Susky River Rat

I was talking to a guy on my river who had one. He loves it but said the issue is if he gets too shallow with all the rocks the motor just bounces and he can’t go forward. Gravel, Soft bottom and weeds he is king. Rock ledges is where he has the issue and he thinks a jet would be better. He had something along the lines of a mud buddy. Not sure if that was the exact brand.

I’m too lazy for that lol.

Just a word of advice too. Some states will require you to register it and title it once putting a trolling motor on it. They consider it a powered vessel then. In PA when I added a trolling motor to my Coleman scanoe I needed to do that as well. Then the laws of nav lights come into play as well. There is nothing cheap, easy, or free in the fishing/boating world

that’s about the only way I’d get a weight like theirs for the tournament.

I know people have great success with chatterbaits on the susky. It doesn’t get much more rocky than that. I am used to being snagged. Sometimes I go hours without one some times it’s five casts in a row. At least if you have a boat you can generally get above it and pop it out. If you want to play in the rocks you’re gonna snag there is no magic jig head or bait.

I have not been around many.

I think there will be more weight than an outboard but I could be wrong. This may also affect the console. I do agree that having the batteries up front would be great. The only thing there may get to be to much weight forward and you couldn’t not run a center console that is more forward like most jet boaters here prefer. the way you have to run a jet to keep it on plane is going to chew battery charge up. Some days I fish a 6 mile stretch some days a 3 miles other days I fish a 12-15 mile stretch. Most of the travel has to be on plane because of the shallow bars and rock ledges.

My hats off to you! My wife and I adopted our dog seven months ago. He was a 100% mess. 3 year old lab/golden mix. The rescue we got him from was doing their best with him but he never got the one on one he really needed. They said he didn’t know his name any commands and was not 100% house trained still had accidents. Didn’t play with toys. He was a feral dog for two years of his life. He spent 6 months in s kill shelter and 6 months in thr rescue where we got him from. He had his last round of heart worm treatment. He was scared of his own reflection paced around our house for a few days. He had a nervous lick of lips he’d do. We had to ration his water for months or he’d drink it all till hr threw up. He’d lick the dew off grass a wet road anything to get water. He was pretty much impossible to walk on a leash. He would mouth and always nip at hands. If you got on his level he would jump and bat at you. We couldn’t carry anything through the house. My wife had actually called me at work in tears the first day she was completely alone with him and I went home from work that day. fast forward- almost all the mouthing is gone expect when he is really playful. He walks great on the leash only pulls here and there if he’s really interested in something. We got our yard fenced in and he is listening ok off leash. He loves playing with toys. He leaves water now so we do not have to ration it as closely we just keep adding to it. He knows to sit for his leash to go on and off. Sit to have his food dish put down. his biggest downfall is other dogs and he is very protective. I know a lot of this has to do with him being feral and having to fight dogs to survive. His ears are scared up from it. He has scars on his body. I do not know if I have the capabilities to train him myself and may need to get a professional to. If he sees another dog on a walk he just wants to attack them. So we keep our distance and warn everyone with other dogs. He also does not like joggers or people moving very fast around him. I do believe at some point he had abuse from someone. We do let people interact with him but tell them be very slow and he will be ok. It’s been a trip and very rewarding. I love my dog and having him as a member of my family.

Animals are built to survive. People now are not.

That’s insane! We are not permitted to drive on ice or have permanent shanty’s. I truly never feel safe on ice. Snow scares me the most. I always hope if we get ice here it’s clear and hard before any amount of snow.

I thought about filming my fishing. Then I realized it would consist of me talking to my dog, me getting snagged, a snack break, me talking to my dog more, dropping something, hearing the jet sing on plane and going home. Totally not anything me or anyone else would want to see. The pictures make me look good. Being on my boat just shows you how clueless I am at times with catching. Snagging bottom though I’m a professional.

I wonder how long it would take for them to get this technology on out board jets. It takes a 60hp to make 40hp at the jet. The other issue is to be on plane they need to be eating. They are so inefficient. I love the idea of electric stuff. I do not like being forced on electric stuff. I think under the right circumstances electric will be awesome. I don’t know if there is anyone that fishes pretty boy in maryland by they have be issuing electric outboards there for quite a few years.

I caught a flannel jacket trolling for musky. Fish wise I caught a pure striper pretty far up the susky. It either came from raystown lake or the Chesapeake. Each would be a feat in its own. I’ve also snagged snapped off fishing line with live flatheads on them. The more you fish the crazier stuff you see/catch.

Gotcha that all makes perfect sense. It’s not till June so I have quite a bit of a wait but, I want it all planned out. I am sure the night before I won’t be able to sleep haha.

I saw a guy with a boat trailer on a roll back tow truck. Back the roll back down tilt it then winched the trailer down to the water and launched it off the boat trailer. I wish I could have got a pic or video I was just so in shock of what I saw.

If there is a creek flowing in one side and water going out the other there is some form of current however little it may be. I do not think it would have much effect on bait fish with how little the current could possible be. I could see an area producing like this on days it is wind blown. Most times I think there would be better success fishing other places. I think Dams matter more on the down sides of them. Also I think they matter much more in rivers. Now a pinch point on the lake instead of a dam I think would be a better option. It won’t cool the water down. As the lake has a natural cool down as it gets deeper. Now the cool water coming in from the creek may be cooler than the body of water itself.

I honestly never anchor. I haven’t in years and don’t even think about doing it. Even before I had spot lock I did not anchor. Can dropping an anchor disturb fish? Im sure. I am also sure it causes a lot less disturbance than a TM on spot lock because it’s once and done. Anything, everything, and nothing can affect a fish wanting to eat. If I’ve caught fish doing what I do I can’t be 100% wrong on how I approach it just 90% wrong.

that is some great info thank you! I do want to make sure my clips are good for smallies. That is what I will be fishing for in the tournament. I doubt the tournament I am thinking of doing will provide weight bags. It’s just run by a conservation club. It’s just something small for me to get my feet wet and see if I like it. I have to run about ten miles from The launch where it starts up to the area I want to fish. I will have to manage my time correctly as well.

I have never bass fished stonewall. That being said do not over look the weed edges that drop off and the rocky shore lines. A lot of those trees are in 10ft and more of water. There is also tons of bait. I would fish a suspending jerkbait in that timber as well. Or like was stated above spinner baits. I would work the point all the way in cast shallower first then on the way back out try the deeper side.

My buddy and I kicked around the idea. I really have no clue what I’d be getting into as I’ve never done weigh in tournament. I already looked into weigh in bags as well. It’s only in June but again stuff I’ve been picking at so I’m ready if I choose to do it.

I am pretty much stage 2 and 5 mixed with a little 4. Sure I love big bass. 5-6lb smallies are a treat. I am excited and happy with them. I just want to go out and catch fish just as much. It’s the entertainment and enjoyment factor of it. I spent to many years chasing musky to care that much about only chasing the big bass. The big bass is like ice cream after dinner for me. I do like catching them my way but, I do try to branch out. Like anyone else it’s hard to break fishing memories and just fish the present. I enjoy getting my dad and people that don’t generally fish on fish. It’s entertaining for me. Now, if I am with a buddy who is a true fisherman it becomes a bit of a heathy competition.

Rod-$200 tube-$5 happy dog - priceless.

Thank you buddy. I am looking to possibly do a small tournament in June and never knew the importance. Looks like I’ll be adding a set now.

I try my best to share my lack of knowledge with everyone! I learn a whole heck of a lot more here, then I am sure anyone does from me and it’s appreciative.

So I have a dumb question. What are the purpose of these? I see pros use them and are just curious