Thornback

Thanks. Very interesting to see how it got started.

I also recommend the lakes in Ocala National Forest for an electric motor -- Head east of Ocala out SR40 and try Half Moon Lake, secluded large lake with free launch. It's also famous for some lunkers. Lake Bryant has a free launch and is famous for numbers and lunkers. Mill Dam Lake is a free launch and has small bass but launching could be a problem for a 2-wheel drive and a trailer if the water level is down. Wildcat, as mentioned, is a pay ramp, further out from Ocala, but a beautiful lake with nice bass, and as mentioned a catch & release. Rodman can be a problem for only an electric motor if the wind is up and the current is flowing through the dam. I would stay off it with only an electric trolling motor. Like suggested, do a Google search and Google satellite view.

My problem (as I see it) is that once on the water (early morning at first light) I don't want to leave, thus I stay too long and by the time I drive home I am fatigued. At age 75 I run out of energy by afternoon. Once in a while I have done short trips and I arrive home with average energy and that was nice. Help, I can't change

Although I use bait casters loaded with #40 braided and fish with wild shiners, I keep a Zebco 33 spin caster loaded with #10 fluoro in my boat. I use it when I want to throw a light weight lure (which is rare). Years ago I started with the Zebco spin caster and have caught a ton of bass with them. At least they are easy to use, easy to clean and lube. The only advice I give -- try different rods and reels -- then go with what you like best that produces.

I don't use spinning reels, I use bait casters, but I have to jump in anyway. IMO fishermen who back reel just like to play with their catch -- and there is nothing wrong with that. To each his own. Personally I like to streak a bass to the boat and lip her as fast as possible. The quicker the less chance of losing her.

Hi Matt -- Welcome, go get 'em and post some photos. Spring is right around the corner.

Nice ride! Now you got a reason to go fishing

I'll add an amusing story to the topic -- I once had a neighbor who wanted to accompany me on a fishing trip. He had never been out in a bass boat and didn't fish. It was a cool morning and when we got the boat in the water I put on a jacket. He laughingly made some remark about me needing a jacket, then said the weather wasn't cold, that it felt nice. He was the macho type. He was wearing shorts and T-shirt, as was I. Well we had about two miles to run to get to a fishing spot so I took of at top speed with the intention of showing him how cold it could be speeding across the water. When we reached the spot and I anchored he said, "It does get cold running across the water in a boat."

Thanks for taking the time to post your great pics.

Taxes -- the politicians never have enough of our money. Every generation allows the politicians to impose new taxes. Flat Tax or Fair Tax sounds good to me.

First off, I always have on my PFD. For the cold here in Florida, I wear cotton bibs, heavy knee-high socks, long sleeve shirt, cotton sweat shirt with hoodie and then over that a wind breaker with lining, cap, gloves when driving the boat and sometimes at the start of fishing. Usually here when the sun starts rising it will eliminate the cold and I start peeling off the layers. If it gets 32 degrees or less I will swap the cotton bibs for a pair of insulated bibs. Florida weather can warm up quickly during full sun so anytime I wear the insulated bibs I always take along a pair of cotton bibs so I can change in the boat if I start to feel too warm.

Wear that PFD -- the life you save may be your own.

My three were ordered from Bass Pro Shop. You raise a good point as I have a friend who is 6'4" 280 and it is tight on him. Being a large man, If you can, you may want to try several on before making the purchase. You certainly want one that fits comfy.

Go get one today!!! I keep three in my boat and no one gets in my boat without one on. You are right about being comfortable. Never know it's on. Sometimes when I return to the ramp I almost forget to remove it.

I had a bass fisherman ask me to teach him how to bass fish with shiners. I agreed and said I would furnish everything. Once on the lake and anchored in a good spot I demonstrated how to hook the shiner and I made the cast. I peeled off some slack line and handed the rod to my friend. I told him to keep slack in the line and when he saw the line being pulled off the reel at a steady rate, take up the slack and set the hook like he was trying to break the rod. In a few minutes his line took off and he did exactly as instructed, even broke my rod in half

Another technique I used to use in a river with a current if I was tossing a plastic worm -- I had a 10' piece of zinc coated heavy chain tied to a rope and the other end of the rope tied to my outboard motor. Dragging the chain on the river bottom would slow my boat down and I would float down the river at half the river current speed. I would have to use my trolling motor from time to time to keep me in the center of the river.

I fish with shiners 99% of the time and I always anchor next to a veggie mat and I usually use two anchors, one in the bow and one in the stern. When you got two people in the boat you don't want the boat swinging back and forth with just one anchor. Many times I go out and never use my trolling motor. When I was throwing a plastic worm I would run my trolling motor and I never liked to fight the current or wind while trying to concentrate on fishing. The technique I use for anchoring is to drop one anchor, let the anchor line play out with the wind or current, then drop the other anchor straight down and tie it off with no slack in the line. Anyone do this or do you have a better technique?

Safety first. I only fish alone 10% of my trips. I'm retired and have several retired friends who like to fish but they have a hard time committing several days in advance. They want to wait until the day before to say they can go and that drives me crazy. For safety precautions I always leave a note on the fridge where I'll be fishing. Everyone puts on a PFD before stepping into my boat. I make sure I have extra gas, batteries charged, cell phone, food and drinks. I also store in my boat a first aid kit, ropes, water-proof container, and I'm never out of site of land. When fishing alone I avoid heavy vegetation, skinny water, and stump fields. My wife doesn't like me going fishing alone but I tell her at my age it's better to drown quickly than waste away for months in a nursing home.

I can't speak to a 150 but I have owned a 60 Merc 4-stroke for 10 years and it has never been in a shop, never failed to start, never failed to run idle or WOT. That is definitely a great looking boat. If the boat can handle up to 200 HP and it has a 150 that is 3/4 of it's rating and I always heard that was minimum. Ask to take it out on the water and find out how she runs -- the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Believe it or not about three weeks back I got finned by a wild golden shiner. I guess I have handled thousands of them and their fins are soft. I got stuck in the tip of my index finger and it went in about 1/8" and hurt like heck. For the next two weeks I couldn't stand to put pressure on that finger tip. Today there is still a tiny spot on the skin that is hard, like a callouse.

A man with two scales is never sure what his bass weighs but a man with one scale always knows the exact weight of his bass

Russians will take a chance because they don't care if they die and if you lived in their country you might feel the same

Looks bigger on the ground than when you're holding her. I guess it's the same bass. My guess is 5.12. Now tell us your guess

I could change the bulbs -- but first they would have to lay the tower flat on the ground