White77

I was on call at my very first job when I was 14. I was supposed to call in at a certain time to see if they needed me. I called in on time, they needed me, but I was five hours away with my buddy who was visiting his girlfriend, who happened to have a cute little sister. I got fired. ;D

Of all the mods/purchases I have made for this boat, that Bigfoot switch was the very best one.

I think you could have two people stand on the side of this boat and it wouldn't tipover. You could try offsetting them, but if it were me, I wouldn't worry about it, unless it makes things too uncomfortable.

I have been wanting to carpet the piece of wood I use for my floor board so today I did it. However I changed it up a bit. 99% of the time I fish alone, that long piece of plywood is kinda heavy. So I cut it down so it is just big enough for me to stand on when I choose to be standing. The Home Depot couldn't sell me a small piece of carpet so I had to by a 12x3 piece. It actually ended up being almost 4 feet wide. Anyway I cut the piece I needed so it would wrap under to the bottom. Then I used the rest of the carpet, cut into squares the size of the board, for "cushion". So I have 7 layers of carpet total on the top side. I used a combination of staples and screws to secure it. I like it, it is nice and spongy and soft, very comfortable. I also mounted my Bigfoot switch down permanetly. Also the whole thing is not fastened to the boat, so I can slide it depending on where in the boat I am sitting. Here is the picture. Also I ran all cables under the floor deck and fastened them down with some rubber tape I get from the roofers at work, once the sun gets to it, it is stuck down good. I also started rawing up a design for a trailer I plan to build this winter when things slow down at work.

Or just copy and paste the last link available from your photobucket page. Just put your cursor over the pic and it should drop down a list of links, get the last one. Nice fish by the way.

I voted for Abu. They have been good to me. I have recently replaced my rods with Lamiglas Excel's....Made in USA...nuff said. If ardent ever comes out with lefty models I may just make that switch as well.

I had forgotten about this modification as it wasn't mounted at the time I took the other pictures. I made this extension handle at work. A few pieces of flat plate metal and a piece of 1" electrical conduit. I hammered on those plates like an old blacksmith until I got them shaped to fit the motor, welded everything up and used 3/8 bolts to mount it. Sprayed it all down with galvanized spray paint, still rusted a bit though. I also lined the plates with some rubber tape to keep from scratching motor up really bad. This handle sits right at my waist when I am standing. So with this and the Bigfoot switch I can fish along without having to bend over to operate motor or steer.

I have never used steel, but I am more than happy to pay the extra $$$ for tungston. I really like the feel from them, more sensitivity in my opinion. They are pricey though.

This has got to be one of my favorite Jim Halpert: Does that include 'that's what she said'? Michael Scott: Mmhh, yes. Jim Halpert: Wow that is really hard. You really think you can go all day long? Well, you always left me satisfied and smiling. Michael Scott: Mmmm... THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

If it were me, I would save a few more bucks and get the Lamiglas Excel. Great warranty, great rod, 100% made in the USA. I have replaced all of my rods in the last month or so with this series, from flippin stick down to a ML. I haven't received the ML yet but the 7' Med got a workout this morning. It is wicked sensitive and very light. Free shipping at *** too. However if you can't swing the extra $30 sounds like the Clarus is the way to go.

i will admit on that day, being the first time experiencing bigger waves with it, I was a touch nervous at first. After seeing how it handled, my nerves relaxed. I don't sweat it now when I see them big rollers coming after a bass boat or something passes by. The problem isn't how the boat handles the waves, on windy days, it is keeping the boat where I want it to fish that is a problem.

They are very very stable. I am about 200lbs and I can stand and fish no problems. I fish mine on Lake Waco, which is about 8,000 acres. I would not recommend doing a lake this size in high winds though. I got caught out in about 25mph winds once. I had about 4 inches of water in the floor of the boat by the time I got to the ramp. I was never afraid that the boat was going to capsize or anything. It handled the bigger waves just fine, but being square the waves just crashed against it and splashed into the boat. I never go out if it is that windy before I launch though. If it is more than 15mph I stay home, or fish and area of the lake where I will be protected from the wind. Recently I was considering upgrading to a used, older bass boat, but then I thought, scrw that, I catch plenty from "The Bass Tub" and it dosen't use gas, oil or require and kind of real maintenance. Even if someday I do get a bigger boat, I will keep the Pelican too!

I own four of them, it is all I use. I run mine with just one brake on but you might want to try two until you get the hang of it. Once you do you can set it to one brake and cast a country mile. They are awesome reels in my opinion. They cast light stuff really well also. Good luck! Cliff

Here is what I have and what I use them for. 7'11" Hvy-flippin/pitchin/frogs and bigger swimbaits if I was to ever throw one 7'3" Med-Weightless senkos,flukes, etc etc, small swimbaits like Lake Fork Live Magic Shad, c-rigs, wacky rigs 7' Med- same as the 7'3" plus T-rigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits 7' Med Lt-cranks, jerkbaits, topwaters with trebels Basically two are dedicated to a couple things the other two are multi use. I usually rig each up the night before and hopefully I don't have to retie much.

Cielo for 106 right? Nope, Lamiglas Excel XL703C. Was $109.99, sale dropped it down to $93 or so. This is actually my 4th and final Excel rod, I replaced all my rigs with this series. Since they were having the sale I got a few other baits to go with it. ;D I am pretty well set now, done shopping for a bit, gonna tr to actually catch some fish with all this new stuff.

I just got a new rod, two packs of worms, a crank, a jig, and flick it heads. Saved almost $20 and two of the items were Jackall so I guess they didn't discount them cuz I didn't call. My total was only $5 more than the normal price of the rod.

All I do is breakdown and clean/lube my reels each winter. Maybe once or twice a year I will clean rod blanks and guides.

Here is my current line up. Lamiglas Excel 7116C/Abu Garcia Revo S-L/Rage Craw Lamiglas Excel 734C/Abu Garcia Revo S-L/Zoom Fluke Lamiglas Excel 704C/Abu Garcia Revo S-L/Stanley Spinnerbait w/ Custom Skirt Sorry for crappy cell phone pics, it is all I got right now. Cliff

I can't speak for anything other than the Black Max. I have had one for over a year now and it is a great reel for the price in my opinion. I have used and abused that thing and it works perfectly. Casts just as far as my Revo's with the heavier baits. I actually just retired it recently as I was able to get another Revo.

It has paid off for me pretty good. This past weekend I caught a 5lber. I was working over some timber at the mouth of a very very small little cove. I actually flipped to a stick about 3-4 times then I flipped to another one few times then came back to the first on and thats when I got bit. I find that sometimes I really have to work over a small area to get the bite. The mouth of this little cove I am referring to was maybe 20 feet from side to side and the cove went back in about 30 feet or so. I worked over that 20 foot opening for like 20-30 minutes. I wouldn't say I slow down on each individual flip or pitch, I just slow down and fish and area more thoroughly. Cliff

Slowing down is something I have really been working at this year. One thing I do to slow down is while I am flippin and pitchin, which I do alot of, I will flip to the same target multiple times. I used to just flip to one spot, no fish, flip to next. Now I will flip right to the same stump or stick 4, 5, 6 times.

Nice fish man! The one in my avatar is my PB. Never even put on a scale as I didn't have one. I just tell everyone it was 9lbs. ;D But honestly, I haven't caught enough bigger fish to make a good estimate. I just thought 9lbs sounded good.

I use all Revo S's. Each has only one brake on. If I am pitching and feel I need more distance I will turn them all off. Occasionally if I am forced to be fishing into the wind, I will turn two brakes on. I set the spool tension so there is no side to side wobble.

Well I finally got to have some time on the water with this stick this morning. I flipped a t-rigged Rage Craw and only caught one fish, but it was a 5lber(see outing section for pics). She hit hard and I layed into the fish with everything I had. Let me say, that fish didn't stand a chance. I buried the hook in deep and even when she surged under the boat she didn't make it far before I had her up and lipped by my buddy. I am getting much better at flippin, it is way easier with this rod than my old 6'6" Hvy. It pitches very nice too. My accuracy has improved as well as getting a soft entry. I really enjoyed fishing with this rod. I have also purchased the 734C which I haven't used too much yet and I have the 704C on the way from TW. I will buy one more rod for cranks and my line up will be complete. Thanks Cliff

Slow Down!!