Vilas15

30,500. Boat is a 2005 but motor is 2013. Somehow it was ordered with no ski pylon (on a fish and ski boat) so thats close to another 2 grand for ranger to install it. That's outside my abilities since theyve got to move the verado steering pump. Needed new tires. Probably new bunks soon. Otherwise solid and electronics and trolling motor work just fine for me without upgrading right away.

I posted one pic from the sellers ad before when i picked this up in winter but finally got a decent shot of my own after changing gear lube and washing it. Still cannot believe how great it looks for an 05. Also got new trailer tires (to replace the originals ?).

Thats fine. I've learned plenty just by watching where others go. I'd never drive by them and side scan while they're fishing it but just make a mental note to check it out in the future. With the sonar these days theres no point in getting right up next to them and drop a waypoint, you should be able to figure out what theyre on top of on your own at a later date. No triangulation needed like the old days lining up a post with a house window like my dad used to do.

Sounds like the tire is full size but the wheel is ugly. Looking at their website all the photos appear to show a matching spare wheel and I don't see an "option" that would have to be added on to provide a matching wheel. Seems like a legitimate complaint. https://basscat.com/bass-cat-models/bcb-trailers/

@MN Fisher everything looks rock solid but i think @airshot has got a point here. Almost need something to provide a little give and act like a lock washer so vibrations dont loosen up the clamps and you lose all clamping force at once. Or maybe just a backup cable so the outboard doesnt end up going for a swim if it loosens?

Some manufacturers will give you a "towing length" that has the tongue out and the transom saver on with motor trimmed up, then a minimum "storage length" that assumes the tongue is folded and the transom saver is off with the motor is trimmed down. It's always best to measure something in person if its coming close at all.

Can't help but notice you've got Krazy in your username as well. Maybe a coincidence, but it's absolutely hilarious if this is a bot trying to do some guerilla advertising that just ends up getting cooked in the comments ?

Also if anyones curious the muskies are trying to swim up the creek from Lake Monona to spawn, but theres very little successful natural reproduction in the madison chain so it's a pointless exercise. I believe its due to the lack of proper bottom substrate. Everything is maintained by stocking, so the fish coming up the creek are not supposed to make the jump because both sides of the dam are already stocked. Lake Wingra (dam is flowing out of here) has the highest density of muskies in WI already and is known for small fish so it doesn't need any more in there. Theres no way for them to get back into the creek and to Monona if they make the jump.

Whales will jump clear out the ocean but die from the weight of their own organs if they get beached. Same concept for muskies jumping vertical vs being held still. Funny you posted this, i should take a walk during my lunch hour and go see if they're jumping the dam right now. I'll walk across that creek to get to my truck after work. Its the one with the musky on the license plate ?.

Probably not a bad strategy but I had the exact opposite experience when looking at boat electronics at Cabelas. The old man had literally no idea what any of it was and the young guy was knowledgeable and helpful. Either the old guy was lost in the wrong department or just there for the employee discount.

If you're serious about it you need a big net (i use frabil power catch #8425), some good hook cutters (knipex), long needle nose pliers, some heavy leaders and min. 50 lb braid on a decent 200 size reel (preferably 300/400) and a Heavy bass rod. It's more expensive than bass fishing to do it right but you can work your way up to all that gear. Start with the proper release tools before spending serious money on baits. They're not too picky. Its all about the right location and conditions over different colors of the same bucktail. Just put in time on the water and you'll find one eventually. Don't go for double cowgirls or pounder bulldawgs, you don't need them.

Same here. No desire to try any originals so I dont know what I'm missing. I'll just keep using the new ones.

FFS will result in more muskies dying unintentionally because they will be caught in deep water offshore during the summer where they go to escape the heat. It also results in lowered bag limits on panfish which is already happening in some places. Now when the rest of us have a good day you cant take as many home because the limits need to account for the guide on the same lake using FFS getting his clients on a limit way more often. FFS not a big deal in my eyes for catch and release bass fishing but I'm otherwise not a fan. Won't blame anybody like this for using it if it's legal. It's the same as ice fishing being able to see instantaneous feedback from the fish but without being limited in mobility by the ice. You can just harass them until they finally bite, basically bed fishing year round in deeper water. I know it's a lot more difficult than that but as people learn it and the tech becomes more user friendly there won't be such a big learning curve.

I think the deciding factor in this debate is whether you're looking at it through the eyes of catch and release only and how it applies to tournaments, vs how people are using this to keep their limit (or more) every time they're on the water (or ice). In your analogy the mechanics job doesn't involve consuming a public resource that we all have to share, so of course i want them to do their best since the public benefits from them doing a good service faster/cheaper. For FFS, the public is hurt when it makes it easier to for guides to take clients out and catch their limits more often. There's less fish for the rest of us. Are they breaking the rules? No but the limits aren't set with the expectation that the catching is made easier by FFS. As it has already been mentioned some places are adapting the panfish limits of 5 or 10 instead of 25 knowing it's likely people will find fish more often, instead of less frequent success allowing an occasional big day of 25 crappies. We'll have to keep cranking down the limits which hurts the people who follow them, including guides, but not those who don't. I'm less concerned about this tech in tournaments, except for catching deep fish in hot water increasing mortality which is a big concern for muskies. But if nothing is done and it becomes more common since you need it to win try turning the dial back on something that everybody spent a few thousand dollars on and you'll get plenty of people up in arms.

I don't think they will due to the money spent by the companies that are selling it who want you to see the pros using it. It'd take government regulating its use, and that's my concern that they're way behind the times and by the time the tech gets too good the cat will be out of the bag.

They got limits on golf clubs and balls. Size of driver heads and limiting other measurements of performance. They've hit the current ceiling on driver distance and theres plenty of controversy about it ruining the game since courses are made too easy with newer tech. You can only use clubs conforming to the PGAs rules in official tournaments. And nobody sells non conforming clubs except for TV infomercial gimmicks so that people don't accidentally disqualify themselves. Same way I care what kind of guns and other equipment somebody uses when hunting. They've got to follow the same rules as me to ensure a fair chase. Sonar is a new technology without any rules so like many tech industries any gov regulation is way behind since most lawmakers barely understand email. In bass fishing its not really a problem since people catch and release, but some of this new tech allows people to really put a dent in panfish on the ice. The pro musky tournament trail just banned FFS this past season midway. I am just wondering whats the end game? The tech will keep improving, until what? We can wear virtually reality goggles and see every fish in the lake and the computed odds theyre feeding based on their location and activity? Gotta draw the line somewhere before the tech goes too far. You can't use night vision to hunt deer even though you still have to find them and shoot them because it makes it too easy. You can't use a drone to spot deer (as far as i know, which is basically what Livescope is to fishing.

Smallies only. Occasionally get a largemouth on accident, but theyre rare enough on the lakes I'm normally on I don't know where I'd start to find one on purpose. That may change this coming year as I fish a new area that I know has more largemouth.

That will be tough with that length and budget. Probably looking at something like an old Lund Tyee 1750. But definitely aluminum. Measure the garage and be 100% sure it fits before you buy anything!

What's your budget? Looking at new or used? Towing long distance? @gimruis is spot on. Pontoons are great if you can keep it at the lake or marina and want to throw down the anchor to bobber fish. As a new reata owner they are a great option. I've got a 1850 which is more deep V walleye boat with ski potential. See if you can find a reata 190 which is more bass boat style but can seat 5 comfortably. Thats assuming its in your budget and youve got the ability to tow a fiberglass boat (truck or full size SUV). If you need to go aluminum there are still fish and ski options, much easier to tow, better on the river if you're beaching it on rocks.

I wish i could say it did not factor into my decision to put a Daiwa legalis on my new st croix legend tournament, but the blue just went so well together.

Wait a second are you supposed to use your feet to operate the paddle?

Thanks. So much room in this thing it's crazy. You can really feel it back there when towing compared to a 1650 aluminum Lund.

? That's a photo from the ad the owner originally posted back in october. I had to get the hose out and spray the salt off when i got it home before parking in the garage. Soon as Lake Mendota opens up now that wisconsin has year round catch and release for bass. I'd guess sometime in april.

Finally picked it up today after closing the deal two weeks ago. 2005 Ranger Reata 1850VS with a 2013 Mercury Verado 150 and 9.9 kicker. Plenty of people on this site probably dont know what a kicker is but I digress... its been taken care of very well and there's only a few things here or there i need to do like new trailer tires and bunks.