DaubsNU1

Sometimes the bite is on, sometimes it is not. One case in point...I've fished the same lake three weekends in a row... First weekend (Saturday): Caught two small bass, worked hard to catch em. Both on a t-rig worm. Hot humid, bright sun. Second weekend (Saturday and Sunday): caught one bass on a spinner bait. Hot, humid, bright sun. Third weekend (this Saturday): logged 63 bass, two crappie and one bluegill. The bite was ON! They were small, just 9-12" bass with one 14" that was little over a pound. Most caught on a swimming jig, white power grub. Temps were lower and had some cloud cover. Since the bass were biting, I tied one some lures that I had little confidence in...and caught fish.

Tested and worked. Engine operating as normal..."peeing" water out almost imediately after start up. Fished yesterday, engine worked fantastically! Only one issue to resolve...the mechanism that locks motor / keeps from tilting up in neutral and reverse...it's not latching. Hopefully I will have some time this week to look in to that. Killed it fishing yesterday...they bass were biting...I put 66 fish on the fishing log yesterday...all but three were small bass in the 9-12" size range. Two crappie and one bluegill.

Old Lund...he was pumping gas in to a rod holder hole... Was not paying attention...

I really have not fished much in the last 15+ years....got my boat ready and on the water and I was AMAZED at how many Kayaks were on the lake! Cool looking rigs! I got in to fishing in the late 80's / early 90's...we fished from the bank...then a buddy who worked at Cabela's introduced me to a belly boat. Wow, that was cool! I could kick around and felt like the world had opened up to me! A few years later a buddy at work had a canoe. We fished the crap out of that thing. Pain the tail to find a place to store it, and had to lug it on top of his Crown Vic. But man did we fish a lot and have a great time! I found this boat / outboard / trailer in 2000...gave $650 for the whole set up. Installed casting deck up front, seats and trolling motor. It's been a great set up for me. It's 14' and I don't worry about scratching it up when I'm banging around in flooded timber. I'm fortunate to have a place to store it, and do all the maintenance myself (replacing the water impeller now...and new housing for the trolling motor...it broke last week). Pretty cheap to own. Wife and I have Kayaks (in the background of this picture). They aren't fishing Kayaks. A buddy is trying to get me to purchase a fishing kayak....I'm going to stick with my boat. I can fish two if needed, have lots of room for tackle and 10+ rods, and can stand to fish.

Thanks! Broke a guide on my Fish Eagle II spinning rod...who makes the guides? Fuji? I had heard Cabela's got their blanks from Loomis to make these rods...true?

Wondering if anyone has info on the old school Cabela's fishing rods. I've got the following, all in great shape...what do you know about them? C44x Fish Eagle II, IM6 Fish Eagle II, CX2 Tournament Trail, IM7 XML Ti

Good thread. I fished a lot back in the 90's and early 2000's...but haven't fished in last 15 years (raising two daughters who were big in to sports). Now I'm back in the fishing game and trying to get things lined up. Have to admit, I'm not much for trying new stuff, so the advice here is good. I tend to get stuck in a rut with techniques, lure choice, colors, etc. I feel pretty confident with the following: Buzz bait, white or white-chartreuse @ dawn or first light. Love the top water bite. Blue-fleck 7" power worm, t-rig. I've caught a lot of bass with this set up. White power grub on 1/4 oz. lead head. It's my go-to when everything else fails. White or white-chartreuse spinner bait. I can work it fast in shallow or deeper water. Rainbow trout Slug-Go. Caught my PB on this set up...8lb largemouth in Missouri. Rattle-Trap. Good on bass, pike and musky If the above are not working, I move to these: Jig-n-craw. Deep. "Stinky Rig." Floating 4" worm rigged with light off-set hook, no weight, swivel tied 8-10" up the line to give it a slow sink. Frog on top of grass or pads Houdini shad...new this summer, still trying to figure it out... Drop shot...again, new this summer.

I picked up a Simano Nexave FE 2500 at Scheels for $49. Paired it with an old Cabela's XML - Ti that has been sitting in my garage for quite a few years. I really like this set up. Daiwa makes good stuff. Good luck!

Dremel tool did the trick! I carefully ground things down until the water impeller broke free. Hit Marine Engine *, ordered parts...they should be here by Friday! Good advice here...THANK YOU! Side note: I called around to a few local marine repair shops in Eastern Nebraska...two didn't answer the phone. One said he was so busy, not taking on new projects right now. One guy said he would replace my water impeller for $175...needed $100 deposit. I asked how he might get the impeller off and he scoffed at me, saying "I'm not telling you my trade secrets...if you want to youtube it, have a ball." Ha! Saved myself a some $$ today.

Try slowing down. I have found that I tend to get anxious and speed up my retrieves / how I work the presentation. When I slow down I get in to more fish. Good luck...hang in there!

Lower unit is off! There were two additional bolts that were semi hidden. Appreciate the suggestions. In the videos I watched the motor looked same as my 20hp, but the lower unit was different. Unit is off...now I'm struggling to get the impeller off the drive shaft...looks to be rusted on there. I'm soaking with penetrating oil. One problem solved...another problem comes up : )

Water pump not "peeing" on the 1974 Mercury Thunderbolt 200 (20HP). I managed to get the two screws out...but the lower unit does not want to budge. Knocked around with rubber mallet...no luck. Manged to drive flat head screw driver between lower unit and open it up just a bit. Suggestions?

Yep. He was quite the character. Friends of mine knew him better...there are many, many stories of his exploits and near brushes with death...most are funny and/or dumb. Some are downright frightening. He's still alive.

Back in the 90's we trekked from Nebraska to Lake Fork. Couldn't catch anything...talked to a few locals and they suggested shiners on slip-bobber rigs. Worked like a charm! We had a blast! Good luck.

Not my story...but a mutual friend of mine... Stopped to get gas in his Lund...pumping, pumping, pumping...filled up to 15 gallons...thought "gee, my fuel tank is only 10 gallons...." Oops, he was pumping fuel in to the rod holder / bottom of the boat!!! No problem...launched the boat, pulled in to the middle of the lake, and turned on the bilge(!) Said it looked like the Exxon Valdeze was there... (d**n fool could have killed himself!)

Man, this is GOOD STUFF! I started really fishing in the early 90's when I moved to Missouri. Co-worker was from Texas / Alabama and taught me a ton about bass fishing. Back in those days we didn't have youtube or message boards...I fished pretty hard until my daughters got in to sports...then it was all hands on deck as they played, practiced, school events, etc. (went well...older daughter took home two state championships in softball, two runner up in softball, and state title in basketball. Younger daughter was on one of the softball title teams). I just got back in to fishing a week ago when I pulled the old boat out of storage...found this board and have been reading I disagree off! Nice to see new techniques, and some old faithful that have served me well many years ago (7" texas rigged worm, swimming jigs, Slug-Go, spinner baits). I must have lived under a rock for the past 15 years...what the hell is a pinch rig, Senko, drop shot, slider rig (again, thank God for google and youtube!) Go get yourself some Slug-Go's...My largest bass ever (8 lbs) was caught on a rainbow trout Slug-Go. Enjoy!

Picked up my 1960 Richline 14' aluminum v-hull, 1974 Mercury "Thunderbolt" 20hp outboard, with trailer for $650 in 2000. It leaked pretty bad, but I was able to repair and patch with epoxy...minimal leaks now. Installed casting platform seat & foot controlled 40lb Minn Kota up front, rod holders, seat in the back, and a bilge pump. The old Merc runs great. The old Hummingbird Fish'in Buddy II still works as depth / fish finder. Fishes two just fine. The old boat is great for the places I fish here in Nebraska...small lakes and reservoirs, some with standing timber. I can bang around in the timber and don't have to worry about scratching things. Who is fishing something older than 1960? What modifications have you made?

Agree with Hawg, fill the boat with water and mark the leak spots. My 1960 Richline was very leaky...I pulled the motor, pulled the boat off the trailer, flipped it over and used some epoxy aluminum repair sticks to seal it up. Directions call for heating the aluminum with propane torch, then melting the epoxy and sealing it up. I did this when I got the boat in 2000....had the boat back in the water this weekend...minimal leaking. Good luck!

7" blue fleck power worm, Texas rigged. It's been my "go-to" for 25 years...

Good to be here! Born and raised in Nebraska, but didn't really start fishing for bass until I moved to Missouri after college. A Co-worker who hailed from Alabama and Texas taught me a lot -- we fished from the bank, belly-boat, and a canoe. Purchased the boat below in 2000. It's a 1960 Richline with a 1974 Mercury 20hp outboard. Boat motor and trailer cost me $650. I installed casting deck in the front, the Minn Kota trolling motor and a bilge pump (that old boat was pretty leaky in those first years). It works great in flooded timber...I don't have to worry about scratching it up : ) Fishing took a back seat to my kiddos...I really didn't fish much while they were in school and sports. Now that they are in college it's time to get back to fishing more. Pulled the boat out of storage last week, replaced axle bearings and bearing-buddies, and verified all the electronics were still in good working order. Replaced lower end lube and spark plugs on the Merc, and it fired right up. Engine didn't "pee," so i shut it right down...need to pull lower unit and check the water impeller. Was able to get the boat on the water this weekend for the first time in many, many years. Held water well...just a few small leaks. Trolling motor performed well...and I actually caught fish! Knowing that a lot has changed since I fished last, I stumbled here. I'll be reading and reading more... Daubs