born2climb

Update: I received an email today from Lew's/Strike King, which included a gift card code to replace the swollen Red Eye Shad. Makes me more determined to support Strike King in the future. 😁

Another thought...if I do move the Helix 7 to the front, and add a larger Helix at the console, if I put the lake master card into one of them, will it show on both units if I network them?

I bought a Humminbird Helix 7 last year. Nicest/fanciest fish finder I’ve ever owned. I’ve owned six (I think) in the past, mostly the older, simpler types. This one is supposed to be compatible with lake maps, etc. My question is: how do the Lakemaster chart cards work? You just insert the card and the unit combines the chart and GPS to show the lake on your screen? How accurate they? Second question: I’m still pondering what new trolling motor I want. If I go with the Ulterra or Ultrex, I’ll likely put the Helix I have up front and get a newer/larger unit for the console. If I go with the Fortrex, I’ll have the option of a Garmin up front. So the question is…is Humminbird or Garmin the best for lake mapping? I have the GPS maps in the Helix, but no depth charting. I have zero experience with lake charts and no idea which would be better.

I emailed them and they asked for more info. I am hoping they'll send me replacements. I shall endeavor to keep them out of direct sunlight in the future.

In over 40 years of fishing, I’ve never had it happen before. Granted, I just bought this G3 Gator Tuff last year. All aluminum, no carpet. And it gets HOT. Anyone ever tried painting the top of tackle trays white to help reduce the heat absorption?

I posted this while ago in another thread and client have the option to delete it. After posting it, I realized the thread wasn’t actually about swelling Red Eyes. So I’m starting a new thread. If not appropriate, feel free to delete… Just discovered two swollen Red Eye Shad in my tackle box. I know for a fact that these weren’t swollen the last time I went fishing. Which means this happened the past Monday. I left my crankbait box out on the deck for a while, switching colors while trying to figure out what the bass wanted. I shot an email off to SK to see if they’ll make good on them. Does anyone know of them replacing any of the swollen RES? A quick internet search shows this isn’t a new thing. I’ve come to like RES over Rattle Traps and Super Spots, but I don’t fish only on cloudy days. If this is a common occurrence, I’ll be steering clear of them. The one on the left is as it should be. The red one shows a little swelling. The blue one is just a full-blown fattie! All three were in the same compartment of the tackle tray. The red one was on top, the white on the bottom.

Just discovered two swollen Red Eye Shad in my tackle box. I know for a fact that these weren’t swollen the last time I went fishing. Which means this happened the past Monday. I left my crankbait box out on the deck for a while, switching colors while trying to figure out what the bass wanted. I shot an email off to SK to see if they’ll make good on them. Does anyone know of them replacing any of the swollen RES? A quick internet search shows this isn’t a new thing. I’ve come to like RES over Rattle Traps and Super Spots, but I don’t fish only on cloudy days. If this is a common occurrence, I’ll be steering clear of them. The one on the left is as it should be. The red one shows a little swelling. The blue one is just a full-blown fattie!

Okay…I get it…I’m a bit of a tightwad. But I’ve caught several fish on one baby Brush Hog, which I would think is made of the same plastic, and has more appendages to fail, yet they don’t. I was merely wondering if others had experienced the same failure rate.

I am just curious as to whether or not Speed Craws are a particularly delicate bait. If so, I'll be steering clear of them. I've had a Menace trailer last for 6-8 bass.

I'm the same way most of the time, but the Speed Craw has absolutely no acton whatsoever without those claws.

I recently picked up some Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craws to try. I’ve used Christie Craws and Rage Craws. Wanted to try something different. First time I tried one was as a jig trailer on a swim jig. Caught a fish within the first few casts. It broke one of the “claws” off. Not completely, but at the bend where the end piece gives all the action. I went on fishing it with one claw and soon caught another fish. That one took the other claw off. Fast-forward to yesterday. I Texas-rigged a Speed Craw on. VMC Rugby jighead. Wasn’t long before I landed a decent bass, maybe 1-1/2#. Both claws were broken off at the bend. So….my question is…is this common with Speed Craws? I’ve used Rage Menace, Christie Craw, Rage Craw, and other assorted trailers and caught multiple bass before having to replace the trailer. Are Speed Craws just too flimsy to last? Did I get a bad batch?😳

I picked up several of these out of a clearance bin for $5.50 each. Glad to hear someone has had luck with them. What color(s) have you tried?

I decided (before going to too much trouble), to simply replace the six 1/4” screws with 5/16” lag bolts. Seems quite secure.

Yes sir! Nothing to it!

Into the aluminum skin alone? I removed the base today to see what’s under it. The bench is foam-filled, with a 1/2” layer of plywood atop the foam.

Took my fishing buddy (84 yeas old) fishing yesterday. Had a good day. I caught 12, he caught 11. But about halfway through the day I noticed the front two screws were backing out of the base of his seat, where it's fastened to the deck. I tightened them back down, but realized they're stripped. By the end of the day, five of the six were backed out, with one faithful screw holding on. There is no access to the inside of the bench where it's mounted. Has anyone else had dealings with the G3 Gatortuff boats and this issue. I'm wondering how to remedy the situation. Considered going to larger screws, but if they're just threaded into the aluminum deck, they'd strip too. Considered rev-nuts. Thought about mounting the base to a piece of 2x12, and screwing that to the deck, which would spread the pressure out over a larger footprint. Any and all advice appreciated.

I joined the forum six years ago, but didn't post much. Never got around to introducing myself. I'm from Alabama. I own/operate a tree service...hence the name. 😁 Been fishing for around fifty years, off and on.

Sig P365 for the most part. Sometimes a S&W Shield Plus. Or a Glock 43X. Or a G19. depends on mood ands where I'm going and how I'm dressed. Sometimes I swap the 12-round mag out for a flush-fit 10-rounder in the 365 and pocket carry it. I have hybrid holsters for all the guns I carry and wear it at 3:30-4:00.

I am somewhat handy with fixing things. Can you elaborate a bit on what these repairs were?

Where would the transducer cable connect to the Terrova? I don't know that it has a built-in transducer, but it has the funky looking foot of the ones that do. I have found no cable or port for a cable on it.

Thanks for all the replies. (And keep them coming, please!) While I have been fishing for nearly 50 years, I have limited experience with fish finders. I would very much like to set my boat up on a "network", as mentioned by Daubs, above. What does that entail? My Terrova came used, with no cable or method to use the transducer in the foot, so I have no knowledge of how it connects to the front FF, much less how to "network" it with the rear unit.

I currently have a Minn Kota Terrova on my G3 1756 Gatortuff. I like it, it works fine. But I’m interested in upgrading to an Ulterra…both for the auto stow/deploy option, and to pair with a forward fish finder. The Terrova I have was bought used and doesn’t have the option to pair with a finder. Anyone have advice/feedback on the Ulterra? How easy/difficult is it to pair with a finder? Is that wireless or wired connection? I can’t find much about it, though I may not be searching correctly. I haven’t completely ruled out other options, such as an Ultrex. I took my sons-in-law on a fishing trip last year and the guide had an Ulterra that impressed me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the remote control on the Terrova. Only interested in upgrading for the stow/deploy option and the finder pairing.

Ive had all three types, but the telescoping pole is my favorite by far. Mine telescopes out to around 15'. I'm aware that this won't reach all hang-ups, but it reaches the vast majority for me. As a plus, it can be used to free a hang-up that is not in the water, but slightly above it (as in a bait that wrapped on a snag just above the water). It has also yielded bonus baits that folks broke off in overhanging limbs. I scored a nice topwater bait last year that was hung about 15'-20' up in a tree.

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this thread...feel free to move it if not. I caught my first jig fish three years ago, after throwing one randomly for years and getting bored when not getting bites, and going back to Texas-rigged worm/creature baits, due to both confidence and familiarity. I am now hooked on jig fishing, and I'm trying to learn more about it. My biggest misconception through the years was the "weedless-ness" of jigs. They have a weed guard....they're WEEDLESS! (Only to have them hang up cast after cast in brush.) By my thinking, either there's an art to fishing a jig through cover and brush....or there are millions of jigs beneath our bass waters. So is there a "trick" to getting a jig through the thick stuff? Cast/cover orientation? (Parallel/perpendicular casts?) More vertical jigging as opposed to dragging THROUGH the cover? I keep a check on my weed guard to make sure it's flared out to provide as much protection as possible. HELP!

Thanks for all the replies...and keep them coming! Perhaps a waste of time asking, but can anyone expound upon what makes one style of jig more productive than another? For example, a poster above said that no jig produces more than the football head style. I am honestly curious as to the WHY of this. I have no doubt as to the accuracy of the statement...but am intrigued with knowing why it is so.