I spent all morning installing a new TM on my boat, a Minn Kota PowerDrive V2. Get it all hooked up, attach the battery--nothing. Called the service outfit--I've got to take it off my boat and drive 20 miles to have them look at it.  >

My original plan was to install the thing, then go fishing to test it. So I went fishing with an inop TM, and a 15-20 MPH north wind. I recently installed a GPS to go with my Humminbird 737, and have been itching to fish a deeper body of water than I usally do, trying to develop my structure fishing skills. So I ago out and spend the first 30-45 minutes putting around the lake at slow speed looking at my graph. I find a good concentration of fish holding on a steep ledge in about 15' of water, mark the location, and continue on. After moving up one of the two arms of the lake I determine that the fish are just now leaving the main pool area of the lake, so I return to the first concentration I had marked, tie on a Rapala DT16 in a perch color. On about my tenth cast a 2 1/2 lb bass whacks the Rapala--my first deep structure bass! And in fairly adverse conditions too.

I'm pumped about the upcoming season, this opens up thousands of acres of water that before I'd look at, scratch my head, and go back to casting at the shore. Now if I could fish this new water without having to drop an anchor.

     Man, i'll tell you what. I need to learn that stuff. After you figure it out, you can give me a lesson.................   Sorry to hear bout the trolling motor.

So I ago out and spend the first 30-45 minutes putting around the lake at slow speed looking at my graph. I find a good concentration of fish holding on a steep ledge in about 15' of water, mark the location, and continue on. After moving up one of the two arms of the lake I determine that the fish are just now leaving the main pool area of the lake, so I return to the first concentration I had marked, tie on a Rapala DT16 in a perch color. On about my tenth cast a 2 1/2 lb bass whacks the Rapala--my first deep structure bass! And in fairly adverse conditions too.

Nice work Jon!  As fun as it is (and it really is) to pitch a jig or brush hog to a laydown or shoreline brush, there's just something so satisfying about finding and casting to deep(er) structure and catching bass.

Off-topic: I'm getting my new (well--used, but new to me) bass boat next weekend.  I'll be storing it at Aquia Boat Storage, so you can probably expect some PM's from me in the coming weeks with regards to general pointers/advice for fishing the creek and the main river around that area.  

Great job!

I love it when a plan comes together

I hate it when things don't go as planned

Good job on the 2lber. Don't give up at it.