HardcoreBassin

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the advice! My mind is running now. I have some ideas about integrating beads with the wire wrap for kind of a "built in" rattle. I'll let you know how that goes... - Dale

OK. So this might be a stupid question, but I'm new to the jig thing, so I supposed I'm allowed to ask a few dumb ones. What type of wire? Does it matter? Just regular fly tying wire or something of the sort?

Rub it in a little more Catt...

What type of knot do you use? Do you also throw glue on there?

That was how I was thinking I'd do it. Any specific reason why you have it horizontal and not vertical?

Do you cut the rubber band of or ziptie right over it?

Thanks guys! Another project to add to my "Cabin Fever" list.

Hey guys. I have a ton of jigs that utilize the rubber band to keep the skirt on. What is the best way to reinforce them, since the rubber band will corrode over time? I've read some things about people using small zip ties, or even braid or fly tying string with a dab of knot glue/super glue to keep it in place. What do you use to increase the longevity of a jig? Thanks for the help! - Dale

I just picked up a Hero 3+ Silver edition for the same type of applications. Go to the GoPro site and look at their comparison tables between models. There are a lot of differences in features between the white, silver and black editions. Make sure you choose the one that best fits what you'll be using it for! There are also TONS of videos on youtube of people comparing shooting speeds and cameras. - Dale

Let me know what you find. I've been looking at the 170 for a while. I kind of ruled out the 160 because it has no rod locker. It really is just a decked mod v jon boat. The 170 has a little more to offer I think. A bit more deck space, rod locker, more storage, etc. I know you're looking for the warranty, but if you are in need of a boat and are torn between the 160 and the 170, try to find a 2013 165. If I could find one to the fish the HP restricted lakes that I want the boat for, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I havent had a chance to get out to BPS or a dealer to stand in either boat yet, but from videos and pictures that I've been looking at, the 160 looks like it is MUCH less stable than the 170. - Dale

I've actually been eyeing up that jon! Thanks for the local search Chris!

Thanks for the suggestion. I took a look at those. I like the boat, but I can't bring myself to spend $10k on a boat that I would need to modify (larger casting deck, storage, etc..). I would also probably run into a problem fishing a 2nd person since there is no real back deck. At that price I'd probably rather go the route of the pro team 170 since I wouldn't need to modify anything.

I made the switch from Windows to Mac a few years back. There is a definite learning curve, as the systems look and act differently. Once you get over the "what the ll is 'Safari? All I want is Internet Explorer phase, it gets better. There are pros and cons to both Windows and Mac. I'm not an "Apple Guy" by any means. I hate their phones, ipads, ipods...all of that nonsense. But their computers really are great. The first Macbook I bought was in 2007, and my fiance still uses it today. It runs like it's brand new. I'd suggest sticking with it for a bit longer! - Dale

Accept it as a challenge for yourself. Stick with it. Try to drum up the passion that you used to have for the sport. Yea, you're behind on training and missed part of the season because you were sick. So? Get out there and train your ass off and finish your final season of wrestling with a BANG! - Dale

That is a nice skiff, but I think if I'm going to go that route, I'll probably get a mod v jon boat and deck it out. That way I can customize my storage options.

That is some helpful information. Thanks! Like I mentioned, I'm not worried about speeding around, but I want to be able to plane out. Did the 1999 come with a 12v TM system? Did you have any issues with killing batteries while on the water?

There is so much mixed feedback about the speed out there. I found a video on youtube of a guy with a 20hp EL (without power trim to play with) mounted to a 2013 Pro Team 165, which is only a bit smaller/lighter than the 170 (I think 5-6 inches shorter and about 80lbs lighter). In the video he tops out at 24mph.

Yea I'm not looking to race, but I'll lose my mind (if not already lost) if I get a boat that can't get on plane. I've toyed with the idea of putting a 9.9hp on my Stratos, but for the price, it will be worth it to buy a new boat and sell the Stratos I think. I'll have to look into the jon boats a bit more. Decking it out would be a fun winter project. Just not sure if it will be that much of an advantage to do a jon over the Tracker. I can get a brand new 2013 Tracker 170 for $10k. Someone ordered it then wound up not going through with the purchase, so its been sitting in the factory shrink wrap on the dealers lot since this time last year. I'll probably go out to a boat show in a few months to take a look at what is out there and what will get me around the lake the way I want. Like I said, im not trying to race anyone, but I want to get from point A to point B faster than a paddleboat.

That's great to hear that you can still move at a decent clip with a 25 on it. Do you run a stainless prop, or is that the stock aluminum one that pushes you at that speed? Do you have the whale tail on the motor to help plane out?

Thanks for the input Bob! Do you stand or sit when you fish? I had concerns about the 12v Edge system on it too. I have a MinnKota Maxx65 on my Stratos right now. Have you run into any issues with the trolling battery running out while on the water? I'm not too concerned about the livewell, as it will rarely be used. In your opinion, do you think the 20hp is severely underpowering this boat? Tracker offers it with the 20 HP option, but no MPH rating on it. the lowest MPH rating they do is on the 25HP, which is said to push the boat at 20-24 MPH. - Dale

Hey guys, In a few months I'll be moving. The move will put my current "home lake" about an hour away. There is a much closer lake to where I'm moving, but it has a 20hp limit. I'm currently fishing out of an '04 Stratos 27x Pro XL with a 90hp Johnson on it. Dilemma: I am trying to find a "mini bass boat" that a 20hp will push fairly well. What I came up with thus far is either a john boat with modifications (casting deck, livewell, rod locker, etc.) or a Tracker Pro 170. I know that no matter what I fish on, it will take some getting used to after fishing from a stable, wide Stratos. I want something that is going to give me some of the luxuries of a bass boat but not be EXCRUCIATINGLY slow on the water. My thought was to get a Pro Team 170 with a 20hp ELPT and put a stainless prop on it to maybe help with lack of power? I've toyed with the idea of putting a 25hp on it, but I am backtracking on that now. I want to fish small boat tourneys on the lake, and I don't want to run into an issue with tourneys or fines if I get caught. It's just not worth the headache. Who here has a Pro Team 170 or Pro Team 160? Can you give me your pros vs cons on the boat? If you don't own one, but have fished from one, what are your thoughts on it? I'm looking for any sort of guidance here. I don't know anyone who has one to test it out, nor can I find any videos about the stability of the boat. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all! - Dale

As a lot of people already said, this will be a lot of back and forth with answers because it is personal preference. I never carried a revolver as an EDC weapon. My fiance carries a S&W .38 snubby. We figured that would be best for her. There is no fear of a jam. If something misfires, just pull the trigger again. No need to worry about accidentally pulling the trigger since the trigger travel is so long. It seemed like a safer, more practical choice. My first EDC was a Ruger LCP, which is a little .380. It was the perfect size to slip in a pocket, but I read some horror stories about .380 rounds not penetrating peoples jackets/ hoodies. So, I switched my EDC to a Glock 26, which is a 9mm. Pretty clunky gun, so I switched to a Baretta Nano, which is a bit thinner, but also a 9mm. When clothing gets clunkier in the winter I carry a Glock 17 (.40). It all boils down to what you feel comfortable and safe with. In my opinion/experience, lasers are a waste unless the switch is built into the palm of the grip. The last thing you're going to do if you need to pull the gun out is try to find a switch to turn a laser on.

Not sure if this is true or not...I hope it is though... I had a guide in Pulaski, NY for Salmon fishing about 15 years ago. We were sitting in the boat with the lines in the water and talking about different rigs and the weather and the water level. He told me, "last weekend I had a couple in my boat. I was telling them that the water level was really low, so the fishing would be slow until the water level in the river rises and the fish start to move. The wife proceeded to lean over the side of the boat and reach to touch the water and she says, "yea, youre right, the water is really low."

My hardest hit by far was a 28lb king salmon. I was throwing a glow in the dark casting spoon at about 4:30am on lake Ontario. I had a medium retrieve on the spoon, and BAM! It felt like I hooked the bumper of a car going about 30mph in the opposite direction! The drag was on pretty heavy for the initial hookset, so that added to the impact as well. Not the biggest salmon I've caught, but it was the only one I've caught on a spoon and it was one hell of a hit!! If anyone ever gets the opportunity (if you havent already) to fish for Salmon, do it!

I'm trying to find where you see the casting model of Veritas for $50 on Cabelas. I'm only seeing the spinning.