Muddpuppy

I have heard that the scent of the domestic and native fish is also different.

Glenn hit the wrong button & It got deleated. But will repost it. Check in "everything else" for the story.

I wet vac mine then wipe it out with a little bleach and water. Then flush it well.

Sorry didn't see you hideing out way down here. ;D That is how mine is mounted. Then tie wrap the cable onto the TM shaft. Allow some a little excess to go around the mount and to allow for adjustment and stowing if you have a bow mount. I split some aquarium tubeing and placed it around the cable any where there was a chance it might pinch. Then taped it up every few inches. That helped to stiffen it and allows it to move out of the way. It also helps if it would hang on brush. If you have a power drive I guess you still need help, other than I can give.

I saw that site a while back, and I thought the floatation promo was a neat clip. It's not often that the space shuttle falls from the sky and riddles your boat with fist size holes, but I look up anymore when I hear a roar in the sky. There are alot of factors when chooseing a boat and if saftey is a big issue, I think it was a good way to demenstate some of it. I like what I have actually seen along side of them on the water, but if I hadn't the videos would help to attact my attention. I'm not looking for a new one boat right now, but if I was getting ready to fork out, that much green, on a new one. I imagine my nose print, would be all over their show room window, and the videos would have helped in getting me to that point. I loved the one about the pain of owning/repairing a motor that somebody posted earier.

Spinning reels do have their place. I know I have been trying to use them more than I did. That's how I found out how bad I have gotten. Of course most of my "good" spinning tackle is all light. So I know it is time to upgrade the larger ones.

Years ago I used spinning reels alot and controlled the line with my index finger. Useing your left hand may be easier like Gobbledog said. I have gotten where my casting stinks anymore with spinning reel. But I rarely use them, and I think most of it is just not used to the rods.

I have a Cherokee and have thought about adding about 18" on the deck for storage. It doesn't look like a major project. I was just going to build a frame, deck and install a lid or storage box from BPS or Cabela's and mount in it.

Any more most quality automatic chargers will work as a maintainer. They will start out with like 10amps. then drop gradually after the battery is like 30% charged to about .3amps or so. This keeps the battery from overchargeing. Over chargeing can destroy a battery it can burn the plates and cause it to boil over and limiting it's life. The maintainer charges just enough to keep the battery at it's max. charge for a extended period of time and yet not causeing damage. Others turn on and off at its peak. There are some maintainers that are suposed to keep lead sulfate from building up on the plates and reduceing it charge capacity. There are also solar maintainers. You can do a search on battery maintainers on your browser and find a lot of more specific information. I have had good service just useing a good quality 10amp. automatic charger. I just disconect it after the battery shows about 12.5 volts on a meter. I may put it on for an hour or so before I go fishing if it has sat for any time. I think Minn Kota has several good chargers and they are reasonably priced. One of these sells for around $56.00 at Wal-Mart and go up from there. It charges one battery at a time (I think) The only battery that you will usually severely drain in a day is for the trolling motor. I think they have some AC onboards starting around $35.oo. These should more than meet your needs if you fish occassionally, and don't have to have a full charge by morning on several batteries. Most service centers that sell batteries and chargers can give you better details on their products. You can always buy a high tech charger as the need arises, I don't think you can own too many chargers. I just found this site it looks like it has some good info on maintainers http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter/050209.htm also try like minn kota.

I priced an on board maintainer for 3 batteries.(charges off the motor, on the water) a little while back and it was I think 400.00 to 500.00. It wasn't cheap any way. I figured I could live without it for right now. I don't run my motor long enough to do much good any way. You can probably find one cheaper. I have a small Honda Generator that puts out up to 10amps. DC or I can plug in a regular AC charger.

Lowrance has some down loadable simulators on their web site for some of their models. They let you see what they are like to use. It is kinda neat to play with and compare different types. Most model of finders should show the bottom conditions, of course for the better the clarity the higher the price.

I would definatly carry a few small jigs not so much to catch bass, but for catching breakfast, lunch or supper. It just doesn't get better than cooking out like that.

I did notice that the minnows that I had liveing in a tank , outside this winter always came to the surface durring a lite rain. And they were kept fed and aerated. What that has to do with anything meaningful I don't really know. I do think that I do get a few more strikes when it starts to rain. It may just be that the sky darkens more.

N.East Texas

Do they restock bait fish in it occassionaly? The reason I ask is I have been told on one of the lakes around here they came in and dredged out the bottom when it was built. The original lake looks like a huge bowl on sonar. After several years the fish began to diminish in numbers. The reason being, I was told was because of decreasing numbers of prey fish. Finally they had to build fish attractors and reefs. I think when the level was raised that it took in some added structure. Not to mention it is covered now with boat houses. I don't know this for sure, it was before my time. There are some nice fish in it now. Just Curious.

A true shopper if there ever was one.

Did you tell them to tune your new rod to catch fish? Also if you wanted to switch hobbies now, you have 2 to replace....fishing and shopping. ;D

Take the rod back where you got it sounds like a defect. If they won't take it back check with phlueger. I was watching bass slowly swim by last week. Nice sized ones 3 and 4lbs., wouldn't respond to any thing we threw. They didn't spook, stop or pay any attention at all. It was kinda like throwing a cat a frizzbee.

May be you are just trying to put too many new methods together too fast. Keep fishing as your activity and use catching as a added bonus. But everybody has those kinds of days. I have two friends that went today and they both got skunked. Didn't even see any one catch anything. It happened to me last week. :'(

Follow the shore line some night with a spot light in a small boat, most of those glowing little eyes on the bottom are fish.

It's really worse than you think ..... ;D Just kidding of course! Check these out also http://bassresource.com/cgi-bin/bass_fish/YaBB.pl?board=gen_bass;action=display;num=1112138293;start=0#0 usually fish

Check out MyTopo.com. You can preview the map before you order, it takes a few minutes though.

Raul - I'll pick you up in Dallas! ;D

Academy is about 30 mi. from here. It is a sporting goods retailer. There are Bass Pro Shops loacated in Sheveport La. and Dallas Tx. and are about 120 mi. away.

I know somebody that has ether a 12 or 14 ft. flat bottom w/ old motor and trailer. They also have a 16' kingfisher for sale. Both have set up now for a few yrs. Don't remember what they were asking or if they even still have them. But they are about 400 mi. N. of Austin. If we get back there this weekend I will try to remember to check.