ball_coach_1

Great rig! You will have a ball in that thing, and get it in to a lot of places that the rest of us can't. Look forward to seeing your good first fish.

Great fish Matt!!! Yeah, guessing it is days or hours until #400 is on the board. Hope a Texas guy catches it, guess it would only be right.

The key phrase to me would multi-species BASS able to fish YEAR ROUND... ...then my opinion would be Tennessee or Northern Alabama.

Good point. Positive news for my eyes to read too. Actually, I only have been on the boat once while it sat in his garage, but with the deck-attachment I actually don't remember the front deck being that small. I am curious though with the differenct in the hull if it will be that much more restrictive in shallow water...how much deeper can the boat actually sit in the water??

Son, that's a hawg! What an awesome picture that guy has to share for the rest of his life, and am sure the story that goes with it will increase with drama daily.

Thanks for the input. Now that it has been mentioned, I can believe the point of the windshields from the consoles being an issue.

Of the four or five 'bass fishing books' I have read, it is probably my favorite. As mentioned above, it is not a book of tips or techniques, but more on the human nature and obsessions of people and how it has effected their lives. I would be surprised if anyone on this site read it and didn't at the very least enjoy it.

My buddy sold me his boat about three years ago. He bought a brand new 2005 Ranger last summer. Owned it three months, and took it to trade in for a brand new 2005 20' Ranger FishNSki. Don't ask, he's a beauty. He is the guy going with me in about a month to Guntersville, and of course, he wants to take his new boat. Okay, whatever, no complaints. YET. Any of you guys actually own a fish and ski (I know, it was in the negotiations with the wife so it was a 'family' purchase)? I am curious to how the thing fishes compared to a 'fishin' only rig'. I am fairly certain it will be fine. He purchased the deck/floor attachment for more deck area on the front. I am just wondering with the hull if it gets to be a shallow water bite. Gorgeous boat, BUT, I liked the first buy better. INPUT?? (by the way, it does NOT have the storage the other has, but does have the same quality electronics on the bow and console)

'97 Stratos 268 17' '98 115 Evinrude Intruder Minn Kota 55lb thrust '03 Chevy Trailblazer #20 Sticker on the rear window

Thanks for the post LR...great stuff!

It's too dang perfect NOT to believe it. You gotta believe. It makes the sport better.

Great for you man, that is awesome. Unlike most professional is sports, fisherman are just GUYS. Thanks for sharing your story, good stuff to read. Wishin' I was there.

Say it ain't so. I truly hope this stuff isn't accurate.

shimano reels

No offense, but please don't let the record be taken in California...that should always be a southern claim. Actually, I am hoping the record is never broken, as I believe the 'legend' part of the record is what makes it so special. Just my thought.

After what I witnessed and participated this past weekend on Toho, I'd have to say that Toho has to be the most over rated body of water in the state. Replace Toho on your list with Lewisville.

Thanks for the post Rolo. I am believing you did see this in a recent Bassmasters issue, because after looking it over it looks familiar. I believe this was a ranking of stops for BASS competitions. I believe that is why Fork is not on the list.

It always seemed to me that carpet in bass boats could be more a nuisance than asset when on the water - keeping it clean being the biggest problem, hooks in the carpet (older kind), etc....and always thought the skifs in the south (see a bunch in Florida for salt and fresh) had it right. I have noticed models now coming out with removable carpets (button-downs). In my mind, it is just more practical....turn on the hose, quick rinse. If you just LOVE carpet, leave it buttoned on and remove to more easily clean. I noticed some Nitro models on the floor at BassPro Shops - like the idea. Any others have opions? Other brands/models using the removable carpets??

I have an '04 Trailblazer extended and own a 17' Stratos - fairly heavy boat. You don't know the thing is on the back. My buddy says it hauls better than his '02 Explorer. DID have to put 4 new brake pads on the vehicle this week after just 35, 000 miles but believe that has ONLY to do with how my wife drives, nothing with hauling the boat up and down the map. Ernels post is accurate with my assessment.

Yeah RW, no doubt about it. I am not anything but excited about G-ville in March. Just curious though if they have ever polled/ranked in the past year or two. I will say this, numbers alone and shocking to me, the lakes I fished in Maine this past summer were unreal. Numbers AND size. LOTS in the 2 to 4 lb. range. Pleasant surprise. My top 5 to date: 1. Lake Fork 2. Stick Marsh/Farm 13 3. Toho 4. Seminole 5. Guntersville (hoping this moves way up the chart come this spring) Still, hoping those can lead me to a published or more 'scientific' rank than this clown's ranks.

Keep posting....going to get more committed to this technique this year. All info is read and helpful.

About five years ago Bassmaster published the top 25 bass waters in the history of the sport. Anyone know if there is an updated current ranking of the top bass lakes in the country? I know the usual suspects, but was curious if there was a published rank by anglers.

Agreed...outlaw the jetski. At worst, 4 mph speed limits, only allowed on 'water' between December 1st and February 28th in North Dakota.

Along the same as most posts. Fish in the rain and distant thunder, and like the results when I do. Thunder close or a hint of lightning, in the car waiting it out...don't want it to be the LAST fishing trip.

Agree with all the posts about RW. He offered to take me out if I was in the area to get me on some smallmouth MONTHS ago...I reminded him of his offer...he didn't forget. RW, thanks for being one of the BIG reasons this is such a great site.