martintheduck

I'd also be worried about backing the darn thing down a ramp and getting it back up again...... sounds like you blundered and bought a boat without having a vehicle for it.

5 gallon water jug pontoons.... problem solved.

I bought my first REAL boat at 23 (im 25 now) and went through EXACTLY what your talking about --- new-vs-used in the tin rig department. I was going to buy a new Tracker 175 and bailed on that idea after some investigation --- I found I could find an AWESOME used rig for the same price point. I eyed craigslist for a few months to see what was selling and the prices. After 6 or so months of eyeing craigslist, I got serious and started looking at boats in person. I looked at 3 used boats off craigslist and all 3 had problems. I took them all out for test runs and whatnot. I turned all 3 boats down and got frustrated and then decided to up my price range $5,000 and see if I could find some nicer rigs. I found an Xpress h18ss w/ a yamaha 150 pop up for sale shortly after and went to see it the next day. Sucker was in mint condition with only around 10 hours on the motor MAYBE. I was shocked. Talked him down to $19,000 and bought that sucker! So basically, I got a much better rig than a tracker for the same price... and ultimately I felt like I bought a new rig, not a used one. It was a stellar experience --- waiting it out and checking stuff out then finally finding the perfect fit for me. Moral of the story? Don't buy new, buy used boat in good condition. Find someone who has taken good care of their baby and don't settle for anything less. I turned down one of my 3 boats because the guy let "his buddy" do all the maintenance on his boat and couldn't provide receipts for any of the parts he allegedly bought (the look of the boat didn't reflect that he cared too much too). On another note --- I don't know how popular they are in KY, but look into Xpress boats. They ride literally, like glass. That hyperlift hull is a great ride. And as for tracker boats --- the problems I was hearing about involve minor issues (like a compartment latch breaking or a switch being bad) Nothing extreme. Solid first boat for sure. I'll leave you with this bit of wisdom my buddy gave me and it has rung 100% true to me: "Whatever boat you buy, you'll have it for 6 months and want something else." That advice led me into going as "big" as I could afford and it has paid off in spades for me. Sure, I'd like a longer boat and more storage, but until I decide to make that endeavor, I 'm completely comfortable in my 60mph tin rig! Cheers!

Just depth will come in handy for sure... for example... on the west side island, you can fish the good drop on the southern point. Ideally it would be a pretty drastic depth change from say 10ft to 18ft. troll out the where it is 18ft and ride that 18ft "wall" fishing all of it. Theres some really good books available that aren't exactly specific to open water tactics, but there is really good information on the subject in one book in particular. Check out Big Bass Zone by Bill Siemantel. That's where I found the simplified version of what I told you --- POINTS, RIDGES, CREEK CHANNELS, HUMPS, FLATS. Lot's of good information in there. Also -- you'd be surprised how incredible just regular sonar usage can be. I actually tend to use my sonar more than sidescan or downscan. Whatever electronics you have, do they have sonar? Learn how to use the sonar (adjust the settings more than anything).

POINTS, RIDGES, CREEK CHANNELS, HUMPS, FLATS!!! Thats where you'll find bass in deeper water. First --- It's going to be close to a crap shoot without a depth finder... with a depth finder you can find exactly where the water drops, how aggressively it drops, where to position the boat..... Lets continue while assuming you don't have a depth finder.... Second --- have three lures tied on. Carolina rig with a 1/2oz tungsten weight and a black/blue flake 8in power worm, 1/2oz-1oz football head jig in black and blue with a black/blue rage craw trailer, and a deep crank bait on a snap clip -- (Norman DD22's in sx shad for average conditions and chartreuse/blue for staind water). Now lets tackle bald eagle lake.... On the map, it shows a decent island on the west side and that island has a good drop off on the south point. Start there. Cast out the c-rig and pull it up that drop off. Run the crank bait up that drop. You'll catch fish at that point... I'd bet money on it. If you had a depth finder, you could troll east and keep your casts along the contour, but since you don't have one, it'll be a crap shoot just aimlessly casting. Bass like to ride contour lines...a lot. Another spot I'd try is in the north west corner where there appears to be a flat-or-ditch in open water. I'd fish that whole thing with a drop-shot, c-rig, or jig -- maybe a crank if its not too deep... but once again it'll be hard to even find it without a graph. Now on the east most side of the lake there appears to be an area where it's 8ft with a flat around 17ft... if fish that flat with the any of the above lures. The moral of the story is this --- POINTS, RIDGES, CREEK CHANNELS, HUMPS, FLATS!!! Thats where you'll find bass in deeper water. If you don't have a graph, you're going to be shooting blindly almost. I learned bass fishing in open water in summer months. Heck, I just recently fished my first spawn even!!! I'm telling you --- purchase electronics and learn them. Otherwise, your best bet is going to be flipping docks in 10ft of water on bluebird days.

Never heard of fishing scholarships. Our team does qualifiers in fall and as far as I know you gotta have your own boat? The only perks to college fishing are the opportunity to get your name out there for winning, the opportunity to fish some great lakes and have the expenses paid for.

Rage craw = literally, the best jig trailer in existence. Smokin' Rooster -- Just bought some the other week and haven't really fished em'. They look incredible.

Cheaper spiderwire. That crap has a tendency to crush back on into itself and cause me real headaches.

Well if you want to try something new...the 832 then... you won't be disappointed. I use 832 on all my saltwater gear but PP on my fresh gear - just a weird personal preference.

Just putting this out there, since I've been in your position before. Spend an extra $50 and you'll jump up SUBSTANTIALLY in quality. For $250, I feel like I got a STEAL on the new Shimano Ci4+ reels. I refused to spend more than $200 on a reel for years and this year dropped some cash on something more expensive.... It's similar to driving a Chevrolet -VS- Ferrari. I'm telling you... just do it.

How small of crankbaits are we talking? For square bills, I really like a Falcon Bucoo Medium 7'2 Micro. Good price point and has enough give in it to rocket that sucker a mile and not rip hooks out the mouth.

Power pro for sure.

So OIL and water is coming out the hole? Is it lower unit oil or 2 stroke oil leaking out? I could guess maybe you aren't running right and burning the oil off.... Maybe a bad seal somewhere and oil is leaking out. I'm no expert. I don't know how the boat shops are up there in missouri, but down here they are more than glad to give you a quick look and some free quick diagnoses as long as you make it known you will buy the replacement parts from them. Just hitch it up and go to the shop and ask.

I know nothing about deep V boats, but that's your best bet for typical northern rough water. If you're looking at traditional bass boats, Phoenix allegedly has perfected the best rough ride. It's got a bowed shape to the hull and 40 gal gas tank under the seat area and is distributed weight better than rangers and cats. Reportedly it skips across waves better than others who have the weight of gas distributed more to the rear of the boat which pushes the back end down more. But these are all just here-say and all opinions on the matter are subjective.

Picasso Shakedown is my go to because I use Roboworms. They're the only ones with a small lock on them that doesn't rip up robo's. In 6ft of water in average conditions I'm going 1/8th oz

Black and blue jig with rattles and a junebug rage craw trailer

I started dropshotting rage craws this spawn on bed fish. DEADLY. Get them nice and agitated with a jig, watch them move the jig off a few times, then toss in the DS Rage and they suck it RIGHT in! Love it. Interested to see how it works this summer in the deep water.

I switch it up --- Norman DD14 and DD22's in Chartreuse Blue is my go to for the muddy waters of South LA... I have better success with that color than the traditional fire tiger. If the water clears up a little bit and I could rate it "stained," I'll switch to traditional shad colors or black back SK 6xd's. I'm telling you though, as a fellow Louisianian, that Chartreuse Blue color is deadly. But yea --- Norman's cranks and SK 6xd. Check that academy on Ambassador Caffery periodically for deals. Up here, they put deep divers on sale around the end of the season and in early January. Otherwise, tackle warehouse is your bet

My local academy had KVDs on sale for like $3 a pop so I snagged a bunch. Also this past weekend before the big bass tourny, they has norman Mid cranks on sale for $3 a pop in my favorite color. Snagged all 5 of them. Sometimes, I really do love that place!

Very nice very nice. Can't beat a PB on a top water. Congrats!

Fog the engine and change lower unit oil. Done. This is one reason I'm glad I'm in Louisiana.... no winterizing. Fishing 365 if you want

Would love to see some pictures of the waters down there and some of the fish coming out of there!

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=inexpensive+boat+carpet

Weather isn't a factor if they are visibly on the beds. tick em' off with a mix of jig/craw trailer and creatures, then kill em' on a drop shot.

I've used all p-lines and really like them for the $$. XXX is real good. My favorite has become Seagur Red Label. I used to buy invisx, but I like the Red Label all the same. As for spinning gear --- I have tried fluro multiple times and can't stand the inevitable line twist. I've settled on braid with a leader. My life has become so much better since.