Robeng

buy an elite 5 hdi combo (gps, sonar and down imaging) right now for as low as $299 as they are dumping them cause new ones have CHIRP. The price includes the dual transducer. Check out available frequencies for it. Some are offering free cover and SD card with map. BPS had them at that price. They were $500 in fall of 2013. Good unit. Has mapping capability with Insight Genesis feature. Can load one micro SD card (like Navionics) with adapter for slot. Sonar down imaging overlay feature. Back tracking. Comes with built in maps but not real detailed like down to one foot or tight ridge lines. Navionics card does better. OR buy the Elite 4. $199. good unit. all from Lowrance. Though I must say the Humingbird Onix looks real good to me. ( I dont have any iPilot type trolling motor). Hope that helps

Livingston lures worked right out of the box on lake st clair last year. Next outing nothing--but not too much was biting that day wherever I went.

Ghostshad. Per Mr. Horton it is a Plano spinnerbait box. Nice guy.

Timmy Horton started a new store on web called Profound Outdoors. www.profoundoutdoors.com But, I dont see it on there. I'll ask him on his facebook page.

Lost a Gold Zebco 33 to Lake St Clair when it was a brand new gift from my bride at the time. Wave hit and slipped out of my hands...yes, you watch it sink and can do nothing. lesson learned. (at least it wasnt an expensive setup - still it upset me to lose that gift and she has since departed this planet)

Will be interesting to try one. Last year was the Livingstons.

Good to see all the replies. Thanks to everyone for sharing. Nice to know I can expect Field and Stream to have a good selection. I agree on TW on the Internet-usually decent prices. Also the Tackle Outlet Store on web sometimes I find has good deals. Next week temps looking good to warm up and not freeze in garage to start getting things ready for open water. Anxious? YES!

I used a couple of Livingston lures last year and out of the box>>BAM! Repeatedly caught fish that particular day. Next time out...nothing on that lure. Anyone try the new Shadow Rap from Rapala?

Get good at a few types of lures and presentations before jumping to the next lure. It is so very tempting to keep buying new baits every time the latest one is released at ICAST or a tournament or I see on WFN. Go slow. The ton of baits will perhaps develop over time. Just enjoy yourself and gain confidence in each lure type and presentation. Have fun.

Itchin for open water Fishin!

This coming week there is a Field and Stream store opening near me in suburb of Detroit, MI., and is managed by Dick's Sporting goods. Anyone have one of these near them? (note it is not affiliated with the magazine of the same name) I'm curious to go check it out when it opens to see what they carry, prices, etc. From newspaper last July, 2014: They announced they will also be opening Field and Stream stores in Columbus, Ohio and Cary, North Carolina in September 2015. They already have stores in Pa and Ky. (In same article Gander stated it has or will open 20 more stores across USA in 2014-2015) Michigan is an outdoor paradise with lots of stores to choose from: There is a Dick's across the street from the upcoming Field and Stream and a Dunhams down the street. Gander Mountain is a little drive and Bass Pro is about 20 minutes. Cabelas is over an hour away from the tri-county area of Metro Detroit. Personally I like BPS and some shops on the web. I like Cabela's too, but is a long drive. I also checked out a discount store with buyouts, over runs etc., called Ollies. They had some fishing and hunting gear. The fishing gear was some tackle, lures, and a few rod choices. So, waiting on Field and Stream store to see what they offer. Only 10 minutes away. Let me know if you have one near you and what you think. Thanks

too funny "Keeper"!

pretty funny there "freezin" Made me chuckle here in Michigan.

2 stroke--4 cylinder oil injected 1991 Mercury 40 Hp electric start with power trim (check fluid levels). Maintenance every year with lower oil change and gaskets, keep gas tank full during winter with stabilizer, take off prop and grease spline for storage, fog carbs or plugs and turn engine flywheel manually, run propylene glycol antifreeze (purple stuff for (-60F) thru it for storage, flush motor with clear water after each outing, --its 0 degree F. outside right now and garage is 20F--FYI. I change NGK plugs often and impeller every 2-3 years. Lubricate electrical, and metal linkages under cowl, wipe down outside of motor housing. I stick with Mercury products-oil, gear oil, etc. Original engine. gets about only 25 hours per season due to my schedule. Still has great compression in all cylinders. Tighten engine bolts. Do most myself. no issues. Hope this helps.

I pulled a 6000lb Starcraft camper for 10 years with a retainer clip to first "grip" No issues. The boat hitch has a locking pin with key.

Yes>>>even though I am new>>>hail to the monitor(s) as I have seen too many baloney forums with foul language, trolling people trying to start up stuff, politics!<that one to me did not belong, monitors that just gave up and quit, rip off people, bogus posts about foreign romance, etc. From what see this is a very good forum focused on Bass and appropriate relative forums. The members here appear sincere and very helpful to the experienced, novice, and those just starting out. Great information. Actually I have read Bassresource for 5 years (I think) and just joined yesterday. Glad I did.

I write down each event on the water. thought about spreadsheet. but on paper log I jot down relative info. Captain America>>>thanks for the PDF log.

Early morning and night fishing. Blue bird days are pretty and can be good, Will fish all days in summertime, For fun and food! (sick of cold and wanting snow to melt---looks like Detroit will need to get to March 15+ before we stay(?) above freezing.)

Thanks for all the nice welcomes. and I joined the newsletter--looking forward to that. (i cant stop reading the posts in all the forums---good info. found more here in a couple hours than 100 hours on others)

Lake St. Clair-May to June for SM. Though, last year everything was late including the Salmon up in Baldwin on Pere Marquette. Surely, depends on the winter and then the spring weather.

Lake Erie is know for larger bass but can have 3-4 foot waves and beat you and the boat up! Lake St. Clair has lots of 3-4 pounders and a 6+ pounder was caught recently (lat last year before cold weather) My best on LSC is 4.25 lbs. Some pros go to Laker Erie at the mouth of the Detroit River area. Many stay in Lake St. Clair. some run up to Port Huron area or back into the St Clair River on way to Port Huron. Personally, with my 16 ft Lund----I dont go to Lake Erie unless pretty calm. But the big bass boats and larger go out there all the time. Hope that helps. Good luck at your tourney. Is it the BFL? cause I know BFL is there this July 2015?

From Detroit area. Fish Lake St. Clair a lot. Inland lakes. Bass mostly. Have ice fished-but, too cold for me most of the time. Like bass, walleye, pike, musky, perch, catfish. Shore fished for way too many years. and then....... Have 16 ft. 1991 Lund with 40 Hp Mercury 2 stroke-4 cylinder oil injection (original engine). Lowrance Chart plotter and Motor Guide x3 Trolling Motor. Boat stays in garage in winter. Tow with SUV. I watch Outdoor channel, but mostly WFN channel->>addicted. I too spend probably more than I should for fishing and boat stuff. Would like a bigger boat, but, ah, priorities. This is a great forum offering with great members. Much better than some other forum websites Bassresource is great!. Be safe out there. Bob.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

change sensitivity and play with that setting up and down till you get what you like. Post above is true about the trash the sonar is picking up. have fun with it.

I have the Elite 5 hdi combo--gps, sonar and downscan. hook up to the cranking or even a separate battery. I live in Michigan and map of lake st clair was decent. just bought HotMaps Premium from Navioncis for $119 plus tax. much better detail. you can check out your lake detail on Navionics website. Though the Hummingbird products for the high end units let you do real time mapping on a lake and creates chart instantly. The Updates for Navionics for $99 I dont think is worth it. Besides, the Premium and some other Navionics give you one free year of updates. you can also download for your Iphone a limited mapping system for $10 from App store. I do like my Lowrance though. Good features for price. I talked with a few people and the newer CHIRP units are not worth the $ according to them. Guy at Bass Pro said samething-not worth it. He said you need a true CHIRP transducer which are around $2k for the CHIRP unit to really give you the crisper detail on downscan etc. have fun.