fishnkamp

First do not fish the rod till you get it fixed. I do not know where you are located but if you are near MD. I got a great rod builder that can take care of you. If not go to your closest local tackle shop (not the big box store) and ask who repairs rods. I guarantee they will know who can fix it. Often tomes these shops have an arrangement with a rod builder and sometimes they employ a person to do it there.It should only cost about $20 bucks or less to have it repaired. No big deal.

If you look at Dicks the Limited Edition is a little lighter and is selling for $79.99 for a 30 series reel. The President in a 30 series is selling for 59.00 so the Limited is only $20 more. Also there is a $10 off every $50 you spend (up to $30 off total) deal going on. So you can get $10 off either. Plus Dicks is offering free shipping on top of the $10 off deal. Looks like you can't do wrong. I personally have never touched a Limited, but I own 7 Pflueger Presidents in 25, 30 ,35, and 40 series. Several are over 10 years old. 3 are mine and the rest are my wife's. Personally I would not hesitate to get the slightly heavier and proven President.

That lousy Bait Monkey!!! I am never safe from him Never!

Sandflea welcome the forums. Boy you moved to a fisherman's paradise. I live in Baltimore MD. but drive 14 hours to get near your new home. If you own a boat, let me give you some places to fall in love with. First go get real familiar with Center Hill Lake in the fall and spring. It has a good population of largies and a great population of big smallmouth and my favorite big kentuckies. The fish in my avatar is a 7 pound Kentucky spot from Center Hill Lake. That lake is east of you, turn south off rt 40 onto 56, at the Silver Point exit( going towards Smithville) They are working on its dam as we speak. There are some gorgeous waterfalls feeding into that lake also. We boated almost right up to an 80 footer, it was so cool. Next going east a bit further checkout the home of the world record smallie Dale Hollow. I can not tell you how incredible that lake has been to me. My wife and I have caught a ton of 5 to 7 pound smallies there during several vacation weeks. West of you are Old Hickory and J Percy Priest which I have done some boat testing on, but never fished . The next major lake to go to is Chicamagua which is kicking out world record bags of largies. These are just a few. I am jealous. But again welcome.

Well usually if the fuel system is starving your problem would be at higher engine rpm. More likely it is a vacuum or air leak. Here is what i would do, some of this is just good maintenance and I want to eliminate it as a contributor. I would take the fuel line off at the engine and using the primer bulb fill a glass container with some fuel, then see if the fuel is clean, clear, no signs of water or debri etc. I would ( and have) siphoned fuel out of my tank and refilled with new fresh fuel. Check and replace your spark plugs (make sure if it was done recently that the correct plugs were installed). Due to the trouble ethanol is having on fuel lines I would replace all of my fuel lines from tank to primer bulb and from the bulb to the engine. I would replace any fuel filters that are in line or under the hood on the engine. I suggest you go to a dealer and get the new ethanol rated fuel line and get a factory Johnson primer bulb. Now I run only Merc engines, but have been hearing too many problems with aftermarket and factory Merc bulbs so instead of buying a factory fuel line and primer bulb assembly I would purchase bulk fuel line by the foot cut it to length and put good stainless steel clamps. I did the exact thing to my 6 year old boat not more than 3 months ago. Add a can of SeaFoam to your first tank of fuel. I also recommend regularly using StarTron fuel additive to all fuel added to the tank. I hope this helps to fix it

I like Seafoam and use it once a year or if I feel I need to due to rough idling or hard starting. I never fill up the fuel tank without Startron fuel additive. It 's purpose is to keep ethanol and water from separating. I do not use Stabil but have always thought it was more for long term fuel storage. My boat is 6 years old and gets treated to 1 week of real fuel while on vacation ( we go to Tennessee where non ethanol fuel is available) a year, otherwise it is forced to live with E10. It so loves vacation week.

You can get it from Lowes, Home Depot and even West marine. Try something like this 5/16 or 3/8 or 1/2 inch chain should do it. http://www.lowes.com/pd/Campbell-Commercial-1-ft-5-16-in-Welded-Galvanized-Steel-Chain-By-the-Foot/999909269 Attach it with one of these http://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-Stainless-Steel-Anchor-Shackle-with-Screw-Pin/999971034 Tie your rope to the other end of the chain and this will also protect the knot since it won't be dragged on the bottom as much. Good Luck

I live in MD. Every boater here in my state is forced to run E10. My 75 carbed Merc runs on E10 gas with Startron in it, and It runs fine, I have replaced my fuel lines and primer ball and even cut the old line open (the boat is a 2010 Lowe) and it was still okay. I have no choice but to run E10, as it is required in this socialist state I live in. The only time I can run real unleaded fuel is on vacation, when I am boating in Tennessee. My boat does start easier and run smoother out there. My Chevy S10 gets 6 mpg better also. So fuel makes a difference, but I suspect you got a bad tank of fuel, not just fuel with ethanol in it. I would go back to the station and talk to the manager to see if they had any complaints because you are making one right now. I would try running your motor from a portable can of fresh unleaded gas and see if it clears up before syphoning out the fuel in your tank. If the station got a bad load they may assist in having the tank syphoned for you.

I recommend a 12 pound anchor for you because the water you are boating in has slow moving current. I never needed anything heavier until I started boating the Chesapeake Bay tidal rivers, which have heavy fast running current at times. If you were running on a river that had faster current I would suggest the 20 pounder for you. The addition of the chain will help the anchor stay in place once the flukes (the ears on the river style anchor) catch on the bottom. The chain lays on the bottom so the rope pulls on the anchor more horizontally rather than directly vertically which might lift the anchor and loose bottom contact.

Goose52 that is an incredible setup!

Take a look at this boat review video The boat layout works well and you can see two guys fit up front pretty despite the fact that it is not an 18 footer. There really is not a wrong answer both boats are designed to get a boater like yourself's attention. Go sit in both and then decide.

I have owned some type of bass boat for over 40 years. many of them were aluminum and until i started fishing the Chesapeake Bat tributaries with heavy tidal current I never needed anything more than two 10 pound mushroom anchors. Now I have to rum a 20 pound river style anchor but it is attached to a MK electric anchor winch. The plow style anchors would work better for me but carrying it on a bass boat is a pain. With the river style anchor add 1 foot of 1/2 inch chain and then the rope it will work pretty good. The current you are dealing with is not fast at all. You can add a second anchor like a 10 pound mushroom if you wamt to setup to fish for catfish and do not want to swing.

Get a 12 pound river anchor. Here is one on Wal Mart's site http://www.walmart.com/ip/SeaChoice-41520-River-Anchor-Black-Vinyl-20-lbs/32739408 Consider seriously mounting a Anchor Mate 2 on your boat the are terrific. I nave run them on several boats. I run an electric anchor winch on my boat now. It is a171/2 Lowe aluminum bass boat so not to different then your boat.

Deep cycle batteries come in different sizes and they range from group 22, 24, 27, 29, 30 and 31s. Each battery gets physically larger in width,length, height, and weight as the group number increases. I suggested a group 27 because it holds enough amperage to provide all day use. Deep cycle batteries come in 3 types as well. First is your lead acid, these are built using the same old technology a car battery uses. They are the "wet" type and that means you need to check fluid levels and they have the same type caps your car battery has. This is a poor choice for your use. Way too much chance of getting battery acid on you, or your equipment. Next comes Advanced Glass Technology deep cycle batteries. These are referred to as AGM batteries. These are specially built so they are sealed and could actually be installed upside down and it would not matter. I use only these. These use totally different technology so they won't leak, and were designed to discharge very evenly for a greater use before the voltage drop affects your trolling motor. They must be recharged properly with a charger designed to recharge an AGM battery. The third type is Gel Cel batteries. These are really the top of the line and their price reflect it. Go here to Cabelas and see the battery I was suggesting http://www.cabelas.com/product/boating/auto-boat-batteries-chargers/marine-deep-cycle-batteries|/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104446080/cabela-s-advanced-anglers-8482-agm-battery-ndash-size-27/1679063.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmarine-deep-cycle-batteries%2F_%2FN-1100564%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104446080 look here at the trolling motor: http://www.cabelas.com/product/boating/electric-trolling-motors/transom-mount|/pc/104794380/c/104716980/sc/104645880/minn-kota-174-endura-8482-c2-40-trolling-motor/1116687.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ftransom-mount%2F_%2FN-1100546%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104645880 Here is a bracket to mount your trolling motor if you have no found one http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Canoe-Motor-Mount/product/67133/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions

He sold a 17 foot Ranger with a 115 hp on it to get a 19 foot 3 with a 200 hp outboard. The blue Ranger you see in the R71 , 81 , 91 area in the article, is the exact boat I was talking about. He wanted that maroon Ranger 392V Comanche because he can run much rougher water in it. Honestly, if you gave him a choice between a 1994 392V hull and a new Ranger 519 free he would choose the 392V. He has been on most of the Ranger models and prefers the older hull design.

I have used several good ones, but I like the Minn Kota Endura C2 40 pound thrust for your needs. I used to run two of the 55 pound thrust motors on a 15 foot aluminum mod v bass boat. I think the 40 would be good. Then I would get a Cabelas brand deep cycle agm battery. These batteries have given me tremendous hours of use per day, and over 6 years of consistent battery life. I use the group 30 but that is on a big aluminum bass boat . Go and get the group 27 threaded post version and it is on sale. It normally sells for $219 but it is on sale for $129. It weighs almost 60 pounds but will last all day and a couple more. I would extend the original wiring from the trolling motor to move the battery up front, just add ring terminals instead of alligator clips.Recharge it as soon as you get done with it and get a charger designed for AGM batteries like the ones Walmart sells for around fifty bucks . They call it a Shumaker Ship and shore 15 amp charger. I I have three and they work great.

Go read an article a friend of mine wrote about buying a used boat. During his wrtiting of this article he learned how to best buff out and how to spiff up a boat to make it sell for its best price. He then goes over lots of details about buying a used boat. All of the "what to look for and what to look out for" type details. Along the way he spent nearly everyday searching for and purchasing his next favorite bass boat. Go here it is worth your time. http://www.baybass.com/node/200. He has written the best article I have ever read about buying a used boat. Let me know what you think after you read it.

Guys is that a Champion Extreme HP? If so that rod retails for $340 to $360, so yes it would be a great deal.

Looks decent. What part of PA is it in. I live in MD and we have some other members that would take a much shorter run to look at it if you wanted them to.

I like the idea of the fiberglass, it should ride smoother and it is supposed to hit mid 40s with the 75 hp outboard. I fish with a guide in Kentucky that has run a 225 Etec for 6 years and loves that engine. The Etec or the Yamaha would be the choice for me personally. If you can afford to do it I would have them mount the elite 3x depthfinder onto the front area and have them put a Lowrance Elite 7 TI in dash. That unit is so much like the HDS 7 Gen3, but for almost 1/2 the price. The HDS series has a lot of functions built in that won't be relevant to those of us that do not own huge engines with expensive smart gauges and other items like Power Poles. What that unit will do, is provide excellent gps mapping, regular 2d sonar imaging as well as hd side and down imaging. Now you can go find the fish. The only other thing to consider is to upgrade the trolling motor to a 70 or 80 pound thrust 24 volt trolling motor as well as a 2 bank 10 amp per bank on board charger. I know these options may put the boat a little above your original budget, but I did all of these things and more to my current boat ( I have owned 11 over 43 years). I have never been sorry I added them. If you do not do it now you will do it soon. Put it on the loan, it adds pennies to the monthly cost.

Here is another option check here http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/5657126882.html Now this one is a 1992 Stratos 18.5 foot bass boat with a true 150 hp outboard. The price is only $6000. Again I do not know what your budget was but these two boats appear to be decent. Also I have never been in NH so I do not know how far you are from them.

You did not say what your budget might be so I am going to show you a few reasonably priced options. I hope one of these turns out to be a good boat for you. I found these with just a few minutes of looking. Check here first.The Ranger R70s are quality built bass boats. They were just over 17 foot long had a 81 inch beam and could had a max hp of 130. I had a friend here in MD. that ran one all over the Potomac and the Upper Chesapeake Bay. I know you originally found a boat that lists as an 18 footer, but was actually only 6 inches longer than this one. This boat appears to be in good shape, it has newly updated electronics and a fairly new trolling motor. For an asking price of $7000 it would be a strong contender for my money. Of course a check out and test run would help me decide on it. The Fast Strike engines ran real well on that hull. I believe my friend Bryan had his running around 55 give or take. Look here http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/5667289189.html There are others and I will do some more snooping but its dinner time.

Sorry I did not keep up with this thread enough. My apology. Contact my friend Tom of Tom's Custom Rods, just go here http://www.tomscustomrods.com/custom-rods-galley Now Tom builds georgous rods, he is an artist, He is located up here near Baltimore. There are a slew of guys in your area using him as we speak. I am not sure if you are familiar with baybass.com. That is a website owned by another friend of mine Bryan. Bryan's site is dedicated to real time up to date fishing reports for the MD Upper Bay, its lakes, its rivers as well as all of the Potomac and lake reports for Northern Va and some of VA's rivers. Bryan must have at least 2 dozen of rods that Tom has either customized or built from scratch. He and other members of his site regularly take runs up here to pick up and drop off rods. Also if you are coming up you should do yourself a favor and make a quick stop in Hunt Valley, near the MD.State Fairgrounds ( the former location for the annual MD Bass Expo). Here is a really good tackle shop called Anglers Express. They have only been in business for less than 8 months, but carry an amazing line of rods,reels and tackle. They are dealers for Dobyns,Powell, Duckett,St Croix, Irod and many more.They carry a vast line of baits, not just the usual Strike King and Berkley, but all of the more independant brands like Reaction Innovation ,Missile Baits, Damiki. Kietech, Big Bite Baits and others. They carry hard baits like Bandit, Bagleys, Spro, and Lucky Craft. They carry the stuff that tournament guys want. The two owners are tournament guys, one competes on tidal water and the other competes on reservoirs, so it means they are in touch with what works and are in demand Check here although there is much more in the store, often the web lags a little behind the inventory, http://www.anglersexpress.com/

Yes for sure. Just make sure they are the right ones.

Where do you live,just the general area?