Al Wolbach

Hey Gary: If you launch in the fish hachery you will follow a canal to the hachery, good launch but narrow canal at first. If you are standing on the ramp facing the water go right and follow the canal.Follow the canal until it ends into a bank that will force you to the left along a tree line. This is the outer bountry for the hachery and the water is fairly deep around the tree line. As you follow the tree line the open water to the left is all spawning area 2-6 feet deep( must be 100 acres, huge). As you get shallower you will see the weed line that looks like an island, this is about the center of the hachery.The open water area is full of stumps and the fish will be around the stumps if the water temp is above about 55 deg. If the water is clear enough you should be able to at least see the stumps, but it does not take much wind to muck it up. Some of the stumps will stick out of the water. I would target the stumps with soft plastic, spinnerbaits, squarebills etc. If the water is stirred up just fan cast. When you find a stump make multible cast to it before moving. One bit of advice, when you are running the canal, do not leave it on plane, idle or trolling motor only. This will save you a prop or lower unit, but the canal is safe to run. Outside the tree line there is a flat that drops into deeper water. This area is also a spawning area and full of stumps but is usually harder to fish because of the wind. But if the wind will allow fish it. Early morning is usually your best bet for light wind. BTW this entire area is good firm bottom as most of the lower lake does. You will probably see a lot of gators. They will not bother you if you don't bother them. Another good area for spawning is called the cow pasture and I believe it is marked by that name on the maps. It can be a really rough boat ride to get there if the wind is blowing as it usually is this time of year. I was reluctant to even mention it because of the danger and it would be my second choice after the fish hachery anyway. If you decide to fish the river below the dam let me know. Good areas there that are not as affected by the wind. Good luck and let us know how you do.........................Al

When you are fishing the cypress trees you need to find a group of trees that are in deeper water than the rest and a foot is usually the difference. Map study may help you find that foot, not sure. You can spend a lot of time trying to find them on the water because there are so many trees. The folks at Blacks Camp can be very helpful, someone there is always on fish and they will usually help. Those lakes heat up pretty fast when the sun shines so I would expect the spawn will come soon. They should be staging. Check out the old fish hachery on the NW corner of the lower lake(near Blacks Camp), but may be a long run depending where you are launching.. It is a good area to fish during prespawn and spawn. Be careful lots of stumps, it is also somewhat protected from the wind by a narrow tree covered land mass that surrounds it. Also the swamp area north of the state park is the river run in and probably cooler than the rest of the upper lake and surely cooler than the lower lake this time of year. Good luck...........Al

Check this out. Kill two birds with one stone...........Al http://uniqueboatproducts.org/JackPlateItems.htm

I would not let the cost of optipop oil determine my dicision. You must change the oil and filter on a 4 stroke also. The oil filter for my 115 4 stroke Yamaha(pontoon boat) is about $15 and it holds almost 5 qts of oil. I have a 225 Yamaha V max 2 stroke and it drinks oil. If speed is not an issue I think you would be happier with the 4 stroke in the long run...................Al

I believe this depends on where you live or fish. Where I live the surface water temp reaches the 90's in the summer and the fish are caught 25' deep. Night tournaments help but you still have the above situation to often. I use salt and frozen coke bottles(16 oz I believe)to maintain my livewell. I get my salt in 50 lb bags from the local farmers coop(last for years). It's crushed salt used for livestock and is very cheap. I mix 1/2 cup per 20 gallons and change the water every hour and a half to two hours. I also carry a small O2 bottle(welding O2) with reg, hose and stone for emergencies if I start to loose them. It works, they are "break dancing" within seconds of receiving O2. During the regular tournaments of spring and fall all I use is the salt. A friend and occasional tournament partner is a fisheries biologist. These are his recommendations. They are a pain but work in the really hot part of summer.......................Al

Prayers for you and DeAnn.............................Al

If there is not a lot of weight difference and the boat performance is about equal I would go with the 4 stroke. The oil used in the opti is expensive I'm told..........Al

Loomis MBR842c and an Ardent XS1000

Not sure what you would consider. I took an old pair of frames to Sam's Club and had polarized, prescription grey lenses put in them for $75..........Al

Many like to jump on Vanish line and blame it for everything. Your problem sounds like reel set up to me. Anytime you change line type or size you need to readjust your reel....................Al

I am retired military so I stay at a military rest camp on the lower lake. If it were not available I would stay at Blacks. They have everything you need and some of the friendliest people in the country. Don't worry to much about the alligators but I would keep my eyes on the snakes, lol................Al

I have fished most of the lakes mentioned either in tournaments or while on vacation and Santee-Cooper is my favorite. Lots of 5-7lb fish and of course bigger fish are there. I caught a 11-7 largemouth in the river below the lakes. Most lakes SC are heavy recreation lakes, boats and jet skis. Santee-Cooper has to many snakes, alligators, stumps,logs, weeds and trees and various other critters for the aforementioned. Perfect bass lake. Santee State Park in Santee, SC sounds like what you are looking for. It sits just off of I-95 on the upper lake. I-95 actually crosses a part of the upper lake, I believe. I have never stayed at the park but I have launched there and it appears very nice, and they do have cabin rental. Some of the cabins are on the water with a dock, appear very nice. Saw a store and bait shop, not sure what else is available, just google the park. If I can answer any questions just let me know....................Al

I think for just flipping any brand is ok. If you are casting repeatly that's a different story.....................Al

Those shadows are probably caused by reverberations which could come from any direction.................Al

I carry 50 or so in my boat all the time and I just live with the "box hair". Let us know if you find another storage method.............Al

The bottom line as I see it. Large, large numbers of these rigs have been sold at $10 to $30 ea, millions of swimbaits and other lures sold just to use with the rig. How many swimbait or other heavy rods, how many spools of 65 lb braid by fishermen that don't fish braid? How many new reels just for this rig? The A Rig is not going away........Period. Outlawed in local tournaments. Some will use it anyway, without regard to a lie detector test. I have fished hundreds of tournament that gave lie detector test and can not recall anyone failing, just saying, who knows? I will be 65 on my upcoming birthday and I can't recall this much excitement ever about a new technique and I think it's great for the sport. In the end, the fish will survive and a lot of fishermen are having fun and I think that is what its all about.............................Al

I too, used Trilene XL for decades. If you don't get good reviews on the Seaguer mono or just do not like it you should try Sufix Elite. This is the best line I have ever used on spinning gear. I have never tried the Seaguar mono. Just a suggestion................Al

Zoom Swimmin Chunk is my favorite.......................Al

Thanks baluga great info. A lot I did not know..............

I run synthetic lubricants in everything I own period, including small engines, 2 and 4 cycle. I just feel there is nothing in synthetic that you don't want in it. I may be wasting money but it gives me piece of mind..............Al

Jeff- Are you going on a six month WesPac cruise or three year overseas shore duty, etc? How long will you be gone? I have faced this delima a few times and the bottom line is you are the only person that can make the decision. There are to many unknowns for the forum members to provide sound advice. If you have financed this boat I suggest you speak with the bank/credit union and discuss your options with them. And if you decide to sell they can provide you with the approximate value for the boat, motor and trailer to determine an asking price and may even help you sell it. Vehicles for sale in the bank parking lot move quickly. If you want to keep it I suggest you talk with the dealership where you purchased it to discuss storage options. These days nearly everyone wants to help the military men/women, so let them help. Whatever you decide the sooner you act the easier it will be on you.............Good Luck and God Speed........................Al

Did you measure with the spool full of line or empty?.........................Al

I recomend you buy the reel you can get to best deal on or the one that fits your best. They are both good reels, can't make a wrong decision............Al

Most guys drag a C-rig......................Al

Makers Mark- Rarely drink anything else