DogBone_384

You don't need to get fancy. Your Lowrance comes with a fuse holder. Get the connectors I mentioned above and use ring terminals on the (+) & (-) posts. Measure the post diameter, that'll tell you what size ring terminal you need. If you have a Harbor Freight Tools near you, they'll have everything you need. They'll also have some split loom you can dress the harness in. I've never used Anderson Connectors, but if that's what you want to use, and can get them in 18 or 16 gauge, use them. Use heat shrink connectors to ensure waterproof connections.

Red Wing for both side jobs and FD duty boots. They were expensive, but lasted a long time. The steel toes got cold in the winter, but worth it.

I’m too old & set in my ways to change now. The next step is to put the white rotary phone back in the kitchen and toss technology in the river…. 😉

Please post a picture of the battery box. It sounds like all you need is a small length of automotive wire, a few heat shrink butt connectors, and two heat shrink ring terminals. We'll get you connected.

I belong to the Mac cult.

It's nothing more than a piece of 1/2 sched 40 electrical pipe I heat up and mold to the nose. I use a lot of contact cement to hold it in place. When that one wears through it can be removed with a heat gun and some patience.

I sure know about the work part of it. I've all but worn out the pedal drive in my FeelFree kayak as well as worn through its hull. I have a knack for fixing nearly anything, and added grease fittings to the drive and made my own replaceable skid plates for the hull. Dad nicknamed me 'Charlie Brown' when I was little and I've been missing that football my whole life! And being of mostly German descent, I don't always have a sense of humor regarding 'failure'.

The options are almost endless. I suggest taking a trip if there's a BassPro, Cabelas, or independent tackle store near you and handle rods that interest you. A fishing rod is like a pair of shoes, you'll know if it's the right one when 'you know'. There's no standard for a FAST or MOD-FAST action between manufacturers. I own Abu, Kistler, Diawa, Douglass, St. Croix ... etc. My MH/F Douglass rods feel very different than my MH/F Kistlers. Abu Garcia rods run a little 'heavier' than their action. I have a couple older 7' M/F Veritas rods I can throw 1/4 - 3/8 oz jigs on but wouldn't with my M/F Kistlers. Lastly, you want a more moderate action rod for treble hook baits. Good luck picking out rods for your Shimanos.

What gear ratios? I’d suggest a MH / F for 7.x:1 and a MH / MF or M 6.x:1. What baits are you throwing?

I have other toys to occupy myself with … a ‘68 Buick GS400 convertible… Thanks for the encouragement.

I cut my VT/NH trip short. It just wasn't worth it. I fished one lake 3X, skunked once and came up with 2 LMB between 2 3/4 & 3# and a handful of dink picks, perch, and SMB on the other two trips. I fished a NH lake 2X, blew a prop and luckily found two, one for a spare, 45 minutes from where I was. I wasn't on the water long enough to do much the first go around, and drew a goose egg when I returned. I was told that 6 & 7 # LMB were fairly common in the NH lake. I threw the normal assortment against the bank, on drop offs, rock piles, and what salad I could find. I didn't see much for beds or life at either lake. I saw three LMB cruising the bank in VT. That was it. For the drive time, gas, and extra expenses, I could have stayed local and had the same results. I'm going to clean my boat and stow my gear for a while. Other than trying to get @Fishing Rhino out on the water next week, I need a break. Fishing's not fun right now. Water temps were in the high 50's, just touching 60. It was overcast and drizzle/rain most of my time on the water. Winds were light. I guess the highlight would be the osprey that snagged a fish not far in front of me in VT and the very noisy loons performing their mating dance.

@AverageAngler - welcome aboard! Welcome.

Congratulations on a great trip! I should have gone to ME! I’ve fished in VT/NH since last Friday, less two days ‘boss lady’ came up, and have very little to show for it other than a broken prop and a few empty gas tanks. I’ll put the full story on the Eastern MA thread this weekend when I get home. Yeah, I gotta move to Maine …. I haven’t caught 19 bass this year, and I’m retired.

I have a couple Gen 1 Omens. They’re great $100 rods.

Kistler gets my vote.

Ok, I’m packed & ready for a week in NH/VT, including rain gear and thermal base layers … even though it’s the beginning of MAY! All you New Englanders know … 🙃 Welcome to the thread Andy. We look forward to new members joining in. @Jigfishn10 started it in 2012. It’s nice it’s still active. What part of New England are you in?

I run a Lowrance Ghost trolling motor on my RT178 and a pair of Elite Ti2s, 7" & 9". I'd put a 'spot lock' trolling motor at the top of your upgrade list, regardless of brand. As far as the electronics, that's entirely up to you. I find Lowrance easy to use but a friend's Garmin units have much better screens. I would also choose side scan before FFS. Side scan shows you structure you can mark on your map and go back to (which I think @WRB mentioned above). All the top brands are good. Go to Bass Pro, Cabelas, or a marine store that has them on display and play with them.

I do better with Stunna's than Vision 110's.

Maybe with my Ranger, but swells were 2+ ft, just too much for my kayak.

Drove to Plymouth at the crack of dawn hoping for some smallmouth action. Weather was perfect so off I went. Managed 3 good picks, an OK pick, and a F A T white perch on a green pumpkin/blue @Siebert Outdoors bladed jig, a 5" green w/purple & gold flake Senko, and a new Rapala PXR jerkbait in "emerald shad". I couldn't get any cooperation from an underspin or different jigs. By 0900 the winds were about 10 mph and by 1100 they were 18-20 sustained. My good ole Lure 11.5 was useless, so I packed it in, almost tipping over twice OTW back to the truck. Too bad too, because I had some pretty marks in the wind blown shoreline. Water temps were 56.x when I launched and 60.X when I left. My marked fish were suspended in deep water but I saw one small group of minnows tight to shore along the southern beach in a cove. I'll be in NH/VT from May 2nd to the 9th, hopefully fishing every day. I'll be on the water on the 4th with Sean Snover of ReelNorthernBass, a NH fishing maniac and YouTuber that would fit in nicely with the BR family. He's touting a new PB for me. We'll see next week. I saw two bald eagles on the pond too. Good luck to everyone getting out, it's FINALLY here!

Me too. My screwdrivers are Wiha, or Snap On.

@A-Jay .... you make house calls?

Give this link a try: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2dafca6d765745b099f764089e72a4b0 It lists public ramps in CT. Go to C-Map or Garmin's websites to see lake mapping.

is that 1,166 quart tubs? 🤪

This ^^^^^^^^