Tennessee Boy

I agree the younger generation doesn't realize how much easier modern electronics make fishing offshore. I'm sure the previous generation was saying our generation never realized how much easier a trolling motor made fishing. One thing I will say about the new generation of fishermen, they are catching fish and most of them are doing it while carrying on a texting conversation with 5 of their friends. That's impressive.

I've been fishing for 45 years and I've owned a Bassboat for almost 30. My first boat had a flasher and I've been an avid user of fishing electronics ever since. I remember sometimes spending an hour driving around guided by a compass and a flasher trying to find an offshore structure shown on a map. 25 years ago lakes around here were full of jugs and floats of various kinds that people used to mark offshore structure. Modern GPS units with detailed maps make it almost as easy to find these places as it is to find the bank. All of the offshore markers are gone and you don't have to worry about getting the strings wrapped around your prop. More people are fishing offshore which has freed up near shore water for bank fishermen and for those who choose to fish the old fashion way. One thing that has never changed, you still have to catch the fish once you get to the place you want to fish.

Your state should have a web site listing everything that's required. I think the things on your list should cover what most states require. Some states require a boater safety course. They can be taken online, take a couple of hours, and cost around $30 if I remember correctly. You should also get a discount on your insurance for taking the safety course that will cover the cost of the course in the first year and is gravy after that.

Congratulations to father and son. That's a nice bass.

Good deal. We need more of this kind of thing.

Nice fish!

I remember back in the day (1990s), I was on one of my Bass Club's two day tournament road trips. We were all at a lake side camp ground with 15-20 boat that needed to be changed by a few camp ground electrical outlets. We all brought long extension cords and three way socket splitters. I remember six cords plugged into one two socket outlet and there were probably multiple boats plugged into some of those cords. All of the batteries got charged, no breakers were thrown, no fires were started, and no one died. I guess it was just easier in those days.

I'm convinced that once you get above $100 you're paying for brand and marketing much more than quality. The expensive fiberglass crankbait rods are a good example of the high cost marketing. Why should a fiberglass rod cost $200? I recently bought one of the KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series rods for $93 and really like it. Probably my favorites are some original Lew's (before the company was sold) rods, some of which I bought on clearance in the early 1990s for $20 a piece. I have four rods that cost over $250, I like one of them, one is okay and I hate two of them. It's not that they aren't all good rods, it's just about feel, action and personal preference.

http://www.tickencounter.org/research/summer_clothing

Short answer: That will work. Long answer: Watts are equal to voltage time amps. Example on the link you gave for the cord you are considering 15amp x 125 volts = 1875 watts. If your charger really did deliver 10amps at 12 volts times 3 banks you have 10 x 12 x 3 = 360 watts so at this rate your extension cord would be pulling around 3 amps (360 watts / 125 volts) from the wall depending on the exact voltage on the wall socket. WAY below the 15 amp rating on the cord.

It's hard to get a feel for the shape of the fish from the camera angle but the color patterns say Spotted Bass (or Kentucky Bass as we call them around here).

In Tennessee we just call em taters.

Way2slow, you sound like you know what your talking about. I'm needing a new ratchet so I just order a Wright on your recommendation.

I've never hit the water too early in the morning. If their not biting, at least your in position to catch them when they start.

I can relate. If you like the setup, get another setup just like it. If it's no longer available, look to eBay. I like having identical rods if they are performing the same function. It's nice not having to make adjustments to slight differences in rod action when you pick up another rod.

I never go fishing (in the Summer) without my Crocs Swiftwater Deck Clogs. $30 on amazon. They are the best for fishing out of a boat. You don't have to worry about getting your shoes wet when launching/trailering the boat. They are very comfortable.

Carolina Rig because it can be fished fast or slow, shallow or deep.

Nice fish!

I tend to stick with Zoom products simply because I can get consistant colors across a wide variety of baits and they are available everywhere. I would say the Ol' Monster or Magnum Ol's Monster in Junebug.

Here's an unwritten rule. When someone pays you to put the name of their product on your shirt. You do everything you can to put that name in front of as many people as you can. You get up on that stage and represent your sponsors. You don't go home.

It looks like the stepped portion of the transom is to the left of your transducer and not below it or to the right of it. If this is the case, I can see how the stepped transom might cause problems but I would expect it to only affect the left side of the image. If both sides of the side scan image look the same then I don't think this is causing a problem.

My earliest memory of fishing was with my grandfather at his farm pond. He would set the hook on catfish and let me reel them in. I was probably around two or three year old. My first venture into what would eventually lead to bass fishing was catching bream on a popping bug. It was easy to make the connection that this bait looked like a bug on top of the water to the fish. If I made it act like a bug, the fish would hit it. I had a blast doing that. I think every kid is different. I would introduce them to different things as they show curiosity. Let them have fun and develop a love of the outdoors.

I've been checked by a Game Warden five times. My license was only checked twice. I guess it's because I did not have a line in the water when the Warden approached me. They always check all the required safety items for the boat. I've never had one check my live well.

I'm right handed. I think switching hands is inefficient. If you pitch with your right hand and then switch hands, you are working the bait with your least coordinated hand. Yes, many people do it and some have won the Bass Master Classic doing it. It is still unnecessary and can be eliminated with a little effort. The approach I take is to use my right hand for the activity that needs the most coordination. So I have left handed reels on my flipping/pitching rods because precise casting/working the bait is more important than comfortable cranking when pitching. I have right handed reels on my crank-bait and spinning rods because cranking is more important when I'm fishing a fast retrieve. It took me maybe a month to get used to doing things this way and I had to buy some new reels. I've been fishing this way for the last 30 years and I'm very glad I made the effort to take this approach.

Water temp in the 50s this time of year? Wow