haggard

I've used the Curado 201K and switched to the Bantam. Curado was great but slightly big for my hands. Bantam fits much better for me, feels so comfortable. I love the all metal one-piece frame. Feels solid, no flex when casting. I like it so much I sold my Curado K, Curado 71 and Conquest, and replaced them all with Bantams.

New-to-me 1976 Evinrude 15hp 2-stroke, first season, fished for a while on the lake but then couldn't get it restarted. Paddled the boat back to the launch (fortunately it was close by). Checked the google and it says the motor has a lockout that requires it to be in neutral to start. Next morning, back on the lake, started right up in neutral.

[oops... just saw roadwarrior's comment... moving my reply to other thread]

Yep we're here.

Spend some time on the water with it. First time out you're not used to it. Takes a while to get used to it and your body will adapt. My first time out in my cheap tippy kayak I thought "this was a mistake" but after one season I feel very comfortable in it. The yak didn't change.

I have a 1974 Evinrude 15hp 2-stroke with a lower unit that looks to be held on by two screws. It's a bit seized up and from what I've read it's time for a gear puller. There's a youtube video on it - maybe check it out.

Congrats on your 1448 Grizzly! I bought that boat new several years ago and loved it, put a 1976 15hp 2-stroke on it. It was a slug, only got up to 8 mph, but that wasn't unexpected. If you've got the all welded aluminum version, that comes with fairly thick aluminum if I recall. I think the max rating on the boat is 25 hp. Boat is great build quality and layout but seems a little heavy and could probably use the max 25 hp. My 1448 got crashed into after only a few months and I really miss it. I thought my short shaft motor might not be getting far enough down below the water line so I converted it to a long shaft, but still no difference at all. I think the critical thing for these boats is to use the max hp, and to get as much weight forward as you can (battery, gas tank) instead of putting them in the well at the rear. Especially if you're running a tiller steer and sitting at the stern. In short, I'd guess the boat is stern heavy.

Problem with that primate is it's got nine lives. Like the cats. Keep a spare magazine handy.

Yeah looks like a Group 27. I think the box sizes are standardized so you should be able to pick up a "group 27" box at the usual stores for less than $20.

Doesn't look right. If you're uncertain of how to make the connections, it's well worth finding someone who does (even paying someone who does). Setting this up properly should be relatively quick and easy. It's hard to tell what's what from the photos, not knowing anything about how the yak power distribution is set up. With the amount of energy stored in the battery, a simple wrong connection can kill equipment fast, or start a fire fast. If you haven't planned on it already, when you're done setting it up, put that battery in a proper battery box. The exposed plus and minus terminals are like magnets for dropped metallic objects and you'll sure know it when they hit

I would have loved to, and just went to the live stream to see if I could catch any of it. NBC sports site tells me I have to turn off my (why is "a-d---block-er" censored????) . I did. Then it tells me I have 44 minutes of access, but to get full access I need to verify my cable subscription. Which I did. Now I'm stuck watching forced pre-roll ads. When I was a kid I just turned on the TV and watched it. And GET OFF MY LAWN. Oh, ads are over - picking it up at lap 153, woo hoo!!! Thanks for the tip @bassman, I would have missed it otherwise.

I use a 7'0 MH/F spinning rod here in New England for schoolie stripers, paired with a Stradic C5000 size reel (which isn't as big as it sounds), usually with a soft plastic paddletail on a darter jig head, and it does just great for fish around 23-25 inches, biggest I've caught so far was 4.5 lb. Some might say this is a little light, but it holds up and is so much fun to catch these things on it. For surf casting you might want something a little heavier and longer. I haven't done bluefish yet but I hear a steel leader is recommended.

That actually looks really tasty.

Welcome to the forum Dave!

A couple weekends ago launched the skiff just before sunrise, parked the truck, came back to the dock and saw all my stuff floating around in the boat in about 7 inches of water. Installed drain plug. Wasn't sure I should step into the boat as I might swamp it but did it anyway, motored out to the lake and pulled the plug at speed, and it drained quickly. Good to know that trick works and glad nobody was at the dock to witness my senior moment. Even though I just posted it on the forum ?

You can increase the odds of the fish shaking it loose by crushing down the barbs. Also increases the odds of you removing it if you hook your own mouth ?

Two things need to be known: Has the potential buyer seen the boat yet, and is the cash deposit non-refundable.

Happy to see an article in the local paper today about our town's public high school's new fishing club. They got support from the local "mom & pop" (non chain) retailer, plus a local full time fishing guide, plus a world wide rod/reel maker. https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200810/meet-traip-academy-anglers-schoolrsquos-first-fishing-team KITTERY, Maine – Established this past school year, Traip Academy’s first fishing team saw its inaugural activities interrupted by COVID-19, but members have laid the groundwork for a successful future. The high school’s newest team is only fitting for one of Maine’s oldest fishing villages. Sponsored by the Kittery Trading Post, the Traip Academy Anglers were born out of “students already fishing on their own,” said Jen Thayer, the Kittery School District’s sustainability coordinator. Through the team’s relationship with KTP, the fishermen have received free workshops, team jerseys, rods, reels and more. [full story at seacoastonline.com]

She wasn't very photgenic, but fun and functional. Bringing her home: Added cable & drum steering system from the old boat. The built-in channels allowed for adjustable brackets which made it easy to re-tension the steering springs/pulleys. Here you can also see the accessory rails (again adjustable, sliding back/forth along the channels), with fish finder, throttle & gear control, and rod hangers mounted. The nav light at the bow is a large articulating Spro BBZ mackerel lure with eyes replaced with red and green lights, but he had to go to make room for the trolling motor. Built a side console and installed a seat on the floor, with short pedestal. Under console: Rails detail: Also added bimini top. The seats were used from the old boat. And a trolling motor. the main motor was a 1975 or 76 evinrude 15hp 2-stroke which ran really strong, but much better on the original boat - the Tracker was heavier and the 15 just wasn't enough, but it worked.

Tracker Grizzly 1448 mod V, all welded aluminum, already has flat floors, casting deck, pedestal seat mounts. I loved mine. It was sluggish with the old 15 hp 2-stroke; I'd recommend the max hp (25). Modifying was pretty easy. It comes with channels on each side running the length of the boat. I put carriage bolts in them, attaching to L-angle aluminum brackets, on which I mounted everything - rod holders, cup holders, even supports for a bimini top.

Thanks ib - I happened to pick some of them at my local shop just before I went to the lake that day, but ended up putting them back in favor of the more traditional spoon/blade type lures. Which didn't work for me at all, so I switched to the soft plastic paddle tail. I'll give the wedding ring a try next time.

Trout have been elusive for the first few seasons, caught only one rainbow and one brown, both by accident while fishing for bass, so today made a deliberate attempt to ignore bass fishing and troll for trout from the kayak. Used spinning gear with some tin weight to get the soft plastic paddle tail on jig head near the bottom, trolled for three hours and this brown trout made the day all worth it. This was as exciting as catching my first bass. The secret to enjoyment is trying something new and having it not work, until it does.

This is your best one yet! Sounds just like the "real thing." Nicely done. Great looking pattern too.

A 2 inch curl tail grub on a 1/8 light wire jig head is my go-to for panfish. It's so effective that I have no reason to use anything else. I've also caught largemouth on a 3 inch, but for bass light techniques I usually go for a 3 or 3.5 inch paddletail worm on the same 1/8 jig head.