TOXIC

In the summer there's nothing going in my boat that's carbonated for drinking. Funny story....I was fishing a tournament where one of the sponsors was Monster. They had a big tub with ice full of different flavors at takeoff. I grabbed 5 and put them in my boat cooler to try on different days. Tournament was in the dead of summer. I grossly misjudged the amount of water I needed for the day. 1/2 way through the day, I ran out of water. I was parched and my options were to either drink cooler water from the melted ice (yuk) or dip into the Monsters. Well, 1 was good 2 was making me reconsider the cooler water, 3 and I knew it was too many, and at #4 I was like a Mexican Jumping Bean. My heart was racing and I was shaking like a leaf. Could hardly hold the weigh in bag. Lesson learned.

When I was sponsored by Jack Links, I was known as "the Jerky man" and passed a lot of bags out at tournaments and on our trip to Michigan. Jack Links makes a LOT of different flavors as well as the Slim Jim style and some with cheese pre packaged. I have been known to also take water and Propel and alternate between the 2 when it's really hot. Crustables are good as is packaged tuna/crackers lunchables. Pop Tarts are good for desert or breakfast. I usually have a good stash of cheese crackers but I don't like the crumbs. I never have the time to actually stop and make a lunch before I go out so if it's not pre packaged, I usually don't bring it.

I will say this...I never expect a tip but if you call me for another trip and I'm booked, or you call me last minute, or you call me for a fishing report because you have a tournament coming up or are just hitting the lake for fun, there are a few things I remember when considering how much I give back.

If you are going to be dunking in salt make sure you get either an aluminum or galvanized trailer. Aluminum is the best.

Open water and they travel in big schools. Personally, I watch for bait and birds.

Every boat you look at will have a statistic called "Draft" that will tell you the depth the hull sits in the water. Are you going to get as skinny as a a bass boat? No, but the difference is not that great. One addition that some center consoles have that help are trim tabs that will help get on plane in shallower water. Personnally, I don't like to take my 21 foot bass boat in any less than 2 feet of water unless I'm on my trolling motor. Keeping in mind that I'm not going to get on plane in 2 feet either. 3 to 3.5 is my comfort zone. Invest in a good long handled net because you will have a harder time lipping bass at water level due to the higher freeboard on a deep v center console.

The fact that they are cleaning your fish (if you catch any) alone would dictate some sort of tip. I don't clean fish and I don't allow them to keep largemouth. I never expect a tip but I always put 110% effort into every trip. Sometimes the fish just don't bite. As far as fishing, I will occasionally throw out to accomplish a few things....Are there fish in the area? What are they biting on? And to show some clients who would be apt to say "the guide sucked and never put us on fish" that there are fish where I took you. I usually tell them, "I can take you to the fish but I can't catch them for you". If you don't want me to fish, just tell me upfront. Pretty much all of the salient points have been covered as far as gear quality, guide knowledge, etc. I also gear my trips to my clients abilities. I teach new techniques, tips on electronics, fish behavior and patterns. Some clients want trophy fish, some want numbers, some want to stock the freezer, some want to watch me fish to learn, some want to learn how to use their gear, heck, some just want to get out for a boat ride and learn the lake. I could write a book on my client stories.

I have had a 6lb smallie on St Clair and my fishing partner did catch a 7 in the St Clair river pre fishing for a tournament. He was so quick to put it back, they weighed it and didn't take any measurements. That one would have been a replica on my wall for sure. The pic is a 5 and change.

Tube, Jerkbait, squarebill would definitely be in my bag as well as a senko. Lake walleyes from shore might be tough.

Personally, I think a smalljaw fights harder than a green bass. River fish of both species fight harder because of their environment. As for a trophy, I have -0- replicas on my wall right now because my goal for a trophy is a smallmouth 7lbs minimum and a largemouth 12 minimum. I have been close but no cigar. It's the chase that keeps me coming back and when I retire this year I plan on putting in some serious time on the water, all over the country.

When we first started going to Wisconsin and my daughter was 1 year old, she was always into fishing and I would bring in a couple of fish from the livewell (when she was about 4) for her to see and release. When she started fishing, there was a kiddie pool at the cottage on the bank and she would fill it up with buckets of lake water, rocks and lake weeds and then put every bluegill, crayfish, snail, turtle or whatever she caught into the pool. Rule was that she had to let everything go at the end of the day. Kept her busy all week. Smart Dad!!

Best deal I found was the excel mono big spools on sale for less than 10 bucks. I actually bought some. Like 5 spools.

hmmmmmmm......My Bass Hunter had the reinforced bow plates as well as the stern. I guess you could rig something up like a piece of tin that slides over the mounting area. That would distribute the force better.

The depth of the boat at the floor is no different than any other boat. You are not sitting any lower or if you stand you are not lower but you will have less stability. If you put any kind of raised deck on it, you are going to make it even more unstable especially if standing. I neve had a problem with jerkbaits in my boat, even sitting down. You just have to adjust the rod position.

Just remember......your cranking battery should be a dual purpose battery. That battery is dedicated to starting your big motor and running ALL of your accessories/bilge & livewell pumps/lights/electronics, etc. Your TM being a 12v only "needs" 1 battery but would last longer with 2 batteries wired in parallel. If wired in series you will fry your TM because it will be getting 24V. NOTHING else gets wired into the TM battery(s). They feed your TM only. Depending on how many batteries you choose to go with, it is advisable to get an on-board charger that has a charge bank for every battery including your cranking battery. Unless you make very long runs, your outboard will never generate enough to recharge your cranking battery. If you use a portable charger, you just hook it up to the batteries one at a time until they are all charged.

Also it's how the force is applied to the line. Picking up a heavy object vs a mad smallmouth making a turnaround run are 2 different kinds of force.

Not in a tournament but just fun fishing in Wisconsin, I had a retired Deputy Sheriff in my boat and he made a bad cast on some rip rap and broke off a lure. He didn't want to leave it for fear it would end up in someone's foot so I dropped him off on the nearest dock and he went to retrieve the lure. A nasty exchange took place between him and the landowner. Luckily cooler heads prevailed. Hate to say it but tournaments seem to bring out the worst in some people.

20lb braid on a spinning rod? I'd cinch it down to a very hard pull. You aren't worried about break strength with that size braid. You do have to be careful about snapping a rod though. I throw 35lb braid on some of my spinning setups on St Clair (bed fishing or in the reeds) and I lock the drag down. I've only broke off on zebra muscles.

I go to Wisconsin every year and spend at least a week on different bodies of water. Since I only throw Yamamoto my favorite colors are: 297 305 229 306 If I can't get bit on any of those colors on different styles of plastic, then the fish just aren't eating.

Realized what it's like to "work the floor" this weekend spending 2 days repping at a Cabela's near me. When I got home after the first day and plopped down in my recliner, my back let me know it wasn't happy about what I had put it through all day!! Told my wife to feed me where I sit because I wasn't moving!! Heavy dose of aspirin for day 2!!

Take it from me, standing up in that boat and trying to use a foot controlled trolling motor is more than likely going to put you in the lake at some point. The boat is not stable enough for you to be able to stand and keep you foot on a TM peddle and keep your balance. Especially if there are any waves or rough water. The handle extension is the best way to go if you want to stand up. Also the stick pin type of anchor is a good idea but remember, you are going to have to put the pin somewhere when you are moving. I simply got used to fishing sitting down when I had my Bass Hunter. I could stand in some situations but 95% of the time, I was sitting. It's just a different style. If the butt seat you got doesn't extend to your rear end while standing, it is useless.

Pics or it didn't happen!!

You and me both. I've caught a lot of crappie on that lure.

Yes unless they miss the cut, then they go work in the expo for their sponsors.

Not silly at all. First thing is that there is no such thing as a 24 volt battery unless you go with a lithium. Even for my 36 volt TM I have 3- 12v batteries. It's all in how you wire them. This article will help. https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/battery-bank-tutorial.html Your next choice is size and type. For most boats either an AGM or wet cell battery is used. Those choices depend on the spce you have and the type of charger. Bigger is better in TM batteries as a rule. More reserve and amp hours.