Zippo Guy

Just bought a 2023 Sun Tracker Bass Buggy. Decided to take chance on the cover they were offering. Best fit and quality I've seen compared to lots of boat covers on previous boats. I found tarps and bunggy cords from Walmart always seemed better than fitted covers. I've only had to deal with rain and sun. Not sure the tarp would work with snow.

When my daughters were 7 and 10 we were water skiing with the 7 year old trying her best on new skies. A bass boat with two guys came roaring up behind us and obviously tried to throw a wake to knock her down, which they did. They then went off to do the same to another skier. After picking up our daughter I wanted to chase them, but my wife calmed me down. We watched them go around the the right channel in front of us and we followed at a distance as that was were our favorite beach was. As we made our turn there was a large tackle box floating in the water. We picked it up and it was full of tackle, most still new in the wrappers. Since they were the only ones that could have dropped it before it sunk, we knew it was theirs. No, we did not try to find them to return it.

These two colors on a Bass Union weedless darterhead rigged TR style have been hugely successful for my grandson and I this past month. 40-50 spotted Bass on each trip.

I sent him 3 old Mitchell reels that I hadn't used in 40 years. Came back good as new and returned quickly. I highly recommend him.

I took my grandson out on Lake Oroville with guide Joe Orozco, Bass Union. Today I tipped him $50.00, 10% for a half day trip for two. We did catch a bunch of nice bass and Joe's a great teacher. This was our second trip with him. Curious what others tip.

Long story short, live next to a large resevoir in Northern California. Have a 70 foot houseboat and a small runabout and started bass fishing last summer. With daughter and her family there are seven of us, four that love to fish. We are now in the market for a 20 foot pontoon boat so we have room to go out together and my wife said set it up for fishing. So far we have been using neds, darter heads, and light spinners and have been very successful. We are looking at new boats because I'm not mechanically inclined and I'm old and may be going out alone. Looking at Sun Tracker, Lowe, and Crest because there are dealers in Sacramento area. We can "build one" and I know we want a trolling motor, fishfinder, rod holders, livewell, and fishing chairs. These seem to come with the fishing boat package. What else do I need and what should I be looking at when shopping? Thanks in advance.

We have the onboard charger on our houseboat connected to our solar system so we don't have to run cords anywhere and it works great. We went with the small solar for the runabout so we didn't have to run cords from the boat to a power. The closest power is 2 slips away and running long cords is frowned upon.

I'm new and ignorant about boats and bass fishing, but trying to learn. I have a small runabout that we keep in a slip. I picked up a small solar trickle battery charger. I've had it about 2 weeks and so far no issues. About $25.00 on Amazon. If it continues to keep the battery charged and nobody steals it, we are happy. Just a thought.

I always read the threads about Castaic even though I live in Northern California on Lake Oroville. I've only started bass fishing last year and found what you say about Castaic works here. From driving by Castaic on trips down south and by your pictures they seem very similar with steep banks and lots of dirt. Nothing pretty about our lakes. Oroville was down to 628 before those storms blew through. We are currentlyat 746 going to 900 when full. Being new I took my grandson out with a local guide to see how we fish this lake. We started with TRDs and ned rigs on on a steep bank and caught a bunch. When the wind picked up we switched to spinners and kept catching smallmouths. Since I only have spinning reels, we have continued using light neds, drop shots, some weightless worms and some Texas rigged TRDs. We have a houseboat we use as our base and take our runabout out chasing bass. We have the same issues of crap in the water from fires and with the water rising it is picking up more each day. They usually go out and drag the crap into coves and log it off. Keep up the great information as it is helping me. Really looking forward to fishing this spring.

I have worn prescription glasses for the last 40 years. I have always had an extra pair of dark glasses with polarized lens made at the same time for outside activities. When I finally needed progressive lens I had them put in both pair of glasses. You can have your dark glasses put in any frame, depends on your insurance and how much you want to spend out of pocket. I don't know of any downside not to get them. If you have worn polarized glasses before you know the pluses and minuses. There is no difference with progressive lens.

I put a Diawa Exceler on my Fury. I really like the feel and balance of this combo.

I just looked and found the receipt and a large spool in the original box. The receipt says I bought in in July 1972 in Anchorage, AK. Great memories from our 3 years there. The Alaskan Pipeline finally drove the cost of living way beyond what we could afford.

Quick story. We live half a mile from the launch ramp at Lake Oroville in Northern California. After 40 years here went out with a guide and got hooked on bass fishing last May. We used drop shots, darter heads and light spinners. We have a runabout and a houseboat on the lake so we spent the rest of the summer and last fall using these methods and neds. Caught a bunch of fish until the lake dried up and we couldn't launch our boat. I've bought a couple of Dobyns 702s and other light rods and spinning reels for our family to use. Don't want to get into baitcasters yet. We like this finesse type fishing. Now to my question and your advise. 50 years ago we lived in Alaska and did a lot of salmon fishing on the Kenai Peninsula. I found 3 old Michell reels that we used while living there. Put line on one for my grandson because he wanted to catch a catfish when we went over to Clear Lake at Thanksgiving. He did bring in a nice 14 pound catfish while there. Got me thinking about sending these three to Delaware Valley Tackle for repair/cleaning and using them as backups. One is a 308, one is a 300A, and the third is a 300. All say Made in France. Are they worth the effort? What would they be good for? They seem heavy compared to my new Diawa Regals. I have a couple of old Uglysticks I'd put them on to start with. Any comments would be appreciated.

I just got the Dobyns Fury ML for myself and the Diawa Procyon MH for my grandson. So far we are both happy with our selections. Gives us two methods of fishing to see what is working at the same time.

Lake Oroville is up to 708 feet, from a low of 628 feet in October. Full is 900 feet so it has a way to go. Lots of snow in the Sierras so we are looking forward to getting the lake up quite a bit higher.

Anyone know for sure when the new 365 day license becomes available? I've asked at bait shops and last week asked our local game warden. No one seems to know. Some didn't even know Newsome signed it into law. I've always bought mine at Christmas time but this past year had a granddaughter turn 16 mid year. Didn't buy her one, she helped out while we fished. Now she has one ready to go and I've promised to take her out with our local guide and friend as soon as he deems it ready to catch lots of fish.

Sahara Fools Gold Knight's Tail

Don't let money be your driving force. I wanted to teach at the elementary level. I had completed my Masters Degree in Administration during my first year of teaching. I was only making $9200 a year as a teacher and the GI bill helped make ends meet with a wife a new daughter. I was given the job as Principal my third year on the job at a small school. I liked the money but soon realized I really was experienced in the profession to really be as successful as I needed to be. I changed school districts and went back to teaching. That initial experience as an administrator told me I liked it and wanted it, but I was lacking maturity and skills. I started asking lots of questions and found successful administrators that were willing to teach and mentor me. I eventually took a job as a Principal and retired as the Superintendent. What I am suggesting is that you need to find something you like, learn the basics, find a mentor and move up as far as you can without moving beyond your abilities. Don't let money take you to a level were you will fail or be unhappy. The right job in the right field will be your happy place. Trust me, I've seen way too many teachers that thought teaching children coupled with June, July and August was where they wanted to be. It is a tough career choice and too many should not be doing it for a living.

I've used this for the first time last week. We caught a number of small largemouth using it.

I'm new to all of this and have one of the Edge Plano 3600 boxes. I had the same irritating problem so I bought the little Plano boxes that are designed for this. Got them for $3.99 for 3 of them. Bought 3 packages, 9 of these little boxes, and put them in last night. Fit great, clear tops so you can see what is in them. I put my Ned jigs, swivels, and some weights in them. Problem solved, nice and neat and inexpensive to boot.

I recently found an old Mitchell 300 reel while cleaning out the garage. I'm sure I bought it 50 years ago when we lived in Anchorage, AK. I cleaned the outside and put new line on it. My grandson caught and landed a 14 pound catfish yesterday with it. I'm planning on sending it off to DVT to get a good cleaning and lubed to used as a catfish/backup reel. I think in my case it is best to leave it to the pros.

I'm still new to all of this. Just bought my grandson the Diawa Regal and I bought the Diawa Exceler for myself. So far we are both very happy with these reels.

The concrete launch ramp is now open at the Bidwell Marina on Lake Oroville and the fish are biting. The lake is now at 666 feet, up from a low of 628 feet two weeks ago.

I only started fishing for bass last May so I'm learning a lot here. Thanks for all the information.?

Took my granddaughter fishing yesterday along the boat launch area. She caught a couple of small bass. Two guys in kayaks came in, one had caught 30 and the other guy caught 28. Our lake has come up over 30 feet since last weekends storm. They said the bass were hungry and chasing whatever they threw, drop shots, neds, spinners, etc. We haven't been able to launch any boats for over two months because of the draught so very few fishermen have been on the lake. The water is very muddy and full of debris. Five more feet of water and we can get boats launched.