Functional

back in 2013 my father and I bought a Tracker 175 txw pro team. Been an excellent boat but some storage/cleaning practices my dad did while I lived in an apartment has it needing a little refreshing. Carpet needs to either be replaced or glued back down in some areas, seat stitching broke because he decided to use a bleach solution to clean the seats (fabric still perfectly fine) and the amount ive been fishing lately I'd really like to upgrade console and bow electronics and new TM with at least spot lock. Not a fan of how the storage compartments dont stay dry but I think I can minimize that with a little sealing work. Other than that I dont have any complaints about the boat. Talking with the wife and my father about everything I wanted to do they both suggested I take advantage of the current market, sell it now, use my kayak this year and buy a new or newer boat with more of what I want next season. Wife just wants something we can occasionally beach on a sandy bottom island on one of the lakes we go to often. So here we are. Although used deals may sway some of these choice I wanted to have a clear idea of what I wanted and what it would cost if I had to or wanted to go new. Glass: Triton 179 TRX : 115hp upgrade, bow/consol electronics and TM will run about $38K Nitro Z18 Pro: 175hp upgrade will run about $39K Ranger Z175: will run about $38K Aluminum: Xpress H18: Website its frustraing, dont know their motor options or what their electronics cost but $26K +5k in electronics/TM if needed. I love they use seadeck instead of carpet or hard rawhide. Vexus AVX189: 115hp motor, garmin electronics/TM will run me about $35K Being that all 3 glass boats are owned by the same company, is there truely any difference in the build quality/service? Can the hull take a few beachings a year? Of the two aluminum I'm leaning xpress for the rod locker and seadeck locations, any reason the Vexus would be a better choice due to its hull? Vexus seems like the compartment seals would be far better than any other aluminum but I'm not sure. Overall I wont be on any lakes that would classify as rough waters but its not to say I wouldnt take a fishing trip to one of them for a long weekend once a year or every other year. I wouldnt want to chose based on that once a year trip though. So thoughts? Suggestions....recommendations? Overall I think im leaning towards the H18.

I wasn't supposed to be done fishing but these spots tore all my worms and jig trailers to hell. Had a tiny travel box to fish from shore at my inlaws on gaston. Only took 30 min or so for these 3. Don't mind the blood... he was a faker. Idk how big spots are supposed to get but their aggressiveness is incredible. Every one I caught had 2 chasing it all the way to shore trying to rip the worm/jig out of its mouth.

Never caught spots until my inlaws bought in lake gaston NC. Just caught 3 today from shore and there were always 2 other spots of equal size or larger attacking the fish I was reeling in trying to eat the worm/jig out of its mouth. Followed all the way up to shore. Was incredible to see.

Had to go out with the inlaws on their new boat and either find a cove to anchor in or a less busy island. We did both, I brought one rod just to occupy some time if I got the chance. Started fishing off a small edge of the island away from everyone, anyone else fishing was on the complete opposite side. I caught 2 bass and my nephews were excited to see them. Well...10 minutes after my second *** people with bobbers crowded both sides of me to the point I nearly couldnt case without smacking someone. Had their 2 pit bulls off leash buggin me and the grill we were trying to cook on. Against my better judgement I kept my mouth shut and got back on the boat. Not even 30 seconds went by and a 4th took the exact spot I was standing. I just hate most people. You dont have to be big into fishing to know not to stand 5 feet away from someone, or to keep your dogs contained or even collect them when you see them bugging other people instead of looking the other way. Common courtesy, respect and sense has gone out the window in peoples upbringing. I dread every summer holiday and any time I have to be around any large group of people.

"Gone Fishin" is a boarderline levin. Family movie too.

Great to read these responses. I'll typically change lure before color as well but a recent experience has me wondering and sparked the thread. I was throwing a weightless paddle tail fluke in green pumpkin with black flake and had zero reaction. For the hell of it I threw on a green pumpkin with red flake and fished the same stretch of drop-off/shore and caught 3 and lost 1. Never would have thought such a small change would net that big a difference. Sounds like that may have been chance but again that's why I started this thread. One of the few times I've seen most everyone have the same approach haha.

Sounds good. Gives me a bit more confidence. I can match the colors to water clarity and try to stay deeper with bright clear skies etc. The short strike is something I hadn't thought to be a trigger to try a new color. Always assumed it was retrieval speed or just a poor strike. Didn't mean experimenting was a waste of time but if there were some signals I didn't know to look for it could help cut the process time down.

Might be showing some inexperience here but are there any triggers that would make you change the color of your lure vs changing the type of lure all together? There has been instances where a color change has gotten me fish immediately and others where I'd change from say a shaky head to a jig and gotten better bites. My problem is I never know which to start off with and not "waste time". For instance in my area white, black/blue, green pumpkin and purple could all be productive...if I don't get bit on a shaky head in say green pumpkin is there something that should trigger me to swap colors or just tie on something else? I'm assuming getting better at reading water/weather and knowing what to throw will be the answer but figured I'd ask.

For what its worth they have been putting some money into advertising in Precision Rifle shooting. They have been a sponser for a few matches and a guy I shoot with over here is sponsored by them. Sponsorship doesnt pay or anything but he gets a lot of free stuff and gear to wear for advertising. Not sure if thats a good sign they have the money to throw to that or bad and they are trying to drum up more business. Cant imagine the latter with how long they have been around but you never know.

I switched to this knot after looking for an alternative to the Palomar on bigger baits. It's become my go to for everything and my Improved Albright will break before this when using leaders. Always preferred 2 loop knots around the bait eye vs one.

so I'm a mild idiot...did not realize they still made the Echomap UHD models because I cant search hard enough... Helix 7 Mega Network vs Garmin 73SV UHD Echomap? LakeVu has the lakes I fish as well.

they are weird...like mentioned they could be a hell of a fun fight or they could feel like just pulling in a huge clump of weeds. I've never had inbetween, always one of the extremes.

I can only imagine a kayaker looking like a tuber getting pulled by a boat if they hooked into that beast.

yes, that's where I'm at. Just trying to get some feedback from actual users who have used both on the water. The store simulations I feel give a broad idea of what it will be like but not a representation of actual use.

Basically flip flopping between these two. Garmin(Striker Vivid 9sv) is cheaper but Helix (HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N) has maps of some of the lakes I fish and most potential growth if I ever get a new trolling motor. Just trying to decide whats important and realistic for all those features. Lowrance menu navigation is enough for me to discount them....its seriously horrible. I would like to know from anyone who has used both how the detail is between them? If the Helix is going to be easier to make out on its optimum settings over the Garmin then that alone will make my choice. While the helix is at the top of my budget and I'd prefer Garmin price I would have zero problem shelling it out if the output is better. I've played with both in the store and it seems the Helix is a bit crisper and easier to make out after playing with the settings on both but I have no real world experience and know no one with either to see for myself.

Its all in the approach for me. Its just common courtesy to at least acknowledge and ask if you are going to be fishing close to someone else. Same goes for advice and general areas to fish for newer people or even people who just want to do better, I'll spill everything that has worked or didnt work if they go about it the right way. Its something I feel lacks quite a bit though with people of all ages. For example this past weekend I was fishing in my kayak and not once...not twice...but 3 times a guy motored within 10 feet of my kayak passing me to stop no more than 20 yards in front in the direction I was working the shore. Same guy, not so much as even a glance at me...2nd time I rowed over his lines, 3rd time he got the sailors treatment. No excuse for it.

I fished for years with nothing but a grape purple worm rigged either as a shaky head or t-rig, weightless paddle tail zoom fluke and from sun down to sun up a big 2 piece black jitterbug. It was a rare day to get skunked using just those 3 and are still with me at all times. I cant tell you how many of those 2 piece black jitterbugs I have stocked up in fear they will be discontinued.

Hello all! Getting back into fishing more heavily recently. Used to go all the time when I was a kid with my father but later teen/20s that kind of faded and really went once a year at best. Recently moved just a little east of Raleigh and started getting back into it. Been hitting kayak fishing a lot and also got a hold of mine and my fathers Basstracker 175TXW. All I can say is its a huge swap for me coming from mid to northern NY lakes to these southern bodies of water. Been quite the adjustment and still working at it! Lurked here for a while, figured it was time to join!

I do the same as this and more often than not I keep the fish on. As mentioned earlier unless you have a good hook into a stiffer part of them its still a crap shoot but my success has been higher as mentioned be Redux. I also bring my rod up high if I start to feel the line going towards the surface. I feel like it helps keep a similar angle as if they were deeper with the rod lower.