Dirtyeggroll

-Pennsylvania (thanks @YoTone)

I am going to be away from home for what is a lot for me this year traveling for work/school and it got me thinking I will have an opportunity to add some states to the list of places I have caught fish this year. My idea for the thread goes something like this: -Make an initial post with the states you have CAUGHT fish in THIS year (add a picture if you want or have one). -As you fish new states QUOTE YOURSELF and update the list. I’ll go first. -Iowa -Nebraska

The “Ranger Sport R70” decals were coming off and had been bothering me since day 1 of owning this boat. Not anymore! Replaced them with some domed numbers. I think they look great and add an updated look to the boat. I also have been frustrated trying to get a hatch latch for my custom compartment from Ranger that matches the key to my other latches. Well I struck some luck and ran into a guy who was basically giving away a Loc-R-Bar. No more taking all of my stuff out of the middle compartment!

Yep. Great for locating structure/cover in all directions around the boat. I like it especially for approaching structure/cover so I don't blow it up. I also like it for anchoring down and casting towards structure/cover. Honestly, as far as I am concerned the super high res side imaging is somewhat superfluous. I am going to be casting toward structure or cover whether or not I can't count the number of limbs on a tree or the number of rocks in a pile. Shape change or depth change on the 360 (or older side imaging) = new casting target and often results in a fish or feeling something different about the bottom despite that I might not be able to resolve it entirely. It still worth it to see that there is some piece of cover or a different type of structure under water.

Not sure about all your states but in Nebraska if you buy something online and are not charged sales tax you are supposed to pay it when you file taxes.

Turned a deck extension into a storage compartment on my boat. Tried ordering a hatch latch from Ranger to match the key to my other hatches. When I got it the key didn't match... So I went with a Loc-R-Bar instead. Found it for unbelievably cheap from a guy that bought one he never installed for a bass boat that he sold. Also had domednumbers.com make me some replica "Ranger Sport R70" decals for my boat since the originals were looking pretty ragged.

I was excited about his until I started price checking items. For nearly every item I was able to find the same cheaper elsewhere even after the discount.

I was reading some older articles and some guide websites that suggested early August is when the smallmouth up there start to feed up and it can be a good time to go. My boat is a 17 ft Ranger R70. Big waters aren’t out of the question but I don’t have a ton of boating experience on big water. Would love suggestions of smaller lakes and rivers to try.

Also my concern for not originally considering to plan a dedicated fishing trip to these areas. Shallow as in not bass boat friendly shallow?

Tennessee is an interesting idea. I will be in Nashville for work for the month of July. I have a good friend who lives in Smyrna (southwest of Nashville proper) with whom I will be staying. I am planning on bringing my boat for the Nashville trip with hopes that I have a free weekend (or week night) during that time to fish Chickamauga, Percy Priest, Kentucky Lake or Dale Hollow. I didn't figure that time of year would be ideal for those lakes and its also my understanding that those lakes are highly pressured and could prove to be pretty difficult to fish for an outsider so fishing them was going to be more of a side bonus of my work trip. Please tell me more about your neck of the woods in early August.

Thoughts and prayers to those in the area near Joplin, MO. They got some pretty bad damage in a nearby city Carl Junction this evening. Exactly 8 years since I was there during the awful tornado on May 22nd, 2011.

I like the grips on the Elites. Super sensitive despite that there is not an exposed blank at the back to the reel seat. The rod is also very light and well-balanced. Haven't used one of the regular Tatulas and don't know the specs that are different.

I have this rod paired with a Tatula SV reel and a 3/8 oz jig is the sweet spot. It will do a 1/4 ounce. It is a great skipping and close quarters rod. Its not a jig launcher and you won't be casting 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jigs long distances very well.

At $250 a piece how long were the warranty?

What battery? Type?

6,853 dinks... 6,853!!!!! Thats how many fish have been scorable in this tournament.

I once had a jig in the water for 6 minutes before I got bit. I didn't realize it had been that long until I went back to review the catch on my GoPro.

Yep. I've used an aluminum baking tin placed upside down and tried not to have it make a sound when the bait hits to practice the ease down. We ought to setup some parameters and see who can record themselves with the longest streak.

Ive been out in short sleeves before and really started catching them so put on a pair of sun gloves to protect my hands from getting torn up from lipping so many fish. I looked like an idiot but my thumb didn’t get raw.

I have kind of come to that conclusion after reading a bit about some of those big smallmouth lakes. May have to figure out a different plan.

Miserable for the fish, meaning they are tough to catch?? Awesome for you liking the weather, or awesome for fishing? I don't mind the heat, in fact, I embrace it. But I am not going to have nice weather vacation. I am on the hunt for some big bags of fish!

Got the go ahead to plan a trip to anywhere in the U.S. during the first part of August. I plan on pulling my boat but hiring a guide maybe half a day the first day to get a lay of the land. Looking for some recommendations as to where will be the best place to have a trip of a lifetime (will be celebrating 30th birthday). Thinking that due to the heat in the big largemouth fisheries in the southern states that it might be best to head north to catch some trophy smallies. I've never targeted smallies so there'd be a bit of a learning curve. If you think that the southern state fishing will be good around that time then I am also open to those suggestions. Would love your suggestions!

I use a 7' H Daiwa Aird. Its a good frog rod. Doesn't need to be fancy.

I think this might be the ticket. I would bet that after you get over 2-lbs the size distribution of the fish isn’t quite so skewed toward the 1.5 lb mark. Maybe someone has some data from electrofishing or other fish sampling techniques to substantiate this.

I have a pair of Glacier Gloves that were given to me. I would but them 10 times over. They keep my hands protected and cool. The also have some leather in strategic positions so they are also durable.