HPBB

Just wanted to let you know, that if anyone is interested in joining a club in South Western Pa. We still have a few spots. send me a PM if interested. Feb meeting is the last month we take new members, that meeting is early in the month

Yes, I am from the Monroeville area.

I think $2200 sounds right. I am also from an area here in Pa where there are many limited lakes. I know around me the smaller boats seem to hold the prices better. Yes you can pick up a boat with a bigger motor for about the same price, but in an area that this kind of boat is in demandand the prices stay up. I know there are many boats like this going for more $$ that $2200 around here. By buddy just sold a 1994 17'Lowe (like a tracker) with a 9.9hp merc for $3500. get the motor checked out. Check out the rust on the trailer. If its just surface rust. a little sanding and some paint and its as good as new. Now if its rusted bad then stay away. If the motor is good (those old 9.9 run a long time) the trailer only needs some TLC and the boat is soild and need some TLC the fact is that you don't need a bigger motor, If you had one you couldn't use it. $2200 sounds good to me. But deal maybe you can get it lower.

I have seen the same thing. I was fishing a tournaments On Lake Erie (my first on Erie). The guy I was fishing with was using the same lures I was, but he was using 8lb line I had 10lb line. For every fish I caught he caught 5. He kept telling me to change. I wouldn't listen. Finally he threw a spool of 8lb to me and said" Spool up Now" I did and after that it was fish for fish. Now I use 8Lb P-line Floroclear always when fishing Erie. I tried 6# worked great, but up there we have Zebra Muscles and the 6 doesn't hold up well against them.

I live in Pittsburgh, so cold winters too. Both of my boats sit outside with covers on them TM mounted and have never had any problems. there are many guys who take everything out of their boats in the winter. Store them inside. Like batteries. there was a post about this a few weeks ago. I leave my batteries in the boats too. Have them hooked up to onboard chargers and leave them plugged in all winter. I would leave my fishing gear in them too, but in the winter is when I clean, fix and organize all my gear so it comes inside. The only thing I make sure I. Bring inside in the winter is my Fish finders/GPS everything else can stay outside covered and never have problems.

Hands down its Erie. I would say out Of Erie Pa would be the best I have fished. the bay is good in the spring, once mid summer is here move out to the lake. You don't even have to go far. maybe a mile or so. Start dragging tubes and hold on I also like Yough Dam, on the western border of Pa & MD

"The Magnum is a sea anchor, not a drift sock." ??? they are almost same thing. sea anchor / drift sock I know sea anchors do not have a vent/hole in the end of them to let water pass. Guess what? the Magnum does have the same vent/hole the older ones said "sea anchor" the newer ones say "drift sock". I have both an older one and a new one they are identicale. I copied this is right off of the BPS website. Lindy® Drift Control® Magnum Series Drift Socks Magnum Series is constructed and designed for boat control in the most extreme angling conditions! Durable, coated Ripstop nylon fabric reduces rippling and pulsing of the sock and provides more drag than other drift socks of the same diameter. One-inch nylon straps offer added support. Unique flotation device and bottom weights yield faster deployment and prevent rotation. Packed with Harness Buoy.

I have a 17 1/2 foot Sea Nymph GLS 175, deep V I use my drift sock mainly on Lake Erie when drifting for SM I use 2 to slow the boat way down in heavy wind. One is Drift Control "Magnum" its the reddish color one, built very strong It goes for about $95, but found it last year on sale at Gander Mountain for $50 it also comes with a harness Other one is a Minn Kota, size x-large, not as strong as the other one, but can be rolled up and put anywhere. no harness and about $30 I like the Magnum better. It is smaller in diameter than the minkota (30 inches to 44inches), but its about 2 feet longer and slows the boat better. In waves 3-5 foot and bigger the minkota has a tendency to fold in on itself and close. the magnum always stays open even in big waves. When you look at one make sure it is weighted. One side of the opening will be weighted and the other will have floats

"Hmm, maybe it's time to plan a trip to Lake Erie' Madhouse27 plan that trip. Its a SM heaven Fish Erie a lot, many 4-6 pounders out there. most of my SM have come from out in the main lake. on tubes But my biggest would be 7lb 3 oz in Presque bay(Erie) Caught it Memorial Day weekend in 2002. Was fishing in 2 foot of water using a Zoom finesse worm, watermelon, working it split shot style 1/8oz s/s My dad and I had caught about 50+ SM in 2-5 foot water (they were still on beds) Many in the 4-5pound range when that monster hit. Spinning rod, 8lb test line and a finesse worm, fun fun fun

I used the different colors for different light condition, but I found that amber lens work the best for me, so now that is all I use. Amber helps in low light condition

RW can give better answeres than me. I do use Hybrid, but have not used ultrasoft yet. I mainly use hybrid & P-line Florocrear the light line is great on spinning gear. yes! use reel magic or KVD's stuff, it will make the line more workable. I swear by it. color? that's up to you. I use clear all the time Knot? I use a polamar, never failed me where around Pittsburgh are you from?

I don't trim them. I have heard the pros and cons I have not seen, in personal use, any different in hook ups with the weed gard trimmed or not. So i just leave it the way it is. I found a jig that I like right out of the box, no mods.

I like to use a double blade more than a single. You can fish them slower. they make more noise. when you burn them, they throw a killer wake that will make some fish crazy. something different than what the fish see all the time. On thing make sure the blades are counter rotating. On some cheep baits the both spinn the same way. they just don't work right

if you have a BPS, Cabela's, GM, ....ect close by go there and check out all the different models from different companies. Play with each(make sure you have a few hours to) the one you think you like now, might not be that way when you look at them. I did this when I bought my last one, was really a good idea. the one I had my heart set on, I didn't get. tried another that I thouht was eiser to use.

My off-white Tahoe....Wait( as the water rolls down it)....Ok its Gray again Washed it today, by hand (Pittsburgh Mid 20's) looks so nice and clean in the Garage. 8-) have to drive about 50 miles tomorrow, so it will changing back to off-white soon. > I am amazied at these paint jobs today. They can change color with the tempature :o

I shop at both. Both have things the others don't. I do like BPS a little better. I shop on line with them more. cabela's is only 1 hour away( I live in Pittsburgh and its in Wheeling WVA) so I shop instore more there. The nearest BPS in in harrisburg about 3 1/2 hours away. I have been to a few different BPS stores and each is different. The one is Harrisburg Pa. and Alburn Ny are small and seem to run out of stuff. the store In Baltamore MD is way bigger and seem to always have stuff and more of it. I just can't wait till be get one near Pittsburgh, I know its in the works, just wish they would hurry.

Most of the BC I use for small lures are above you price limit. The best would be my Team Daiwa Sol for small lures. Its great finesse reel; however is twice your price limit. $225 I just bought a Pinnacle Solene for my wife.(It looks like the TD Sol, almost the same color (wait Sol...Solene, do I hear conspiracy theory? , but not anywhere near the TD sol's class of reel). It is a really nice reel tough. We have only had it a few weeks, so long term? It cast smaller lures really nice. have it rigged up on a 6 foot m/h Shimano rod with 10# trilene XL. Works really good and its around $50, but feel like reel that cost a lot more. I bought hers on ebay, new for $35 and I am going to get one for me. I don't like to buy reels in that price range. They always feel and look like junk, and don't last, but this reel seem like a reel that cost a lot more. Just my $. 02

I use the Uni knot, and put a drop of fishing (kazy) glue on the knot

Only one? :'( Rod: St Croix Avid AC710HF (7'10" Flippin stick) Reel: Team Daiwa-S 103HSDL line: 40# spiderwire/ 25# Yp-Zuri Hybrid (leader) Lure: BPS 4 inch Magnum Flippin Tube, Color #13, 3/8oz tungson wieght 24/7/365, 366 on leap year

I don't have a TD Fuego, but I do have a TD SOL, and a TD Viento The Fuego should be a little better than those two, and those two are great reels So I don't think you will dissapointed. If you deside to get one, look on e-bay they are going for about $50 less than at the stores. I just picked up 2 TD Vientos for $135 each ( $65 less than in BPS or Cabela's)

Reaction Innovations products have the funniest names. Like others stated. don't forget. "the Big Unit" worm, and "Boom-Boom tubes" I use many of their products, but I like the " Mini skirt" the best. I love the look on guys faces when they asy, "what are you using?" I and I say "A mini skirt" :-?I get that dog head lean look, and some guys just wlk away. I have a custom Muskie/Pike lure, a guy made for me a few years ago. It looks like a broom stick, that is what its made out of. Its about 12 inches long. He called it the "Long Jimmy" The ones that he made were about 8 inches long and I ask him if he could build me one about 12 inches long. My name is Jim, so he painted "long Jimmy" on it.

I have tried the sweet beaver, and the Brush hog, as trailers, but still like a good old Zoom Big salty chunk.

two words, Bass Stalker

Lighter lines, trilene made a cold weather line, not sure if they still do use braid, temp has no efect on it

I like to use senko's on spinning gear The set up is an older one and low $$ but works great for me. I use a Quantum Heat Reel 8# P-lin floroclear and a 6 foot Pinnical Dead Bolt M/ fast tip