HenryPF

Suburban - gotta have a job that pays big city salaries with boat parking somehow...

I do this already. I look at the structure I'm fishing - most likely weeds and then what depth I want to fish at and then water temp and commit. I am not a junk fisherman, I pick something that never worked and stick with it. What is the fun on catching fish when you know you can catch em? I am looking at you, stupid Lunkerhunt Spider.

Have a generic 16-17ft cover for my tracker grizzly 16ft. It is a cabelas one, nothing special. Sounds stupid (but it works) but I just leave my boat seats reclned with the back up in the front and back of the boat (not on the 11" pedestal mounts, but on the bases only) and put a chair from my deck (gravity recliner) in the middle for my elevation since I put them away under the deck for the winter anyhoo. Pretty sure an unused upside down garbage can will work also.

Any update on this? - I have no stickers on my boat or plan to, I just want to know what happened.

Great Lakes Skipper is your friend. Lots of OEM parts at this place, just keep in mind that you should not buy a $5000 bass boat and then dump $3000 in it to fix up gauges, etc., unless you love working on things like that (like project cars, the fun is in the build) Also - keep in the back of you mind things that have changed over the years, like wiring, fuses, etc. 10ga wire from front of trolling motor to the back of boat of batteries, yeah that won't cut it no more.

Gratz on the boat - I have the same one, in the tiller version. I hated it -only due to my lack of balance and well, it is a jon boat. Now for 99.99% of the fisherman (and you) who buy this thing, it will be great! No stupid carpeting to vacuum out, hose it off when you want, no cleaning it down, etc. If you haven't taken it out yet, mine with 3 batteries, 3 bank charger, 80lb fortrex, blah, blah and all the aluminum/wood I installed to make it into a semi bass boat does like 34mph. Yours should easily push over 40. I have a Mercury 40hp 4 stroke. Would highly recommend that you install your own bilge pump and hose as i don't think it comes with one (mine didn't)

More Illinois lakes open back up May 1st (copy and past if you don't wanna click the link) Parks Open for Limited Use During COVID-19 Thank you for your interest in visiting one of Illinois' State Parks – we're excited to welcome you back! We continue to monitor the spread and effects of COVID-19, working closely with the Office of Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health. To best serve and protect our visitors and staff, the below locations are open effective May 1: Parks will be open from sun-up to sundown. Guests will be allowed to engage in activities such as wildlife observation, hiking, biking, equestrian use and fishing (both from the bank and boats with a limit of two persons per boat regardless of the relationship of the people in the boat) and mushroom hunting. All visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, shelter reservations, interpretive educational programs, beaches, special events and concessions will remain closed; turkey hunting will remain suspended at state parks. ** Note: Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park is currently closed due to flooding and storm damage and will not be open on May 1st. The park will reopen when flood waters recede and storm damage is cleared. For additional information on specific areas within the park that are open, please follow the link to the park webpage. Northwestern Illinois: Argyle Lake State Park, Black Hawk State Historic Site, Franklin Creek State Natural Area, Hennepin Canal State Trail, Illini State Park, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area, Jubilee College State Park, Lowden State Park, Mississippi Palisades State Park, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Prophetstown State Park, Rock Cut State Park, Rock Island Trail State Park, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, White Pines Forest State Park Northeastern Illinois: Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park ** / North Point Marina, Chain O' Lakes State Park, Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail (includes Buffalo Rock, Channahon, Gebhard Woods, and William G Stratton), Kankakee River State Park, Moraine Hills State Park, Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area, Volo Bog State Natural Area East Central Illinois: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Eagle Creek State Park, Fox Ridge State Park, Kickapoo State Park, Moraine View State Recreation Area, Walnut Point State Park, Weldon Springs State Park, Wolf Creek State Park West Central Illinois: Beaver Dam State Park, Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Sangchris Lake State Park, Siloam Springs State Park, Washington County State Recreation Area Southern Illinois: Beall Woods State Park, Cache River State Natural Area, Cave-in-Rock State Park, Dixon Springs State Park, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Fort Massac State Park, Giant City State Park, Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area, Horseshoe Lake-Alexander State Fish & Wildlife Area, Kinkaid Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area, Lake Murphysboro State Park, Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area, Red Hills State Park, Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area, Sam Parr State Fish & Wildlife Area, Stephen A Forbes State Recreation Area, Tunnel Hill State Trail, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

I have been blessed by incredibly crap weather in Illinois because I am nursing a cut on my foot and waiting for that to heal up. Covid will not effect fishing any since I live on a retention pond and the fishing has been crappy anyhow according to my neighbor (water still mid 40s). The other lakes I fish all have private ramps so when I am ready, won't effect the boat launches.

Typing this answer tells me I spend way too much money on rods and reels. Just answering my most expensive. Shimano Antares DC on a Kistler Helium - $850 It sounds expensive, but the guy who fly fishes my pond does so with a $3000 fly rod for bluegill.

https://www.overtons.com/ 25% off everything - that means everything, I think its only for today though. For instance: Garming Force Trolling motor, MAP $3199 for 57" now only $2399 They have Minn Kota and other major stuff on sale like fish finders too.

If the bench test works - babysit your battery charger and check on it. Nothing like seeing it work for 5 mins and it goes out 10 mins later and you have batteries that are not fully charged. New 2 bank charger at 5amps each bank is only like $75 after $25 rebate from Minn Kota. Minn Kota MK-210D Minn Kota Battery Charger Rebates

Keep in mind that the cooling lakes do not allow motorless boats on them, kayaks are out on LaSalle and Heidecke. Allowed on Shabbona (rentals too) Heidecke is also shutdown for a power plant lake, its just a lake now with a ton of rip-rap.

Some Illinois lakes to open May 1st during the Covid-19 Lockdown https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/closures/Pages/ParksOpenDuringCoVID19.aspx Thank you for your interest in visiting one of Illinois' State Parks – we're excited to welcome you back! We continue to monitor the spread and effects of COVID-19, working closely with the Office of Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health. To best serve and protect our visitors and staff, the below locations are open effective May 1: Parks will be open from sun-up to sundown. Guests will be allowed to engage in activities such as wildlife observation, hiking, biking, equestrian use and fishing (both from the bank and boats) and mushroom hunting. All visitors centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, shelter reservations, interpretive educational programs, beaches, special events and concessions will remain closed. Northwestern Illinois: Argyle Lake State Park, Jubilee College State Park, Lowden State Park, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Rock Island Trail State Park, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area Northeastern Illinois: Chain o' Lakes State Park, Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail, Kankakee River State Park, Moraine Hills State Park, North Point Marina East Central Illinois: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Eagle Creek State Park, Kickapoo State Park, Wolf Creek State Park West Central Illinois: Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Sangchris Lake State Park, Siloam Springs State Park, Washington County State Recreation Area Southern Illinois: Fort Massac State Park, Giant City State Park, Stephen A Forbes State Recreation Area, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

Depends on the lure presentation I guess? Remember when the Bassmasters guys all used to smoke?

it surprised me when my boat that weighs 1509# dry came with a surge brake trailer. Add in motor 400#, 30gal fuel 180#, batteries 200#, etc. I think the some manufacturers as just adding the brakes for value?

You are going about it the wrong way unless you want to travel tons - check the sites of your local boat dealers.

Only speaking of the Minn Kota - power drive or terrova. Note - the pricing you see on the Minn Kota site is pretty much the MAP pricing that advertisers can publish on their websites. If you don't need the foot control, it can save you around $200. They both come with the hand remote control. For instance: Terrova 80/US2 Trolling Motor w/i-Pilot & Bluetooth - 24V-80lb-60" - 1358894- $1650 or so.

You said no crazy horsepower, so I see no need for a fiberglass bass boat and I don't think you are going to find one new for under your budget. Go tin - most of em come with a 60-90hp which is plenty for a grand kids to tube with (I used to do it with a 17' Tracker Pro-V with a 60hp). Easier tow, launch by yourself, etc. You are looking for a nice boat without the maintenance and hassle of rigging. 16-17' will be plenty though it may be an issue finding a boat that handles a 90hp in this size (60-75hp falls in your budget more likely), others can chime in. You did say bass boat, need all that storage, livewells, carpeting, etc? Doing without can save you tons like 2019 TRACKER® GRIZZLY® 1754 SC w/75hp Before everyone chimes in on what to brand to buy, what are the dealers that are close to you?

Just asked the same question a week ago on walleyecentral as my bass boat is actually a deep v like the lund pro v. (25" shaft) The only replies I got were the M-Y wedge and the DD26 ones. So I guess until motormate designs one, you are stuck with those things unless your trailer (my cannot) accommodate the trailer bar one.

Don't have an answer for all you need, but if you are traveling light, try this: https://www.patagonia.com/product/fly-fishing-vest-front-sling-pack-8-liters/48156.html?dwvar_48156_color=LBOG&cgid=root I bought mine used on ebay. My house is max 10 min walk from my fishing area if I *really* need something so I travel light and with minimal tackle.

i remember as a kid hearing that if you ever had a chance to use a bait out of someone's tackle box, go for the most beat up lure they have - cause they most likely caught a ton of fish on it. My Aruku shad is missing an eye and look like I drug it over miles of street. I actually snagged it and went back 1 month later during lower water looking for it - I got it back. have to replace the hooks/split rings on it but I believe I have caught over 300 fish on that one alone. Too lazy to go down in the basement to take a pic of it.

3/0 EWG with Bell Sinkers or using the Lindy EZ Tube weights (and they come with rattles built in)

My best rattle bait (it's the time of year for em) looks like it's been dragged miles over a road and has 1 eye (that fell off years ago). It outperforms the exact same bait that is brand new even though I have no scientific proof of this. So I would say, it can't hurt but pretty paint jobs are designed to catch fisherman and not fish. E.G. what is the red and white dardevle spoon supposed to look like? It's a proven bait and don't see too much realistic versions of that thing around.

I have the Millennium B100s. They work great. But... I am also lazy and like to, you know, manspread my d**n legs but the straps get in the way. I have found this: https://wiseseats.com/products/wise-3373-aero-x-cool-ride-mesh-boat-seat Same seat, less the straps. 400lb capacity. Judging by how hard it was to find someone carrying these things, I am guessing not a lot of people know about it? Haven't had the chance to test em out, let alone mount em. Just an FYI and they are like $70 more than the Millenniums (at least where I bought em for $169)

Hey Glenn, it is not the notifications, but the popup window when you mark a forum read - it asks you to verify. Every now and then it works, every now and then it comes up with the error and I have to reload the page and then mark forum as read (it always works when I reload the page)