TnRiver46

I ran over mine with the boat trailer last night even after typing that I forget it a lot. Luckily it's just a rock

Ha! I believe you and I both live in a subtropical rainforest. Although lately it hasnt rained in a month, trees are still lush and green. We got enough in spring to last a decade or so

If you drive through rain, then you are hauling water and just have to remove it when you get to the launch

Awesome fish ! And new ride!

I lost the original tail and substituted the tail of a big bite baits cane thumper, they both worked

Zebras will cut about anything

When I have buddies fishing with me, I just tell them to hold the rope and I back in then drive out. It eliminates the need for my wheel scotch, at least while launching

I heard they were all going up to 6.99 . I need some rage shad!

Good points by @MickD and @WRB about leaving the winch hooked up until you are at the bottom. Especially of all times on your maiden voyage (glad it went well). I unhook mine before I go down only because I know it won't come off just from doing it over and over and over. And my particular boat seems to stick to the trailer like glue and i always have to shove it off. The only time I had one move on me was when I launched at one location to net shad. Pulled the boat out and went up river to redeploy with live bait and didn't realize the bunks had frozen. That little 14' boat nearly turned into a bobsled!

Hm. I guess where I'm at the force of the river is way stronger at washing out a ramp than any outboard .

What kind of car do you have? Pickup truck with no camper top is the easiest option by far. My routine: pull up to the parking lot and GET OUT OF THE WAY of anyone else launching and loading. Then take off the transom straps, put the plug in, take off the motor support, and unstrap the front winch and chain. NOW YOU MAY ENTER the launching/loading lanes. Back down until the boat barely starts to float off and stop. Apply e brake. I then jump out of the truck and scotch my back wheel, not 100 percent necessary but I've seen some trucks roll into the river (more than twice). Jump into the back of your truck and walk to the back, climb across the trailer tongue into the boat. Start it up and back off the trailer. My motor isn't big enough to pull it off the trailer so I usually shove the bow before I jump into the boat. Next tie the boat to the dock or beach it and go park your car. Don't forget to remove your wheel scotch from the ramp (I do that a lot). When you are done fishing, pull up to the dock and tie off. Go back your trailer into the water to where the side bunks are barely sticking out of the water and park. E brake and wheel scotch. Get into the boat and drive it onto the trailer slowly with the trim up. When you are certain it's on straight, goose the throttle to get it up on the trailer further (unless you up north or out west where this is outlawed for no good reason). Climb out onto the tongue and hook up the winch and chain , make sure trim is up, then walk through the back of the truck and jump out onto dry land and pull up into the parking lot, once again out of everyone's way. Strap everything down, pull the plug out and head to the nearest watering hole . I'm sure I forgot a few steps but I shall review this post later . This method keeps your feet dry all year. If it's summer you could skip walking through the back of the truck and just walk in the water

Check the transom and make sure there aren't any screws going down from the top. Had a buddy that just had to replace his , bout a month long ordeal working on it every evening after work

The largemouth hit the sprinker frog, that was cool!

Whoa.......

Hey @Sam, have you ever heard this song?

How do you like the rod? I always pick them up off the shelf, ponder, then put it back and get a $13 Shimano......

Back in my guiding kayak trip days i saw an NRS fail but it wasnt the cam. The strap broke! Haha. Talk about a boompf! I like old fashioned rope quite a bit but you have to know the simple truckers hitch which has confused many a young paddler, trucker, and tent setter upper

Good advice in both replies above

I think they have that rod for less at academy

I want that! Not to hang on the wall....

The wind doesn't blow where I live.....

Yeah that meter on the dash is a voltimeter and is saying you've got 12 volts. Ideally it would be a little higher after a full charge but it should at least try to start with 12. I would disconnect clean and reconnect everything on the crank battery

If your crank battery is completely dead it won't take a charge

If it's above 25 degrees I don't need gloves. If it's below that temp I don't go fishing because of ice in the guides Edit: I just remembered a few times 2 years ago when I had to have some gloves, I used the half finger ones with the mitten fold over like @jimmyjoe described