haggard

Happy 244th and thanks to all Marines on the forum and beyond ??

Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Youtube.

Can't say I caught nearly as many as Glenn did but the finesse jig is one of my new favorites. Here in southern Maine the bite seemed off all summer, at least with the usual lures in the usual places. The exception for me was the green & white paddletail worm on a light jig head, using 6 lb line on a ML/F spinning setup, even though I'm more of a baitcaster type. It caught probably 95% of what I caught this season. So as fall closed in I was determined to for once (no exaggeration) to catch something on a skirted jig, so why not try the finesse version with the green & white paddletail as a trailer. As soon as I did, I started catching fish. Not tons of fish, but some fish (for me that's good). Gained a lot of confidence on that lure and as a result it's going to be a go-to next season, not even just for fall. Funny how sometimes you think you're all about one type of rod, reel, line and lure, but the results steer you in a completely different and sometimes unexpected direction. Results sometimes speak louder than gear.

After seeing it in use on my fishing buddy's boat (he has an EchoMap 73SV up front and a 73SV Plus on the console), I liked it enough that when I bought a finder, I chose the same (Plus), but in the 93SV size (only because it would just fit in the console). If you're using it at the console, 73 size should be fine. Bow mount, if it's at your feet, 93 might help. Your mileage may vary depending on how good your eyes are. I admit I haven't done much side view with it. It's my first season with it, so I'm just doing the basics. But I watched my buddy run side view on his and it didn't disappoint. To me the EchoMaps have a fast and intuitive user interface and find the touch screen version ("Plus") so much better in terms of ease of use. For me the touch screen is a big safety factor, especially when underway or running at speed. Last thing you want to be doing is futzing with menus and trying to read menu labels. Even WITH the touch screen, I've found it's enough of a distraction that I avoid using it unless at wake speed or less. The only other modern finder I've used is a Lowrance Hook 4 (on the yak) - it's primitive by comparison in terms of menus, graphics, resolution, clarity, etc. but for me works great on the yak - but for a bigger boat, I highly recommend the EchoMap Plus. The size is up to you depending on your application and how much money you have to spend. I know this hasn't even got into features yet, but it's probably safe to say any of the top contenders have more or less the same features. I find the more important factors & differences are in screen size, user interface, menu navigation, resolution, and very importantly, the ability to customize (layouts, parameters, etc.) Watch for Black Friday sales and if you're not ready by then, Bass Pro / Cabelas Spring Classic sale in March (got the Plus 93SV there for $400 savings if I remember correctly).

The usual 7 in fresh water: largemouth smallmouth chain pickerel bluegill crappie white perch yellow perch And 3 in salt: mackerel sea robin striped bass

2019 was my third season (wish I started 50 years ago). After the 2018 season ended, made some goals for 2019. Some goals were met: catch a bass on a skirted jig for first time catch a bass on a spinner lure for first time catch a bass on a top water lure for first time catch a second salt water species (mackerel) - also got a third (sea robin) explore & fish the local salt water (river, bay, ocean) - first season with salt boat Some were not: catch personal best striped bass Some happened that hadn't made my list: go fishing with Bass Resource forum members stop talking about buying a scale and actually buy a scale Some others are pushed to 2020: learn fly fishing & tying log a personal best smallmouth, largemouth & striper (now that I have a scale) first time catch & cook Winterized and stored the last of the fleet today, with one exception: the cheap and lowly Sundolphin Journey SS 10 yak, just in case there's a chance for one... more..... cast..........

I still call the M/F baitcaster my all time favorite but this season I added a ML/XF spinning setup (AVS69MLXF), and without a doubt it's been my most used, most productive combo in 2019. I find a noticeable difference between M and ML in terms of the lure weights they can throw and the fun of the fight. Granted, I'm comparing a baitcaster (M) to a spinning (ML). But for light wire hooks, lighter lures & light techniques, the ML with 6 lb line has earned a completely unexpected yet definite spot in my top 2 or 3. It's just proven to be too productive to ignore. Not so thin that it's noodly like the ultralight, but so thick that it's stiffer like the M. "Just right" for light techniques. It's also shown me that a ML with 6 lb line has no problem wrangling bigger fish. Funny thing is I also bought a M/F spinning setup (Avid AVC66MF) as a general purpose "if you had to have only one rod" at about the same time and have yet to even use it. The ML/XF has been that good.

As so many have said, it's been a tough season for some unknown reason. It's only my third season but even then I could always count on getting some decent smallies on the home lake, but not in 2019. Finally got a couple last weekend. Not monsters by any means but enough to give a little hope and make for an enjoyable day. Trust me, compared to the rest of them, this one was big

Styrofoam is cheap but it's also weak. Ice and fish are heavy. If the bottom or sides bust out, you lose everything.

Check Bass Resource daily. Good medicine. We're with you!

I had a 14 ft mod V all welded Jon 1448 and wanted a trolling motor with similar specs to yours: good battery management, single battery, quiet, efficient, good speed range, reliable... and didn't want anything with too much fancy stuff. I chose the MotorGuide X3 in 55# thrust, mechanical cable steer but digital battery management. Mine was the 36 inch version but you have other length options... my jon didn't have much freeboard so 36 inch worked great. I loved it, worked out just great. Highly recommended. Granted, your boat is a 16 ft and fiberglass, so there's a little more boat to pull, but it might work well. I really liked the simplicity of installation, single battery to save on weight, and it pulled the 14 ft jon around so easily, never even had to run it up to full speed. (lost it in a crash, otherwise I'd still use it today)

Bow anchoring with a little stern swing gives you the chance to work a few more spots

This is mind blowing. And as far as I can tell, no computers running anything. Genius is right.

Now that's power fishing

I only recently started using a skirted swimbait with blades, and I like it in dirty water. In theory it's it's flashier and easier to see, and even if it's not seen as visible in dirty water, it vibrates pretty well as you swim it so it can still be detected.

I know this isn't really what you asked but just FYI in case it's useful. Sorry if off topic. For gut hook removal I find this works really well and fast (after a few tries learning): Tools: - 6-in diagonal cutters - 6-in needle nose pliers - 8-in forcepts (straight) Process: - immediately cut hook halfway down using diag cutters. This quickly clears everything upstream (line, lure, bullet weight, etc.) and gives you room to work - go in through lowest (or next to lowest) gill opening on whichever side of the fish the remainder of the hook is closest to - for barbless hooks, using forceps grab the hook closest to where it disappears and rotate it back out. Before going in, it may help to "pre rotate" your wrist/forceps in the opposite direction so you have room to rotate the hook. Hook should come out easily. When it's free, go back in through the mouth and remove it with the forceps. - barbed hooks: haven't done this with barbed... process might be different. All I use the needle nose for now is to pull out a hook when I don't have enough leverage with my fingers, and to crush barbs.

Yeti. Pricey yes, but quality comes at a price. No regrets. I use my Yeti mugs every day (commuting, at work, at home) - always filled with ice water - and they (and a Yeti cooler) come with me on every trip to camp and every outing on the boat. Their customer service in my experience has been excellent. The 30 oz. rambler is my new favorite. Bigger size means less opening of the soft cooler to replenish with ice and water.

I ran a MotorGuide X3 (55 lb thrust) on a 14 ft mod-V Tracker jon because I wanted something basic, simple, mechanical cable steer but with some digital smarts built in for battery management. It seemed to be the sweet spot between simplicity and digital smarts. It performed flawlessly (for several months until the boat got hit) and I never ran out of power, nor did I ever feel the need to run full powre. Ran it from a single 12 VDC Group 24 battery (again, simplicity... and reduced weight). Highly recommended; I'd buy it again. Not sure if your 16.5 ft'er will want more thrust; check into that.

Also practice a slow, low, gentle side cast - almost slow motion - instead of a snap/whip. Then just work your way up.

Largely dictated by the size of the water you'll typically be fishing. I had a mod V that worked great for some of the lakes up here (900 acres or less), but probably wouldn't be too great on the 1,800 acre lake on a choppy day.

Sounds like an oil change I did a few years ago on the truck. Going into it, told myself it would be an easy 20 minutes

If you're a sucker for quality, Lund is hard to beat (opinion). Not saying there aren't other quality boats out there, and ones that might offer more features for the dollar. But in your decision making process, consider what sort of buyer you are, not just what sort of category the boat is in. Unless you're made of money, once you buy it, it's pretty much a done deal that you live with. Take your time and do plenty of research.

Check out Cheekwood, a 55 acre botanical garden and apparently now an art museum. You could probably spend an entire day there. It's mind bogglingly beautiful, from the gardens to the architecture. An easy drive from downtown. https://cheekwood.org/ For a premium chocolate treats/gifts, you could visit the Opry Mills Lindt Chocolate Shop (disclaimer: I work for Lindt). For sports you might check into attending a Vanderbilt Univ. or Tennessee Titans football game. Hiking and biking, check out the Natchez Trace trail. Oh! Country music, specifically western swing? If the Time Jumpers are still playing... they used to play at the Station Inn but I think now they're the house band at Third and Lindsley. If you're into western swing, it just doesn't get any better!! Well, unless Dawn Sears was still with them

Could be the splashwell?

Site is free and is also free of so much of the nonsense found on other forums. There's no other site I visit daily (literally). I use a blocker but this site is whitelisted. Static ads, fishing related, great. If they start doing page takeovers, video/audio ads, gimicky and freaky stuff, I'm out. Until then, thank you @Glenn!