Jig Man

They don't go in but a few inches as you cut the tubes off to maybe a foot. I use them all the time for spinning rods up to 7' long with no problems what so ever.

A piece of plywood a few golf club tubes and a cheap hole saw set can net you a real good rod locker rod holder. The last alum boat I had I took careful measurements, went to a metal shop and had some alum. designed to extend the front deck. All I had to do was carpet it drill a few holes and bolt it in place. It gave me lots of extra deck space and a handy storage spot for gear out of the way.

Yes. And you may also need to flux the lead.

In that price range Shimano Sahara can't be beaten.

Super glue or especially super glue gel works great for knots. The gel is better for gluing plastic to lead. I always keep it in the boat for emergencies for fixing things especially cuts.

Before I went to all that trouble I would add a little fluid and see what happens. Mine got like that and I put an ounce or so of fluid to fill it up and it has been working flawlessly for over 2 years.

I'd back off on the reel and get a Gloomis rod. I did it and am quite happy. The rod is way more important than the reel imo.

The Lowe 170 is real short on room in the front deck. If you can, have a look at the Xpress. Those boats ride like glass but fish like alum.

Same here. I normally use a 6' leader. What got me to using the leader was a day's comparison when 6 of us were fishing in the same area so we had the same water clarity. The three guys who had mono kicked some serious butt that day. Unfourtunately, I was one of the braid guys.

I use the palomar and run the line down through the hook eye. This will allow the hook to hang perpendicular to the line. I don't tie the weight. I use Bakudan sinkers which I make.

I do about half and half on spinning reels. I keep a few with Power Pro all the time and have for years. Sometimes I use a leader and sometimes I tie directly to the bait.

I always clean my bearings with naptha, dry them and add one drop of a synthetic blend oil that is made for the guys at the reel repair center at Bass Pro.

I finally got around to reading Jeff Nielson's article about super tuning reels. I spent the afternoon working on my oldest Curado. I don't have any way to really polish the pinion gear collars on the spool shaft other than by hand. I did the experiments with the lightest weight bait (1/4 oz jig with no trailer) and a stiff 6'6" rod. I gained 15' with longest to longest cast comparisons (he reports 30'). For you who have supertuned them, how much gain did you get? And would it be worth going back and inventing a way to polish those collars? Please address my questions as well as relate your experiences. Thanks.

Krud Kutter, Simple Green, Oxy Clean, or soap and water and of course a brush.

What David said. What they said. Right on the money.

Same here I have 3 of them and love 'em.

I would look it up for you if you had mentioned the kind of boat. You can look in the NADA Guides and get a good idea what the average selling price should be. 20' sounds like a good length to provide a good safe stable boat. If you decide to buy it change the water pump impellor before you use it very much.

My advice is take it fishing. Try several different types of baits on it. You may find something you really like. If not you can always sell it.

The motor warranty would be my concern not the boat. There really isn't much to be worried about with the boat. It is the best riding alum. on the market. A couple of my friend have been running them for a long time with no problems. XPRESS WARRANTY OUR Warranty statement was re-written for the 2005 model year and includes two major changes! We are excited to announce the addition of a couple of words that will mean a lot to you, the consumer. Those two words are "Lifetime" and "Transferable". Our basic warranty continues to be for a period of 5 years, but we have added a "Limited Lifetime" coverage clause that applies to transom and hull seam welds. Also you now have the ability to transfer these coverages which adds to both your piece of mind and your Xpress Boat's resale value. That does leave room for questions. Maybe you should call them at 501-262-5300 and ask for clarification.

I'm 15 minutes from Bass Pro in Spfd., 30 minutes from Table Rock, 45 minutes from Stockton. I fish Bull Shoals, Pomme de Terre, Stockton, Table Rock, and Truman. I spend a month in the spring on Stockton and a month in the fall on Pomme de Terre. My seasons are divided into early spring white bass, late spring-mid fall black bass and mid fall to early winter white bass. I do some switching of species depending on which lake and which species seems to be hottest. I have been caught up with making crappie baits for my cancer survivor neighbor and testing them on crappie and whites. I am busting a gut to get after largemouth and with 80° predicted for Monday I know I'll have to take my wife with me but what the heck she bought the boat.

I have an 82# on a 2500 rig. It will move way faster than any light weight boat with lesser tmotors that I have ever been in.

Who gave you that kind of info.? The 55 will go a lot faster than the 30. My premise on tmotors is get the biggest one you can afford and use the highest reserve amp deep cycle battery(s) that you can find.

The year of manufacturing will be in the series of numbers on the starboard side of the transom. They should either be molded into the fiberglass or on a plate.

I use both for jig fishing, the MH rods get the 1/4 and 3/8 jigs while the H rods get the 1/2 and 3/4 oz jigs. When I fish deep 35-50' it will be with the H because of the need for the heavier jigs.

I have some braid going into the fourth year which hasn't even been turned around yet. If and when it seems to be getting weak, I will turn it around. I love that Power Pro.