TommyBass

X2 like 80% of other things fishing. You buy red hooks you'll have gold hooks within 3 months anyways. Never found a bit of difference.

Hey all of you Side Scanning people. Does that side scan work in really shallow water?? Say depths 2-3 ft?

I think I've seen that picture on other sites and that guy supposedly is running it the best he knows how. He actually has both Lowrance and HB units running side by side. Not sure why you would ever waste the money on doing that but its what he claims.

Really? I'd say if your used to the standard TM pedal the terrova is VERY similar. The powerdrive pedal works completely different. I've also heard alot of people having trouble with the PD pedal speed adjuster. I have the co-pilot remote steering for my TM as well (not as fancy as the ipilot) and it works great for trolling. However its basically useless for bass fishing.

Yea I'd say that HB shot needs a little adjustment. I've seen them produce some better images than that. However, from what I've read pretty much across the internet land the Lowrance does seem to have better quality to it both sideways and down. I'm not 100% sure, but isn't the HB downscan image produced by a combination of side scan images and makes up for the gap below the boat with software? Where as the Lowrance downscan images are actually generated by a third, seperate downscan trandsducer? Either way... great pictures.. both these units will / have changed everything and make it almost too easy for the average angler to find structure. You still have to catch the fish though. ;D I'm excited to see one in person sometime.

Your right, most do. However usually its a HP recommendation and then a total weight limitation of the entire boat (including engine) allowed by the coast guard. For example, no more than 1500 lbs or 4 persons including gear. They usually state if that weight limit includes the motor or not. The HP recommendation is basically based on three things. 1) Direct weight of the engine on the transom at rest (I believe they base that off the industry average for a 4 stroke but I can't remember) 2) Applied force of the engine on the transom under power 3) Ability of the boat / hull to perform under the peak HP / torque of said engine. Not only does it include the HP force, but the weight that the engine puts on the stern of the boat. (ie a 300 lb motor would make a 12ft jon do a wheely ) In other words if you go over that number you are most likely pushing the structure integrity of your transom by both engine mass and applied force. You are also risking your life in the fact that most likely your boat wasn't designed to be safely operated at speeds that engine is capable of producing. I could have swore that mine had a both weight and HP for just the motor, not the boat's total capacity. Something like, "75 hp or no more than XXX lbs." Thats very possible, however, the boats I've owned have not given it to me in that manor.

I like ice fishing but I can only do it so much. For one thing we don't get tons of ice here in indiana to the point you can go when you please. Its a highly varying activity. Also I just don't feel the same. Sure a good ice fishing day is fun and can put some tasty fish in the pan, but its nothing like pitching a lure to stump for a big ol' bass. We seem to get just enough ice here to keep you from putting a boat on but not enough to keep you from regularly walking on it. To sum up how bad my cabin fever is in one word.... "BAD"

Your right, most do. However usually its a HP recommendation and then a total weight limitation of the entire boat (including engine) allowed by the coast guard. For example, no more than 1500 lbs or 4 persons including gear. They usually state if that weight limit includes the motor or not. The HP recommendation is basically based on three things. 1) Direct weight of the engine on the transom at rest (I believe they base that off the industry average for a 4 stroke but I can't remember) 2) Applied force of the engine on the transom under power 3) Ability of the boat / hull to perform under the peak HP / torque of said engine. Not only does it include the HP force, but the weight that the engine puts on the stern of the boat. (ie a 300 lb motor would make a 12ft jon do a wheely ) In other words if you go over that number you are most likely pushing the structural integrity of your transom by both engine mass and applied force. You are also risking your life in the fact that most likely your boat wasn't designed to be safely operated at speeds that engine is capable of producing.

The terrova is basically a fancier power drive. I havn't used a new power drive but I do have the terrova and I believe its has a different stow/deploy mechansim (the terrova's is very easy). The foot pedal is different on the terrova ( I like it, more like a conventional pedal). Both accept the autopilot and US2 (sonar) funtion. I have the AP and sonar built into my terrova and like it alot. I havn't ventured toward the iPilot feature so I can't help you there. Great motor though, the AP is very handy.

Ya.... they will. How do you think you replace stickers if your engine gets scratched and you want a new one? And even if they didn't you can just go to a sign / decal shop and they can almost identically replicate any sticker you want beyond what a normal human being would notice. I see this done with 9.9 hp limit lakes all the time. People put 9.9 stickers on 15 hp motors. The funny thing is is that it dosn't make that big of a difference and really isn't even worth it... cause you will get fined for that scenario. I think the whole boat speed things is hilarious. People driving 80mph for an hour or two down a lake thinking they are going to win a tournament because of it. Fish are pretty much within rowboat distance of every tournament lauch ramp. I've outifished many of brand new Rangers (with 250s) with my 18ft jon with a 90hp. You have to be able to fish for that to even matter so I don't really consider it "cheating". Its more of an ethics and safety thing I suppose. How did you even get an oversized motor in the first place? Most dealers I know won't install them above recommended HP ratings.

I have one which I admit looks kinda funny on my 18 ft aluminum boat. However, its one of the best investments I have ever made for the boat. I'll tell you what I did. I kept calling them until I finally bought all refurbished parts for the top of the line 8 ft model / pump. The only part I had to buy new was the grey frame. I saved A TON of money like this and it works and looks like new. Now heres the thing, an 8ft model dosnt go to 8 ft period. Your lucky to do around 6.5 or 7 depending on the bottom. Thick mud takes more pole to keep it still than hard bottoms. The swiveling shouldnt matter too awful much, just position your boat right on the upwind side and your fine. Two poles would require some laziness and extra moolaa laying around. The spike has a life time guarentee so I wouldn't worry about torque. You break it they give you another (at least it was like that when I bought mine). Its great for bed fishing or fishing known areas you want to sit still like brush piles. Its even nice if your just fishing a shore and the wind is blowing you down it too fast... just lift it a few inches, float, and drop it back. I've even used it in 20mph winds sitting on the tops of points and casting out. As has been said, waves don't effect you too much as long as you've allowed for the height difference. It is GREAT for any of you who use your boat for other stuff such as crappie fishing, I even use mine duck hunting. And its good when you beach your boat as an anchor. Not sure I'd pay full price for one but if you find a deal on one... take it. I found installation to be maybe a 5 out of 10 on difficulty at most (by myself).

I think this should be added to to the "Lure Craze" thread. I can already see it comming... Strike King's new Sexy Shad float fly series.... ughh. Then everyone on the lake will be fishing float flys and you will be the outcast throwing a jig and pig. Then next year it can be that new "Texas Rigged Rubber Worm" technique. One time, someone even told me they caught a bass on a live worm and bobber : Fishing is getting way over done by the big guys. Of course float and flies work, millions of 6 year olds have done it since the artifical lure was invented. But that being said, like I stated in my earlier post.... I like and it does work in the right conditions... just like any other lure. You just have to figure out where and when. Don't make it too complicated though. Honestly I feel other techniques generally outshine this one though, unless your just out for some easy relaxation ;D

I organize mine by depth mostly, then by color (for instance a normal Plano style box will be organized by depth in rows and colors in columns). I agree, I have been writing the depths on the belly of my cranks with permanent marker for some time now and it works great. I didn't like it on the bill because running it through rip rap or dragging the bottom wears it off quicker (may be able to write it on the back side of the bill, not sure). I found writing it on the belly 2/3rds the way back to the back treble hook last a long time. I may touch them up once a season if that. edit: looking the baits up on the internet is a good start for run depth. If not, just cast it out in a known depth of water until you can't feel it hit any more then note that depth.

Ya its an interesting point of view. Not sure if you watched the same one but the "Conspiracy Theory" show with Jesse Ventura goes over the same things. Some of it like how they managed to supposedly find 0 black boxes of 4 at the WTC is a little fishy (they had a guy that claims he seen them recovered, and the FBI denies their existence). And I don't think there are any videos of the Pentagon plane, which is also fishy cause well ummm, its the Pentagon and probably has 4 billion security cameras. They try to say that it was actually just an explosion from something like a helicopter-launched missle or something... I can't really remember. Entertainment at the least.

If there is a chance you think you'd need it I don't see why not. There are times I fish some back country strip pits around here and I take mine night or day. All it takes is one run-in with a crazy meth-head to have something turn out not in your favor. I generally do not take it during day trips to normal lakes, but if it was night and I had crowds like that I most likely would. Thats not to say you should flaunt it around like a maniac, but its your legal right to have it on you just in case.

I like the float n fly techinque and it definately works. I feel though that there are usually other better techniques to use in those situations where the float n fly would be used, so it never really comes out of my box. It is, however, a GREAT way to teach someone (ie kids) about bass fishing / fishing in general.

I thought it was pretty ironic how Lowrance did a 1 up on Humminbird with the down scan technology and then Humminbird brings it out like "O ya, I guess we could do that too".... and then Humminbird files suit against Lowrance?? Looks like Lowrance could possibly do a counter suit on that technology if they patented it.

Farve didn't take the Jets anywhere because they were terrible. You put any good gunslinger style QB on a bad team and he'll struggle. Hes not the same style QB as Brady and Manning (more similar to Brees probably). I know he's made some bad decisions in games but he makes up for some of them with ridiculously good throws. I like the heart he plays with, making blocks down field and jumping around like a kid. I blame the entire Brett Favre saga on ESPN and NFL network / the likes. If he wasn't such a big name, coming back and retiring wouldn't be that big of deal... they just drag it out to make it seem like something more than it is... he likes to play the game period and has trouble with that decision at his age. Who cares if he wants to skip some of camps, hes old and deserves too, he can throw better than 90% of the young guys with no practice anyways. I personally think its hilarious that GB wouldn't have him back and he went to the Vikes, just to pumble the Pack twice. Hes good for the game of football if networks wouldn't talk about it 18 hours of the day.

Over rated? Lets look at the 4 qtr stats (not OT)..... Vikings Saints 475 Yards 235 31 1st Downs 12 7-12 3rd Down eff. 3-10 5 Turnovers 1 Pretty obvious to me that Farve or the Vikings were not overrated.... if anything its the Saints... 235 total yards will sure beat the Colts....bwahahaha. The Vikes can't blame anyone but themselves with that fat ugly 5 on the bottom, unless you count the SuperDome ball handlers who were probably oiling the ball up each Vikes posession : Not so sure about an NFL wide conspiracy theory... too many variables for something like that. And good luck getting Peyton to play along with a loss... he's like a football robot... he'd probably take the money and then go ahead and win anyways. Ought to be a good Super Bowl... Go Colts!

Was a very good game... not so sure the better team won though, the Saints were just plain out-played but the 15 million butter hand fumbles and pick didn't help the Vikes case any. I didn't really care which team won, its nice to see Brees and the Saints in Super Bowl but I hate to see Farve lose it with what looked like a much better Vikings team. It dosnt matter either way, I'm a colts fan. Sorry Saints, looks like your road ends in Miami ;D

Nope, Indiana guy here. Here's a start for you though. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Northeast And more specific..... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1221418713

If you tarp it, an open box of moth balls under the tarp seems to help me (tarp needs to be tight to keep the smell in). I've also put hedge apples by the tires and that seems to work as well (no idea why). Other than that, the classic poisen and traps in nearby areas always helps somewhat (assuming you dont have any kids or pets with access).

I think the entire college football process is a joke. The way rankings and bowls are deceided accompanied by how schedules are dished out is absolutely ignorant. Big money schools and conferences get so many more breaks and shoo-ins. I honestly can't believe an organized sport that is followed so closely is played / ran in this fashion. Until college football grows up and organizes itself to a more fair and true system, I refuse to be a devot follower of any sort. I honestly don't see how so many people like it.

4-5 inches of ice and growing here in south central Indiana. Not been doing too bad lately, several gills and catfish on beemoths and jigs. Most were caught just off the bottom near the deepest sections of the ponds. Good luck and be safe! What bait do yall use for the trout?

I agree, Jason Campbell is terrible. Well maybe not terrible, but he is more suited to be a backup somewhere than a franchise QB. They need someone better or they arn't going to change much. I like Shanahan though.