powerman970

These are also types of structure that are relative to the waters you are fishing. On larger reservoirs creek channels and river channels are usually fairly easy to locate but they may be overlooked on smaller waters and could become a honey hole if you find them. I am a member at a small private lake (60 acres) and while fishing it one afternoon I noticed what appeared to be an old logging road in the woods next to the water. Sure enough I was able to tell where this "road" had crossed what is now a lake. I also found where the road entered the water on the opposite side and even in a small boat without electronics I was able to fish between these two points. Later I was on the same lake in my bass boat and decided to check it out on the Lowrance. The road bed was approximately 2 feet deeper than surrounding water and after marking it we proceeded to load the boat. Crankbaits and Carolina rigs seem to be the ticket.

Maybe they should have one world record per zip code that way we could all have one. The bottom line is, if you want a shot at a record fish, then go to where the record fish are instead of asking for the rules to be changed so that your odds are better. I live in the south and I could make the same argument as you, but instead, if I want to catch a record fish I'll get a plane ticket to California. I'm not trying to be argumentative or start anything. I just feel that one of the biggest problems with the world today is that everyone wants everything either dumbed down or made easier to suit them or their situation. Think of it this way....Wherever that next record bass may be, most of the population is nowhere near it.

I own a 176 XT and it is rated for a 75hp but mine is powered by a 50. It is not sluggish and the difference in top speed between the 50 and the 75 is only about 5mph. The hull design is the reason for the lower power rating on these boats. If you have seen one then you will notice that they are not the typical modified V or tri hull designs seen on most boats. Statos actually designed the boat around the motor instead of designing a boat and then choosing a motor for it and when they did so they chose to use a skiff design on the hull. The boat would probably skip like a rock across the water with too much power because of this but if top end speed is not your main objective I highly recommend the 176 and I'm sure the 186 will perform just as well. For the first time in my life, I can fish 2-3 days on one tank of gas and the boat maneuvers well and planes out quickly. I had some of the same concerns about being underrated on power but it has been anything but a problem. I LOVE MINE!

Both are excellent suggestions. Thanks guys. I was thinking exactly what you suggested Long Mike but I was worried that I would cut that brown wire, splice it in and then find out that there was more to it. I had not thought of hooking up the second pump independently but that seems like a good idea too in case one pump fails then I would have a spare. I think I will go ahead with the switch installation now that I feel a little more confident about the end result but I am also going to take surfer's advice and install the second pump. What could it hurt? Thanks so much guys, I knew I could get a satisfactory answer on these boards.

Okay guys here's the task. I am trying to install either a float switch on my existing bilge pump or possibly just replace the pump with an automatic pump with the float built in. I have both of these parts and after looking at the directions for installing the float I got scared off. I am no wiring expert and I'm worried about exactly how this thing should connect. The directions call for a toggle switch and an inline fuse but the pump is already switched at the console and fused in the fuse panel. Pump works fine but I will be fishing this weekend where I will have to leave the boat tied to a pier and uncovered at night and we have been experiencing some torrential rains at night. I'm not really worried that the water would be enough to sink the boat but it could possibly get high enough to damage the onboard charger and batteries. What is my best and most user friendly option considering the fact that I can't get the dealer to do it before Thursday night when I am heading to the lake? If it any help the boat is a brand new Stratos 176XT and I have no idea why the pump is not automatic to begin with. How much would it have to rain before I had a problem? Would it be okay to just tie her up and pump out the rain water in the morning before I head out? If anyone is experienced with wiring the float switch please HELP!

V&M is a brand name.

I have cut the rear tine off of the trebles on my topwaters to make them weedless so I can drag them over pads. Just a thought.

I use a Zoom finesse worm more than anything else for shakey head rigging and dropshotting. I also like NetBaits finesse worms if you can find them. The V&M is cool because it floats so when you rig it shakey head the tail floats up off the bottom but they tear up too quickly I have been experimenting with the Hard Nose worms and I'm not crazy about them but my son loves them.

I have to agree. The Tiny Torpedo is one of the best topwater baits ever produced. Throw that puppy out there and let it sit, Twitch it a time or two and if that doesn't draw a strike rip it once to get that prop moving. If I only carried one topwater bait it would be a Heddon Tiny Torpedo (I like the black one with the skeletal pattern on it).

First thing you might try is a casting net. You could use it to catch shad to try to entice those bass to hit or you could just go ahead and skip the middle man and use it to catch the bass. The other possibility is dynamite. On a more serious note, I have had some success with a floating deep diving crankbait. I crank it as deep as possible into the "zone where those little monsters are suspended and then kill it letting it float up. A few little twitches as it is rising and sometimes it produces magic. A dropshot might also be productive. Try dropshotting with a pearl colored fluke. If they are feeding on shad it may be the ticket.

I too have fallen victim to the P-Line. I switched to the CX after reading rave reviews. I went to BPS and loaded up on the stuff then promptly changed 16 reels over to this new wonderful line. I have lost numerous fish due to what I believed at first to be line breakage before I realized that the line was not breaking, the knot was slipping. Problem is, the knot seems to have plenty of strength when it is tied but slips on a hard hookset. I switched to a knot such as you would use for braided line and it seems to have helped but I am still not crazy about the line. Stren will be happy to know I will be sending them my business back in the future. I have learned the hard way "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I have decided to list my integrity for sale for $800.00 so I can use the money to purchase a product that someone else may or may not have sold there integrity to endorse. Then we will see if it really works or not. In the grand scheme of things, who cares???? I own a Stratos boat but if Ranger offers me 50 grand to go on tv and say how great their boats are I'd be all over it. Then I would continue to fish from a Stratos. If I don't sponsor it someone else will so I might as well take the cash. It is not a matter of integrity. It is a business decision and Ike may be telling the truth when he says he could not have won without it. Think about it, maybe what he meant was I needed some quick cash and without it I may not have been able to concentrate on my fishing that weekend. Therefor he could not have won without it.

I own a print shop. We manufacture and sell personalized receipt books. I have no printing experience and would not know how to run a press if it bit me. All our printing is done on Risographs (digital duplicators that look like Xerox machines but have an ink drum in them instead of toner.) Just thought I would throw that in there because it looks like we have several people in the printing industry here. The huge upside to my job is that I only physically go in to the office about 3 days a week so I have plenty of time to fish.

Oh I love to fish. Noodling is just an alternative way to do it. I guess for me it is like skydiving, something I want to do just once so I can say I have done it. If it wasn't dangerous I wouldn't care to try it. I am an adrenaline junky and have no desire to go to rehab for a few more years. I like fast cars, fast bikes, climbing things that are not meant to be climbed, and just maybe noodling. We'll see. I had a buddy that summed it up. He does not fish and can't understand why we do. (But I let him be my friend anyways). He said I don't care about casting for fish all day but there is something kind of cool about chasing them with sticks.

I'm gonna try not to. I understand they call this a grappling hook and that the mortality rate is actually pretty high. We'll see how it goes. Hell, maybe I'll get one of those Darwin awards or something.

1. Zoom finesse worm in watermelon candy rigged on a shakey head 2. Zoom fat albert twin tail grub (pumpkinseed) T-rigged on a 1/0 offset. The hook is so large it just pokes up the grubs butt but it is deadly in the fall of the year. 3. Original Culprit in Tequila Shad also T-rigged.

Okay...not real noodling where you use your fingers for bait, but I guess our modified version of noodling here in Alabama. My brother-in-law was invited to go with some friends a couple weeks ago and I laughed at him for going but I am going with him next Saturday. These guys are hopping out of the boat and walking down the side of boat ramps to find holes that catfish will hide in. Then they shove this homemade contraption into the hole (piece of 1/2" flexible PVC with a large treble hook tied to a piece of parachute cord then the cord is run through the pvc and on the other end they leave about a foot of slack then tie on a large washer so the cord can't be pulled through the pipe) and when they feel a catfish hit they set the hook ( by snatching on the washer) and then you hold on. They are taking fish upwards of 30 lbs and my brother-in-law told me that when you are out towards the end of the boat ramp and have to go under water to fish the hole it is crazy! He got drug into water over his head last weekend by a 35+ pound fish and nearly drowned before finally wrestling it in. Anybody heard of this type of fishing and if so do you have any pointers since I will be going for the first time and he has only been twice.

I found it...It is actually green pumpkin candy. Thanks for the reply.

I need some help here guys. I used to love fishing a culprit worm but have moved on to being a Zoom man. I will go back to some of the more productive Culprits when the bite is tough and they always catch fish. I recently found a prepacked worm kit by Culprit at Wally World and it had a color in it that I have never seen in the Culprit line. My best description would have to be a watermelon candy color (Culprit does not list watermelon candy as one of their colors and it is a favorite in Zoom) The worm is a watermelon color with with black green and purple flake in it. I have fished watermelon seed forever and moved to the watermelon candy recently in Zoom worms. I don't know if it just my imagination but the added purple flake seems to make a difference. If anyone knows what culprit calls this color please let me know.

I love it.. I needed a good laugh.

I think animals should be treated correctly. Personally I like mine treated with Emeril's seasoning and a little olive oil. PETA is a joke. I would not go out of my way to run a dog over but I have been known to pepper one or two with birdshot if they were playing around in the freshly dumped garbage can in my front yard. As far as beef, pork, fish, etc. they are food...That is why they are here. As long as we remain at the top of the food chain I will eat what I choose. If some other species wants it's turn at the top then they should evolve faster, not my fault we are ahead of the learning curve. I am rigging a trot line in my front yard today. I think I can pick up a few strays that have been roaming the neighborhood. If that doesn't work I will set some jugs out tonight.

I have not used PVC but I did buy one of the wall mount rod holders that has like a plastic tray at the bottom for the butts of your rods and another piece with clamps that you hang above it to snap the rods into and screwed that puppy into the side of the console. Same principle it just looks better. I had no intentions of trailering with my rods up but after running the lake with no problems I eventually got lazy and left them up a few times while trailering. I have had no problems.

I also bought the Stratos about a month ago and I LOVE it. I opted for the 50hp Yamaha and I am getting right at 34 mph. The 70 is only turning an extra 4 or 5 mph according to Yamaha's website and is not worth the extra money IMO. I can run the skinny water with no problem and am saving a ton on gas. I got rid of a 150hp for the 50 hp on purpose because of the price of gas. A boat payment is cheaper than gas! I have no trouble storing rods up to 7' and actually have 16 rods in mine right now (some are doubled up but there is storage for 10 rods if you put 1 in each cylinder.) I have ample space and the boat handles great. I'm not familiar with the Nitro so I won't bash it but I am very pleased with my new Stratos.

My personal best is just shy of 4 lbs caught on a deep diving crank bait. My 11 year old son and I caught and released about 50 Sunday and kept 5 for the dinner table. All 5 we kept were in the 2-2 1/2 lb range and I got to witness a guy take a 3 lb 10 oz off of his pier Saturday night while we were anchored fishing under his light. In Alabama 2 lb fish are not uncommon and 3 lb I would consider a large fish. BTW we caught all of ours Saturday and Sunday on shiners and 4 lb test line on small Zebco ultralight spin cast reels. As much as I love to bass fish sometimes I like to relax and just run the boat so my son can catch all the crappie he wants. He doesn't care what species of fish it is as long as it pulls. Kind of makes me miss the good old days when I wasn't running up and down the lake all day trying to find a pattern. You know back when fishing was just fun and there was no work involved.

I have the new Stratos 176 with a 50 Yamaha and I'm turning around 5200 rpm and getting about 34 mph if the trim is just right.