Ski213

Then I would guess cat, only cause that's been my experience in smaller bodies of water in similar situations. You'll always wonder but that's okay. That's what keeps us all going back.

A bass could easily break 17lb in an instant if there's a weak knot or the line has been stressed/damaged or it can quickly pull the line across a rock or sharp point on a laydown. If you feel pretty confident that its none of those then I would guess turtle or big cat.

You're getting a lot of great advice here. As has already been brought up, purchase price is only the beginning. You're way better off spending little on a smaller boat that doesn't require a ton of capital to operate and maintain but still gets you out on the water catching fish. I've always heard boat stands for break out another thousand. I've learned that is based on math, it's not just a saying. You've got to have a toy, just heed the advice others are giving and make sure you get a toy that you can play with without it stressing you out.

It's going to take a lot of hard work. I mean more than you can possibly imagine. Learn everything you can from every possible source. Some things you learn will work and other things will not. You have to put in the time both on the "classroom" and on the water. Sponsors generally don't sponsor as a donation, they expect a return on their investment. The way you become a good investment is to be very good at whatever you're doing. You do that by putting in the time it takes to be very good. When it's miserable outside and no one is fishing you need to be out there. To be really good takes a lot of time and dedication. You said you're relatively new at this. Just spend time learning the basics and practicing them. Enjoy the act of fishing. If you end up loving it and still want to pursue your dreams then go for it. When you approach a potential sponsor you need some kind of resume. They don't want to hear what you want them to do for you they want to hear what you can do for them. That's just business.

I keep a certain amount of stuff literally at the back door. If I want to go its ready to roll. If I'm gonna take the boat out there's a couple bags with all the tackle I would typically carry for a tournament and more rods. Those bags are also always ready to go. I know exactly what you're talking about and that's why I get that stuff ready to go out again as I bring it in from the last trip.

Forst off congrats on the new ride. I'm not sure exactly how you intend to use it but it sounds like the essentials are the outboard, the trolling motor, and the batteries. I'm not sure why five batteries. Assuming the trolling motor is 24v I would think 3 i sufficient. Again I don't know all the specifics. Get the essential stuff in place and see how she does. Balance of weight is about as important as total weight. Ease into the decks and such once you get her balanced out and figure out how to balance batteries, fuel, etc.

Do you know how old the lake/pond is? There's a lot to pond management. I looked in to it a little for a couple farm ponds here. Pretty tough to get one balanced out. If the pond is new and was properly stocked its possible it just hasn't come into its prime yet. Could also be overpopulated and need thinned out as mentioned. I did have a pond here that was similar in that I caught alot of thin buck bass for two years. I would have sworn it needed thinned. I ended up leaving it alone for two years and now its stacked with 3# fish. That was a pleasant surprise. I don't know if it thinned itself or if I mistook something that happens in fish populations as overpopulation that was maybe just part of the life cycle of a pond.

I think seloc does the marine manuals. They may well be somehow affiliated with haynes or clymer. Better than nothing for sure but if you have mechanical knowledge you'll be better off if you can get a factory service manual in my opinion. With an outboard that new factory manual may be your only option

True. I'm glad mine did. The good news for him is that he was able to convince the insurance company to cover it. He told me about it the other day. I think he has all his coverage through the one carrier and threatened to cancel all his policies. They finally agreed to replace the trailer. The trail camera thing is a good idea but I've always figured they'd just steal it as well if they see it. I wish I had one up out back last week when someone decided that I didn't need my weed eater and chainsaw anymore though.

It sounds like you're looking for a pig. I 100% agree with topwater early this time of year. Absolutely my favorite way to fish. Nothing better than one slamming topwater at sunrise. This is my personal experience and nothing more but every PB I've caught it has been the only one in a spot. Maybe find an area in or on a transition from that vegetation you're talking about where you can pull some fish, then find something in that area like a stump or sharp transition where you're not getting bit but should be. In my personal opinion that's where your girl is going to be. I think the big ones are generally more isolated. As far as lures I think bigger isn't always better but usually is for a big one. I also believe that if your throwing something in a big ones face you have a limited number of chances before you just irritate it into moving out, so choose wisely. Maybe one or two shots with a topwater followed up with a big swim bait or worm.

Good catch. Devil is in the details.

This is perfect advice in my opinion. You have to adapt. It has alot to to with who is on the front. Sounds like you're not getting blocked so communicate with him and he will probably help you expand on your fishing skills. You don't have to throw exactly what he's throwing but you will have to pick something that is compatible with his speed and approach. There will come a time where your boaters approach is not working, if there is good communication he will give your way a shot. I have learned alot from the guy up front when I was in the back and I've also learned alot from the guy in back when I was in the front.

From dead empty its 120 something plus sea foam and oil right now. It always hurts my feelings a little to pull up to the pumps and stick the card in the pump next to the truck and get it going then walk back to the boat and do the same. Then I just stand back and watch a chunk of my paycheck evaporate. Gotta pay to play though I guess.

I'm not close enough by a long ways to make that but I just wanted to say that I think its pretty stand up that y'all are putting that together. Saw the story on the news. What a shame. Good luck with the tournament. I hope it's a huge success.

Small casting spoons in heavy current has worked for me what little time I've spent fishing for them. They have an impressive ability to throw a hook. Learning to fish them on fly gear is on my short list. They're a heck of a fight pound for pound.

Those are some great bronzebacks in the pictures. Dang! I don't have any science to offer. I've seen the pale and dark largemouth and just based on past experience it seems like the more pale fish were with lower water clarity. I've heard the same thing about depth and it seems pretty true. I have caught pale fish shallow and dark fish deep though. What Dwight is saying makes sense. That would explain how you could pull pale and dark fish off one spot. I did have an odd experience earlier this year with a smallmouth. It was super pale. Probably a little more pale than the one in A-Jay's picture. Almost white. It was on the bottom in about 4' of water. It was so pale I actually wasn't sure what it was till it was in the boat for a second. At weigh in it had totally changed colors. It got way darker. I had always heard it was a sunlight thing but my livewell doesn't have a skylight. It's actually the fish in my profile pic. I wish I had a before picture to show the change.

I would imagine that if I caught a bass that could talk it wouldn't be real open to answering questions as much as it would be telling me what it thought about the whole situation. But if I caught one that was cooperative I'd probably try to negotiate some kind of deal where it got alot of free food in exchange for explaining to its associates that I just need to borrow the more well fed ones for a couple hours. Everybody goes back home, everybody wins.

Congratulations! That's a steal at that price. Enjoy!

I jrubbed a thin layer of dish soap inside the housing when I did mine. I don't know that it's a deal breaker but it's cheap and quick insurance.

That's the part. I have been using a transom saver. I never gave it much thought. The guy I bought the boat from used it so I've been doing the same. After reading way2slow's earlier post I'm prob going to toss the transom saver and use the factory rest myself. Be one less thing to deal with all the time.

The motor rest is clear in the the first two pics. On the part of the outboard that tilts away from the boat. Especially in the second pic. As you come up from the lower unit there is a peice that kind of points at the boat. At about an 80 degree angle up there is a tab that sticks out. It's part of that assembly. There's an Allen bolt that is the pivot. If you push that tab towards the boat the peice will rotate towards the tilt/trim assembly. You have to push it pretty hard to get it free of the clip that is shown in the first pic. You have to tilt the outboard far enough up that the piece will lock out then gently lower it into the rest. I'm terrible at explaining stuff but you do have the mechanism that way2slow is talking about.

That is terrible audio. I've had some luck when I run across something like that by using ear buds to listen. I just tried it with that video and it helped alot. Try that.

Check out Doug Vanderberg on you tube. Vanderberg goes through a lot of how to navigate through the options and when to do what and such. No substitute for spending time on the water using it but instructional videos like that as well as the manual will make your time more productive.

I was wrong. He didn't misunderstand his insurance agent. The trailer is not covered under his insurance policy. He would have had to request it be added. I wouldn't have thought that. I called my agent. Mine is covered but apparently only because she asked when I took out the policy and I said to include it in the agreed value. I don't specifically remember that but glad I'm covered. Something to think about for those of you with trailers. Be worth checking to make sure you are covered.

I like both. I'm probably about half and half. I think there are positives to both. I like the serenity of being out by myself. I like going out with a friend as well. Sometimes I like the fish to myself and others I like to share the experience. Sure is nice to have someone helping with fuel though when I'm in the glass boat.