SUPERTRAMP

I normally only sharpen hooks about 3 to 4 times then replace. I use a regular bastard file and just hit each side of the point 1 time and it seems to work. If the hooks looks like the point is too close to the barb I replace it. It only takes a minute and I keep several boxes of new hooks on the boat all of the time. I like the Gamakatsu extra wide gap for body baits. and the eagle claw blood red trebles for spoons. Both are extra sharp and are cheap medicine for dull hooks.

You will never regret getting it.

New Bottom Paint, install new VHF radio and antenna. Clean, Clean, Clean. ReSpool all of the Rigger reels, check all the leadcore and copper rigs and replace leaders. Re tie the wire connections on the wire dipsys and replace the Power Pro line on the Power pro dipsys. New hooks or sharpen hooks? Depends on condition. I have been working on this all winter. Get all the tackle sorted again and ready to kick of the spring season.

Some of my best fishing when I was younger was post blow with big rollers. But at 68 years young I usually stay in the slip if they are over 3' and choppy. If all we have is rollers, the Drift socks are a real plus. You can throttle up a little, and you will find your boat is a lot more stable. My boat is 12' wide and will handle big water but when it blows I get out the drift socks. I got mine from Cabelas, I use the smaller socks 1 off each side of the boat, I have found too that my auto pilot works a lot better with the socks out.

If you have a 4 man crew split everything fuel. and Entry you are not really as expensive as you think. I spend about $200.per day for fuel, that's $400 for a 2 day tournament, add $525 for amateur entry and big fish divide by 4 and your totals are not as bad as you believe. For my boat, it comes out to less than $250 per man for the tournament. Split any winnings and you might even make a little if you cash both ways. My boat is a 31' Chris Craft Commander Sport fisherman, she uses fuel. But that's what u get when you want to be comfortable when fishing. I did fish a couple of tournaments with my son on his Islander. Fuel was almost $100 for 2 days. We split it and the entry fee 4 ways. Biggest issue and the reason I don't fish tournaments is because in 2008 at the S.Haven tournament we had a blow day on Saturday, Sunday morning they sent us out in 20 knot winds, and called the tournament at 11:00. No refunds once you put your money in. If we had been in my boat we could have fished Sunday and Saturday.

PM Me if you want to go for early coho and browns. But for sure If you don't want the Grizzly Plug save it for me. It will out fish a lot of other plugs. I haven't used JPlugs for a long time Silver Horde is my preference.

Hey Kevin: You might want to hang on to the Black Grizzly plug on the third photo it has a wire solid hook connection and resembles a Yeck but is way more productive. BTW I now own the Silverking and you and your dad are welcome to come down to St. Joe and fish with us.

I am a firm believer that you can't have too many automatic bilge pumps on any boat. I have 3 on mine, its cheap insurance against problems during weather or while you boat is in the water for an extended period. The pumps are really not expensive, I found a 2000gph pump on ebay for $52.00 at a buy it now price. Includes pump and float switch. The flexible hose and thru hull fitting would be an additional 15 to 20 bucks. Cheap insurance against lost rivets or other issues.

Lost a couple of Paddles with flies, 2 boards, and several spoons. Biggest loss was the Anchor and 50' of 1/2" line. North of Jean Klok park in St Joe, 30 FOW. 1 12# ball. Had a bass fisherman snag my rigger line in the slip and he loosened the drag on the rigger then pulled his bait out. Lost 200' of cable to kinks and back lash. So wish people would stay out of the slip basin when they are casting bass rigs. I have also had one cut my transducer cable to retrieve a bait.

Second that one!

There are 2 methods, the twist method and the wrap and cinch. I use the 1 wraparound 2 fingers pass the band thru and back thru itself never slip and never leaves behind any band pieces. Try it.

I started with Walker in the 1970's switched to Rubber bands in 1980 and have never gone back. I never have problems with shakers and after some experimenting I never have false releases. I start early with #16 bands and until we start fishing deep they work well. when we get to fishing 50'or more of cable out we go to #33 rubberbands. 1 thing I do when using 11" Paddles I double the bands, and they still release on a strike.

The short answer is yes. Find the active fish with the Fishawk and your Depth sounder. Find current by checking SOG against the Fishawk, then determine troll direction and best speed at the ball. Learn your body of water and you can usually come up with possible current directions. We find in Southern Lake Michigan that wind direction does effect currents to a great extent. You are always better trolling into the current, as fish position themselves to face into the current.

All of the tools mentioned help. I have the Fishawk X4 and it is a real plus for finding active fish. Fish marked are not always active fish. I find that zeroing in on currents and temperatures are keys to catching active fish. You can mark fish all day and become frustrated that you can't get anything going. Find the right temp range and the fish you mark there are more likely to strike. My auto pilot is really an important tool also. It enables me to work on the back deck and maintain the rite direction to keep the baits running correctly. Net fish and reset lines. If you don't have autopilot u really need a driver that can keep your compass heading going without getting too far off.

I second what Jim says. I really Enjoy tying my own flies. I get Supplies from Sigs and Big Weenie. I have become really kind of hooked on Big Weenie Meat rigs and supplies.

NICE I haven't regretted getting the bigger boat. Costs more to run but the comfort and abilities to fish heavier seas is worth it.

Good Luck Jon. R u getting a new boat?

Good people. Great fisherman, if you get on with Jim you will enjoy working with him.

Still have a bunch of Rattle Snakes, Green Frog and Yellow red dot were killer.

April Crank baits are the norm, Brads thin Fin, #11 And #13 jointed rapalas, u pick em colors, but the Red Coachdog Thin Fin is the coho killa. We usually fish tight to the beach and around the dirty water plume in St. Joe, March 31 2012 killed em 4 on board 21 fish in 45 min. Most were mid teen kings, all came on body baits and 0000 dodger with Christmas tree coho candy flies. Spring is the time clean out the old bass baits and experiment.

It can be done with a long needle, but I prefer to splice in about 8' of 40# mono and use that to attach boards to. easy to tie the Willis Knot then.

Like most of the other guys. Board goes on the backer, I usually use braid power pro 30for my backer, splice an 8' piece of 40# mono in to attach the board to, I do use al lot of short cores in the spring. 1 color(SWR) 2 color(SWR), 4 color 6 color 10 color. All have different presentations. I like Walleye Boards, biggest problem is getting people to keep their rod tip low, and bring the board to the boat with rod tip low, remove board, and then fight your fish. Willis knot to splice the Leadcore to the backer. Works well when u use the mono spacer. You can try using an Albright knot, if you want to use all braid backer. Once you get to summer fishing, you will want to try copper rigs. They account for a lot of fish in July and August.