Monthly Archives: November 2019

Cost of Owning A Boat

 A boat is a hole in the water where you dump your money.  The word “boat” stands for “Break out another thousand.” There are many jokes about the cost of owning a boat, and are all too true.

    I have owned nine bass boats over the past 45 years, and all had their good and bad qualities, but all had one thing in common. They cost a lot, from purchasing them to keeping them working and running.

    Boats have improved a lot over those years.  My first boat, a brand new 16-foot Arrowglass with a 70 horsepower two stroke Evinrude motor, cost only $3500 in 1974.  That seems cheap now, many depthfinders and trolling motors cost more than that individually and just the sale tax on a new bass boat can be much higher. 

    That boat was top of the line back then, with one of the biggest outboard available that would push it about 35 mph on a good day, a 12-volt trolling motor, flasher depthfinder, two batteries and a single axle trailer with two narrow 14 inch tires.  It served me well for seven years although I had to have the motor rebuilt twice and made some improvements, adding a paper graph depthfinder to the dash and moving the flasher to the front.

    My current boat is a 20-foot Skeeter with a 250 horsepower Yamaha four stroke motor. I bought it used from Chad Pipkins, an Elite series pro, and it cost just over $50,000.  The list price for it new was in the upper $70,000 range. It came with a 36-volt trolling motor, four batteries, two power poles, four Hummingbird depthfinder, LED lighting around the inside of the gunnel and a dual axle trailer with four 14-inch car size tires.

    This boat will run in the upper 70 mph range if I ever get in a hurry, but I seldom do. It cruises great at 45 to 50 mph.   

    Four stroke motors crank instantly even in cold weather, something always a problem with two stoke motors, and there is no need to add oil to the gas.  I thought that would save me money over time, not having to buy oil, until I had the oil changed in its annual service.

    Last week I towed my Skeeter to Perry’s High-Performance Marine near Gainesville, fighting horrendous traffic both ways.  Perry is the only mechanic I trust to work on my motor, or even service it. He is definitely the best Yamaha mechanic in Georgia, if not the entire Southeast.

    During service them motor is tested on a computer, giving all kinds of information about it.  A couple of things surprised me.  The boat had about 250 hours on the motor, put on it in one year by Chad. I put about 100 hours a year on it and it now has 500 hours on it. I calculate I spend about 7 hours on the trolling motor for every hour on the gas motor.

    In those 500 hours, the computer shows it was run 5,000 to 6,000 rpm only 28 hours, and many of those running 60 plus mph, were put on it by Chad.  Most of the time, 336 hours total, were at less than 1000 rpm, idle speed.  Chad spent most of his time idling around, watching depthfinders, as do it.  At the speed I run, about 40 to 50 mph at 3000 to 4000 rpm, totaled 64 hours.

    In three years, the only problem with the Skeeter is one of the live well pumps burned out.  Perry and the Yamaha folks say if the motor is serviced as scheduled, it should last for several thousand hours, more than I will be able to put on it the rest of my life!

    If you buy a bass boat, expect sticker shock. But be aware that is just the beginning of your expenses!

St Croix Ice Rods

Press Release

AVID ICE ANGLERS: GET YOUR MOJO WORKING AND MAKE YOUR SEASON LEGENDARY

Mojo Ice, Avid® Ice, and Legend® Black Ice Series deliver St. Croix performance, versatility, and value in any ice fishing situation

Park Falls, WI (October 29, 2019) – The feeling’s in the air and on the wind. Recent weather patterns have hardwater fanatics and casual ice anglers alike thinking about the rapidly approaching ice fishing season. Now is the time to start getting organized for the upcoming rush to frozen waters; augers need tuned and sharpened, tackle must be organized, and last season’s fishing line requires replacement. Part and parcel of these gear maintenance and preparation activities, this is also the perfect time to start thinking about new ice rods.

St. Croix Rod designs and builds fishing rods that dutifully and beautifully serve every angling pursuit, including dozens of ice fishing models across four distinct series. Covering panfish to lake trout, St. Croix offers ice rod models with varying lengths, powers and blank materials that deliver pride and performance to any ice angler. Mojo Ice

Get Your Mojo Working Featuring St. Croix’s proprietary custom reel seat and split-grip handle, the Mojo Ice series consists of 13 models suited for any fishing style or technique. These precision-tapered, solid carbon blanks are equipped with stainless-steel guides in sizes designed to prevent freeze up so you can keep working your mojo in any conditions. Mojo Ice models retail between $50 and $60.ST. CROIX MOJO ICE 

:FEATURES:
Precision-taper solid carbon (SC material) blank provides superior performance
Premium split-grip cork/EVA handle Custom reel seat ideal for all techniques
Sea Guide lightweight stainless-steel guides1-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service

Designed in Park Falls and handcrafted in Fresnillo, Mexico

A biologist by day, Kenora, Ontario-based ice fishing pro Josh Peacock is an enthusiastic fan of the Mojo Ice series, choosing the rods for his frequent lake trout and whitefish forays in Ontario’s storied Sunset Country. “My favorite is actually the MIRC34H,” says Peacock, referring to the 34” heavy power casting model – the heavyweight of the Mojo Ice lineup – which he employs for the hefty lake trout his area is known for. “It has the perfect amount of backbone for ripping four- and five-inch white tubes.

I also like the 34” medium-heavy model (MIRC34MH), which I use when our big whitefish go on the smelt feed,” Peacock continues. “We get them on lake trout jigs and ripping three- and four-inch spoons. The whitefish actually have soft mouths, so the medium-heavy has the right amount of power for that. It’s pretty cool when you find four-to-six-pound whitefish eating smelt. They hit like lake trout!”

Peacock also regularly reaches for the 28” medium-light Mojo Ice rod (MIR28ML) when targeting crappies around the islands on Lake of the Woods and other waters. “It’s a really popular rod up here for crappies, but it’s a great choice for walleyes and even stocked lake trout, too” he notes. “It fishes a 1/8-oz. spoon really well and is a very versatile rod. Anglers love the blank-through reel seat as well.”

Avid Ice Rods for Avid Anglers The popular Avid Ice series consists of six Avid Ice Jigging rods designed for walleye and four Avid Ice Glass rods for panfish applications. Rods retail for between $60 and $70.Created specifically for jigging walleye, Avid Ice Jigging rods features Kigan stripper guides and lightweight, low-profile running guides. Constructed with precision-taper solid carbon (SC material) blanks and super-sensitive carbon handles, 27”-36” Avid Ice Jigging Rods deliver absolute control and sensitivity. 

Avid Ice JiggingAvid Ice Glass models are designed specifically for panfish. Constructed with an Xtreme-Flex solid glass (SG material) blank, high-visibility tip and super-sensitive carbon handle for superior performance, these 18”-34” rods excel in any panfish application.ST. CROIX AVID ICE JIGGING & AVID ICE GLASS 

FEATURES:
Jigging rods for walleye feature precision-taper solid carbon (SC material) blanks
Glass rods for panfish feature Xtreme-Flex solid glass (SG material) blanks with high-vis tipsSuper-sensitive carbon handleKigan stripper guide with lightweight low-profile running guides1-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service
Designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, U.S.A. (with foreign and domestic materials)

Michigan-based St. Croix ice pro Chuck Mason has competed in ice fishing tournaments from New York to Montana. He carries a multitude of St. Croix ice rods on the tournament trail, but says the Avid Ice Jigging models are his favorites.

“Basically, I have my ice rods sized by the shanty I’m using. So, if I’m using my one-man Clam shanty I’m fishing with the 27-inch. And if I’m using the small two-man shack I’m fishing the 30-inch. I use the longer 36-inch Avid Ice jigging rods when I can get my big shack out onto the bay here on Lake Erie, and I’ll also use the 36” models if I’m fishing outside,” says Mason, who prefers the medium power rods paired with 8- to 10-pound test on Daiwa reels for walleye.

“Their action is great, and they’re designed to handle some pretty big fish,” Mason continues. “The Avid Ice Jigging rods have what I would consider more of an extra-fast tip. It’s a stiffer rod compared to the Mojo Ice. They’re ideal in the situations I regularly find myself in while tournament fishing walleyes in open water. As soon as I start lifting ,I immediately feel anything that’s there. There’s no play or slop in these rods. Their sensitivity and power are perfectly matched for walleyes. I just love ‘em.”

Make the Season Legendary St. Croix Legend® Black Ice rods feature the patented, built-in strike indicator system developed by Greg “The Prowler” Wilczynski. A medalist in world ice fishing competitions, Greg spent years refining his invention.

The result is a super-finesse coil spring bobber system that’s much more sensitive than any other type of indicator, helping anglers see even the most subtle bump or strike well before it can be felt. St. Croix’s strike indicator system is adjustable to accommodate different lure sizes. To make the bobber more sensitive, push the spring forward so it extends farther out through the grommet. To make it less sensitive for heavier lures, simply push it back in.

Featuring precision-taper solid carbon blanks and unique Sea Guide NPS integral reel seat handles, seven different 24” and 30” Legend Black Ice models are available, retailing between $75 and $80. 

ST. CROIX LEGEND BLACK ICE FEATURES:
Super-finesse high-tension stainless-steel strike indicatorFully adjustable and interchangeable spring indicator system
Precision-taper solid carbon (SC material) blank provides superior performance
Sea Guide NPS reel seatPac Bay Minima guides 1-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service
Designed in Park Falls, U.S.A. (with foreign and domestic materials) 

“I’ve had two seasons using Legend Black Ice rods and the performance has been phenomenal,” offers Peacock. “They’re definitely my favorite crappie sticks. I prefer the light and medium-light power models (LBI24L, LBI30L, LBI24ML and LBI30ML).

Of those, I’m usually using the 30-inchers. I use them with a small tungsten jigs and 4-pound test,” he says. “On the Lake of the Woods and a lot of these back lakes you hook into random pike and walleyes, so you really get to see what the rods are made of. Legend Black Ice rods definitely do the job. Often times we’re fishing 35 to 40 feet deep and it’s cold weather, so there’s a lot of stretch to your line. That’s one reason why the strike indicator system is so awesome; they’re just so sensitive. A lot of time the crappies will swim up with the jig and you can see that on the spring bobber well before you could ever feel anything.

”While you can exchange strike indicators on the rods for varying levels of tension from light to heavy, Peacock has been using the stock indicators that come on the various rods and has been thrilled with their performance. For him, that means the orange-tipped spring bobber with light tension, perfect for his frequent crappie forays.

Parting Words Don’t get caught fishing the same old, outdated gear this winter. Whether you’re chasing predators or looking forward to dialing in epic panfish bites, consider St. Croix’s proven Mojo Ice, Avid Ice, and Legend Black Ice series. You’ll find rods suited to exactly how you fish, no matter the whens, wheres or hows. And after all, that’s precisely St. Croix’s mission—to provide every angler the upper hand.

#CROIXGEAR Like the rods? You’ll love our lifestyle apparel. Shop now!
Ice fishing with St.Croix rods

Where and How To Catch November Lake Seminole Bass

Seminole November Bass with Steven Wells with GPS Coordinates to ten spots

     All summer long the hydrilla beds at Seminole have been full of bass, but often the weeds are so thick you can’t fish it very effectively. In November the hydrilla begins to die back and open up, giving you access to those bass.  And the cooler temperatures mean they feed even better.

     Seminole is a one-of-a-kind lake in Georgia with its huge grass flats and stumpy water. So far south the dam is in Florida, it is like a Florida lake in many ways. The bass grow fat and spawn early in its warm waters.  And every bit of the lake looks bassy, like you should be able to cast anywhere and hook a hog.

     Unfortunately for the bass fisherman used to other lakes, looking good and being good are not always the same thing.  The sheer size of the grass flats often make it difficult to locate bass unless you have an idea what they are doing and where to start.  The bass are in the grass but you still have to find patterns within the grass to catch them.

     Seminole is right in the corner of Georgia, Alabama and Florida on the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers.  It covers 37,500 acres and has been famous for its bass fishing for many years.  Jack Wingate and his Lunker Lodge are one of the reasons for that fame and many happy bass fishermen have passed through his restaurant and dock over the years.

     Steven Wells grew up right on the lake in Faceville, and is kin to Jack. He loves to fish and was on the lake so much Jack talked him into guiding there.  Jack told him “As much as you like to fish you might as well let somebody else pay for your gas.”  Steven also manages Outland Plantation, a hunting preserve near the lake, so he gets to spend all his time outside studying nature.

     His time fishing paid off in another way this year when he married Pam Martin, a top angler on the Women’s Bass Fishing Association professional trail. She guides on Seminole out of Wingates with Steven when she is not off on the national tournament trail.  She and Steven share patterns, tips and fishing spots and help each other out on the lake.

     “If you are not fishing the hydrilla you are not fishing where the bass live, they get in the hydrilla,” Steven told me.  We were fishing on a hot early October day and he was showing me patterns and places that would be good in November when the water cooled down a little.

     In November you should start with topwater, then switch to spinnerbaits and lizards as the sun gets up,” Steven told me.  He likes to fish a topwater bait around the hydrilla early in the morning, varying his bait according to the wind.  If it is dead calm he throws a Mirror Lure topwater bait but if there is some ripple he switches to a Pop-R.

     “Throw the plug within inches of the grass mat,” Steven said.  You have to get it close to the edge, especially early in November when the grass is still thick.  Work it slowly in place, keeping it as close as possible to the grass while making it act like a hurt baitfish.  The longer you can keep it close to the grass the better your chances of getting bit.

     Steven chooses a silver plug and throws it using 12 pound Stren line.  The lighter line helps the bait work better and will still bet most fish out of the grass if they head back into it after you hook them.  You can also make longer casts which are needed if the water is real clear.

     Later in the month when the grass mat on top is breaking up, Steven will throw a buzz bait since it can be worked better.  He likes a white one and ties it on 14 to 17 pound Stren line. If the grass is thick under the water he uses the heavier line to horse big bass out of the cover.  The lighter line allows longer casts.

     As the sun gets up Steven will switch to a spinnerbait  and work it through openings and channels in the grass.  Some of his favorite places will have clumps of grass out from the main mat even early in November and he tries to run it right beside those clumps, too. 

     Steven always chooses willowleaf blades since they come through the grass better and he varies the color depending on the water color. White with silver blades is better in clear water and gold blades and chartreuse skirts are best in stained water.  The spinnerbait is fished on 14 to 17 pound Stren like the buzzbaits and for the same reasons.

     “Bring two packs of watermelon seed lizards and leave everything else at home and you won’t go too far wrong,” Steven said.  His go-to bait and what he uses most of the day is a Texas rigged Zoom watermelon seed lizard.  He uses a 1/8th ounce lead unless the current or wind forces him to go heavier since the slower fall seems more attractive to Seminole bass.

     Tie your lizard on 12 or 14 pound Stren since you will be fishing right in the grass.  If the water is heavily stained Steven will go to Junebug lizards and sometimes he dies the tails of both colors chartreuse. Lizard fishing is slow so he likes to start with topwater and spinnerbaits, but the lizard will produce all day long.

     “Cast the lizard right on top of the hydrilla and slide it to the edge, letting it fall when it hits open water,” Steven said.  You must watch your line carefully since bass hitting on the fall often don’t give much indication they have taken the bait.  If you see your line tick or move at all, set the hook hard to pull them away from the grass.

     Steven shared 8 of his favorite November spots with me and they will all produce fish this month. They are just a few of the hundreds of similar places but there are key things to look for.  Most of these are within a few miles of Wingates and Steven says some of the best fishing on the lake is a couple of hundred yards either side of the channel going in there.

     1.  N 30 47.355 W 84 43.050 – Upriver from Wingates at channel markers 13.8 through 13.3 the Flint River makes a sweeping turn across the lake.  Along the downstream edge of the channel the water is shallow and hydrilla grows in a thick mat all along it.  People use a cut-through behind a small island to run down to Wingates so sometimes there is a channel in the grass there.

     Start at the first red channel marker just downstream of the grass island and work the edge of the hydrilla all the way past the turn back up river to the third red marker.  The grass drops off deep here so you must cast topwater baits right to the edge of it.  Concentrate on any cuts or holes in the edge and try to work your topwater bait in it as long as possible.

     After the sun gets up switch to a lizard.  You may need a 3/16 or even a 1/4 ounce lead here if there is any current since you want the lizard to drop straight down the side of the grass.  The bass will hold all along the vertical face of the grass and suck in food, and your lizard, as it falls.

     Cast your lizard up on top of the grass and pull it off.  That insures it is as close to the wall of grass as possible.  Watch your line carefully. When it stops falling, make sure it is not a fish then twitch it to make if fall on down. If it is on the bottom twitch it a couple of more times then reel in for another cast.

     If you start here early, it is worth a pass with topwater then another pass with the lizard, especially if you catch a few fish on the first pass.  The fish may be scattered the whole length of the bed or concentrated in one place, so pay attention to where you get bites.

     2. N 30 46.736  W 84 44.381 – Just upstream of the Wingate cut there is a rockpile out on the old river channel where the ferry used to cross. You can see the old road bed on most maps.  The grass bed along this edge is another good place to fish.  The fish hold in the grass and also hold on the rocks and move into the grass to feed.

     Fish the outside edge of the grass here.  There is a wide band of grass and there is some open water behind it, but the best fishing in November is usually on the outside edge.  Work it with topwater first then come back with a lizard.  The water is not as deep on the outside edge of the grass here and a light sinker is usually best.

     3. N 30 46.397 W 84 45.351 – The poles marking the Wingate cut have grass around them out where they get to the river channel and this can be an excellent place to fish.  If you start upstream of the marker poles you should work the outside edge of the grass.  Below the cut there is a bed of grass on a ridge and it has water 9 feet deep on the back side of it.  This is a good place to work both sides of the bed.

     The outside edge has clumps of grass growing out from the main bed and a spinnerbait or buzz bait is good in that area.  The inside edge drops to 9 feet and a lizard falling down that drop is an excellent way to get a bass to bite.  You can fish down the outside edge then cut through and fish the inside edge going the other way to cover both sides.  If you catch a fish, concentrate on that area since there should be others nearby.

     4. N 30 46.143  W 84 45.710 – Further downstream out from a couple of docks and pontoon boats on the bank the grass bed  continues in closer to the bank.  The river channel is a long way away here and the big flat has some grass on it, but as you get closer to the bank you will find a thick ridge of hydrilla. There is standing timber out toward the channel but it will be well behind you when you are fishing the outside edge of the grass.

     On the outside edge clumps grow up well out from the mat.  This is a good area for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.  The inside edge has enough water to be worth fishing and the lizard should be better here.  Work all around the ridges of grass and fish both sides. Again, if you catch a fish work that area carefully since there should be others nearby.

       5. N 30 45.943 W 64 46.122 – Straight downstream from areas #4 you will see a red channel marker where the channel swings back across the lake.  Where it turns and runs down the bank is another good ridge of grass to fish. It is right along the channel and drops off fast.  Fish the outside edge of it, keeping your boat in the channel and casting to the edge of the hydrilla.

     6. N 30 46.036 W 84 48.063 – The Tractor bank is a well known local fishing spot.  It is called that because the DNR used to keep a tractor there to use in the management area.  You can follow the channel downstream then cut across to the north bank just downstream of a tall dead tree standing in the water. Be careful, there are a lot of stumps in this area and you need to find the clear area before running it if you don’t know it.

     You will see a point of land with a cove on the upstream side.  In the mouth of the cove is a small grass island and you will see a yellow sign on a pole out in the water upstream of it.  There are big grass beds all along this bank. Start fishing near the management area sign and work down the bank.   You can fish all along here, concentrating on areas where you catch fish.

     Watch here for scattered clumps of grass out from the main bed and fish them with spinnerbait, buzzbait and lizard.  It often pays off to drop a lizard down beside one of these clumps after running a buzz bait or spinnerbait through the area to catch a bass that is attracted by the faster bait but will not  hit it.

     There are also scattered stumps near the bank here so watch for them and cast to them.  You also need to keep your boat out in 10 feet of water or more when running this bank because of the stumps in closer to the bank.

     7.  N 30 45.550 W 84 47.903 – Back across the lake at red channel marker 7.3 a ridge runs out from the bank and hydrilla grows on it.  Fish both sides of this grass bed.  It runs down to channel marker 6.9 and there are several sand bars in the area.     This is a spawning area for bass and most of these grass beds are good in November because they are near spawning areas.  At Seminole bass are often moving near spawning beds to hold until the water warms, which can happen in January here.  When looking for similar places to fish keep in mind that you should look for fish near spawning areas.

     8.  N 30 44.134 W 84 51.837 – Down near the dam where the bank turns south, a huge area of grass runs all the way from the swimming area at Chattahoochee Municipal Park down to the Coast Guard station at the dam.  There is an old road bed running parallel to the bank and some real shallow places on it are marked by danger poles.  Grass grows all along the ridge the roadbed is on and also behind it.

     You could easily fish this area all day. Work both the inside and outside areas of grass.  This is a big spawning area full of sandbars so fish will be positioning themselves here in November.  Concentrate on areas where you catch a fish and look for keys.  Is the bottom a little deeper, are there cuts in the grass or is it a solid mat?  All those keys can point to concentrations of bass in similar areas.

     Seminole is a great place for a November trip.  It will be much warmer and the bass more cooperative than in more northern lakes if we have a cold month.  And just fishing legendary Seminole is a thrill.  Check out these patterns and spots and you will be able to find many more like them.