InfantryMP

I have ran AGM's for multiple years without issues. Also think about the cost. Some lithium setups are over $800. The AGM's cost me like $129 a piece.

C-MAP Genesis Live mapping, which allows anglers to create up to 1/2 foot contour maps, in real time, on the HDS LIVE 7 display. HDS-7 LIVE with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Transom Mount & C-MAP Pro Chart

Where abouts in Indiana? Welcome!

I have HDS Live 9's on front and bow, and mine are crystal clear. I have used some youtube videos to get some settings better, but I have not had anything grainy as you mentioned. My down scan is actually crystal clear especially contrasting the colors from the down scan pallet, to the fish reveal pallet. My background is blue, and the fish reveal shows the fish arcs in white. Your transducer is mounted similar to mine. Post up your settings as well, I will go get mine after work and we can compare them.

Game Changers for me have been: 1. Reliable Boat 2. Spot Lock- Arguably the best 3. Good Mapping 4. Tournaments- The competition allows you to pick up on things you may not have just fun fishing 5. Trying new techniques- This has changed the game for a lot of people I imagine

I think the supply and demand issue is what is causing it. That coupled with lending being a bit more generous allows the costs to go up. Same thing is happening with used vehicles right now especially trucks. I bought a new truck, and they are already talking about buying it back from me for more than what I paid for it.

For those who do not like to tie leader knots, and want to go straight braid. You can put a small piece of painters tape on the spool to help the braid "bite" the spool and not spin. I do this on all my spinning rods, but it also works for casting as well if you want to go straight braid which is only two casting rods (top water, and punching)

I used NADA, and then calculated in upgrades. Upgrades like Ultrex, Ghost and hard to get items can increase the value of your used boat. I look at it like a supply and demand type thing.

Do you mean a jack plate?

I say this on every one of these tournaments. Jacob Wheeler is at the top of his game, and will be the next KVD in terms of career success. I always root for him as he is from around my neck of the woods originally in Indiana. Always root for the hometown kind of guys. He's just on another level when it comes to planning, and making a game plan and executing it. I am honestly shocked he has not won more tournaments on the MLF tour than he has.

I am hoping to beat the heat with some boat spray this weekend. Here it seems to be nice all week, but then storm on the weekends... I feel for your brother. I remember Iraq being well in to the 125* range and I am in full gear. As soon as you sweat, it literally dries right up. Now I get to be stuck inside my home office in the AC...

Yea me too...multiple times unfortunately.

Buy right, buy once is my opinion on things. 1. Trolling motor with spot lock / anchor is a game changer 2. Good batteries and onboard charging system 3. If you want a graph, get one that has Side Imaging, Down Imaging and 2D. You would be surprised how having spot lock does not always reduce the need for shallow water anchors. Spot lock is phenomenal dont get me wrong, but it does not always fair well in shallow water as it can kick up the bottom easily. That is where the poles or talons come in. I love fishing shallow but you can muck up an area real quick with the TM if you are not careful.

A bit more specs on the boat may be a better start. For example length. This will help determine if a 24v or 36v trolling motor would be needed. Additionally what do you have on it now? Do you need a 9" graph if you have 7s already that are good?

He will be the next KVD if he keeps fishing. He is only getting better. The fact that he is so young and winning on this level just goes to show that hard work can pay off. He is a future Hall of Famer for sure. The other cool thing is, he is from Indiana originally. About 30 minutes south of me. He cut his teeth here locally where bass fishing is mediocre at best. Now he is on top of the fishing world!

I store all my stuff in a non insulated pole barn (metal building). I had mice when I first moved in. I went to lowes and purchased a couple of the electric deterrents units. They provide a low frequency noise that is supposed to deter mice. I change them out every year, and they have worked for me. Also for the boat specifically. I place dryer sheets in each compartment and on top of the seats etc. That seemed to keep them out of the compartments for me. Doing all of those things along with a couple sticky traps allowed me to keep the mice out last winter. I only was able to get 1 mouse on the sticky pad right by the back door all winter. No poop, no chewed up wires!

I could care less about the flogging. If there is something out there that can help you in your job you will want to use it. I think some folks forget that, these anglers are "working" right now. This is what they have chose to do for a living. I do not know about you, but if there is a tool out there to help me in my career do as well as Jacob Wheeler has done in this tournament. I think I will grab it!

A lot of good work going on here! I am excited to see the final product!

Yea, I still have an issue though...the Merc Pro XS 225, and the power poles will not clear my garage door opening without crazy adjustments needed to be made. The trailer tongue is fold away so that is fine. I can drop the poles a bit for them to clear no biggie. I need another 2 or 3 inches of overhead for the motor to clear easily. I had to have the wifey go out there and make sure I did not hit the top of the motor on the header of the garage. Kind of sucks but I I will figure it out for sure.

Raise the shaft according to the depth your fishing. The trolling motor does not need to be right off the bottom. it doesn’t take long to adjust it if need be.

They are nice. I think the ones I saw were around $500. And they bolt in so the install shouldn’t be bad. If you value the ease of getting in and out I would make the investment. I will be doing the same here within the next year or so

I actually looked for a 21' used. I saw some that were cheap enough, but the cost of upgrades and fixes were enough for me to start looking at new boats. Plus the new Mercury ProXs is an unbelievable engine. I think this being 19' 9'' is close enough for me to 20 that it will handle the waters I am near. My TR-17 was 16' 4'' I think it was, so it will be a huge upgrade for me in the size and space area. I am not going to spare any expenses at this point. I am all in with it. It is the size, color, performance along with the styling it has. I am going to get 2 8' Power Poles installed at the dealer, and then I am going on the hunt here locally for Active Target. I will get an additional Lowrance graph to have that eventually, but will start with the one I have. I am fishing club tournaments this year, and will probably continue to do that in to next year, but I am going to start fishing some of the local BFL stuff in Hoosier series, and maybe a few more trips down south.

Thank you, I am very pumped! Lol thats right Thanks, I am ready to get it wet for sure!

Well I sold my 1997 Triton TR-17. It is gone! Next up is the 2021 Triton 19 TRX Patriot! (Its actually considered a 20' boat however because it is over 19' I find that a bit odd but oh well) I will not be able to go pick it up until maybe next weekend, which is a tournament weekend, but I will make it work. It has a Lowrance Ghost 36V, and 2 HDS Live 9 with 3 in 1 active imaging. I am adding two 8ft Power pole blades as the only upgrade because they do not have any Lowrance Active Target front facing sonars in stock. I think there is one near me though at my local tackle shop though. This was the last one on the dealership and I got lucky because someone came in behind me and tried to buy it a few hours after putting my deposit down. It has all the bells and whistles for my tournaments and will be my go to for a while! I cant wait to fire that Merc Pro XS up! Thanks to everyone who had input on selling my old boat! I stood strong at my asking price and it sold to the first person who came to look at it!

Sold for 10k from first the person who came to look!