InfantryMP

Does anyone have Vessel View installed whether it be the mobile version or one connected to a gauge? I am thinking about picking one up to help show issues, and engine hours for services. They are not crazy expensive ($220), but wondering if it is worth it or not. Additionally if someone does have it hooked up to a display can you show me what your setup is? Thanks

12-15# Seaguar Red Label here

Clear water, with sunfish forage and a semi hard bottom... I will be throwing a sunfish colored chatterbait and crank bait to cover some water first. If it is tough because of the clear water, I would slow down and fish a green pumpkin worm on a shakey head, or ned rig, or a texas rig. Evening time and early morning I would be throwing a top water: whopper plopper (probably havent seen that lure before) or a popper. Oh, and since it is basically a pay pit...I would not discount using live bait, as I would imagine a lot of folks use it there.

Eeliminator grub is the only trailer I use for chatterbaits and bladed jigs. Unbelievable action with a small profile. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-GAMECHLR.html?from=basres

and whopper ploppers in the creeks. Where I am in the north, they hit top water all day.

I disintegrated an original Zman once. I was skipping them under a bluff wall opening. Apparently it went it the hole, and it smacked the bluff wall so hard that the only thing that came back was the blade. They are pretty cheap and that was the only one I have broke, so I will continue to use them. I have lost a few, but I can buy 3 or 4 originals compared to a Thunder Cricket or one of the more expensive ones.

Precision? absolutely not. I can skip under docks with a casting rod and flip well. However, I can throw at the same spot 5 times, and maybe land exactly where I wanted it to 2 of the 5 times. The other three are close within a few feet. I see a lot of people talking about skipping. The best thing that helped me develop that technique better is a DC reel and a lot of practice. The DC reels are a bit more forgiving in my opinion when set properly.

Used boat prices are at the best I have ever seen them. I sold my old boat for a few grand more than I paid for it. When you decide on your TM, think about the next steps as well. It is very nice to have Lowrance HDS units that link to the TM and the power poles. You can do the same with the ultrex, talons, and hummingbirds. I would try to get it all linked together instead of an Ultrex and then HDS units for example.

The first thing I would do is figure out if the 17' is enough for you and the waters you fish. If it is then, I would upgrade TM with spot lock or anchor mode first. I like Lowrance personally I upgraded my boat this year from a Triton TR-17, to a new 2021 Triton 19TRX Patriot. It comes in at like 19' 9''. It came with all new Lowrance electronics to include the ghost. The only upgrade I did was two 8' power pole blades. That upgrade at the dealer was $4,200 with brackets. That decision was made solely to wanting a larger boat. My first tournament ever was so rough with a smaller boat. It was scary to be honest. If I had a 19 or 20 ft boat prior. I would have upgraded in stages as you have mentioned.

I have not had any issues with this as long as it is a quality unit that trickles, or goes in to a maintenance mode once they are charged up.

I agree with the service locations. If you have to travel far for services I would consider a different option. I am not sure I agree with Mercs not lasting long, but I guess that can be subjective to what long means to you. When I look at the pro level. I see a ton of Mercs, and I also see a ton of Yamahas. I would not hesitate to have a Merc on any boat that I own in the future.

Are there hook punctures in them? I mean, I do not jump to conclusions too often without really looking in to things. This could be a simple issue like a natural cause, something spilled in to that water way or something else. Either way, their dead, and will get eaten more than likely from birds, turtles or another fish.

I used to run a powder coating shop in GA for years. That technique is called hot flocking for bigger parts. It helps with adhesion to tricky parts for sure, but will also be tougher to judge mil thickness as the power once its laid will melt quicker making it more difficult to judge how much has been applied.

If I could design a tournament I would have the old school smashed with the new school. MLF catch, weigh and release (Conservation minded) Best 5 Bag or something similar Big Bass I think the "best" anglers will get their limit and then test their skills by going for the large bag. The MLF guys now just need to find groups. They are good enough to catch em of course, but to win, you need to beat guys like Wheeler who catches all of em basically and runs the score tracker up. The 5 bag limit really allows the skills to be shown to go get the biggest 5 that the angler is able to produce.

Yea, its not even surprising anymore that he is in the running to win AGAIN. If he can continue this level of success over the next 20 years or so he will be a hall of famer for sure!

Good call. I would agree with that. I have some new worms for a shakey head as well! Thank you

Hi Everyone! I have an upcoming tournament that consists of two days, on two different (nearby) lakes / res. I will preface this tournament prep with a couple of important things in my opinion. 1. I have only fished 1 of the bodies of water 2. The one body of water I have fished I have only caught bass using 1 lure (white 3/8 oz Zman original chatterbait with a white Eeliminator trailer) 3. The weather as far as temps may not change much, if anything it will start to be cooler out, but not by much 4. Body of water 1 is a deep res, and body of water 2 is a lake type of body that has a river system attached to it. The tournament is next month...however I am starting to prep now as I want to go practice before hand. I am thinking about techniques / lures to use. It has been super hot here lately. Surface water temps have been consistently warm (I've seen 87 and higher in the creek arms). The interesting thing about this tournament is the first day will be LMB, the second day will be SMB, and LMB. I think I am going to start with these setups rigged for both days 1. Chatterbait 2. Square bill both shallow and mid level depths 3. T-Rig plastic 4. Carolina Rig??? 5. Top Water (spook, whopper plopper, or small frog) 6. Jerkbait 7. Drop shot 8. Ned Rig (Big TRD) 9. Paddle Tail Swimbait with a 3/8 head or 1/4) 10. Flipping Jig 11. Spinner bait??? 12. punching rig??? What am I missing?

Yea, yesterday MLee was dialed in. Today...not so much. I was a bit surprised with the weather conditions and the amount of fish that were caught yesterday. It was slick calm on the water, and the bites kept coming. It was cool to see.

You could always buy a pre-paid cell phone with no contracts etc. It may be easier to just have one of those handy for your transactions, and then have it in the truck in case of an emergency!

I 2nd the 1/8oz heads, but I use the smaller 3.3 I think they are rage swimmers in white mainly. I throw it on my 7'4 H rod with the Flash Mob JR. I also use 55lb braid throwing it. I have only caught a few on the rig so far, but I did just spend several days trying it on a new lake with fish between 25-30ft of water. I did not have any luck with it last week, but I will still keep trying it. The only think I do not like about the Flash Mob JR, is the head is upside down when retrieving. I have not looked at it close enough to figure out why, maybe my knot is messed up or something, but the pink underbelly side is always up when it comes in.

I am glad you got it figured out, but you could not get it warrantied through Lowrance at all?

What all does the boat have? I had premium electronics and an ultrex on my 17ft Triton, and I sold it for 10K. If it does not come with some goodies like that, I would negotiate that price a bit lower.

Yea exactly this...That crystal clear lake that you could see 15' down had no visibility because of the spray that was spreading. The only clear water I could find were off in creek arms where the chemicals had not reached yet. I am sure the weekend boat traffic helped the circulation, but that Sunday was the worst day of fishing I have had in years.

Finally took the new rig out for the first time for break in procedures. I can tell the hot foot is something I am going to have to get used to. Also trimming the motor and getting on plane is a lot different than I am used on my previous Triton. 2021 Triton 19TRX Patriot Lowrance HDS Live 9's bow and console Lowrance Ghost 36V Merc ProXS 225 (2) 8ft Power Pole Blade Series (Ordered and Awaiting) Lowrance Active Target

I had a tournament this year on a lake that is a crystal clear smallmouth and walleye lake. 2 days prior to the tournament, they sprayed the lake in the channels to help with algae and vegetation mitigation. Everyone struggled. No one came in with the 5 bass limit. The most I believe was 3. I did not get a bite all day. I personally think it negatively effects the fishing for a little while. I cant guess on how long it took for them to turn back on, but it was on day 3 of being sprayed and nothing.