TOXIC

Bottom line is this….everybody takes a turn. Everybody gets in line for their turn whether you are launching or recovering. That’s the only rule. If you have to tie up because you are a single boater then “try” to do it so that you can allow others to launch. In your picture, that is possible either at the end of the dock or on the side opposite the launch. So, you tie off the boat and go get your truck/trailer and get in line and wait for your turn. Load up and go. Now if there happens to be a ramp where it is impossible to dock and you would hold up a line of those launching, I would wait until the numbers were low and time it so that there were fewer in line. That doesn’t change the fact that the rule still stands that you have a right to get in line and recover your boat. If there was only 3 or 4 waiting to launch I would politely ask/tell them you are recovering and would like to get out of their way ASAP and don’t want to tie up the ramp any longer than you have to. Personally, I have never been to a ramp where you can’t tie off either launching or recovering to allow others to launch when you are a single boater. For others recovering that need to tie off (single boaters) then they have to wait their turn and get in line behind you.

Normally the lower gearing is to save your arms and wrists from the resistance of deep water cranking plus the line retrieve rate. You could do it with any gearing you want, you just have to adjust your retrieve speed.

Sammy in bone. Followed by a Yamamoto DShad. It can be worked like a top water and then let sink like a wounded baitfish.

Hold up here…..First, you have just as much right to dock space as someone launching or any 2 person boat. I would bet you could tie off towards the end of the dock or on the very end of the dock since it’s a single lane which would still allow others to launch. I’m all for being respectful to other boaters but I’m sure as heck not going to wait until everybody else launches and loads to do either myself. From the picture you posted, I would tie off to the end of the dock or to the opposite side of the launch lane.

At one of the cottages we rented for years in Wisconsin, it was on 2 lakes that were shaped like a figure 8 connected to the other lakes by a canal. The 2nd story deck overlooked the lakes and I could pretty much see all of the lake on the bottom of the “8”. I would sit on the deck at sunup drinking my coffee and look out over the lake and it never failed that the bass would school up and start feeding on bait. I would finish my coffee, walk down to the dock and get in the boat and use the trolling motor to get within a cast of the school and just wear them out for the next hour or 2 with a Yamamoto DShad moving the boat with the school. After the bite quit, I would motor back to the dock and go in for breakfast.?

I don’t fish the hot side as much anymore since my friend who lived on that side passed away and his wife sold their property but I still like it in the winter. There’s just something about catching a bass on a buzz bait in a snowstorm.?. I used to guide clients who lived on that side and would not take anyone else over there out of respect for their water. Summer is tougher but as has been said, you just need to fish deep in the main pools and run up the big creeks (Elk, Compton, etc.) and target them as you normally would. The bite is always better if the power plant is pumping. There’s been talk about adding a 3rd reactor. That might change things up a little.

There are 2 predominant strategies of fishing the Potomac or any other tidal water. Once you figure out what tide condition the fish are biting on, you either camp on a spot and wait for the right tide or you run the right tide to multiple spots as the tide moves.

Good report. You are not alone. I watched the MLF event and they couldn’t get kickers either. Lots of quality fish but no ditch pickles.

I have thrown a LOT of different color offerings and even designed one. A few years ago as pro staff, I was able to get “mistakes” in 100 count packages. My favorite was always the 901 mistakes where the green and white laminate would bleed together and make swirls. Not like a camo but a mixing of the colors in different shades. I caught 3 Virginia citation award fish on those mistakes. The pour process has been refined enough that now there are no mistakes although I do still get some prototype colors to try.

And I used to jump out of my boat in the driveway.??. Now I do the ape hang and search for that fender step. ?

Believe it or not but for the last 2 days on our trip to Okeechobee this year, I punched with a screw in worm weight and a Senko. The thin profile of the Senko allowed it to slide through the vegetation like a hot knife through butter.

Steps work when in your driveway and on the water loading the boat. A dock is of no help when you have to climb over the bow of the boat and step down on the trailer tongue to wrench the boat up. I’m seriously considering a set for my Ranger Z21.

We had dinner last night with a couple who the husband is a dedicated fly fisherman. We both had a great laugh when comparing the costs of our 2 preferred methods of fishing. Go check out the prices of fly fishing gear and you’ll see what expensive really is. I have 2 fly fishing outfits and at last count over 70 freshwater bass.?

Browning still makes rods and reels unless Bass Pro discontinued them. Midas and Citori were there reels. I used them a ton when I was BPS Pro Staff. I really liked them and still have a stash.

I was working a show with Gary Klein at a Gander Mountain store one time and at lunch we were just shooting the breeze and the topic of bait selection came up. His answer to me was “If I can find the fish, normally there are at least 5 different lures I can catch them on”. I always remembered that.

More often than not it’s more of the style of plastic vs the plastic itself. For me it’s tubes. I probably have 500 tube baits in different colors but I always seem to go with other baits. Make no mistake, tubes work fantastically but other styles fit me better and do just as well and I’ve caught a lot of fish on tubes.

A lot of guys I know have the trick step brand. Seem to like it and most have Rangers. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjD1_-gk6TxAhUBEVkFHZ6NBzoQFjAAegQIBxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrickstep.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw1SeW1pS1MWVyqbtq15sovP

The only other thing I can think of is to mount rod holders on your console and store them vertical like center console boats do.

Nice boat! I have many times considered dropping down in size from my 21 foot. It’s just hard to let go of my current ride.?

Took a little digging but I found the reference on the website you tagged for General Tire. My only concern would be 2 fold. 1. They go from manufacture date. A tire may sit in a shop for any number of years before being sold. 2. They are referencing passenger tires and not trailer or ST tires. While there may not be a specific tire age for removal from service, General Tire along with other members of the tire and automotive industries recommend that all tires (including spare tires) that were manufactured more than ten (10) years previous be removed from service and be replaced with new tires, even when tires appear to be usable from their external appearance and if the tread depth may have not reached the minimum wear out depth. Vehicle manufacturers may recommend a different chronological age at which a tire should be replaced based on their understanding of the specific vehicle application. Can you tell how much I hate changing out tires on the side of the road?

I haven’t been as motivated since I got back from fishing a week straight in Michigan. Of course catching 30 to 75 smallmouth, rock bass, largemouth and the occasional white bass, pike and walleye every day has kind of filled my fishing dance card for a while. The weather hasn’t helped either.

I would imagine it’s a liability issue. They only recommend a high side of 6 years on their passenger tires.

Fish flies. Don’t forget the fish flies.?

That would be a great selling point but I couldn’t find a reference to it anywhere on Goodyear’s website.

We posted at the same time.?. My answer is above.