tcbass

I have a 2014 Stratus 186 VLO which is supposed to weigh 2,720lbs. I am looking at getting a van which can tow apprx. 3,500lbs. Normally when I am fishing it's just me, my empty truck, and a friend, so add apprx. 300-400lbs. and gear for people which would take that 3,500lbs. down to 3,000-3,100lbs. and I should be safe by apprx. 380-480lbs. Now that's just for a quick 20 minute trip to the lake that is flat and dry. If I was loading up the family and going on a trip I would easily exceed that weight. I would love to keep a truck but a minivan seems to be the way we are headed with a family, my wife drives a car. In an earlier post someone said to get my vehicle weighed at a feed lot or truck scale. I don't think I have too many of either around me. I am near the Forest Lake, Minnesota area. Where could I go to get my boat and trailer weighed and how much would it cost?

I used regular Hollow Body Frogs for my first few years and was able to successfully walk the frog and catch some fish but never really had much luck. I started making Whopper Frogs with Booyah Padcrasher frogs and really started killing it. Places where I may or may not get a bite I almost always got bit. Learning to walk a frog is important but if you want to catch fish, try a Whopper Frog. I think you will really have great success with it.

I've used the Whopper Frog in both wind and windless and it's worked great both times. The tail helps make a commotion when it's windy which maybe harder to pick up with a regular frog.

This. Normally with friends. I've learned: Alone: Concentrate on myself catching fish and having fun. Enjoy peace and quiet and ability to perhaps work and area or specific lure more than I would with friends. Together: Concentrate on making sure others are catching fish and having fun. I enjoy both.

I always left my tackle boxes open on my boats deck in the garage when I got home but I use rust preventive tackle boxes now.

What's the reason for this?

Should they be stainless or regular?

Should they be stainless or regular?

Why not?

Thx for the help guys. I’m pretty sure it is the ground. I try try to always take pics of things before I dissemble them to avoid this type of situation and did but didn’t think it showed anything until I looked closer and realized it does show 2 wires on the negative. At first glance it looked like only 1 wire.

So if it’s a ground does it go to the negative?

I'll have to check. But wouldn't it need a negative and positive, not just one? I believe the front depthfinder is connected to the TM batteries.

I disconnected my boat's starting/cranking battery and when I went to put the new battery in I realized that there was a 3rd wire that seems to come from toward the front of the boat. I connected the 2 wires from the motor, red and black, and it worked. So I don't know where this 3rd wire (black) is from (left disconnected). Is it from the boat's battery gauge, and if it is, does it go on the positive or negative terminal? I know it's not for a charger as I have that disconnected.

Note, even with chargers that trickle charge/maintain some recommend leaving them on all the time, some don’t. Minn Kota says not to leave it connected while my Dual Pro said to keep it connected.

I had an unsealed deep cycle battery tip inside my boat last year causing battery acid to go everywhere. I swore I'd never have that issue again so I bought 2 Cabelas brand sealed AGM deep cycle batteries. Fortunately they happen to go on sale when I needed them and I got them for around $100 I believe. Now I need a new marine starting battery and only want to go sealed. I can't find any from Cabelas. I have a 2014 Stratus VLO with a 2014 Evinrude 115 horse Etec. How many cold cranking amps do I need? What is the best value sealed (maintenance free) marine starting battery out there? I'm hoping to find something in the $100 price range if that is realistic/possible. I see Lowe's carry's Deka sealed marine starting batteries for $107 with 800 cold cranking amps. I do get 10% off at Lowe's being a military veteran, so there's that, if that is a good choice.

I have the downward angled Rapala 6” I think. I like the angle a lot. Relieves stress on the wrist when removing hooks.

Tag for later. Thx for posting.

I loved my KVD Sexy Dawgs which I'm sure were a knock-off of the Super Spook and caught a ton of fish on them but never close as many as the WP's have.

Have Boohah Padcrashers that are turned into Whopper Frogs and have caught over 50 fish with no apparent damage and still going strong. Booyahs are also one of the cheapest frogs.

I thought the 130 was too big. Used a 110 and loved it but switched to a 75 and love it more. My friend uses a 90 a lot of the time and he loves that, so, who knows. lol. I'd get a 75 if I were you.

How is it specific for fisherman?

The WP 75 is my favorite followed by the 110. I dont one use the 90’s anymore. Too many problems.

Congrats on your PB!

I just posted this reply in a hollow body frog thread but could help you out with your shore fishing problems. The Whopper Frog is pretty much 100% weedless: Best thing I did to start catching fish on frogs was to modify them and turn them into Homemade Teckel Sprinker Frogs aka the Weedless Whopper Plopper. All it is is a paddle tail frog. Prior to this I fished for about 8 years with regular hollow body frogs and only caught some fish and I can successfully walk the dog. Fishing the same lakes and locations with the Homemade Sprinker frog shot my success up to like 90% over regular hollow body frogs and they are cheap and easy to modify. It’s also super easy to use. Just cast and reel in. You can pause but most of the time I catch fish on a straight retrieve. Here is the link on how to make them. I think once you do this your success could be so great you may never throw another regular hollow body frog again. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/205493-initial-thoughts-review-of-teckel-sprinker-frog-vs-booyah-toad-runner-vs-homemade-teckel-sprinker-frog/?tab=comments#comment-2331638

Well, with a Whopper Frog you can pinpoint a spot you want to cast to also and do the same thing, you can reel right over it or stop and pause if you want.