Woody B

I think it would be cool to catch a state record. I'm not doing anything to pursue it beyond normal fishing but I'd like to catch a new NC state record spotted bass. I caught one last December that was 4 pounds 4 ounces. I didn't think anything about it....or even think it was big. I thought spots were smallmouth sized. (I suppose they are in some areas) the NC state record is ~6 1/2 pounds. I don't think any fame or money would come from a state record spot but it would be cool.

I don't have one. Never have. I don't know why I'm the kind of guy that would use one. I do carry a knife and flashlight every day. (as well as a gun and spare mags)

I'm lucky to live where the water doesn't freeze. The coldest air temp I've fished in was 22 degrees when I launched by boat. I caught my PB spotted bass (4 pounds, 4 ounces) within my first dozen casts. (state record is ~6 1/2 pounds) The coldest I've seen the water is 45 degrees. That was on a 1500 acre lake. The bigger lakes don't get quite that cold.

If the air temperature is below freezing let the engine down into the water for a few minutes before starting it. Let the above freezing temperature warm up the water pump area so there's no residual ice to damage the impeller. After starting make sure you idle it until it's peeing water. If it's really cold (20's.....southern cold) it will take a bit for the water circulation to start. Trim the engine down as soon as you pull it out of the lake to let the water drain from the foot. After it's drained you can trim it up for transport, but trim it down as soon as you get home. Some people start their engine for a few seconds after removing it from the water to blow out the leftover water(?). I'm not a fan or ever starting an engine out of the water (without a water supply) so I don't do this. I'm interested in others opinions on this. Be careful. I pulled a guy out of 46 degree water last Winter. He was fishing near me and fell in the lake deploying his trolling motor. He was a young fit guy but couldn't hardly move. He grabbed the side of the boat but couldn't get back in. His wife/girlfriend that was with him was panicking. I tired my boat to theirs went over and pulled him back into the boat. I think he was in shock. He could barely talk. His partner didn't know the way back to the landing so I had her follow me. We got him in his truck with the heat on. I loaded his boat for them. I suspect his PFD saved his life. I don't normally wear mine but I do when the water temp is below 60.

A BUNCH of people around here caught more, and bigger fish than I have this year but as far as I'm concerned I've had a great year. I quit fishing 30 years ago and started back last December. I've caught bass every week since I bought my boat except 1. I only went to one lake this year (one time) that has a small mouth population. I managed to catch 3 smallies, including one that was 4 pounds even. My biggest spotted bass was 4 pounds, 4 ounces, back in December (state record is ~ 6 1/2). My biggest largemouth so far this year is 7 pounds 13 ounces. Some bass fishermen frown at "accidently" catching other species. My highlight of the year so far is a flathead cat that was too heavy for my 50 pound scale. It was 45 1/2 inches long with a 34 inch girth. My digital scale read "err". I caught it on a bandit 200 using 12 pound test. My wife also caught a 30 pound channel cat on an otts garage crankbait, using 12 pound test. She also caught a 4 pound 15 ounce largemouth.

Assuming it's a fairly new truck, but still uses a "real" key to start it you'll need the key cut code to cut the key, and then it will have to be programmed. Some locksmiths can do this, some can't. All new car dealers for your brand "should" be able to.

Why???? The pros are pros because they're good. They're not pros because of some special magic box they have.

I may be disappointed some day but from my experience lithium batteries are magic. The 88 amp hour group 27 conventional deep cycle battery that came with my boat was really weak after 4 to 6 hours in the wind. (2022 Tracker Classic XL) I bought a 125 amp hour lithium (overkill, buy once cry once). I've fished multiple days without charging in the wind and never had it below 50%, or noticed any drop in performance. My battery is an Ionic, and cost a BUNCH. If I were you I'd get a 100 amp hour lithium from Amazon. It wouldn't be any more expensive than a group 27 deep cycle. You would need a charger that's lithium compatible though.

If the link it to the class action law suit I saw on Facebook it will end up with lawyers making millions, customer getting something like 38 cents each and Tackle Warehouse going out of business. For the other stuff. I use Paypal but hate them, and many other big companies due to their politics. I don't use credit for purchases. I have a bank account with a debit card that isn't linked to any of my other accounts. I keep a couple hundred dollars in it so if something get's hacked I'm not out of much. I'll make a deposit if I want to make a big purchase.

This should give you a start.

Just another reason to have a tin boat.

Bad co workers are.....bad, but bad managers are even worse.

I know nothing about your particular reel. It looks like a lot of grease to me. It also looks like it's got a clicker. I suspect something is wrong with the clicker.

I looked at used boats for months last year. Every one I looked at either had bad problems and/or was way overpriced. I fish by myself most of the time so I didn't need or want a huge boat. I ended up buying a new Tracker Classic XL. I had been emailing a dealer about a year old Ranger RT188. I went to look at it and they were closed. I called while sitting at the gate. Their answering machine said they were closing on Saturdays in December. I left there, drove to BPS and left with my boat. I like it. It's plenty big, and fast enough for me. I've added a spot lock trolling motor, active target, a 12 gallon gas tank, and extended the casting deck for more storage. I would have bought a Pro 170, with a bigger tank and more storage but Mrs. B said the black boat would look good behind my black truck. (Pro 170s are blue or red)

Caught 7 today, all between 14 and 16 inches. I've learned how to control the weather. When I took my raincoat off it would start pouring rain. When I'd put my raincoat on it would stop. I saw a family of Racoons on the bank but wasn't close enough for a picture. (at least with my limited photography skills) I started fishing at 7:30, I was soaked and leaving at 11. It was pouring when I was loading the boat. By the time I got home (~35 miles) the Sun was out. Pictures are a 16 incher. It had part of a crawdad (crawfish, creyfish) sticking out of it's gullet.

Exactly, but don't be overdressed on the drive to the water. I put all my warm clothes inside my truck for the ride, then dress at the landing. It doesn't get super cold here. The coldest I've launched by boat is 22 degrees air temp, and 45 degrees water temp.

I managed to get 7 in the boat today. 5 spots between 14 and 16 inches, one 16 inch Largemouth and a 10 inch largemouth. I lost a nice one right at the boat, maybe a 4 pounder. I could see it was barely hooked. I tried to rush it by boat flipping it and it came loose. I suspect it would have came loose anyway had I tried to tire it out and lip it. I only weighed 1 fish. The FAT 14 inch spot pictured weighed 2 pounds, 3 ounces. I don't think I've ever caught a 2 pounder that was only 14 inches long. They were all healthy. They're eating well.

@A-Jay is right. Unless trolling no one is going to be running the trolling motor constantly at the same speed. The math is simple but doesn't always relate to real world conditions.

FWIW I've never heard a "real" baitfish rattle. Why do they make crankbaits that rattle? (to catch fishermen?) I will reluctantly use a crankbait that rattles and occasionally catch bass on them. However I have switched from rattling crankbaits to silent ones and started catching bass. I've never switched from silent to ones that rattle and started catching bass. What I'm saying is I believe that sometimes the rattle don't hurt anything but they never help anything. I've injected rattling baits with glue to silence them.

The problem is you can't go back. Fishing pressure today is way worse than it was back then. If you can find a stocked farm pond today where no one has fished you can pretty much throw anything anywhere in the pond and catch bass.

I'm not @TheBassMan but that's what I've heard. I "believe" there's some kind of test they can give you to see if you need the vaccine or not.

I got my first shingles shot a year ago and my second 3 months later. I had slight chills the day after the 2nd one. My Mom had the shingles ~20 years ago and developed Chron's disease shortly after. Dr Earl (my hunting, shooting,, fishing musician, retired Doctor friend) said that he thinks shingles can mess with your immune system. He suspects having shingles played a factor in my Mom developing Chorn's. He didn't know my Mom. He moved here after she passed. I believe an important but often overlooked vaccine and boosters all fisherman should get is tetanus. You're supposed to get a booster every 10 years. If you don't remember when you had yours it's probably time.

100% casting. I fish 99% stained water. I can easily cast lures down to 1/8 ounce. Spinning equipment just doesn't feel "right" to me.

I sold my boat and quit fishing in 1992 due to professional and personal reasons. I bought a boat in December 2021 and have been fishing at least once a week since then.

It was nubbin (dink) day for me today. I caught 13. The biggest was 15 inches long. I'll post a picture of it, but the highlight pictures are launching my boat, and eating lunch while idling down the lake.