Author Topic: Went out today (Read 28085 times)

btmidwest · « **Reply #30 on:** March 21, 2010, 12:56:06 PM »

Hey Savage,
Those dinks can be good eating if plentiful and legal.

Indiana regs are 12" min for most river bass and 14" min for most lake catches. I haven't tried cutting through debri like you described with my troller but I sorta doubt it would. Maybe a bigger unit is an option for down the road. Mine is closer to a fifty lb. thrust if I had to guess. The boat/dog thing wasn't a total tease

as I'm sure you guys are running bigger rigs than I am - probably 150-200 hp's if I had to guess - of course I'm just guessing. My brother has a 150hp setup from the late 70's that's a quick one. Mine I guess hits around 35 mph not to shabby for a 40hp but I don't really know. How is your new sonar unit that you picked up working out so far? I've been shopping for a new one but I haven't bit the bullet yet - the sky is the limit on those things. What do you guys look for in a sonar unit - color, GPS, mapping systems? Savage you mentioned the trick worm earlier - how do you fish them? Are the colors you mentioned your favorites? What type of hook, fished weightless/suspended, texas rigged or how? Last year they were my go to bait during pre-spawn but early on at times I think I fished it too fast. Once things warm up I twitch'em pretty fast. Thanks, BT

Zulu · « **Reply #31 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:33:06 PM »

Btmidwest,
Mine's a Yamaha 150 four stroke. I've had it topped out at 55 mph which makes your face flatten out.

If you turn your head you lose your glasses. $:-\$
Savage said he has run 65 mph. That's pretty quick!!

I've had my boat for just over 2 years. I like it.
Zulu

Savage .250 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:32:29 PM »

Zulu:

That Yamaha is a fine outboard. 55 mph? Get the anchor up and you`ll pick up 3 more miles per.

Like I said earlier ref speed . It`s all relevant. Your running flat out going down the lake and some dude flys pass you like your standing still. Then somebody passes him. There are some big/fast rigs around here.

Zulu · « **Reply #33 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:59:37 PM »

Even then, you can only do that when it is glass smooth. Otherwise you bounce all over the place.

Its no fun then.

Zulu

Oldshooter · « **Reply #34 on:** March 21, 2010, 05:09:18 PM »

there are dangers too, last year at toledo RIG FLEW PAST ME AT 70 MPH around the bend he was on one side of the channel and his operatorless boart was drifting on the other!

btmidwest · « **Reply #35 on:** March 21, 2010, 06:12:50 PM »

Zulu, Years ago I use to fish with a guy whose setup would run about 45 mph and I remember how fast it felt running that close to the water. Twice I've been in boats that were going 65 mph I'm told and I remember thinking that could take some getting use to if I was the one driving!

I wondered how a feller would dodge logs, make curves, stay in the channel and such on a river going that fast - surely that kind of boating has a learning curve to it. Up here we have enough shallow places on the river I doubt I would ever get comfortable enough to go like that - on the river at least, of course lakes would be different. I realize many people do it but I've also heard some stories of busted up motors and they were lucky. I've been told some of the good fishing spots down South require some time on the water after lauching just to get to them and a slow boat takes too long. We have that here (up by Detroit) but that's far enough from South Bend I doubt I'll ever go there. I realize that sometimes speed on the water is a useful tool and good to have and then there is aways the just for the fun of it factor.

Do you guys have any honey holes that require some time on the water just to get to them? BT I just read ya'lls posts about all the speed and the wreck - I'm probably better off slower and safe than sorry. And Zulu I think your 55 mph is plenty. Hang in there and be safe at 65 mph Savage.

Old shooter did you ever find out what happened to the driver of the boat that wrecked.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #36 on:** March 21, 2010, 06:41:38 PM »

Yep, we fished him outa the water. He was flyin low and hit a wake wrong and the boat went south and he went north. the life jacket and the safety switch saved him and the boat.

I see a lot of boats flying low on Toledo! I just dont wanna be in em! Nothing against em just not for me.

btmidwest · « **Reply #37 on:** March 21, 2010, 07:21:53 PM »

Oldshooter you are so right - You don't have to be harsh or critical to refrain but it is sometimes hard to understand why those chances are taken. I've spent 20 minutes longer getting to a place just because I didn't know the way good enough and was going slow. I'm sure the guy appreciated your help and was a fortunate man with the help of that kill switch and lifejacket. BT

Savage .250 · « **Reply #38 on:** March 22, 2010, 01:32:02 AM »

Oldshooter:

I see you woke up from your power-nap.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #39 on:** March 22, 2010, 01:54:36 AM »

btmidwest:
   Zoom Trick worms. Yellow, Bubble Gum,White. Anything I can see. Lots of dark water here so being able to "see" the floater, helps me work it. By work it I mean, gentle twitches. 2-3 in a row then a pause.
   I use the floater just about every place. Pads, grass, what ever. Course then I`m using braided line.
   As far as hooks go, I use 5/0. Different strokes for differnt folks as far as hook size goes. Along with that I do spend time on making sure they (hooks) are SHARP~ No weight and Texas rigged.
   you do need a good reel and a rod with a little tip. Makes casting a whole lot easier. I usually have 2 rods rigged with floaters. Some of the areas here you can spend all day just flinging a floater. That puppy will catch some fish!!

My new Garmin 140 is installed and working. Not had it on the water yet but that`s coming. Have had another 140 up front (a couple of years) and it`s been good. It does get banged around a lot but it keeps on keeping on.

Zulu · « **Reply #40 on:** March 22, 2010, 04:01:53 AM »

Bt,
I have no place I have to be in a hurry. I've only opened it up when I know the water's deep and glass smooth. If it's windy you bounce too much for me.

Are you in Southbend? I bought a cannon barrel from Southbend Replicas one time. It's nice.

Savage, I've never used a floater. Sounds like you have some luck with them. I don't get to fish too many lillypads. Not many around here where I fish. i also use a 5/0 hook.

Oldshooter,
Do you fish Toledo or Rayburn the most?

Zulu

Savage .250 · « **Reply #41 on:** March 22, 2010, 06:10:01 AM »

Zulu
Not sure what you guys have in Texas but in Fla we have lots of grass (thick/thin) pad fields(huge and not so huge) lots of shallow water. That being said, the "floater" works very well as I said earlier.
Get you a bag of Zoom floaters (color, your choice) Not a lot of weight hanging on the end of your string so I hope you`ve got a good reel/ some what of a tippy rod, adjust that puppy(reel) and give it a try.
One good thing about it is..............your DINK count will jump up %100.

I have fished a lot of wednesday night "T`s" with my son just using the "floater" and we`ve won our share.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #42 on:** March 22, 2010, 06:26:28 AM »

Quote

Oldshooter,
Do you fish Toledo or Rayburn the most?

Mostly Toledo, but for crappie(white perch) we have a few honey holes on Rayburn. We have a good guide contact for crappie on Rayburn. We have some good places to stay on Toledo and I have made some pvc trees in Toledo, So its a toss up I like both places.

Zulu · « **Reply #43 on:** March 22, 2010, 06:47:49 AM »

Quote from: Savage .250 on March 22, 2010, 06:10:01 AM

Zulu
Not sure what you guys have in Texas but in Fla we have lots of grass (thick/thin) pad fields(huge and not so huge) lots of shallow water. That being said, the "floater" works very well as I said earlier.
Get you a bag of Zoom floaters (color, your choice) Not a lot of weight hanging on the end of your string so I hope you`ve got a good reel/ some what of a tippy rod, adjust that puppy(reel) and give it a try.
One good thing about it is..............your DINK count will jump up %100.

I have fished a lot of wednesday night "T`s" with my son just using the "floater" and we`ve won our share.

Right now if my dink count went up 100% that would mean I caught 2 fish

That's sad

Zulu

Zulu · « **Reply #44 on:** March 22, 2010, 02:21:37 PM »

Okay,
Going to try it again tomorrow. Taking the slow Ranger to Lake Bastrop. 105 miles west of here. Leaving at 5:00 AM to be there by sunrise.
I figure I can't improve my fishing unless I'm on the water.

There are lilly pads and grass at this lake.

Keep watching for some really "big" bass pictures.

Still don't have any floaters. $:-\$
Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #45 on:** March 22, 2010, 04:24:09 PM »

Zulu, I've used the zoom trick worm for the past two seasons. Fished it next to cover, in fairly open water 4-5 ft deep or on top of grass matts, it did real well when the bass went real shallow in a foot or less of water - it does not spook them when it hits the water like some lures can. I had several fish just seem like they rolled over in the grass and took it. If the water isn't as stained as Savage spoke of where you are at you may want to try june bug, watermelon red or Alabama craw. There are days I do not use any thing else - it suspends well yet can be worked hard and fast if you wish. OK there's my rookie spill - I am trying to learn how to use other things but that worm has been my go to lure. If alot of people don't use it where you are at that's another advantage. I use a medium power rod and do alot of slack line short snaps with pauses. You have to watch your line since you can't always feel what is going on. It will make U-turns to the right and left if you want it to. I'm babbling. Take care, BT

btmidwest · « **Reply #46 on:** March 22, 2010, 04:32:52 PM »

Zulu, I forgot - good luck on your trip tomorrow

I hope you tear them up!!!

Be sure to let us know - I'm getting my fishing through you warm weather guys right now

BT

squirrellluck · « **Reply #47 on:** March 22, 2010, 05:14:16 PM »

Well I guess I'll Chime in. Haven't dropped a hook yet but soon. Gotta finish rewiring my boat motor. Boat"s a 14 foot sea nymph flat bottom with a 50 hp mercury, minncotta trolling motor.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #48 on:** March 22, 2010, 05:28:29 PM »

Where in Louisiana do you fish squirrellluck?

squirrellluck · « **Reply #49 on:** March 22, 2010, 06:33:09 PM »

Lake Claiborne Darbone Black Lake. Anywhere there is water! Mostly enjoy the creeks though. Run set hooks, and slat traps for flathead, channel, and blue catfish. Bass fish after the hooks are baited. Like fishing the creeks cause you never know what you will get into. Have caught some really nice largemouth in the creeks Black Lake is supposed to have some really, really nice bass but I have yet to catch any to brag on.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #50 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:25:48 PM »

Yea the beautiful northwest, Never fished up there, Did go to JEFFERSON TX the other day was wondering about caddo lake and bayous there. Interesting story about Jefferson Tx and the Red River to New Orleans.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #51 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:07:17 AM »

The more ...the merrier.

Zulu:

Tight lines!!

Get you some floaters!

pads and grass on the lake............. Run a big spinner bait in that stuff.

Really big bass pic`s............

Give us a report on your day.............

"Slow Ranger."................The good news is you won`t get any speeding tickets!

Zulu · « **Reply #52 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:14:21 PM »

Drove total 220 miles round trip. water temp 66 degrees. Pretty windy.

Fished 7 1/2 hours. Caught 4 bass. Wife got skunked.

Not good.

Lilly pads must have froze or something. Never saw any. Lots of grass. Worked real hard for 4 fish. Biggest was 3 lbs. 9 oz. Then 1 lb. 11 oz. Other two were about a pound each.
When we took the boat out of the water there was another boat coming out. I asked them how they did and they said 16 bass.

He said he was using something called a chatterbox.

Pitching it right into the middle of the grass. I caught mine on the outside of the grass in about 4 - 5 feet of water.
Any day fishing is a good day.

Zulu

Zulu · « **Reply #53 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:43:23 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 22, 2010, 10:25:48 PM

Yea the beautiful northwest, Never fished up there, Did go to JEFFERSON TX the other day was wondering about caddo lake and bayous there. Interesting story about Jefferson Tx and the Red River to New Orleans.

oldshooter,
I've fished Caddo before. I did it in a canoe. We fished out of a canoe for 10 years before we bought the slow Ranger.
Where I was it was all lillypads and giant cypress trees. It was really pretty. Caught some bass and a few pickeral but nothing to brag about. It was a neat place but almost totally overrun with lillypads. I don't think we ever made it out to the main lake. In a canoe you only go so far

Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #54 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:58:30 PM »

Zulu, Nice Fish!!

Beautiful Boat and pictures!!

Chatterbaits look like a jig and skirt with a piece of tin up by the eye of the hook - Wally world has them here in South Bend I have a black one, a white one and tonight I got one huge and one regular size chartruse chatterbait. I've just started using them and have only caught one 24" pike so far with the white one last fall. BT

btmidwest · « **Reply #55 on:** March 23, 2010, 03:21:07 PM »

Pardon me Zulu - I just noticed you said chatterbox not chatterbait - my bad!

BT

Zulu · « **Reply #56 on:** March 23, 2010, 03:43:49 PM »

Maybe he said chatterbait

Have you heard of Southbend Replicas? They make cannon barrels. I make cannons when I'm not fishing. I purchased one of their barrels a few years back.
Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #57 on:** March 23, 2010, 04:12:23 PM »

No I haven't Zulu but I have noticed it seems more people around here have cannons than I remember in the past - I don't know maybe that's why if they are made locally. Sounds like an interesting hobby you've got there! Some years back one exploded on the 4th of July at a local lake 20 miles over - part of it few over the house and killed a neighbor. I never learned the particulars - You already know what the press did with it. BT

Zulu · « **Reply #58 on:** March 24, 2010, 02:45:01 PM »

Cannons are a passion of mine. If you click on "Zulu" it will take you to my profile. Click on my most recent post and you can scroll through all my cannon post since I joined Graybeard. I made all of these.
Zulu

Zulu · « **Reply #59 on:** March 25, 2010, 01:07:34 PM »

Headed for Lake Conroe in the morning. We'll pick up some minnows and see if the crappie are spawning. If not we'll see if we can spot some bass beds.
It's supposed to be 46 degrees in the morning but warming up into the 70's. I've never seen it still this cold this late in March. $:-\$
Zulu

Hey Savage, when are you going back out? We want to hear some Florida stories.