haggard

Keep in mind I'm just starting out (never even fished salt water yet) but now that I have one season of lake fishing down, I like the idea of trying something totally different, as close to the open salt water as possible while still being safe for a yak (a stable 12 footer) - so thinking the river (depending on tide), maybe the New Castle area. Easy paddle from where I would launch in Kittery, current permitting. For now, I'm keeping the powered boat and motor in fresh water only. That said, I'm not set on any specific area yet. The main thing is the excitement of learning & trying something new. A new technique, new water, new species, and above all, spending time outdoors on the water. We're so fortunate to have access to so much water in this area.

Thanks for the good advice Tom, good to know the 400B might not balance well on the 6'8. Checked the specs, the VIC70HF looks promising. To confirm, you're saying you think the VIC70HF would pair well with the 400B?

Thanks Jim. Sounds like I'll be fine with what I've got (6'8 MH/F, and the 1 oz swimbait) - I'll try that and see how it works. I'll just get a saltwater reel and should be good to go. Now if it would only warm up....

Good to know... I've got a 6'8" MH/F baitcaster that I really like, though it's rated for up to only 1 oz. Maybe I'll downsize the lure weight for starting out and see how it works out. Thanks.

90% of my fishing is on a M/F baitcaster with 1/4 to 1/2 oz lures targeting large & smallmouth in a clear, open freshwater lake in southern Maine. Never done salt water yet. Looking to throw some heavier lures (1 to 2 1/2 oz) and also try some inshore striper fishing on a back channel (southern Maine). Given that I'd be using this less frequently than my usual rig, I'd like to buy a single combo to do both, rather than two separate setups. Also want to be able to use this from a sit-on-top yak, not just from the boat. I'm 5'10 and I'm most often using a 6'6 rod, but comfortable with 6'0 to 6'8, haven't tried longer yet. I like a quality setup but I'm not made of money either, and again given this won't be my most often used setup I don't need or want to spend tons of money. That said, I'm drawn to the Calcutta 400B reel which I think could serve both purposes very well. Not sure about the rod though - what power and action. Lures would most likely be hard swimbaits around 2 oz. Is this all too much to ask for from a single combo?

Previous owner had removed the tiller and converted throttle control to a cable going to a typical throttle & shift control up fropnt near the steering wheel. At first I thought it was a homebrew job but looks like it was probably an Evinrude "remote control" kit which included a throttle lever attaching inside the powerhead, a bracket for connecting the steering cables and relocating the engine stop button.

Unhooked the motor and put it on the 1448, easier than I thought, can be put back pretty easily if needed. But looks like a good fit on the 1448, with cavitation plate only about 1.5" above the bottom of the transom. Today's project is restringing the pull rope. Looks like tiller handles are readily available just ridiculously priced. IndianaOutdoors yes stick steer is an option, will keep that in mind.

Great question. Simply put, I bought the Starcraft on a whim; it was cheap ($1K) and complete (boat, motor, trailer) and it taught me a lot in the first year: how to boat, how to fish, but now that I know I'm committed (hooked), I want something tuned more towards fishing. It let me test the waters, if you will. The 1448 is shorter without being too short, more manageable in terms of loading and launching, gives me a casting deck at the bow (can't stand on the Starcraft bow), lets me get shallow with a trolling motor, is more nimble, and is set up for two pedestal seats out of the gate (I'm using the seats from the Starcraft, and bought two posts). The 1448 has a mod V hull which should allow more shallow access as opposed to the deep V on the Starcraft, better suited for fishing in the shallows while still being reasonably good in the home lake when weather kicks up. Didn't want to go with a flat bottom jon because the chop can get choppy, and I'd also have to build up the casting deck. Switching over to the 1448 didn't break the bank either. It's a relatively cheap boat. Using the two seats and 15hp motor from the Starcraft helps. What I'll miss about the Starcraft is being in the boat as opposed to being on the boat (with the 1448); the windscreen; the steering wheel; the room to wander about inside the boat (the 1448 gives you a 53" x 48" tub). With the limited space in the 1448 a steering console would take up too much valuable space so tiller control it is. There will be tradeoffs for sure, but as much as I love the Starcraft, I'm going to make this 1448 work, no turning back. Insert other media

That's my preference. Yes, by dumb luck, ended up with a cheap and (so far) reliable motor and today took the first step in decommissioning the old boat by moving its two seats to the new one. The motor will follow and will hopefully fit. Saddens me to strip the two seats and motor from my first boat because the boat (16' aluminum Starcraft, think it's a 1966 Jupiter, is still in great shape) that's the setup that let me discover boating and fishing; it's been only one season. What a great first season. If anyone's got a tiller handle from a 15604 Evinrude 15hp I could use it.

Tempted to take the 1976 Evinrude 15 2-stroke from my old boat and move it to the 1448 Grizzly. It's connected to steering cables and has no tiller so there's some work to do (and wouldn't be trivial to put back) but it sure is cheaper than a new motor, and the old boat won't see much use once I get the 1448 on the water. The Evinrude runs great. The transom height on the 1448 is 18.25 inches (not measured directly against the transom because it's angled; rather, measured straight down). If I measured the motor shaft correctly, from underside of mounting bracket to the cavitation plate, it's 17.25 in. This is odd because as far as I can tell the standard is about 15" or about 20" so both my motor and the 1448 fall right inbetween. Based on the measurements does it look like the motor & 1448 would work? Even if the shaft is a bit short, could I just run the boat slow enough to not go on plane? My lake's not giant, and 14 mph top speed has been fine for me so far.

If a bass hit a certain lure (say a topwater swimbait) but didn't commit, why would the angler immediately switch to a different type of lure (say a worm) for a followup attempt at the same fish? I've seen/read about this numerous times. What's the rationale behind trying a different lure as opposed to the one that almost got the fish?

Good to know, Catt. I see Evinrude makes a 15 hp motor in both kicker and portable classes. What's the diff between the two? Are there tradeoffs in torque, speed control, etc.? Any reason to not use a kicker or portable as primary power for a boat this small and light (14' Grizzly)?

What brand new ~15-25 hp motor would you buy for a 14' Tracker Grizzly, for recreational fishing large/smallmouth/panfish on a 1000 ac max lake? First on my list is deciding on the motor for the new Tracker 1448 MVX Grizzly (rated 25 hp max). Currently have a 1976 Evinrude 15 hp 2-stroke. Pros, runs strong and reliably, and at top speed of 14 mph pushes the '66 aluminum Starcraft across the ~1000 ac home lake in decent time. Cons, it's 40+ years old and me at 50 y.o. I can tinker but really want to spend more time fishing and less time maintaining motors, so considering a new one for the new Grizzly to last the next ~15-20 years without touching it aside from basic maintenance. I realize that only I can decide but if you had the means, what brand new motor would you buy for the 1448, or would you just stick with the older? Two stroke vs four? Main factors for me are simplicity, low maintenance and light weight. I have no problem with basic maintenance (mixing oil/gas, changing plugs or gear oil, replacing seals, water pump, etc) but if it comes to a low-end teardown/rebuild then no, that's when I'd rather be fishing. Purpose of the motor would be getting to the fishing spot and shutting it down and using the trolling motor, no need for go-fast on big lakes. Opinions? What make and model would top your list?

I have to admit I'm not one of these people who does an amazing youtube-worthy jon to bass boat conversion; that's not what I'm aiming for. I discovered fresh water boating and fishing only a few months ago, using a very cheap old boat/trailer/motor combo. Now that I know I'm hooked, just want something more fishing oriented. But at this stage I definitely value small, nimble, simple instead of larger. Hoping I can build out a minimalist 1448 and will be happy to share results.

Already some great ideas here, thanks for posting. I assume you can move the seats among all base locations? I like the idea of sharing one seat as both an "underway" seat and a pedestal seat. Saves on half the cost of seats. Planning to run a pull start tiller motor, plan to put battery (for trolling motor) up front, under deck as you do, for better balance.

I just got a Tracker 1448 MVX Grizzly with trailer, planning to build it up this winter as a fishing platform for my area lakes (~1000 acres) targeting panfish, smallmouth and largemouth. Looked at a Pro 160/170, so great but just too much boat and features for me and my needs (purely recreational). The boat isn't a lot of length and heft but I like to keep things small and simple. Motor will be a 1976 Evinrude 15hp 2-stroke from my previous boat, and plan to add trolling motor, finder, seats, bimini top, rod & beverage holders, lighting, etc. Seeking advice, suggestions, opinions etc from anyone who's customized a similar Grizzly.

Hi Jim, I usually head to Shapleigh/Action as well. Square and Goose. Thanks LM! KTP YES.... Had a great summer of boating and fishing for the first time. Season's about over now so a long and enjoyable winter of reading and watching anything and everything fishing, and doing some maint on the boat and gear. Can't wait for the 2018 season.

At the risk of focusing too much on the gear, there's something I really love about a raw aluminum low profile baitcasting reel, not flashy or anodized in color or finished with metal flake speckles, but something raw metal that will just show natural wear over time. Prefer quality but doesn't have to be over the top. What are my options?

Been trying to figure out a BFS setup myself, and much like you, 95% bass (okay maybe 80%). Alderbaran and Conquest BFS are on my list but so hard to tell without being able to try them in person (a lot of $ at stake). One other you might consider is the Daiwa Zillion SV TW http://www.daiwa.com/us/contents/reels/zillion_sv_tw/index.html

Thanks Jim. I'm in Kittery

Hi all, got hooked a couple months ago and can't stop. Wish I discovered fishing 40 years ago. Lots of salt water access where I live but for never fished salt water yet, currently drawn to freshwater lakes and ponds, enjoying fishing for largemouth, smallmouth and panfish, and the enjoyment of spending time outdoors and on water. Throwing mostly soft plastics from spinners and baitcasters, very interested in baitcaster finesse, love to keep things light and simple. Help out a newbie: I can't figure out how to log into bassresource from the home page. Can't find the link. What am I missing?

Relatively new at fishing, been totally enjoying a successful ultralight setup for panfish, but when I land a small (fits in palm of my hand) bluegill, crappie, white perch many times they wiggle right off the hook, onto the ground, before I can get my hand on them. This also suggests I may be tearing their lips. I'm concerned about damage to the fish from both lip tear and flopping around on the ground after coming loose. Does this suggest the hook is the wrong size? Lure is a Trout Magnet (troutmagnet.com), I think it's a size 8 hook, 1/64 oz. Tried the slightly bigger Crappie Magnet (think it's a size #4, 1/16 oz) but not as many catches. What size hook might be best for these panfish (where "best" means ability to catch and release them with minimal damage to the fish)? Combo is St. Croix PS56ULF2 5'6" ultralight, fast action with Shimano Ultegra 1000 series spinning reel, 4 lb test mono. Reel feels a bit heavy for the rod but otherwise happy with this setup.

Thanks for the suggestions - sunfish or bluegill, that's more than I had... Shark and bait, LOL!

After a day of bass fishing on a lake in southern Maine I stopped at a shallow cove to see if I could catch one of these to find out what it was. I still can't find out what it was, even after checking the google. What is it?