Fishin Dad

Wow, you guys did well up there. I think we had 1.8”. Areas around here had 2.8”. We really needed it for sure. I really wouldn’t mind 3 or 4 more of those storms coming through. I usually love nice dry fall weather, but we have to catch up sometime.

I agree. The quality has been better lately. We are still very low on water in Southern MN. It rained a lot last night and we are supposed to get more later today, but lakes are LOW! Fishing for the most part here this year has been worse than I can remember. A few lakes have been really good, but overall it has remained tougher to catch fish. I am looking forward to trying to get on em a little this fall before hitting the deer stand with my bow. Those are quality fish for up north. I love the Alexandria area. Plan on looking there to retire in a few years.

I use this line a lot as I get it cheap at the factory store in Spirit Lake. I actually find it to have less stretch than most of the fluoro carbon lines. I use Sniper on my chatter bait rod as it has more stretch and I like that for moving baits. I have had great success with 100% Trilene for my bottom baits. I have a tote full of it with different pound tests. I would love to have a tote full of Tatsu, but can’t afford to use that as often as I have to change my line on some reels. I admit I haven’t even tried Tatsu, but many people I trust say it is the bees knees.

With all the good stuff that you post, and seeing all that organization and planning, you can’t pass anything off on luck my friend!! My Lund needs to get north this fall to find some Brown fish. Needs some diffferent slime in the boat. Haven’t caught one yet this season. Not acceptable.

When fishing boat docks and lifts while skipping and pitching jigs, I use 15-20 lb fluoro, usually Trilene 100%. I get it very cheap in Spirit Lake at their outlet store. I like that is has hardly any stretch compared to other fluorocarbon lines and it is tough. I know it has a larger diameter than most, but docks and lifts tear up fishing line BAD. When fishing less nasty stuff, I use 12-15 lb. Fluoro. If fishing jigs in the weeds, I use 30-50lb. straight Braid.

Man, I really like the Lund a lot. We spend a lot of time together. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it all exactly the same. I don’t ever feel that way. A-Jay knows his stuff!!

I can say that I am very happy with my 2022 1875 Lund Pro V bass XS. I did communicate with A-Jay and he really motivated me that this was the right boat for me. My set up: 200 hp Mercury pro xs Minn Kota 36v Ultrex with spotlock 2 10 ft Talons on tilt brackets 2 12” Humminbird helix Mega Humminbird Mega 360 Port counsel travel cover Butt seat My wife and two grown daughters will often go out in the boat so I loved the extra seating. This is what really pushed me towards this boat in the first place. It was the only bass boat with this seating. I also love it for storing stuff in the deck area (net, cooler, Butt seat, etc). The back deck is still plenty big. I have co anglers in my boat and I often fish off the back deck while spot locked or Taloned down. It works amazing. The storage is sick. Almost too much. I have to remind myself to leave some things home. I, like AJay, purchased my boat from the dealer all rigged up and ready to go. It has been flawless for 2 seasons now. I have no regrets at all. I get so many compliments on the boat and try to take very good care of it. Not a scratch on it yet. Gets washed often and sprayed down with Hot Sauce or Slick Mist. Good luck with your purchase if you go this route. I don’t think you will be disappointed. Reach out with any questions.

I agree that the Ely area is magical. So pristine. The bite around Southern MN has been rotten. I am convinced there was a winter kill on any lakes that are 15’ or less. It is not a total kill, but definitely damage to the population. Tourney results would clearly back this up. Any lakes with 25’ or more depth haven’t suffered nearly as much. I would assume with the drought, heavy snow cover, and more pressure from fishing has hammered us down here. Luckily, our lakes are pretty fertile and should bounce back if we get a lot of rain, mild winters, and less pressure. Wishful thinking, I know.

Pit bull tackle are the best I have ever used. No tension needed at all to cut braid. I have boomerang, cuda, Rapala, kids scissors. Nothing touches the Pit Bull

It sounds to me like you might have it hooked off center. Even then, it shouldn’t really spin. What worm and hook are you using?

If you have room to cast, I would go longer with a second rod. You can cast farther and take up more line on hook sets. You might be a little less accurate, but I like a longer rod. I am 6’3” and fish from a bass boat, so it works well for me. I have a few rods, both spinning and casting, at 7’6” and like those for certain techniques.

Yes, 100%! It is almost annoying the amount of panfish that will get wild on any Maxscent bait. I have got sunfish to the boat with them just clamped onto the tail. That has told me the Maxscent works for fish.

I really try to be a nice guy and meet a ton of great people while fishing, but in this case, I think I would have said something. I don’t want a nasty altercation, but I am getting sick of those types of people these days, so, I would have probably said something. I envy those of you who can let that go better than I can.

I would say that Neko and Wacky use the same Neko type hook interchangeably. Drop shot can use that hook, but there seems to be so many more options for drop shot. Spin shot with built in swivel, finesse wide gap, Aberdeen long shape type hooks. There are a lot of bait options for drop shotting so that is probably why.

Man, all the talk of northern MN fishing is giving me the itch to travel!! I took off last week too. Not a fan of that kind of heat. I fished Saturday with my boss and thought the lake would be nasty green and the fish would be deep………wrong and wrong!! The lake clarity was decent and the fish were shallow and we blasted them. Caught over 60 in a little over 4 hours. Nothing big, (3 1/2) was the biggest, but it was fun. My boss doesn’t fish bass a lot and had a lot of fun. Talked to a couple other boaters and they didn’t catch ‘em deep either. This lake is known for a deep (10-12 ft) rock bite, and we have caught hundreds this year there that way. Boy, was I wrong!!

I have a pair of Smith photochromic sunglasses. The polarization seemed fine to me. I have a lot of different sunglasses I wear and these seemed to work just fine. I have to wear these again and see if I notice anything different. I have t worn them yet this year. I just didn’t get them into the boat. No other reason.

Yeah, that is what I thought I would need for this boat. I really don’t want to throw down $600 on another prop and I am happy enough with this one. If, and I really hope not, I torch this one, I think I would get that 21 Tempest. Sounds like a good one. I really wonder how that boat would react at 70 mph. I think it would be more steady than a glass bass hull with just the prop in the water chine walking. It would be interesting to know how fast they have had a pro v going. With your experience, you would be a good test pilot!! ?

Lol, that is about what I get out of mine too. They put a 19p prop on it and I thought that was too small of pitch, but that darn thing jumps out of the hole and planes out right now. I usually get around 53-54 most days loaded down with two people. I jump out of the hole during tournaments and get a good head start on the big boats, but they will pass me if they have a couple minutes of run time. Luckily, our lakes are small and a 5 minute run is a long one. Some of those guys are running mid to high 70’s. That seems a little crazy to me. I feel good about the safety of the pro v.

What is your top speed on yours AJay?

Wow, that is a lot of running time. I only get that on Mille Lacs and a couple other bigger lakes, and even then, I try to pick an access to shorten the drive time based on weather, wind, bite, etc. I often run between 30-40 mph when spot hopping around home to save some of the expensive fuel we have now. Your big lakes are beautiful!! Changing colors is not something I am ready for. Yikes.

Wow, how far of runs do you usually have to make there? What is your typical cruising speed? Love all that open water.

I usually enjoy talking to people at the docks. I don’t mind sharing some information, especially if there are kids involved. I will listen to others info as well, but I use my better judgement while determining the kind of person it is. I have gotten some great info from really nice people. I hope I have helped some people as well. Ultimately, I enjoy the challenge of finding my own fish and making my own success. In one of my fishing leagues, we actually hang out after weigh in and talk about what we all did. Most of it is honest. It is more about fun, education, and comradery. I like that.

Haha. I agree. Having accrued all that sick time, they don’t ever even question when I take time off. There are employees that abuse the heck out of it and it is annoying as heck. Like one day per week. It is unbelievable. Sitting in a tree stand with my bow hanging nearby, if that isn’t medicine, I don’t know what is!?!?

I prefer a medium power with fast action. I fish a wacky worm around some cover usually. I have even bumped up to a MH at times. I like a ml for open water finesse fishing though (drop shot, Neko, etc.).

Good on you 12poundbass. The bass gods will be happy with you!! Maybe have to change your name to 13pound Bass soon!!