Craig P

I have a 2017 ProGuide V16 and won't complain. I have replaced the TM and electronics and it makes the boat really enjoyable. Does it have some fit and finish issues, you bet but I can find similar issues in those other brands when I look at them at shows. It is not until I step into a boat at almost twice the price that I start to get envious. At the end of the day, I think they are worth their price.

3 Heavy Duty Shelf Brackets, say 18" x 16". About $8 each at Home Depot and a door blank or slab for around $40 secured to the studs that make up a wall. You're not going to do any serious hammering or mount a heavy vice to it but for making lures, rods and other fishing related items, it's perfect. Plus no legs to bang your knees into. I currently use mine to make spinners with my Hagen's Wire Former mounted to the corner and it also doubles as an electronics bench when I am tinkering with that stuff.

No one mentioned WaWa yet. I am in Pa and WaWa is all over the place as well as down the east coast and IMO is much better than Starbucks or Dunkin. I've been hooked on their Hazelnut for at least a year although I limit myself to just one to sometimes two of those a day and the rest of the day, Decaf. Coffee and water are pretty much the only things I drink so I need to be reasonable with the caffeine. Just black works for me. I do have a Keurig as well but use the WaWa grounds in a re-usable pod. d**n, now I need to go make a cup of coffee.

I agree with bulldog, it just looks like an epoxy or flexcoat drip to me.

I can't say that I would change anything. Like many others, my usual lake I visit was super busy at all times due to COVID this year. There were even times when people would show up with Waverunners at 7am and Center Consoles up to 23' on this small 1,100 acre lake became a common sight daily, it was crazy! Ironically, It turned into my most productive bass season ever. Partially probably because I targeted many of my outings on days where the weather was not as attractive to pleasure boaters......although that only seemed to make a small difference in traffic. The big difference I'll attribute to just gaining more experience with the lake, electronics and techniques over the last 3 years and it all coming together. Needless to say, my confidence is at an all time high right now and while I won't lay down my rod this winter, I know that the days in-between outings will grow longer as it gets colder. Can't wait til spring to do it all over again.

Yep, exactly on the hooks and size. I’ve fished the Salmon River in NY for many years and they were the hooks I always used so I always had them and tried them for Bass and they just worked perfect for me. Make sure you tie them on with a snell knot. It’s very important to increase your hook ups. I won’t sugar coat it, you will get snagged and lose your hook / Senko with that setup but it’s part of the game.

I like to use Gamakatsu Octopus hooks. Past experience catching salmon have proven it to be a winner for me. A little pricey but if you buy the larger packs they are more reasonable. Can't go wrong with pumpkin colors. One thing we did learn on my one local lake, a one color plastic like Pumpkin Green or Black does not get as many bites as a 2 color senko like a green pumpkin / orange. I cannot explain it but we've proven it time and time again on a green stained lake. When we go to a clear lake, we found no difference. Just something I thought I would mention as food for thought.

As a person who was exactly where you were 3 years ago......I found my early success with Senkos, throwing them wacky rigged. That's just a fancy name of a size 1/0 hook, hooked through the center of that stick or Senko bait, no other weight. Throw it to a fishy looking spot and watch your line on the top of the water, if it moves, he has it in his mouth, there is only one thing left to do. You can follow advice earlier posted about setting the hook or use your style. I like to set it hard and get them out of the wood quick. I do not know the conditions you fish but being an accurate caster when casting to banks is paramount in Pa. If you can get your bait just one foot further into the brush than the other guy, you're going to catch ALOT more than the other guy. One thing to add, don't get caught up in buying too man baits in the beginning. Keep it simple and don't overwhelm yourself with choices. You'll get them to bite once your preferred method is done right.

One of the major reasons I bought Livescope was for it to help teach me what I’m actually seeing on down and side view. Anyone experienced with finders can pick out a tree, bush, rock, etc. but when you see it on Livescope it really helps you to connect the dots visually. I do not look at typical finder screens the same any more, the typical down and side view now creates a 3D image in my brain if you will and that helps me recognize holding spots quickly. As for actual fishing, once again, I bought it to teach me. Anyone can throw a lure to a fish and not get bit but then there is that guy, sometimes even a beginner who is fishing next to you who is getting bit. Why? It’s all about cadence and reaction strikes, they’re doing something just a little different. Watching my presentation and modifying fall, jerks, etc. has increased the amount of fish I catch immensely. It isn’t cheap but now that I have it, I’d never go without it, it just makes fishing so much more fun.

I thought about pricing as well. Manufacturers would save money on the panels and the housings so they “could” pass on savings to the consumer. The first who does, the pricing will be “just” attractive enough to sway you....the rest, they’ll keep for sure.

I think the next big thing is going to be headless fish finders. Take Livescope for example. The GLS10 does the processing, the attached fish finder is a viewing / interactive interface. There is no reason this approach cannot be used completely with an iPad or Android Tablet and the processor or "brain" of the system can be remotely and securely mounted within the boat while you place your tablet screen wirelessly anywhere you want, multiples screens as well. Sharing the screen to a finder is already available on some finders, I see this as a competitive next step and a feature that the first to market could really grow on.

I've thought about this from the opposite perspective. I am sure all of us have caught a large-ish fish on a small bait. Do you think they see it and just munch it because It's like us walking past a bowl of M&Ms on the table and you grab one....ok, maybe a handful but you get the point.

This is what I call the first car in the parking lot syndrome. Seriously though, go arrive at a mall or shopping center early and be the first car in the parking lot. Don’t even park close to the doors, park half the lot away. There will without a doubt be a car parked right next to you a half hour after the mall opens. They’ll even leave the closer spots open. It’s just human nature. I can’t explain why for sure but I think many people need to be lead or shown the way and a person, car, boat, etc. serves as a recognizable guide. It’s just something I take notice to and it always happens with fishing, whether in boat, on shore or wading a stream. I’ve had it happen way too many times with hunting as well. I’ll never understand that one, do you really want to be in range of a person that can accidentally shoot you? Rhetorical of course. Anyways, hang in there, most of the time it’s not malicious, it’s just people being people.

I’d suggest peg board as well. It’s nice to have everything in your face so to speak and pick out what you need quickly.

West Marine currently has the Garmin 94SV on sale for $699. 94 comes with G3 Coastal charts so you’ll need to add the inland charts for another $100 or so...I forget the price of the maps but close to $100. Anyways, the 94SV comes with a higher wattage transducer than the 93SV and the returns IMO are near UHD quality. On the other hand, it is last year’s tech. The newer versions of the 93 come with the UHD transducer and they are full price if you will. I know the boat is new to you and you’re probably anxious to do your upgrades but if you can wait, you’ll be better off as your gained knowledge will define your actual needs. If that trolling motor that came on that boat doesn’t live up to your expectations, you’ll want to upgrade that...do you want your new TM to interface with your graphs? A question that is yet to be known. Will you want more tech? Livescope for example, once again, an unknown. Anyways, just thoughts. Many of us have been through this and we spend a lot of money, twice, sometime 3 times. Just trying to save you a buck in the end.

Anyone else jealous of Greenpig’s filleting skills. My buddy and I caught some nice crappie yesterday and we kept 4 from 11” to 14”. We’ve never kept a crappie or even ate one so we wanted to know because we’ve heard our whole lives how good they are to eat. Needless to say, our filets looked umm...butchered. Lol. I’ll admit, they did live up to their reputation, they were really good. I’m not much of a fish eater, I keep one striper and one flounder a year for my son and I. Maybe Crappie will become a once a year tradition now as well.

Just a follow up for anyone else considering the same change. I ended up going with FC Sniper 8# and I am impressed after a couple of outings. IMO, it’s a perfect line for my needs/setup and the sensitivity is a game changer for me. I’ve been getting bites on this line that with 14#, I’ve not had or at the very least, never felt. This line / purpose however on a Curado DC reel leaves a little to be desired. Does it work, it does but the DC reel I think wants to be worked and responds in kind. Throwing 8# with a lighter touch is finicky, requiring either a quick thumb or a cast that ends up short and it’s hard to find that perfect back stroke if you will to make a jig land softly while not back lashing. More time with it will help for sure but I think 8# is probably better suited for a Non-DC style reel. Once again, thank you all for your suggestions, they have taught me something and have helped me catch fish.

You need physical therapy. I am a drafter and an angler. Sitting at a desk working on the computer with a mouse all day and fishing causes micro tears in the elbow, or what is know as tennis elbow. I also get it in my shoulder blade from drafting. One day while fighting a large salmon, my elbow reared it’s ugly head to the point I couldn’t fish the rest of the trip and it was off to the doctors as soon as I got back. The Doc sent me to physical therapy where they explained what was happening. They had me do specific exercises, bike pedaling with the arms, twisting a dowel rod with a weight attached etc. and then the trainer would take a metal rod and with good pressure, push it over the elbow to break up the scar tissue. Going forward, I still use the same exercises today as well as some others to help the elbow and shoulder so that I strengthen the areas to avoid those “spots” from building up scar tissue. FWIW, I wore the band to help reduce the strain before it reared it’s ugly head. You can put a band aid on it so to speak but learning how to strengthen the area, even if it is severe enough to require physical therapy, will solve the issue.

I have a 16’ boat and run one unit on a Ram mount that spins and I am very happy with the setup BUT that is because it fits my fishing style. I like to look for structure and then fish. I rarely look back at the screen except to confirm what I believe I just missed, either in fish, structure or depth. I do however have Livescope but when I fish with that, I call it old man fishing. I sit at the console, aim the transducer on it’s own arm and cast at them. LS is probably overkill for me as I do not use it often but I do like tech. With that said, your fishing style is going to determine your actual needs. If you like to vertical fish, you’re going to want to know in real time what is below you, possibly in front of you, not what the transom transducer saw 16’ behind you. As for the actual device, you could get a hundred responses from a hundred different anglers. Rather than point you to what I use, I would recommend thinking about your long term goals. Do you see yourself wanting a new trolling motor that can integrate with the FF? Do you see yourself wanting to get into real time fish movement like Livescope? Think about what you want after the finder and it may help narrow down your choices.

Thank you for all of the input. Just to quickly answer some questions, I’m throwing mostly rage plastics on light jigs most of the time. I do also use leader but it seems counter-productive to use a leader if you don’t have to which is why I am asking the questions. I do have a couple of rigs setup for 30lb and 50lb braid, they are what I consider grass and gnarly wood setups. I don’t see much grass on my reservoirs except for a couple so I figure I’d take my 14# floro setup and make it finesse as I really do enjoy using baitcasters over spinning rods. I think I’ll try FC sniper 8# as that test just feels right for what I fish and see how it works out. Thanks again!

Anyone have any opinions / success using light line with a Curado DC and what pound to use? Fish in my area are line shy, my 14lb floro setup is getting out fished 4 to 1 by my 6lb floro spinning outfit using the same plastics. I have several baitcaster setups and wouldn’t mind trying something different on one. Thanks!

I didn’t even realize the post was that old. I seen it pop up in the general feed and thought it was current. Ironic you mention the rattle trap, we use them on stripers with good success as well.

We see this with striper fishing. The striper will literally stuff theirselves with bunker and the bite dies for a day or two. The only way to get them to bite after is a reaction strike and that is tough on its own. It is a blast however catching them in the act. Fish after fish gets reeled in. Anyways, imagine going to an all you can eat buffet and stuffing yourself. The only thing left that you want to do is sit on the couch. Lol

I caught the same LM twice from the same spot last summer and then I took a friend and gave him first chance at it and he caught it too. Last summer as well, I caught the same SM twice on two different trips. I’ve had this happen with a trout also, I caught the same trout 3 times over 3 years. When they find a good place, they make it a home and the old saying of having a memory of a fish, I guess that’s tells all.