E-rude dude

Weekend traffic is impossible to fish after 10. I fish during the week when I can. just getting in and out now on a weekend is ludicrous.

When the fish quit biting it.

My first instinct would be to thread the d bomb onto a green pumpkin jig, move out slightly deeper, cast and bounce it down the ledge or along the weed line. Move out some more then try it again.

There are 1000’s of ways to catch a green fish. When people recommend a method of catching them, they are basing it on their success, on their lake, in their part of the world. Will it work for you? Probably. I think a lot has to do with each individual fisher person. My wife who is not a big fisher person, does better with methods that are on the bottom of the lake. That way she can feel a bite and can feel the bottom. Others may be better cranking a hard bait over weeds, etc, etc.... Its just finding that bait that they feel comfortable with and expanding from there. Just like when we were kids. One pole one bait and we were happy as could be.

My only advice in picking a towing vehicle is this; “tow ratings” are the maximum capacity that the vehicle can pull. That is not the rating that you can safely tow at highway speeds. For most vehicles you need to cut the tow rating down 40-50% for safe highway speeds. Getting a trailer moving is one thing. Stopping it in a panic situation is entirely another. Any boat trailer combo above 2000lbs needs trailer brakes to be truely safer.

Progressive is great to deal with. I filed a claim last year. I hit a rock at high speed in shallow water. Cracked the transom at the corners. They paid for everything. Used my vanishing deductible. So my cost was $0. Go thru a company called World Wide Marine Insurance in Michigan. They will set you up, with the company best for you. Ask for an “agreed replacement value” of the boat in a total loss. You and the insurance company agree on the replacement cost up front. Ask for gear replacement insurance. I carry $10,000. Take pictures of everything in your boat. EVERYTHING.

Epoxy with fiberglass tape over the hole to reinforce it would be my first try.

A boat is never an investment. Its value is only worth what the next sucker will pay you for it. We are all suckers when it comes to boat prices, face it.

I have reels with all 3; braid, Flouro, Mono. the simple answer as to why is, no matter what knot you use that leader will eventually break. Most likely with your PB spitting the lure back at you after it does.

I’ve converted to almost all St Croix BassX or Mojo Bass for everything. Good rods for the money IMO.

Flipping to me looks like your knitting a sweater on a loom, or your bow fishing with a limp string, or your directing a band while re-stringing a guitar. It’s different. I just pitch and try not to FLIP out in the wakers going by.

Our gators have lots of teeth, no legs, and are lure pirates. Muskie and Northern But they don’t get in the boat with you either.

My Triton leaked from bottom motor mount bolts when new. They had to remount the motor twice.

Lund would be my choice. Ranger is a very nice boat but $$$$

On that boat quite honestly it’s a huge waste of money. Ask me how I know?. It is not a high performance hull made for speed. Will you gain rpms, yes. Will you spend over $1000 or more to get there, yes. Will you lose rough water stability, yes. Will you look back after doing it and question your decision, most likely. Honestly if you want to go faster, have more stability, and get up in skinny water, buy a fiberglass boat. Again, ask me how I know.? I had my JP removed on a Triton TX18

Skunked = pictures of landscape ?

Dead trolling motor batteries is the ultimate day killer. The rest I can adapt too and salvage something of a fishing outing.

Just get back to being on the water more. We bought a house 2 years ago, moved out of the condo, and my fishing went from everyday every weekend to 4-6 times a year. Now that all the big projects are mostly done. I just want to get back to being on the water more. May have to plan more one day all day outings. But it’s still more.

Thanks limited supply at BAM out at Amazon Bought a copy. I still look real books. I’m getting old. ?

We have had some severe winters up here last few years mixed in with mild ones. Severe winters seem to cause more spring floaters. Thicker ice causes much slower spring water temp warm ups. The fish seem move up later in the year to get busy. BUT in harsh winter years when they do move up its lights out fishing for awhile. Then it seems to shut off overnight. Mild winters seem to have summers with much more consistency of fishing throughout summer. Just my experience

Tracker sells a lot of boats. Some will be headaches. Most are not and guys love them. The only things to consider is; They still use wooden decks. So it must be stored under cover(carport or garage). They tend to use lower end components like carpet. Not a slam it just keeps the costs down. Big box store service is not always the best if needed.

https://www.gator-guards.com/ I used red cedar boards. Stainless Steel Carriage bolts. Then mounted the Gator Guards on top. Costs a little more but to me worth every penny. You will have too back in a little farther at the ramp. And they don’t recommend power loading. Once you get to know your load point it’s no big deal.

Also I have a Triton TX18 with dual Power Pole Micro anchors. Much lighter than Talons or hydraulic anchors, will hold my boat up to 20 mph winds( who wants to be out in that anyways), cheaper than the others, and there are 2 different transom mount Power Pole brackets available. One for Tracker one for Ranger either will work. The only down side is don’t run with the pole in the anchor. You have to take them out and reinsert. Not that big of a deal. If you have a co-angler that’s their job. If not they aren’t in your way anyways.

Any trolling motor that has spot lock is worth the extra $$ you pay for it. Saved me many times while fighting fish, re rigging lures, waiting for the ramp to clear, using the coffee can, eating lunch, get a drink, checking out equipment, getting tackle or rods, etc, etc. You will NEVER regret it.

Received the gator skins in black with pebble finish. It is perfect for this job. 3m adhesive, about 1/16 inch thick. And trim able. $27 with shipping