InfantryMP

I have about 5 people interested in the boat at this point. 1 coming to look tonight. The lowest offer so far as been $8500. I think it will be gone before the weekend hits.

Yea this is what I was thinking. I listed at 10K because I am comfortable with selling it for 9.5, or 10K. I know I will get some people haggling, but my boat I am going for is on the lot waiting for me and I do not want to wait too long. I have another derby in 2 weeks!

Yea I am hoping with electronics, the Ultrex, and the good performance the boat has will warrant somewhere near 10K.

I have not tested the compression yet this year, but were all good across the board last year at 134 and 133. I think 10K is the ballpark here from what I am seeing going around me locally. I mean the electronics and trolling motor is eating about 1/3 or more of the 10K

Hey Everyone! I think it is time to upgrade for me. I am looking at a Triton TRX19 or TRX 20. I know boat prices are going crazy, but I wanted to get your input on a price for my boat with the upgrades. I fish this boat in tournaments every month, and take it out probably 3 weekends out of the month. No real motor issues, (probably could use a carb adjustment on low end, but nothing that is crazy). In my area I am seeing mid 90's boats with no upgrades going for $7,500 with a running motor depending on length of course. What do you think I should list it for locally, or what do you think as far as trade in value? 1997 Triton TR-17 with original trailer 1997 Mariner 115 Everything works as it is designed Upgrades: Extended front casting deck 80lb Thrust 45'' Ultrex (3 months old) 3 Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 2 Touch (1 console 2 bow...Networked between console and 1 of the bow units) LED lights in the hatches and deck light USB outlet hardwired in Boat plug switch 3 new batteries

I use the 7'2 MH Jacob Wheeler Signature Series Duckett rod for my chatterbait. It is very nice and stout with a great bend! I think it comes in at $139 or something close to that! I wish I would have bought 15 rods from this series, they are fantastic!

I believe them to be great entry level setups. I had one that I bought, and it was my 2nd casting setup ever, and I enjoyed it. I gave it to my father to learn how to use a casting setup. I have caught plenty of bass on it!

Do you have the appendages moving vertically or horizontally when rigged? I thought about using a menace on a few moving baits but wondered what way would be the better action. I would imagine on a chatter bait for example, with the blade moving horizontally back and forth, it would make sense to match the menace for example with the appendages moving horizontally as well.

Great minds think alike!

I agree here as well. It does not take a lot of power to crank the motor over. If your motor typically fires right up, it can literally be on its last leg of power, and still give you just enough to crank it. Worst case scenario keep a set of jumper cables to jump off another battery if need be!

I have seen this all the time when I first started. When I held the line out of the spool with my fingers to create the tension. I was inadvertently leaning to one side of the spool heavier than the other which caused my spool to be heavier on one side. You just have to try to hold the line as close to the center of the spool with tension the entire time spooling for that even wrap of line.

Change the boat scale in the settings on the remote. The rationale is the TM is rated for thrust vs weight of the boat. For example: I have a 17ft Triton. The 80lb thrust is good for a 19+ ft boat. I adjusted the scale to -1 which means I am telling the Ultrex that my boat is smaller, so make smaller adjustments based on the weight of my boat. This will ensure the head of the TM is not going in circles to adjust, and also should make the adjustments smaller and slower for you as it is not working as hard to keep you on that spot. I hope this helps It does go off the weight of the boat. In the owners manual it shows the weights vs thrust and what scale you should be using depending on what you have. I think by default it comes at 0. You can only have 2,1,0,-1,-2. The more negative you go= the smaller the weight of the boat. The positive numbers= heavier boat.

Oakley Holbrooks are my favorite

KVD is crushing it. This is the ole school KVD that we are seeing. He has be to excited as hell right now...about to get his first win!

I agree with this, I will add though, just because they are there, does not mean they will be bite as we all know. I think of suspending fish being around, but being difficult to catch. Now, if you casted in, and they fired up, then that spot may be a keeper. I would always at least try to grab one if I see a few grouped up but that is just me. You could always cut the hook off a bait and try that way so you do not actually get a hook in them too.

If you are worried about costs. You could always save soft plastics and re-melt them in to something different, or the same kind of bait. It is actually kind of fun to make baits, or recycle old baits.

In my opinion you are looking for structure, or those high percentage areas of course, or at least checking them out from the boat instead of a map. I think the bait selection is based on conditions and cover. Submerged grass= chatterbait for me first The other thing I like to do is "eliminate water". When I go check out a spot or place that I believe to be decent from a map, if I do not get bit, or see anything scanning, I will eliminate it as a spot to hit during the tournament. I need at least a few spots during my tournaments to hit to feel comfortable.

If I were to downsize to an "everyday" bag I would have: 1. Chatterbaits with trailers 2. Cranks and Lipless Cranks 3. Stick worms, trick worms, and swimming worms 4. Jerkbaits (soft and hard) 5. Ned / Drop Shot / Shaky head 6. Whopper plopper / Frog / spook 7. Jigs with trailers I would have a terminal tackle box, worm box, and then start utilizing the other boxes with all the other baits. Could easily get all of that in to 4 or 5 3700's if organized well.

I love Ranger boats. When I upgrade I am looking at Rangers and Tritons. I am assuming this will be hovering around 93K depending on outfitting. I would hate to put a scratch on it lol

I am not sure what it is, but he sure is tearing them up today! It will be an exciting last couple of days of this tournament for sure.

I am a Program Manager in HR. More specifically, I manage Veteran Recruiting Programs for multiple clients who want to start or innovate their respective Veteran Recruiting programs. After I spent 12 years in the Army, and some time as an Army Recruiter and Station Commander, it really became a passion to help Veterans secure meaningful employment. I get to work from home 100%, so there are a lot of days working on the water!

I change out every season at a minimum. I have respooled though because I have had to break off etc. I also had a bad batch of braid I think, and every time I set the hook, I broke off, even on a bluegill. I swapped all that out this year too. The majority of the time though I can get away with a change every season.

This sucks... I am not fishing tournament to win all the money, but especially something with kid involvement there is no place for cheating. They apparently needed the 1500.

I like to skip a 3/8 chatterbait and trailer. I think the key for me besides practicing was my rod and reel. I use a 7'2 MH with an extra fast tip. I also use a SLX DC to help with backlashing. The roll cast is a must, and I would not try to skip personally sitting down. I just don't think I get a good angle. Keep the thumb feathering the spool to help with backlashing for sure. Also believe it or not, I feel like my follow through with the rod is important as well, if I try to half ass it and not follow through I get more issues like not on target or hitting the side of the dock etc.

Yea it was on Maxi! Yea it is a great Walleye lake and smallmouth for sure. It was way too rough out there that day to really do any main lake fishing. I stayed in the coves and the marina and caught a couple under docks there.