fishbear

The boat monkey strikes when we least expect, and demands his fair share!

I have owned a few gas powered boats, and I made the mistake once of listening to a technician about NOT draining the lower unit. Paid dearly for that one. I would never park the boat for the winter without draining and refilling the lower unit. Even if it going to be sitting for only a month or so in the winter, I will drain and refill. Better to be safe than sorry.... take it from someone who learned the hard way.

I totally agree. Here in Georgia, been in the mid to low 70s. Then we get 3 or so days of 85 degree weather, now it is dropping back into the low 70s for the weekend.... Fish are more confused than I am about how to catch them!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

1) Killians Red 2) Rootbeer

I have read and reread eveyones opinion,,, I still have the opinion, it depends a lot on your personality and style. Example, Can you see Kevin Van d**n fishing a dropshot rig???? I do not follow the professionals much, but I do know that he is as hyper a powerfisherman as I have seen... just can not for the life of me see him sitting there, humming a little tune to himself with a dropshot rig in the water,,, :o

I would definately prep the inside of the boat, before painting it on... a grit blaster is not expensive to rent, then ask the local paint shop about application techniques. They may know a trick or two that may help.

I would use the Black rubberized bed liner paint that is out there. It will seal it completely from the inside.

Avid, you hit it dead on, with #4. I have actually broke out the light gear, a float and the worms or crickets to catch A FISH. After I catch a few, then I go back to bass fishing. It does seem to work most of the time,, it clears the cobwebs and most of the doubts out of the attic. (it does nothing for the bats in the belfry though) ;D ;D ;D

RW, you just struck a nerve in my thought process. It seems when I go out and stick with one or two lures,(usually topwater and plastics) I catch fish, it may be slow, but I catch fish. When I start trying to out thing myself, and using everything in the boat, but the tacklebox itself, is when I get no results at all. I have to agree with you, this aint Burger King! The fish if they are going to bite, they will bite what ever it is that you are fishing, if you keep it in front of thier nose long enough or give them the chance to ambush it. That being said, though, it begs the question why some people can not fish certain lures with success. Me, it is spinnerbaits, and most jerkbaits. I have caught one fish on a spinnerbait, an 8 lb. catfish. Never have caught a fish on a jerkbait. So you know what, I never pull them out. Just my 2 cents worth.

Man, now you went and did it. You made me actually use my brain before it is warmed up and stretched out... ;D ;D But, seriously, very good thread, and I think you are on the right track with your thinking, however, I would add that everyone's fishing "style" is a little different. Fishing a dropshot is infinitely more difficult for a hyper person than fishing a crank or spinnerbait.... IMO they are going to not use a lure if it is boring to them or they just plain can not stand to stand or sit in a boat and do nothing. Meanwhile a laid back person, who has the patience of the saints might fish a dropshot rig or other very slow finesse presentation all day long, and not even blink an eye. I think personality and a persons style play a lot into how they fish, and what lures they become proficient at using. Just my penny worth of thought.

A large hungry cat????? ;D ;D ;D ;D

Catt Wow, an excellent post. My Bass IQ just went up exponentially! Thank you for the insight. Especially since I have been in a slump for a few weeks until this last Saturday, but I do not consider 1 good day a slump breaker.... Need to string several good trips together to consider the slump over for me...... Thanks again

Gameover, I am already hooked. I was fishing with a couple of Fat Ikas a buddy lent me. I have already placed an order for 50.00 worth over the net... ;D. I am a believer. If it continues to produce, it may just become my new confidence bait. Now, if I could just catch a darn fish on a spinnerbait! :-/ :-/

You will be in our prayers, as is every soldier. Thank you for your sacrifice of being away from family and friends to do what you do best. Good luck and God's Speed on your safe return.

Guys, that is what I did this last Sat.... check out my post in the MY Tournament or Outing section... .Great day on the lake..... I fished exclusively with senkos and Fat Ikas,,, had a great day for me...did a few things wrong, but have figured them out with some help,, and will not be making those mistakes again. The weather last week was we had a front come thru on Wed. night, Thur. morning, and then it turned off clear and about 70-75 degrees. It made for beautiful day on the lake, and I spent a most relaxing 8 hrs. fishing and catching.

OK, that explains a lot. To limber a tip on the rod.. I was using the 4/0 EWG hooks though, so I had that part right. I will switch to a stiffer rod, I have several of them. As for the hook set, that is what I was trying to do. I hate that swinging for the fences hook set, I am afraid I will throw myself out of my boat for one thing ;D. So with a limber tipped rod, I was not getting the hook to penetrate, :-[. Thanks again for the tips.... They really worked.

Roadwarrior, you are DA MAN! I took your advice on Saturday. I went out and fished nothing but Senkos and Fat Ikas. I hooked 10 fish, only landed 4 though. Lost one monster fish. Weather was about 45-50 first thing in the morning, went to 75 by mid day. Water temp was in the low to mid 70s. One question though, I rigged the Fat Ika just like you explained, but every fish I lost was hitting the Ika. All but the big one, spit the hook. I was using an 8 ft. pole, with a limber tip, but good back bone. Now, admittedly, I was not swinging for the fences on the hook set, is that wrong??? Just trying to figure out what I was doing wrong to keep losing fish. Thanks

Thanks guys, I use my fish/depth finder mainly for depth and structure, I was just wondering how these guys just look at thier screen , and go there are bass stacked up down there,, and start catching them... guess I still have a lot to learn,, which is something I dont mind...

Love fishing in the rain. light rain or downpour.... it is invigorating... Now standing in a metal boat on the water holding a 7' lightning rod in my hand, when the light show is going on, THAT MY FRIENDS is a different story. If I can not make the boat launch, I will beach the boat where it is safe, and get out of it, and find cover until the thunder and lightning gods are thru playing around, then I go back to fishing.

Guess, I will never make the "Fishing Olympics" :'( :'(. I take supplements, and one of them makes me test positive for growth hormones. :. Maybe if I give Sample A, and when it comes up positive, I can say my body produces more than the average person.. ;D ;D ;D ;D. Wow, I am as anti drug as they come, but testing fishermen??? For performance enhancing drugs??????? Sorry guys, I am not agreeing with this one.. That is going overboard. I agree with Steven A. Smith. For ONCE!

For me, it would be a log house in Alaska, next to a river full of salmon. Fishing for those big hawgs, watching Grizzly Bears, hunting moose and caribou...... Now that would be living..

Thomas, Didn't you know. Those Monkeys can not be killed........ they are like Superman's most evil opponent. :o

OK, I have a question on this. When you see fish marking on your fish/depth finder, especially in a lake full of crappie,bream etc..... how will you know when you find bass?????? I mean crappie hold to structure also, so are you just seeing fish and hoping they are bass???? Example: I see fish stacked up in water that is 12-15 ft. deep and the fish are holding in about 10 ft. of water, How in the heck do you determine if they are what you are after..... I was watching bass saturday on ESPN, and the guys were literally watching the fish take thier plastics on the fish finder,,, how did they know they were bass to start, and not catfish or crappie, or stripers, or???????? Am I making this to complicated?????

I would add snapping turtles to that list.

NOT if he is like my wife!!!!!!!!! :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D