Hello there, I'm Mark and new to the boards. Oh, and I just bought a bass boat. I wasn't so crazy as to go buy a brand new one, someone pointed me to a 1987 Ranger 350v from Angler's Choice. This is my first boat, but I remember a lot from my dad's bass boat so I'm not starting from complete scratch. I do have a lot to learn, though.

I'm looking for some advice on the best place to take her for the maiden voyage. I've fished on Piney Run reservoir a bit since I live so close, but they only allow electric motors to be used. I'm hoping to open her up a little

Suggestions? Anyone with a good amount of knowledge but no boat want to trade advice for a trip out with my son and I?

Mark

Welcome to the site.

I hope her "maiden voyage" isn't the first time you are taking this boat out?

Hopefully, you took it out for a test run before buying it. 

Good Luck.  You will find all the information you need on this site. 

I was actually very surprised to hear you could take a boat for a "test drive"! I should have specified this is her maiden "fishing" voyage.

coming from mt airy, im not sure, maybe the upper bay, from middle river on north or the potomac. either way a long drive

I used to live in Maryland and the ONLY lake I know of that allows gas motors is Deep Creek. You should go to a marine store and get a copy of the Md watershed rules, I think it states in there that only trolling motors are allowed. I fished Liberty with a guy one time and he had a 16' Lowe with 4 golf cart batteries (6 volt) hooked up so they equaled 2 12V and we went all day on those. The only other water I know of are the tidal rivers (potomac, anacostia, choptank, etc).

I fished Rocky Gorge a lot back then and there were a lot of bass boats all with the big motors out of the water using their trolling motors.

Good Luck,

Al

Thanks for the suggestions. I went out today on the upper Chesapeake bay and had a great time. I was a little bit south from where you're talking about boneil. Turner Station park is where we launched from, but I think I'll go to the middle river next time like you suggest.

Now I just need to decide VRO, or mix... LOL (by the way, I'll stick with the VRO)