Fisher of Men

Does it not have a boat capacity plate on the stern? If not, I think the common practice is around 5 hp max. for 12 footers and around 9.9 to 15 max on 14 footers (depending on the beam width).

I think the transducer is cast out with a fishing rod and sends a wireless signal to the wrist watch or the unit mounted on the fishing rod. There's a little more detail in the BPS catalogue.

Here's one of what you're talking about: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=58970&hvarDept=200&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=1&hvarSubCode=1&hvarTarget=browse and the other: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=58941&hvarDept=200&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=1&hvarSubCode=1&hvarTarget=browse I'd be interested in knowing if they work, too.

Daryl, Go to www.iboats.com. It's a more boat oriented site. There's some good info. there. But, please come back to bassresource for some good fishing info. Good luck!! Fisher

Chance, look at their profile (the little icon over to the left). Some of us have the location listed, most are not specific, I think for security reasons, but it will give you an idea (State, region)

Let me add to the above: This is why I like to fish out of the jon boat on private/semi-private watershed lakes. No traffic and less fishing pressure. As far as jet skiers and ski boats, yes they make me mad, too. They have the whole lake to operate in and they'll pick the area right around your fishing spot. Hopefully, law enforcement will crack down on those "50 feet" violators and this will get better.

About a year or two, a local kid (around 21 years old) won the McDonald's Big Bass tourny on Lake Fork. It was his first tournament. I understand that you could almost walk from boat to boat. He cast a mid-depth crankbait onto the front deck of another boat by accident. The lure got caught in the carpet. Instead of being cool about it, the other fisherman was a jerk and cut his line. The kid then tied on a plastic worm and cast out to the bottom nearby and caught the winning bass (around 10 pounds). You know it had to tick off the fellow who cut his line. If he hadn't cut the kid's line, he probably wouldn't have caught that bottom feeding bass. Sweet revenge. I just think that we should all practice proper etiquette and follow proper navigation rules. I teach boater education in Texas and here's the correct procedure: If two boats are meeting in a head on situation (as many of us do along shorelines) the boats should pass to the right of each other (according to the Texas Boater ed. handbook) On one side of the lake that would leave you closest and on another that would leave you out for a few feet. Also, boats are supposed to stay at least 50 feet from another above headway speed. I know that while using the trolling motor you are not above "headway" speed, but unless you are invited, you should stay at least 50 feet from other boats out of common courtesy. Then again, if I've just motored into a cove and someone else is already working the bank, I'll give way to them and let them fish it. Yes, I know that not everyone knows this, but we should all try to be considerate of one another so that we continue to have the privilege of using public waters. Fisher

I started out on Spinners and topwaters, as Roadwarrior said, I'm sure for the same reasons. We did alot of pond fishing growing up and I did catch fish. As a teen I continued to catch fish on H&H's, Beetlespins, Lit'l George's, and Hot Spots. I never fished plastics until a friend of mine (who I worked with in the Sporting goods department) turned me on to them. I slowly migrated to plastics and topwaters, until adding the spinnerbait back to my arsenal. I am now trying to diversify by fishing more cranks. I guess I'm still pretty reliant upon soft plastics and spinners. For me soft plastics just work really well. P.S. Roadwarrior, I finally stuck with the Senko long enough to get some good bites the other day. I'm looking forward to using it again tomorrow. Fisher

Try these in this order: flukes, tubebaits, and if all else fails, throw a weightless live minnow in there. You need to understand that these exact fish may only be there for a couple of days, but others may use the same beds to spawn on. Also, get at them early in the day before other anglers can work them over. If they've been thrown at by lots of others they will not tend to bite as well. -Fisher

Surely someone at least has an opinion on this. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks! ???

Someone posted here on the B&S boat motors a while back. The consensus was that no-one had used one and didn't know if they were any count or not. It sure looks like a good alternative to an outboard and the price looks right, but I'm waiting to see if they're any good.

Hey guys and gals, I've got a question. Yesterday, my buddy and I were at the usual 12 acre pond catching some bass. We caught around 30 or so, but no big ones. Many of the bass we caught were scarred up along their sides and had a mottled,grayish color to them. He said that he had caught some that way on his last trip or two there. Some of them even looked as though they had sores like those "parasite infested" bass of summer. Just a few weeks ago, the bass were dark green and really beautiful. The water has been very clear this season due to a lack of rainfall which should contribute to darker colored fish (sunlight), right? My friend considered gill nets, but I can't imagine someone putting gill nets in a pond (aren't they for rivers?) Another factor is that we have not caught any 5 pound plus fish this season and we usually pick up several at this place. I looked up LMB virus, but the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dep. shows that there are no external signs of it except for a bloated appearance. We have not notice any dead fish either. Does anyone know of any reason these fish look this way? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, Fisher

Glenn- My wife and I lost two to miscarriages and still cannot imagine the loss an infant. Jim and Sherry- please understand that God has a plan for your lives and will work things out for you. If you've put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, you will see Logan again. I will pray for you! God bless, Fisher of Men

Man, I'd hate to water-ski at 75 mph. That fall would HAVE to hurt!! ;D Seriously, I'm with you. I think anything over 60 MPH is pretty extreme. Then, again, I just fish for recreation and not cash$$. I might have a different perspective if I had to condense my day into 8 hours to make or break it.

There's a story in the new BM mag regarding fishing in small boats on small waters. It speaks of such clubs (one being in Fort Worth, Tx) near me. I looked for information regarding such clubs at the end of the article to no avail, just information about small boat mfg.'s. Does anyone know of such a club near DFW? and if so, how could I make contact with someone? -Fisher

. . . or driving a pick-up truck in the rain!

Hey guys, Nobody is drunk or in prison. . . it can't be a country song yet! (or at least that's what Jerry Jeff said) ;D fom

I've never eaten Walleye. Of course there aren't any down here to catch. It's obvious that many of you really do like it. What's it taste like? Does it taste better than crappie? -Fisher

Issue #1- Fish pain/PETA I would opt to believe that they don't feel pain, but can sense pressure on the line, thus their need to fight and get away. Either way, I'm still going to fish. I'll never believe anything that PETA says due to their extreme methods against hunters and anglers. I have read where they once put broken glass in canned dog food on hunting trails so the hunting dogs would eat it and die. There's a group of them in Southeastern Oklahoma (yes, it shocked me to know they were this close to me) who have been known to puncture the tires on the State fish hatchery vehicles and vandalize their equipment. How can any group of people ever gain respect doing things like that? I guess we anglers and hunters should realize that, too. Any irresponsible behavior on our part doesn't make our group look good either. Public perception is important. Issue #2- Birdwatchers As much as I think this hobby might might not be "up our alley", we should respect these people's desire to come outdoors and share the joy that we experience fishing and hunting. Birding (the official term) is one of the top hobbies (right up with hunting and fishing) here in Texas and they pay entrance fees into parks and purchase sporting equipment that generates tax revenue for conservation (i.e. Pittman-Robertson Act). Also, being in close contact with some of them, we should learn to be kind to our "outdoor neighbors" and strive to keep them happy. When the day comes to keep or cull sportfishing as a sport, we need as many people on our side as possible. I look at it this way: Sportfishing and access to public waters is like hunting. They are both a privilege, not a right. We must do all we can to preserve that privilege and not give anyone a reason to take it away. -God bless, Fisher

I like the one where the clothes are flying off better, but the one that is funnier than those two was the one with the bass driving the car (Rapala). There's a link to it on a post somewhere in here.

That sounds very high to me. I recently looked at a very rough 14 foot flat bottom and trailer with an '78 Johnson and he only wanted $1000. Heck, I just paid $469 for a 12 foot boat at BPS. I think (stress the word "think") that they (BPS) had a 14 foot LW with a livewell, a trailer, and a 9.9 Mercury for around $2000 NEW. I'd definitely pass on that deal and check around!! -Fisher

Surely you could fire up the big motor to push it on. Are they really strict about it? Is there someone you could ask about it? If not, I guess getting a running start and pulling the motor up is the best. I can't think of another way.

Just a tip for backing the trailer into the water (when loading): I have the vertical guide rollers at the back of the trailer marked with electrical tape at the correct depth. That way, I can back to the correct depth every time using my side view mirror. Too deep the boat floats off center, too shallow you have to winch it. Also, something you may already know. When pulling onto the trailer to the forward stop. Leave the big motor engaged and just above idle to help hold it up on the trailer while you hook up and tighten the bow winch strap. -Fisher

Ours should be coming on within the next few days if they aren't already. We continue to have a cold front about every two or three days that pushes them back. Here in N. Texas smaller waters will spawn between mid-March to Mid-April, and larger Northern waters (i.e. Texoma) won't occur til late April to early May). I'm sure they're spawning or already may have in South Texas.

Anytime's BASS-time!! ;D Seriously, I prefer air temps in the 80's, 5 mph West wind, partly cloudy to overcast skies.