DaubsNU1

Had a ProMariner on my old boat for three years...and went with ProMariner on the new boat. They stay plugged in 24/7/365. No issues so far.

Spinnerbait - inexpensive SB's from Walmart. Jerkbait - Megabass 110 in bluegill Lipless - Bill Lewis Rattle Trap Bladed jig - N/A Jig - I have really grown to like Dirty Jigs Square bill - 6th Sense 50x Crankbait - Rapala Shad Rap (although I don't use them much) Soft body swimbaits (not trailers) - Slug-Go....not really a swim bait, but I really like these Hard body swimbait - N/A

I learned to fish with a Zebco 33 way back in the 1970's...cast with left hand, reel with right. Then along came the Mitchell 300 spinning rod...cast with right hand...reel with the left. Works well...if I get tired of casting and reeling...I just switch. And the really interesting thing...my brother has some right handed reel casting rods...I cannot stand to use them(!)

@MN Fisher has a good set up! And I'm sure it weighs in under 2k. Heck, my Lund specs out boat motor and trailer under 2k. @Koz sounds like you have a great set up as well...but are facing some challenges. Understood! Years ago I started with a belly boat, chest waders, and kick fins. It wasn't much, but it got me off the shore. I remember kicking 20-25 minutes to access the "next cove over..." Good workout! A few years later I started fishing with a co-worker...he owned a canoe. We spent more time paddling and maneuvering than we did fishing. But again, we were on the water. My first boat was small, light, and inexpensive. The little 20HP could move me and my gear @ 20 MPH. Trolling motor didn't have spot-lock. It got the job done. I have been very happy with the Lund. It's a true multi-species boat that can handle everything from local lakes to the big Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Spot lock is wonderful, I really like the Helix units networked. I don't have FFS...maybe someday. Wife can now join me...she brings a book and a bottle of wine, lounges in the jump-seats while I fish. We even bring the dogs now and then. Good luck with your decision. You will find something that meets your needs and fits your budget.

At this point, I believe it is time to call in a professional. My 82 year old Dad was having issues in his house (which he built in 1970). Turned out the cast-iron pipes were filled with years of build-up / deposits, that were slowing things down. Plumber had to replace some lines. Good luck! DD.

Thanks @ol'crickety! Listed on FB marketplace and Craigslist...sold to the first guy who came to check it out. His plan was to use that little boat to fish the Missouri River(!) That old Mercury could push me and my gear to 20 MPH.

Just for craps-n-giggles, my first boat...a 1960 Rich Line, with a 1974 Mercury 20hp 2-stroke, Minn Kota All-Terrain 40lb trolling motor. Pro's: I learned a LOT with this boat! Repairing and maintaining a 60+ year old boat, and and 50 year old motor...gotta love the internet and YouTube!! Had a blast in 2021 when adding decking, storage, lights, bilge, 2nd battery, and two new fish-finders. Small, light, and I did not care what I ran in to...trees, stumps, rocks...no worries! I could get that boat in places I had no business getting in to. Easy to launch by myself...and I did not care if the boat banged against the dock, or rocks. Con's: It leaked. I tried banging on rivets, 3M 5200, epoxy patch, JB weld, silicone, etc. Did not leak much...but there was always water in the bottom of the boat. It was a good boat for just me...but not so good when a second angler joined me. Just not big enough. Small and light, when the wind blew, it was tough to keep the boat positioned (no spot-lock). Pain in the rear to load on the trailer, especially in the wind. Did I mention it leaked? : )

I had a Garmin Echomap with side and down image, on a GT54 transducer. It was my first good fish finder. In 2020 my brother got his dream boat, and outfitted with Humminbird Helix 9 G4N, and connected to his Ulterra. A year later he added another Helix 9 at the bow, and networked them. For down and side imaging, the Helix was much better than my Garmin. Granted, I was using the 54 transducer, not the 56, which is said to be better. I set up my boat with Helix 9's and Ulterra mirroring his set up. I really like it. I'm not in to FFS at this point. The Humminbird / Minn Kota system works great for me. Good luck!

Ain't that the truth!

I had Garmin touch screen in my last boat, it was okay. Brother went Humminbird Helix, and I noticed his down and side imaging was much better than my Garmin. And he linked to the Ulterra. I spent lots of time in his boat and really grew to like the set up. I mirrored Brother's set up and went with Helix 9's and Ulterra legacy (not the new version that is brush-less). Having Ulterra and Helix units networked together is really neat. Keep researching, and looking, and see if you can get hands-on experience. I found my boat used at Lund dealer, and had them do the electronics install before I picked up the boat. Good luck!!!

@TheLastBestFish, lose 4 rigs...good call! Reminds me of a buddy, commercial electrician...his Dogma: "if I get shocked twice in one day...it's time to go home...that third time is likely going to really hurt, or kill me." Spinnerbaits...yea, they don't work ; )

@ol'crickety @MIbassyaker Mighty whitey one-biteys ROCK!

When I sold my old 1960 Rich Line, researched craigslist, FB marketplace, and some forums to get a feel for what it might be worth. Might be a good place to start. I purchased boat, motor (20HP Merc 2-stroke), and trailer in 2000 for $600. It was bare with just bench seats...I added trolling motor, front deck, and seats right away. In 2021 I added decking, Garmin's up front and in rear, bilge pump, running lights, new seats, and USB ports. I asked $2,300, and sold a few days later to the first guy who came to look it over. He offered me $2,200...Done! Good luck selling your boat. Might be worth more than you think...

Wife had to work, so I ventured to the lake this afternoon. Atmosphere temps in the mid 50's, water temps 47-48 degrees. Wind out of the North-Northeast 15-20, with gusts to 25 MPH. Overcast, and it spit a little rain for ten minutes. I was working up a shallow arm, in 2-4 foot of water...and the small bass started hitting the Yo-Zuri mini-jerkbait. Caught six. They were all very small, but very aggressive. Worked the wind blown rip-rap on the main lake, and got a 14" bass on a Yo-Zuri square bill. These are the first fish I have caught on a jerkbait...and the first on any Yo-Zuri lures. I will take it! Last three times on the water were skunked, or one fish.

Water clarity here is generally less than a foot...it's hard to find beds unless I'm watching side imaging. I would rather run down the bank fishing shallow, as it's my favorite way to target bass.

Pretty much the opposite of brand disloyalty... I'm a bit of a bait-*****... If my brother is catching bass on a Rapala-gold-shad-raptor-laser-bazinga, you can be darn sure I'm heading to Scheels to pick up the exact same lure! Now if you ask me about automotive brands I detest...well...careful what you ask for...cause I will give you an earful as to why you should NEVER purchase a Kia or Hyundai(!) ** warning, do not get me started ** 😅

I went with bow and console mounted Helix 9's, and they are networked and connected to the Ulterra. I really like it (although still figuring out all the features and neat things). I do have the ethernet hub. Decided to have the dealer install when I was purchasing the boat. Considered Helix 10's, or Solix, but opted for 9's to save a little $ for elsewhere in the budget.

I run ethanol-free fuel in boat, ATV's, lawn mowers, weed-eater, power-washer, generator. About the only thing that doesn't get ethanol-free is the daily-driver Accord. The Duramax is a bit of overkill for the Lund...but serves me well when I hook up the 5th wheel camper AND the Lund. But in the immortal words of Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith: "Overkill is underrated"

@BigAngus752, HAAAA! I fish a somewhat similar lake here in Nebraska...flat, featureless, some rip-rap here and there, vegetation later in the summer. The lake confounds me! Buddies have pulled out 5+lb Bass...largest I've ever boated was 4 lbs from this lake. I might suggest running a square-bill down the rip-rap, bang it on rocks as best you can. Good luck!

Caught a crap-ton of crappie, bluegill and bass on the Beetlespin as a kid growing up here in Nebraska. I have a few buried in my tackle box, next to Mepps & Panther Martin in-line spinners. Sounds like a good time to dig them out and get 'em wet! : )

I always try to be in the boat, feeling I can cover much more water than from bank. I do bank fish occasionally, when I cannot get the boat in the water, or the body of water is too small (pond).

Good advice from @gimruis. Had a Garmin unit on my previous boat and liked it very much. Down and side imaging was good. With the new boat I opted for Humminbird, and wanted everything tied together...so networked two Helix 9's with the Ulterra. I do not have FFS currently...maybe in the future. Spot lock, auto pilot, cruise control and auto deploy and stow are great features of the Ulterra. Another cool feature...I can drive around and mark waypoints on the console unit...when I find a brush pile I like, deploy the TM, hit "go to mark" and the Ulterra drives me to the mark, spot locks, and holds me there. I haven't messed with tracks and "follow track" or "follow contour" yet. Pretty cool. Pretty sure Garmin and Lowrance unites have similar features. Something to consider when making your decision.

Most of my reels are 30+ years old...and a few of my "newer" reels are old ones purchased via eBay...and are 30+ years old : ) I break them down a little, clean with toothbrush, oil them back up and call it good. Most are doing quite well. Took a spinning reel apart hoping to find root cause of a hitch-in-the-giddy-up...but was unsuccessful. Ended up taking it to a local guy...who disassembled, cleaned...found no issues...but solved the problem (lucky I guess). Some great suggestions here! Thanks all!

^^^^THIS^^^^^ Why I stopped watching TV a while back. At least on line you can mute, or skip commercials after a few seconds. Live sports...have to suffer through. The few shows the wife likes to watch, we DVR, then fast-forward through commercials. She loves to watch Planet Earth before bed time...calms her down.

Just watched about 25 minutes of TV coverage...boring. Headed back out to my garage to sort lures. It's 40 degrees and raining here in Nebraska, wind blowing N @ 25+. March Madness now on the TV. That is all.