Jig Man

I chose a 20’4” boat with a 250 four stroke back in 2016.

You can build one for about $30.

I would take it to a shop and have it checked out. Even if it has a cylinder down it can be rebuilt and probably go for many more years.

I tried several and liked none, so I bought the Midwest Finesse jig mold so I could make them the way I wanted them. I use 3 sizes of hooks 2, 1, and 1/0 depending on the type of area I am fishing.

I saw a guy with one that must have been over 3 feet long. I don’t know what he did when motoring. I only saw him fishing.

It will be easier for you if you get heads without a keeper and just use super glue gel. My Midweat Finesse mold came with keeper slots I filled them with silicone. I have had TRDs last 2 days without any reglueing.

Have you considered moving one of your units to the front? Do you need all of them where they are?

I recently moved from the Lowrance world to the Humminbird world. I started out by getting a Minn Kota ulterra because I had some broken ribs which did not heal properly. I needed a motor that would deploy and stow by itself. I ran it with my Low units and quickly found out that I was missing out on a bunch of options. I bought a Bird and a new ipilot head for my Ulterra. Wow the way they work together is amazing. My point here is since you are making big changes anyway, go with units that will work together so that you can get the most out of them.

I agree with Tom. Learn to use the trolling motor to control your boat. Put your foot on the pedal and don’t take it off. Don’t keep it on the power button but have it close so you can instantly add power when needed. It will be a pain for a while then it will come naturally and just be what you do. Increase or decrease power with your speed switch as needed. If you learn to do this you can gain good control of your boat. You may even find that the wind is your friend.

It is fine unless you need a heading sensor.

Some guys here troll crank baits for them like bandit 300s or flicker shads.

Wet/dry shop vac.

They are great fighters. Zara spook is my favorite bait for them. Lipless cranks, jigging spoons, crank baits, buck tail jigs are all baits I have used on them.

My War Eagle1/2 oz double willows are 4 1/2 and 4. Don’t have 3/8 oz.

It depends on what you are doing. Chunk and wind the reel is more important to me than the rod. For bottom baits a good sensitive rod is much more important to me than a device that takes up line slack. I say let your type of fishing tell you what to do.

It wouldn’t be my first choice but if you have any give them a try.

I just dug mine out and put a spare Curado on it. I leave Sunday for a week long fishing trip. With it rigged and in the boat surely I will use it some. Mo thanks for the journey down memory lane.

I totally agree with you. I have kept one just for that purpose. I’ve known Charlie for a long time. However, what I learned about a spook came from a little known spook guy by the name of Dean Dyrum. He said he could do 17 different things with one. He showed me 5 and said when I had them down that he would show me 5 more. I only was able to get 4 of them. I never got the fifth to work. I mostly fish a lake with no vegetation and little timber so the spook isn’t real productive there so I have about quit using it.

I put them on my boat in 2016. I sold them this summer. In 3 years I may have used them 10 times. My boat is usually too deep for them. I bought a trolling motor with spot lock. I use it nearly every trip.

I have been wearing golf rain gloves for years. I carry at least 3 pairs incase some get wet.

The last couple of trips it hasn’t been bad. We have caught about 20 with a half dozen keepers on crank and spinner baits on each outing. Our main problem is temps in the 90° range every day.

If you get a motor with variable speeds instead of one with 5 speeds you can make it crawl. I have a 112# 36 volt and can make it go so slow you would think I was anchored.

A friend of mine invented one. I don’t know if that is it. He sold the patten to Johnny Morris several years ago.

Wait till you feel the fish before you set the hook.

I hope you have a good trip. Most of the man killer boats should be gone by then.