jitterbug127

I have a powerdrive 50 lb thrust. It is 5 years old. Works great. I paid $300 for it a couple years ago. I updated it to spot lock/advanced gps last year. The upgrade with the wireless remote cost me about $600, so I am at about $900 in on this thing. I bought a different boat and needed to get the shaft lengthened to fit the boat. This was supposed to cost about $150. Repair shop says trolling motor needs rebuilt lower unit due to failing lower unit seal (it worked fine when I brought it in, so I'm not sure if it actually needs to be replaced. but i am not one to argue with a shop since they know more than I do) The prop was also out of square. They said total repair would be $350 for this. This gets me to about $1250. This same trolling motor brand new today$1249. I can get a 55 lb thrust terrova for about $1600. If youre me what do you do? Get powerdrive fixed or just get a terrova and sell powerdrive for whatever i can get out of motor/upgraded head/remote? I know Terrova is much nicer trolling motor and I can still use foot pedal so I'm leaning towards this.

I am the opposite of most. I bring a week worth of snacks fishing and eat all of them in like 3 or 4 hours. I almost never eat snacks outside of fishing but something on the boat I'm all about the snacks. My son is 3 and goes out with me so we have applesauce, apples, bananas, fruit snacks, sandwiches, water etc. Whatever find at the house.

I am going to start the restore this fall. I think the open floor with flatter floors will make it much nicer. 8+ hour days on the water with my bench seats have made me ready to move on boats pretty quick.

If my son is with me we normally fish 2-3 hours. If I'm with a buddy we sometimes fish all day.

It’s same size boat actually 67” wide 16 feet long. Big difference is the bench seats vs open floor pedestal seats being biggest difference. 1987 vs 2010 being other id say,

My wheel bearing checked out. I replaced the entire hubs just for good measure. Sound is still occurring. It is my trailer guides. I didn't realize what it was until later. I did actually buy another boat last weekend. It is a 1987 16 foot smoker craft big fisherman. I got it for the galvanized trailer, but the more i look at the more I am thinking of keeping it. Open floor plan. Rod locker, live well, casting deck/storage up front. The floors need replaced in the back third of the boat. I am deciding if I want to take on a project or not at this point. Boat is set up for fishing vs what I've got now. I do love my 0 maintenance little aluminum boat though. It can sit outside and not have a care in the world about it. Its also light and sits in the water really well.

Darren, Thank you for sharing this post. I was contemplating starting a thread very similar to this within the las week and fall into this today. I share your frustration and to be honest you're probably catching more fish per year than I am. We probably go on 40 trips a season. I normally fish 3-6 hours at a time. I probably catch 10-25 fish a year. It has been that way for 10 years straight now. I have watched more youtube than anyone ever should. I've bought more tackle and tried way more lures than I can imagine. I really am lost as to what to do next. Good luck. If you figure something out let us know.

Trailer has been making a weird noise like a chain is dragging at low speeds only (its not that i can tell). I am going to order new wheelbearings and lubricate whole trailer. I jacked up both wheels they spun freely with no play. Dust caps were a little low on grease but still had plenty. I will be interested to find out what noise actually is.

My biggest advice is take your time and use your mirrors. E brake and wheel chock for steep ramps. I find getting the boat back on the trailer in wind and current to be much more challenging than backing down the ramp.

We’ve all been guilty of it at some point. I got a new boat and trailer this year. I’ve had it way too deep in the water w couple times already. Nothing worse than trying to get out waiting on one someone that can’t back up a trailer. I remember a couple years ago 2 guys took over an hour on the ramp loading up their kayaks and were ticked when I said something to them multiple times. I was sitting in the river with a crying toddler and these guys are loading up to kayak to the moon.

I just went from 1 battery to 2 batteries for the first time. 5 batteries might last me all season without needing a charge

I bought a 1990 Evinrude 9.9 a few weeks ago to try out. Electric start, long shaft, clean paint, throttle cable instead of gears. I rebuilt carb, put new fuel lines on it, new spark plugs, new fuel pump, new impeller, fresh gear lube, cam roller follower replacement, repaired crack in top of carburetor. I finally got it out on the water tonight. She’s is fast. I got 21 mph downstream and 16 upstream stream. Boat was cruising nicely. I still have the 35, bit unless we’re going to a big lake or fishing 3 guys in the boat I think the 9.9 will get the nod. Better on gas and really just safer motor when it’s normally just my boy and I fishing.

I bought a 50 lb power drive last year never having used a bow mount trolling motor before. It’s really nice to have. I put the spot lock update on it. Game changer for my fishing. I just fish out of an 16 foot utility boat. I’ll be getting a 36v 112 lb or whatever the biggest offered at the time is next time I buy.

This would be really hard to get right on the first purchase for me. I'm on my 5th or 6th boat and still have things about my current boat I'd change. I'd say the biggest thing to keep in mind is there is not a one size fits all boat. There are going to be situations where you wish you had something different. Trying to get this purchase 80%+ right is fantastic in my book. priortiy #1 for me would be comfort. If I'm not comfortable in the boat I'm not going to be happy. #2 get the biggest/baddest/best trolling motor you can afford. This piece of equipment is the lifeblood of bass fishing to me. more important than the outboard or scanning electronic. You're days are going to be dictated by how well (or poorly) the trolling motor fights the wind, current, and functions. Spot lock is a must.

I’d probably be fine if I brought 2 3600 boxes (one with soft plastics) and one 3500 for terminal tackle for ever

I just have an old backpack with 2 3500/ and 2 3600 boxes in it. Works as good as anything. I’ve never found a tackle storage option I’m head over heels in love with but this works as good as any. Hard baits are pretty easy to store. Plastics are the one I’ve never really figured out. I’ve got all my plastics in an original bag in a 1 gallon freezer bag. Been doing this 6 or 7 years now. I’d be opened to other options. I fish z man a lot so I know they’ve gotta stay in original package most of time.

Shimano static. I’ve got one that looks like it’s been drug behind my car I use for catfishing that works great.

Fantastic! Bare hands is the only way to eat cake.

I love chocolate cake! Happy to serve it to all. The tuxedo cake from Costco is phenomenal.

I’ve not put in down at Henderson ford in several years now. Last time I tried it was too shallow to kayak which was like December of 2022 I think. is it normally deep enough to run a propeller down there? Waverly is pretty deep for a good stretch but it get shallow quick around a few points and I haven’t tried to go farther.

Yup. White river. Waverly ramp Sunday. Probably try it again this weekend.

Palomar trilene Alberto I need to learn a good loop knot

I had to ad a few to get to 10 as well 😂. I really could have my list just be Neds tubes popper pop max milk pearl jerk bait sk clear Ayu

I guess it depends on how specific you want to get on this. A 5” senko in green pumpkin and stick baits are very different ranges of lures. Colors, brands and sizes all make a difference. That being said im not sure I threw 10 different lures last year. I might have the saddest tackle collection on BR. Ned rig pumpkin tube pumpkin blade bait (both silver and gold) popper Stick bait jerk bait 2 different colors Mepps soft swim bait this probably covers 99% of all the fishing do.

Same here. Got out yesterday and it was a big old skunk for us.