Amistoad

It makes sense that since bass are highly visual predators and that most of their surface prey (fish, frogs, rodents, snakes, turtles, chupacabras, etc) have light bellies, lures fishes at night should at least have light bellies. Being visible isn’t a drawback. Being all dark probably isn’t an advantage. But...that’s just my thinking.

Here are some photos of my electrical work over the past year. I also made a new panel to replace the faded and peeling original. I’ve had this boat since 1989 and finally decided to redo the whole panel after a couple of the switches died. Last year it was the pumps.

Rewriting a boat isn’t hard depending on what kind of boat and how simple or complex it’s wiring is. Mine is simple. I have a set of wires running from the rear battery compartment to the bow for the trolling motor and then separate sets from the starter battery for the sonar and bow light. In the stern area, I have a bunch of wires for bilge, livewell, engine, stern light, and gages. I recently replaced all the pumps and switches and it was no problem at all. Of course, mines a super-simple, 1988 Ranger 680T with no mother boards or circuits of anything. Biggest thing is label EVERY wire with duct tape and a sharpie. It’s very easy to lose track of what goes where. My method was to First check all the fuses and replace what needs replacing, then pull the old pump, disconnect it and test it on the battery to make sure it’s not working, then install the new one and test. No go? Check fuse again then check wiring. If it all check out, replace switch with a test switch and try again. If it’s the switch, replace with a new one. If it’s not the fuse, the pump, or the switch, it’s bad wiring. Then it’s just a matter of attaching new wire to the old before pulling the old stuff through and automatically rethreading the new. Also DISCONNECT everything from the battery to avoid sparks, shorts, and lots of exciting cracking and popping noise. Trust me. Worst that can happen is you can’t get it working (hey it already isn’t) and then you haul it into somebody that can get it running. But definitely worth trying yourself. You’ll learn a lot about your boat and how it works and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that if you’re on a lake somewhere and something doesn’t work, you can probably figure it out, fix it on the spot, and get back to throwing monster baits to monster bass.

Jigs do a pretty much perfect job of mimicking a crawfish’s action, look, and size. Not sure any swimbait would have that flexibility. Plus...jigs are cheap and easy to make! I haven’t bought one since 1987.

For numbers, a Texas rig worm or lizard. But day in day out, if I’m chasing porkers, it’s a jig and a crank.

1-100 It varies. But a good day depends on many variables. No fish day can be good. But one or more makes the day great.

I fly fish quite a bit in fresh and salt. Most of the huge flies guys are tying to show off don’t catch fish and can’t even be cast. They’re works of art meant to impress other anglers and tiers. Cool art and I suppose you could troll one around and catch...something. But there not really designed for fishing.

What’s holding the “vertebrae” together on the MS snake? Is it a strip of fabric with wood discs arranged along it or what?

I used to bank fish a lot, but in addition to access being a problem, covering multiple spots can be difficult. In my boat, or kayak, or even float tube, I can check multiple spots, several times a day with different techniques or approaches. I can do this quickly and locate feeding fish rather than just hauling water. While bank fishing, I tended to stay in one place a loooonggg time and yeah, I’d eventually pull in a fish or five, but I couldn’t hit as many spots as I can when mobile. Different approach angles are possible from a water craft in a greater variety of ways than from the bank. I still bank fish whenever the mood strikes me, but I’m much happier if I can cover some water and check more spots (including offshore spots) during a fishing trip. But that’s just me.

7” slammer bass color 3:16 Wake Jr. any color mattlures hardgill slow sink any color rat (any kind) just based on my experience over the past few years.

Had a great blue heron try to eat my slammer a month or two ago. He actually dove out of the sky into the water at it. Didn’t know they did that. I reeled super fast and avoided any entanglements but he kept hanging out in the area so I had to bail.

Amazing that they can engulf a multihooked bait like that and STILL get off!

Great looking bass!

Savage Gear shine glide. Awesome bait and an incredible value.

Good looking bass and I love that slammer color! Cranking 7” 2x slammers usually turns the trick on my waters too.

Sorry to hear about his passing. I lost my father in law last fall and he was about the same age. My condolences to his family and all who knew him. I’ll “GO FISH” as soon as I can in his memory.

Very much appreciate that, waynem. Likewise if you find yourself down this way!

Nice fish. I’d be grinning ear to ear in the photos!

Great stories! I remember it being a pretty little lake and caught some nice 3-4 lbs bass on crankbaits. Always wanted to head back Some day, just never made it.

Was just looking through some photos from 20 years ago and found some of me and a buddy fishing Lake Lashaway in East Brookfield. He was interested in the trout, but I was into the bass. Just curious if the lake is still any good or if anybody has any experience there?

Great looking fish. I’ve been stuck home doing chores.

Fat lady!

I like cranking The x2 down down too, fishing it like a shallow crankbait. But I’ve also done well waking it. Either way, just throw it out and crank it back. I’ve also had them eat deadsticking, usually when I am picking out a backlash! But if that happens, I’ll start pausing and twitching to see if that gets more bites. Good luck!

Fat little buggers!