JustinCT

Above posts provide good information. One other thing to consider, the first two videos you posted that aren't yours are different than your setup. The first video is a v hull which will move along a little faster. The second video is a job boat but it has virtually nothing else in it. Weight does play a big part in how fast that motor will move you along. If you've determined it's running correctly, could be weight related.

7 weeks and a new lower unit later, I got my boat back last night. I can't wait to get out on the water again and hit some spots I haven't fished in a number of years. More reports to come!

Fished on Monday with 1 O ring and 5" senkos, for the first time. Bait lasted much longer and I don't think it impacted my hookup ratio. I didn't hook the bait itself so I had to keep an eye on the hook alignment. I need to do some more fishing with it to determine how it will best work for me. My buddy wasn't using the O ring and went through a full bag of senkos.

Finally got out Monday on my buddies 12 foot jon boat as my boat is now on week 7 in the shop. Hit a smaller pond near his house. Fished from about 7-11 and each picked up half a dozen or so largemouth with a bunch of pickeral. Biggest largie was 4lbs 2oz that my buddy caught. Relatively steady action all morning. Felt good to finally catch a bass.

Nice fish Burr! Looks like it's going to warm up this week which will be nice.

Good to see a few of us CT guys getting out. Let's keep this rolling, anyone get out and have any luck recently? Still waiting on boat lower unit repair, going on a month now or I'd be posting myself.

Should I? Yes. Do I? Ummm, no. Guess I should start.

My go to for top water is a black Zara Spook. I just seem to do really well with it in just about every situation. I also will use a popper from time to time which I usually do okay with. I'll stop both lures and twitch on occasion if nothing is hitting it while moving, this can sometimes incite a hit.

Took my boat out in mid April for first time of the year and it's making this horrible banging noise after it's put into gear. Whole boat shakes when it happens. Took it to the service place 2 and a half weeks ago, finally get a call yesterday, entire lower unit is shot. Rage? Maybe not to that extent but with a hell of a repair bill and no fishing for what will end up being over a month, I am certainly not happy at this time. Worst start to a season I've had.

Ah, understood. As Catt stated, you'll probably be okay with taking it off.

I replaced the wood on my buddies 12 foot jon boat over 10 years ago. Took the old one out and used it as a template. Used fiberglass resin on the new one and it's still going strong. Easy to do. If you just want to put it in the water to see if it leaks why not just leave what's there on it for now?

I was able to get out on a local lake the Sunday after opening day. Managed 2 bites but no fish, also ended up with a lower unit problem. Boat is now in the shop for the second week, not sure when it'll be ready. Hopefully I'll be out in early May.

Thanks man, I'll be back on the water soon and won't miss the best of the season here. Yeah that Verado is just nuts. Might need to get me one on my next boat.

I'll use top water under most conditions. Real early or late in the season I'll avoid it but from about May 1 through the first week of October it's a go to for me. My favorite way to fish by far. Zara Spook is my go to.

Yes, to the best of my knowledge it is not private and does not require a permit. I've launched and fished it numerous times over the past few years. Don't know if it's the same for shore fishing but I've had friends who have ice fished there with no problems.

There's a few options near you that could produce. Lake Heyward is a decent spot, no gas motors but has a good smallie population. Moodus Reservoir is another decent lake, I fished lower Moodus the day after opening day without too much luck but I usually do pretty well there. Lake Williams in Lebanon has a pretty good shore fishing area if you don't have a boat. Just a few thoughts.

Wow, fortunate news. Mine is in the shop going on 2 weeks now due to lower unit problems. Not fun but have to get her fixed. Just googled that Verado 400R, man! What a beast. 400hp?!? That's impressive. Cool looking motor.

I've caught bass trolling but that was really by mistake as I was targeting trout, and it was years ago. I haven't trolled in a long time. As noted above, it's not real exciting to me and my boat is not setup to support trolling. I don't think there's really anything wrong with it, to each their own.

I snowmobile late December through mid March which I love as much, if not more, than fishing so winter tends to fly by. Mid March through mid April is tough. Looks like we're finally getting a break in the weather this weekend so my boat will be getting wet for the first time in 17. Can't wait.

I finished all my boat prep and was planning on hitting the water this weekend but with the snow/sleet/ice/rain in the forecast looks like another week before that happens. 60s in February and just an absolutely miserable March. Figures.

Congratulations on your trip! Smallies are my favorite bass to catch. My experience fishing for smallmouth is restricted to the Northeast but I'll add what I think may be applicable. The baits you listed are all effective and I've used them all to catch fish. I love fishing surface and will throw it from May through October. When I hit an unfamiliar lake I'll take a look at my chart plotter or any available lake maps to find rocky areas, points, and drop offs in that order. Shallower rocky areas I'll start with surface. Then move to finesse or a spinnerbait if I need to go deeper. Much the same for points. Drop offs, I'll use a spinnerbait, shaky head or other weighted soft plastic. This usually keeps me from getting skunked. I'm sure others can add more useful info, specifically for the area you'll be fishing.

Black Zara Spook Green Zara Spook Double bladed spinner bait Shaky head Senko

Can't speak to the spirex, I have a couple of symetre reels and I love them. I also have a President that I like a lot as well. It's served me well over the last several years. Solid reel, good price.

Interesting read, thank you for posting. Gives me some things to think about for the upcoming season.

I'll never forget a day that a buddy and I fished a local, 8 hour tournament. Mid-fall, cooler than normal and breezy. First cast of the day I boat a 14" keeper largemouth and into the livewell it goes. We were pumped, thinking we were going to absolutely kill it. The next 7 hours and 45 minutes go by without another bite. Weighed in 1 fish and finished 4th out of 12 boats. Brutal day.