Susky River Rat

I spooled up some sunline sniper FC after always running braid. Great line but I ended up taking it off and going back to a braid to leader combo. I just prefer the feel of braid. I hate that disconnected feel I get from other line types.

My wife and I feel like we won’t be able to retire. Yes we are young but, the way things are going how will it be in 30 more years.

Well here is the the thing brand new boat prices are not going to come down. If I buy a boat next year that will be the cheapest that size/motor option will be ever again unless it’s used. I am not going to buy used.

I agree with this. If I want to go get something right now I will. I am financially stable enough to get whatever I want 100k and under and pay at least half in cash. I just don’t think a 70k boat or truck is worth me spending what I have for it. financing is not the end of the world. In fact you have to do it to have a good credit score. I don’t think the people in this thread are saying it’s negative to have an expensive boat and truck. It’s not shaming them. It’s more of a I wish I knew what they were doing so I could do it as well. For all we know they could have great jobs. Or maybe we saw that person out the three times a year he uses the boat. Maybe they come from money. Maybe they miss payments all the time. Maybe they live off ramen to afford it. We will in fact never know.

I would assume and I hate to but I’m sure most of these guys are in debt up to their eyeballs. To me that’s just not a fun way to live. Next year I do plan on getting a new boat in the 30-40k range. Bigger and better suited for my needs now. My truck I hope to get another 100k miles out of it haha.

I love when I’m fishing alone or need to fish out of the back of the boat to the wind and can control the boat from there. It rarely happens with where I fish but, it’s a great option to have. Keep the bow into the wind while fishing the bank the wind is blowing is a great convince.

3 Saharas (I feel best bang for buck) 2 sedonas 2 tranx 500 for musky I have one tranx 151 on the way as we speak. i am a Shimano guy for better or worse. They proved their worth to me with the tranx 500s for musky after I blew through and saw friends blow through other brands. I try not to be brand loyal but, they have been great to me. Now if I would ever start having issues with reels I would not hesitate to go to something else. I am very particular and clean/lube my reels 2-3 times a year.

I would never want to go back to fumbling around with a tiller handle. A remote is nice I have one but, I can’t tell You the last time I used it. Probably over a year ago. I don’t even get it out of my storage most the time. If I fished out of the back of my boat I would a little more. My opinion is a pedal with a spot lock is golden. A remote is nice to have but, I’d pick the spot lock over remote any day. You having a 14’ boat may find the remote more useful. I just prefer my hands on the rod. Once I’m up on my front casting deck I am there till I boogie to the next spot.

Exactly why I have a jet now. Don’t get me wrong the river where i fish is super pressured too but, lots of fish are caught too.

High end boats are so cool. The technology they are engineered with. They luxuries they have. I will never own one. I will probably never been in one. I am just not in a geographical area for them. I would have to move to get any real use out of one. Any fiberglass boat for that matter. That was one of my biggest shocks when I went to stonewall Jackson. 60-80k trucks pulling 60-80k boats plus electronics. I’d say it was about 75% of the boat/trucks there. I said to my wife those guys have more money wrapped up into electronics on their boats then I have total in my boat as a whole. If you got it spend it.

I wish there was a quiet place around here. Unless it’s very cold and even then you’ll see a few others out. It’s darn near impossible. At night the flathead guys or bow fishermen are out. Unless you have something private you are going to get into people. I am sure if we did an angler per acre comparison on any given day, we probably have some of the most pressured water in the USA. at least right on par with other big name bodies of water.

Thank you for the report!

Oh I know they tried band aiding the dam a few times before but this time they have done it correctly I believe it’s been full close to ten years now. I loved showing up being the only one there setting the world on fire. Exactly my point. Where we fish is some of the most pressured water in the nation I would argue. There is not a lot of it but, people here love to fish. I mean the state as a whole if you take away raystown a big body of water for us in pa is 1500 acres. Beltzville I think is right around a 1000 blue marsh is 1200 nockamixon is 1500 I think. Marburg is 1200ish. Marsh creek is 500 some then after that everything is around 100 or less with the 200 acre one thrown in. Then all of them are man made ditches with little to no structure or cover. Leaser is one of the better ones because of all the standing timber.

I have never bass fished there. Only musky fished it. I have showed up 5am and there was not a place to park a boat trailer. There is tons of people there in general but, fishing can be crowded as well. If you think leaser was good last year you should have fished it 4-5 years ago. It was off the hook. No one fished it and the fish ate anything. I tend to shy away from there now. I wouldn’t say easier just more predictable. The fish go certain places and are forced to eat more often because of living in current. I’ve had plenty of skunks on the susky in winter too. I do think once the water starts doing it’s warm up it becomes much easier earlier in the season than a lake.

Exhaust fumes, gasoline, garlic, urine, mint which for the longest time was very hard to brush my teeth. I’ve also noticed among those things like mint and garlic for example just have like an ammonia smell to me. I can’t really distinguish certain smells apart anymore I have to ask my wife. There is also certain things I really do not smell at all. It’s frustrating at times but, I’ve just come to accept it.

As far as my actually having it I felt worse. The headaches were the worst part for me. Now the fact after over a year smells are still different to me suck.

Dolce and Gabbana light blue. Sadly after getting covid it has never smelled the same to me since. I still wear it though.

You know I tend to laugh on here a little bit when I read about people talking about fishing pressure. Sure a lake like marsh creek, leaser etc isn’t big at all. I’m sure if you would take it angler per acre on any given weekend it well exceeds a place like Champlain In terms of pressure.

You can always take the head off and trim the shaft down a few inches. It is not the end of the world to do that. I know ott Defoe did that to his river jet boat as well. I run mine up as high as I can because of the rocks I bounce it off of.

I don’t know how that could be a good format. I am sure many arguments have come about.

It’s all trial and error. everyone catches the fish there because the most people fish there. Not saying it’s not a good area just don’t believe the hype and only fish there. I don’t know how big the lake is but if it’s your home body learn every nook and cranny. Sometimes though knowing too much can get you stuck. Always look fresh.

Gotcha I’m like 35 minutes to a hour from the river depending where I go on the susky. I don’t walleye fish either just catch them accidentally.

That’s all part of putting the puzzle pieces together! Sounds like you’re figuring out your lake.

The best I can say if you want something I’d stand your ground with them. You can always get a boat somewhere else.

Yes but they weren’t to keen on it. I argued with them a little bit. Their excuse was well you can pay it off anytime. I said that’s not really the point I want lower payments for a shorter time which is why I wanted to put x amount down. So I got stuck with only putting their amount they wanted down but shorted the loan from 10 years to 3.