Cyclones

I do the same. I weekly fish probably the most pressured lake in my state. I want to try new/different lures and locations on the lake but I don’t. Stupid little 3” Gulp minnows always catch good size bass and drum out there so I always throw it. Gets mundane, I want to throw cranks or frogs. Some times I’ll start with a t-rigged worm and get one fish in an hour. How long do better than me fisherman (that’s most fisherman) wait before switching presentations when it’s not working?

Fishing trip. And as I said, I enjoyed it, I’d hire him again. I just struggle with the tip thing. Wouldn’t even have been an issue if another guide from that same marina hadn’t had the fit over a tip the same day I was out there. Just kinda makes you think about it. It’s hard to please everyone. I gave my guide $50 and I have no idea if he was pleased or maybe thought I was a jerk. That’s why I hate tip culture. I THINK I’d be a fan of no tipping and just pricing and paying the right amount. But I then wonder how many people would stop eating out of your favorite restaurant had to bump prices across the board by 25% or more to cover employee wage cost in a no tip environment

Interesting to see this topic come up. Had a 4 hour guided trip on Lake Taneycomo this week for trout. Caught plenty, but only left a $50 tip. Had a great time, but we literally were never more than a 1/4 mile from the marina so I guess I didn’t feel like anything bigger was warranted. I’d hire the same guide again, but ask to go elsewhere. saw a post on FB the day after about another Branson guide, took his client on Table Rock and the client (it was his own post on a Branson FB page) admitted to forgetting to tip. He said he contacted the guide later in the day to give him the tip and he told him to “pound sand” and even deleted all the pics from the trip so the client wouldn’t have any. I see stuff like that and it makes me wonder if my guide was ticked at my $50 tip

So I respooled with 50lb braid. While taking off the old stuff in random spots it all looked tight but then there’d be a big loop turned over flat on the line. The. I’d come to spots in the reel where one outside edge was just super loose line for maybe a dozen turns. So I’m guessing loose line was the culprit and causing dig in. I’m just surprised braid can snap so easily

Improved clinch on 1 and palomar on 1. It feels like a definite snag I think, like the 60mph to 0 instantly. Could be dug in line. What causes that? Too much line on spool? Probably have a bit much. Loose line? Braid came from same spool. No leader. Both are 7ft mh rods. One is a shimano dlc and one is a abu Garcia revo max. I feel like a let the rod load and don’t throw excessively hard

Why do I keep losing lures on my baitcasters? Lost a chatter bait on 1 caster last weekend and a swig jig on a different one. Then today lost a crank bait on one. All happens the same way….long cast out and then…SNAP… the line breaks. Not sure if at the knot or elsewhere. I’m not getting birds nests prior but that’s almost what it feels like when the line snaps. 2nd season on 30lbs braid. What can I do to minimize this issue?

Thanks for the responses. I guess I’ll sign it. If something happens you file a claim with your own insurance and I suppose they can fight it out with the dealer/storage place’s insurance if need be. Insurance is basically organized crime.

Dropped my boat off maybe a month ago at the dealer for some work, winterization, and storage for the winter. Got a letter from them today stating that their insurance company has asked all storage customers to sign a liability waiver. The waiver says, in part, “dealer assumes no responsibility for loss or damage by fire or theft, or weather hazards incidental to boat and personal possessions.” My first time doing this. Is that normal? If their building burns down due to some electrical problem or something else then they would really bear no responsibility? Maybe that’s standard, I really don’t know. I’d appreciate some knowledge from those with experience. Thanks!

Yeah, it just freaks me out as a new boater when I’m fishing and i look at the helix and it says 1.5 feet. I’m mostly worried about the trolling motor. Funny, when I get those low readings I’ve never hit the trolling motor, but way too many times just slowing trolling around I’ve found the bottom or timber with it. Maybe if I snap it off the wife will let me buy a TM that’s easier to deploy and stow than the freaking Power Drive model

Dumb question……can I do this sitting in my driveway with the boat on the trailer?

I’ll try that, thanks

No, I’m not sure….and if I find out that’s the problem you guys will never know!

It’s dealer installed, sits on the transom. There are usually some weeds, yes, so maybe it’s reading those….

I’m new this year to boats and fish finders. Have a helix 3gn megi si. The depth it reads is what I consider to be fairly inaccurate. It will read that I’m in 1.5 feet of water and I’ll check with a fishing pole and I can get my hand wet before the pole hits bottom. Is there a way to calibrate the depth? Or is a little play just the norm?

That probably wouldn’t end well for that person...

This answer here is why I’m asking. You say you wouldn’t tie off at the ramp. Am I just being a baby and should tie off at the end of the ramp dock? Never seen anyone do that…yet. The dock isn’t long enough to tie up normal and leave space for another to launch. And I’ve never seen anyone tie up to the rip rap or rocky shore line to get out of their boat. I’m not saying you’re wrong at all, just trying to find out the accepted practices. I think what I’m finding out is each lake is unique and what might work in one spot isn’t possible/practical in another. I do appreciate all the replies. I wish we had more lanes here and more so I wish they’d designate launch and load lanes. Seems an easy way to clear up a problem.

It’s my first season and I’m no expert at the process at all, but I just go slooooooow especially backing the trailer and bringing the boat to the dock. No real problems doing it, just the traffic at the ramp and trying to understand when I can take my turn loading when the dock at the ramp is the only available spot and it would tie up the lane while I’m getting the truck. I know many have suggested beaching or tying up to the rocks. I’m not comfortable doing that yet. I guess the best answer is this —do what I’ve been doing and avoiding the ramp at busy times and when that’s not practical i just need to pick a reasonable time/spot to tie off and those launching will just have to wait. I can do that.

This is exactly the problem I’m referring to and wanting to know the answer. The two lakes I’m on most are like this, two lane ramp split by a short dock.

I have spotlock…..but using it while I go get the truck scares me a little. I’ve never heard of anyone losing connection while walking away to get the truck…but I’d be the first one it happens to!

That pic is Lakeview. Cherry Glenn is way busier in my limited experience. You’re obviously local. Any tips on better close lakes to fish? I usually catch ok at Saylorville but get skunked at Big Creek all the time. But she’s a new boat and still all pretty! I can’t even stand the thought of that yet!

How do you tie to rip rap without banging up your boat? I’m a noob, it’s an honest question. It’s choppy by the ramps, how do I get close without hitting and how do I tie? Thanks!

There is nowhere to tie to but the dock, that’s my dilemma im looking for an answer to

I appreciate the replies, but what about the scenario with the line waiting to launch? When I launch its early and empty, but when I come in it’s starting to get busy with wake boats. Right now what I’ve done is just hang around until the crowd thins, but what if I need to leave? How do I “get in line” from the water when the launchers are using the ramps? It’s not uncommon to see 15 boats in line to launch here. also—thanks AJ. “Solo boater” sounds much better than “single boater”. I sound like a divorcee looking for chicks saying “single” Like at the very end? Or just further down the dock towards the lake? Because those docks seem pretty short…

As some of you know, this is my fist season owning and using a boat. I’ve watched about 23,000 videos on how to launch & load and what not to do. But I never find a clear answer to the problem of the single boater. Most places I fish the ramp is 2 lane with a single dock in the middle. Launching is straight forward. Loading? Not so much. I feel my only option is to pull to the ramp, tie to the dock, quickly get my truck and load up. Am I missing something? I know I’m tying up a lane, how else would I do it? I see people say, park at the dock not the ramp and then get your trailer. Are these lakes that have separate docks close to the ramp? I got yelled at by a doosh boater last weekend as I was walking up the ramp to get my truck. He told me I wasn’t allowed to block the ramp. What the heck should I do? 2nd question... hasn’t happened yet but it’s coming......if it’s busy when I’m wanting to come in for the day a d there is a line for launching.... how do I get in line to load as a single boater? Say there are 5 boats on trailers waiting to launch. Do I just pick out the last truck in line and when he loads then come up to the ramp and tie off and get my truck? Because if trucks keep showing up I can see a problem brewing real quick. Unfortunately the closest lakes to me are super crowded lots of times. I’ll attach a pic of the ramp I use often for reference Is the answer that I shouldn’t fish lakes as a single boater that only has docks/ramps like this? Is the answer that as a single boater I shouldn’t fish lakes with ramps like this? Because to be honest I want to tell those that get ticked to pound sand. But I’ve seen multiple people in other boating forums suggest as much about not coming out on weekends as a single

Where are these mysterious parts of the country where it’s not blowing at least 10mph every single day? Here in Iowa 10mph is a gentle breeze. When I was in the service I was stationed in Cheyenne for a few years. Only place I’ve been that’s windier than here. I’d love to move to and fish someplace that’s generally calm on a daily basis. Just need to talk the wife into uprooting the family, moving generally south, and finding new jobs.