have passports. Otherwise I'd hit Florida and do some Peacock Bass fishing as well. Welcome to Lake El Salto Web Site- Lake El Salto Bass ... www.anglersinn.com/

Tournament fishing I carried an extra reel with me just incase and for a frog only tournament I carried a spare spool of braid incase I needed to change line size I could swap the spool without changing rods and reel. Normal fishing, no I don't carry an extra spool or extra reels, just lots of combos.

Totally understand, I'd PM Sibert or Bluebasser and ask them some advice and they may be able to direct you the right way to get what you need and the disired action you're looking for without costing you the R & D part. Another thought, you may be able to use some heavier single strand wire and make a harness and use a worm weight on the front of the hook all attached to the wire then attached to your blade. Wouldn't matter which way your hook eye was as long as your haywire twist was the right direction with the blade.....just an outside the box idea.