Boomstick

I am looking for a new finesse setup for this year. I decided to go with a BG, size 2000. I just got it and haven't got to use it yet bit it does have a larger diameter spool for a smaller reel and it is definitely a very smooth cranking reel. The main difference between some of the more expensive reels is that it weights a bit more, but I can honestly say I won't even notice. If weight is an issue, you might want to spend more for the Tatula LT or Plueger Patriarch. The Shimano Stradic CI4+ would do if you have small hands (the bail hits my finger).

So I made it down to Cabelas today. They had a Ranger RT 178 and RT 188, a 2014 Tracker Pro Team 175 TXW, and a few Nitro fiberglass boats that are way out of my price range. I really liked both of the Rangers -- especially the RT 188, but I could make do with the 178 as well although I feel like the extra room on the deck on 188 would be worthwhile and I also have more legroom in the 188's drivers seat, which is an issue for me. The Tracker was cheap enough that I probably wouldn't have to wait until next year, but had literally no place to put a 7' rod other than upright. I'm not sure what the max length is, but using myself as a ruler, it seems to be around 6'. Having a rod locker (that's long enough) would make me feel much more comfortable if I ever stop somewhere, and there was also very limited places I could strap down longer rods as well. The Rangers both offered plenty of options for both.

I caught a 20"+ smallmouth on a War Eagle Extreme Trokar Colorado/Willow Sexy Shad spinnerbait, on my first cast of the day too. I didn't take my scale with me unfortunately. I got skunked the rest of the day.

Just loosen up your drag and tension knob, but you should be fine as long as you keep them dry. Now if you have any mono spooled on those rods however that's going to be shot.

Thanks fishnkamp! I might fish Erie or Ontario on a camping trips only, a few mid sized lakes fairly regularly and tons of small lakes in western Massachusetts, Vermont and the Adirondacks. I have assembled a list of dealers for several boats I want to check out and they range from 90+ minutes away in upstate NY, eastern MA or CT so I do expect to travel. I have to travel to buy a car and not overpay by sometimes as much as $10k as well. I would check out those boats except I am not ready to buy yet as much as I want to, still need about a year or so to bank money. I did actually come across that Tracker Pro Team 175 TW before through searching for used boats though. Considering it has the motor upgrade, it looks like it's a great buy!

I honestly believe I will be fine with an aluminum in the long term. It'll also be nice not getting splashed as much in the colder weather, which may extend boating season for me as I honestly hate the cold. The three boatable lakes within 20 miles of me are all fairly small. There's a slightly larger but narrow lake about 30 miles away that I'd like to check out with a nice long shoreline to drift along and fish. Beyond that, I will definitely take it to Great Sacandaga Lake in NY around 90 miles away somewhat regularly (they also have a nice campground on the lake), and maybe other larger lakes occasionally as well but most of them are so far it's pretty much a summer vacation to get enough time there to be worth the trip. I already have my first summer vacation once I get the boat planned out -- there's a group of small, remote lakes in northern Vermont that I hear have some massive smallies. My oldest son will be looking at colleges in 4 years, so I would hope to pay off my boat by then and hold onto it for a while. And I consistently hear that aluminum boats are notably cheaper to run and tow, which translates into more time on the water. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that there was a Nitro fiberglass boat for sale for $7000 that was insanely clean. I considered buying something like that but being older and fiberglass, would the cost for gas and maintenance eventually balance out?

Of course, I will be checking used listings. There was a Nitro for $7k that was from '97 but insanely clean. On the otherhand I wonder what I'd pay in fuel for that vs an aluminum boat? I'd only get to take it out on weekends and my 3 weeks of vacation I'll use in the summer, but I'm likely to use it every chance I get so that's a factor too.

I have as far as online but not in person yet. I have also found a few used Pro Team 170s and Pro Team 175 TF models for around that price as well. My kid has a hockey tournament up in Hookset in March near the nearest Bass Pro shop to me, so I plan on checking out the floor models extensively when I'm there.

Yeah, I just figure for the prices I'm seeing for some used boats, I could get a new one with a warranty for only a little more. I'll keep checking though. Odd that your aluminum boat had no storage, maybe because it was 17.5"? I thought aluminum boats could maximize their space better.

Thanks. I will certainly do that as was planning on hitting up all the dealers and checking out the different boat options this year as well. I have walked through a few times before but it's different when it might really happen too you know? I think I like the Ranger, but I would also like to check out the Alumacraft and possibly a Tracker Pro, which seems to be a step down but a cost efficient option and there's probably a dozen other manufacturers too. I will probably have this boat for 20 years too so I definitely want to make sure I get one that I like.

Hey guys, So I have a bit of a dilemma. My initial plan was to buy a truck and a canoe this year (since I can't seem to get a trailer hitch on my car), but I realized that if I hold off one year and refrain from renting too many boats this summer then I should be able to save enough money to buy a brand new Ranger RT188 or Alumacraft Pro 185 next year (although I will probably get a small loan to keep a healthy savings account). Considering the price of a new Ranger RT 188 and what newish ones sell for used, it seems I'd be better off going with a new one. Alternatively, I could get a used boat as well, but something from the late 90s or possibly early 2000s before the used price drops enough to make it seem worthwhile. I'm assuming I got one with good carpets etc. Naturally, I would expect more work to go into an older boat, so I'm not sure if I should just try and go with a new boat. I am almost positive that I'd prefer an aluminum boat as well. With the cost to run them vs a fiberglass boat, it would allow me much more time on the water. A lot of the lakes I'd fish regularly are also smaller, but there's a larger one I'd be fishing periodically too. Any help is appreciated.

Yeah I get that. The Big Game is so cheap that you can respool before every trip and not break the bank. On the other hand, I seemed to get good life out of my Siege as well and it holds its shape so much better and casts so well that it's definitely worth the extra money for me.

For spinning reels, I'm partial to Daiwa and Pflueger. For casting, I like Daiwa and Shimano for their brakes, although I haven't got to try out the Pflueger Supreme XT I got for my kid yet (I hear great things though). So probably Daiwa. Maybe Pflueger.

I bought a Supreme XT for under $100 shipped on ebay with a 20% off coupon.

In this weather, mono is not going to perform great. You might want to try fluorocarbon in the cold weather for that reason as it's a little more predictable. Also I would suggest trying Sufix Siege line. I used to use Berkley Big Game line on all of my reels (I still use it on spinning reels), but I find the Sufix Siege casts much better and has far less memory, even in the warmer weather. The Big Game really took a memory to the spool, where the Siege line did not. I did not honestly expect the difference to be that major and expected to return to Big Game. In my limited experience, the original Stren line also seems to not take memory to the spool as much as Big Game.

I have always been a fan of Interstate Batteries in my car. I would imagine their boat batteries are just as good. They may not be the cheapest option, but you know you're getting a good battery.

That's what I hear a lot, but some people also tell me the opposite. I've never had a problem with tying knots on thinner fluorocarbon though to be honest, say 10 or 12lbs and under. It's always the fatter line that's hard to cinch down.

I haven't used copoly but I am debating trying it on at least one of my spinning reels, the only real concern is I hear fluoro sinks better but only way to know for sure is to try it out yourself.

The Live Target Hollow Body frog is easily my #1. Also like the Pad Crasher and the Spros.

Some of my favorite square bill crankbaits are: KVD 1.5 KVD 2.5 River2Sea Ish Monroe Biggie Lucky Craft LC Rattle In Lucky Craft LC RTO But my #1 favorite square bill crankbait is the Norman Fat Boy. Not too expensive, has a nice wide wobble, moves a lot of water and dives over 3ft easily on 17lb mono and at least 4ft on 12lb.

I've had great luck with Daiwa J-Braid x8 (8 strand). You can get it on amazon for usually $16-18 depending on the day for 330 yards. It definitely doesn't fray as badly as any of the Spider Wires I've tried. Power Pro and Sufix 832 are also acceptable.

The drunk guys playing bumper boats happened right here in Massachusetts and the laws here are similar. I probably should have reported those guys but honestly at the time I was just glad they didn't hit the pier I was on, which was a real possibility and a bit annoyed they ran over my line. At least it didn't get stuck and take my rod with it.

I have witnessed a pontoon boat hit a bridge, a jet ski hit a larger boat, and a bow rider and a cruiser ramming into each other because the drivers were drunk and though it was funny... I was just ticked because they ran over my line.

I use my MH/F rod for frogs. Maybe if I found some more thickly populated weedbeds to throw it in, I would get a heavy rod sooner rather than later, but the MH/F should be fine for what I fish it in. I have fished a frog on 15lb mono before. You could pull one out of open water on mono fairly easily, but the stretch on the line and simply lower line strength makes it harder to pull a fish out of a weed bed. Braid is not only stronger, but it cuts through lily pads like butter as well and has no stretch, which makes it easier to pull a big fish out of the weeds and keep it hooked. I use either 40lb or 50lb braid on my MH/F rod, largely for throwing frogs. 40lb line is fine, but if I expect to be a doing a lot of fishing with a frog I will go to 50lb simply because it casts better.

To be honest, my energy level has been drastically increased after the first two months of not eating meat! But yes, staying hydrated is important. Before one of my worst gout attacks, I was very dehydrated and despite chugging tons of water, it didn't seem to matter, but I kept thinking the last time I was that dehydrated, I had gout and sure enough, I woke up one morning with a swollen toe. I also only seem to get it during heat season when I'm in the office a lot (forced air heat). I quit meat for almost 6 entire months after my second to last major attack, and I was never dehydrated but I also worked from home a lot as well. I also lost a ton of weight over this time while living on pasta, portabella and feta sandwiches, veggie pizza, mixed vegetable stir fry, eel rolls (which are very low in purine) and eggplant grinders -- not entirely the most weight loss friendly diet! I will probably resume eating meat at some point, but probably keep it limited, like maybe only during summer fishing trips. And no more sausages, as much as I love a hot italian sausage, they're twice the purines of a burger. I also am at a potential risk of kidney failure, so less meat is certainly not going to hurt me. Also Salmon and catfish are both low purine fish, and also my favorites too.