South FLA

Must be Mercury! I'll be joining you with Merc problems, thankfully the backup boat is a Yamaha

Yup laying on ice pack all drugged up as I type this! Overall, it was a great game that could have gone the Noles way, both teams have some nasty defenses and if the Noles continue to play that way and EJ is healthy we should be ACC champs. Hope OU runs the board now and blows everyone out, making us look better, congrats to OU,

1. Protect motor by running within it's recommend RPM range so if it recommends 5600 stick within 200 RPMS of it ideally right on it at WOT. 2. Ideal holeshot depends on load, prop type/ specs, load balance, air temp, prop to pad, etc. Ideally for top end you want your boat with weight loaded towards stern , weight towards bow helps holeshot, but too much weight can be dangerous since the bow can dig and make high speed steering sketchy. Also 4 and 5 blade props really help with holeshot, as does reducing pitch, but problem is that you'll gain RPMs on pitch reduction. 3. I really like Powertech props they make a trophy copy called the TRO4 that is great. I run one on my boat with great success. Give them a call and ask to speak with a technical sales rep explaining your situation or you can send your prop off to a tuner such as Mark Croxton. From your description it seems like you can afford to go up in pitch a bit, especially since you tend to lose RPM in hotter summer weather, so you should gain even more RPMs as weather cools.

I am a Nole fan, but the betting man in me says the Sooners are a tough match for them and Noles will lose. I consider it a win if we can stay within 10! Whatever the outcome the Noles should be up to the challenge. Scalp'em!

Future bass addicts!

I am keeping my gas hog Ranger Intracoastal so if this boat is as fuel efficient as they say it is then my cost should go down, unless I ride around like a crazed man at WOT, which by the way I won't be doing anytime soon, need plenty of seat time and I have a local Bullet guru that is going to teach me the ropes on the handling of this monster. I'll be happy making my 40-50 mile round trip runs with it at 5.5 MPG at 60 MPH vs. 2.5 MPH. Now I can't attest to my business partner he is a go fast type guy that has had plenty of seat time in fast boats. Anyway I figured this boat saved my about 50% over a new boat and its ready to less the Powerpole and hydraulic jackplate. May sell the Ranger though if I find myself fishing out of this more and get use to the nuances of it.

Nice fishing fellas keep the pics coming!

Most all pros are sponsored by the big three Keelguard http://www.keelguard.com/ Keelshield http://www.keelshield.com/ Hamby's http://www.hambys.com/ I have a Keelshield on the Ranger, but most would agree that the professionally installed Hamby's Beaching Bumper is the tops, followed by Keelshield and Keelguard. Some people actually are coating the keel area with Line X, which is pretty cool, but not sure how it does with impact cushioning. http://www.linex.com/

As many of you know I have been eyeing a Bullet with my business partner as a strict bass fishing boat. So I finally pulled the trigger on a immaculate 2007 Bullet 20 XRD. Here are some pics, my partner will be picking it up early Oct. The boat is loaded with HDS 7 Units with structure scan front and console, LED lighting, Mercury 300XS w/sportmaster LU and Bravo prop, custom rod ramp, hot foot, blue printed pad, competition hull, etc. Going to add a 8' Powerpole and an Atlas Jack plate when I get it.

Notre Dame is always ranked preseason and I ask WHY? Other than the national fan base and the NBC contract what have they done lately. They need a complete overhaul!

Here in Florida PGT windows are great for windstorm protection, consider the R value of windows when purchasing. I like sliders instead of double hung if going with heavier windows, double hung windows are heavy are eventually going to sag.

You guys are killing me fishing! I strained my back last week, caught the 24 hour stomach virus from my son on Wednesday of last week and vomited and had diarrhea all night, which in-turn had me on bed rest for two days further those making my back worse. So I did some stretching exercises Sunday night and ended up waking up Monday morning not being able to WALK, had to craw like the dog I am for this whole week, had an MRI done on Tuesday and it was a really bad herniated disc L5, so today I had a caudal epidural and I am still hurting, hope the steroids and pain meds give some relief cause right now I am worthless. Point is I am living vicariously through BR and wish I could get out there. Tight Lines, catch a hawg for me!

Get the boat if it compression test O.K. upgrade the trolling motor and you are set. As far as Ranger's not going over 70 that is pushing it, most 520V with a full tourny load will do low to mid 70s, which is good enough for most. With a 300 HP anything is possible

You did the right thing.

Nice fish Dale! I hate going when everyone and their brother is there so I don't usually do weekends or weekdays.

I have a wife and a 2 1/2 year old son also and understand your paradigm. So when I fish I usually hire a babysitter to watch the kid to give the wife free time too. Also, so do nice dinners the night before or the night after a fishing trip. Lastly and most importantly is to tell her in advance so as not to catch her by surprise.

Never created one

Purist=Ask a Cuban yo-yo fisherman, that is a true purist think "Old Man in the Sea" Elitists are swinging high modulus graphite rods with high tech floating or sinking line that is weighted forwarded and usually has some high tech low refraction indexed line as leader and saying how much harder it is doing it this way, blah blah bla Fisherman don't care as long as they are on the water trying to catch fish and having fun, be it Daiwa, Zebco, oops I mean Quantum, Ugly stick ,etc. I my friend am a fisherman, that has been through all stages , so go ahead mount that JDM reel unto its market foe and be HAPPY!

I am out, can't dedicate enough time to be competitive between family, fishing, hunting, and securities sorry....

AWESOME! I love PEACOCK BASS!

d**n, should have been there LITERALLY! I have broken a couple of Cumara's high sticking myself, love the THUNDER in the background!

Went out from sunrise to about 5 PM covered close to 70 miles from the far North end of the Refuge to the flats adjacent to Lox Ramp. Caught a few on the flats, but most fish came off main canal deep, near deeper trails that lead into canal, or water control structures. Total for the day was about 20 or so, with a 5lb kicker at the end. Had a chance to see Capt. Shane, Dan, and fished with Mike.

I regularly hunt in the STAs during hunting season and all I can say is that if you knew the size of the BASS in there you'd be tempted too. I think in the future they should open those natural resource areas up to fishing, even it is restricted to canoes, kayaks and such, it is a wonderful natural resource that should be utilized for us sportsmen.

Too funny, love the enthusiasm on the angler's part! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Megabass-Siglett-Floating-Cicada-Lure-FF-Avocado-/140558785185

I hate turtles, caught one about 3 months ago on a T-rigged worm and thought I had a whopper, turned out to be a whopper of a soft shell turtle! Turtles I believe are bad if you are into pond management for trophy fish so, so get rid of them! The only turtles I kind of like are painted turtles, but I hit one with my jon boat motor once and it ruined the prop so I don't like them either!