I just purchased 2 group 31 Duracell AGM’s from sams for $390 to replace my old interstates. For what they were I thought the price was right.
I bought these same batteries 2 years ago and they have been great to this point, and the price through Sam’s is tough to beat.
Wife & I got in before the plague hit, damn lucky. Bought a 2020 Forest River product. Went to the RV show in 2022 where the queens play. Found the exact same model from a local dealer there, it was priced 27K more than what we paid, for the same camper, I was dumbfounded.
Pretty similar experience to yours, though we bought in spring 2021. We found the model we wanted and then I did a search online of all dealers within 500 miles that had that model in stock. I then reached out to each one explaining that I would be buying that model by the end of the week from whomever offered the best price and delivery package (ours is a destination trailer). Ended up saving significant money over buying from our local dealer, with free delivery to our lot. In 2021 our trailer was in the high 30’s, at the recent RV show at the convention center the same model is now low 60’s. Glad we bought when we did or we wouldn’t be in this trailer, because IMO it’s not worth anywhere close to today’s price.
I use lead core for cranks and started using the 50/2 method for trolling spoons. Both methods have a “known” depth position from charts. If using snaps weights for cranks how do you know where the crank is running? Use the 50/2 chart and add in the dive curve of the crank?
Spoons don’t dive so the chart is easy to follow. Maybe I’m over thinking it.
Exactly what you said, use the known depth for the snap weight and add whatever the dive curve of the crankbait you are using based on line out behind the weight.
I find that each option has it’s time and place, depending on a number of factors/conditions.
As has already been mentioned, the leadcore is much easier to read your baits as far as fouling. However, often times the snap weights will act as a guard or barrier to block weeds from getting to your bait.
When fishing alone, depending on rod length and lake conditions snap weights can also be a bit trickier to remove without risk of losing fish.
When fishing deeper water where letting out many colors of leadcore is required to reach the depths you’re after, snap weights can be advantageous for the simple fact that much less line out is required to reach the depth if using a heavy enough weight. In some cases this can mean more fish caught simply because your bait is in the right area for a longer amount of time, translating to more bites.
I’m interested in trying these snap weights. Is there a kit I can buy that’s a good go to. I see all sorts on the Google machine. I’ve never fished this way before
Not sure if they still make/sell the kit, but Church tackle used to sell a nice kit with releases and multiple size weights to be able to interchange.
Will be going out of our place on the SW corner, probably not going too far there while I test the recovery from my back injury. Most likely hit the lake at the crack of 9-10:00 am after cooking the kids a big breakfast. I expect the shallow bite to be pretty good this year.
All of our labs have loved being in the boat, we started them all young. They can be a pain in the butt at times, but we enjoy having them with us.
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I am going to make this a spinning rod, 6’6,” with a longer handle. I found that the longer handle made a big difference with the amount of leverage they can apply pulling the fish in. He just doesn’t have the wrist strength. Here is the 1st fish he caught on that 5’ <em class=”ido-tag-em”>bass rod with the lure me made together. I want to say I put a 10″-12″ handle on it.
That’s a great fish and pic! I like the idea of a bit longer handle on the spinning rod to give the kids more leverage, will definitely look into that on the builds for my younger kids.
I also picked up a bunch of lures this year but went the opposite direction with smaller and lighter. Something my son can toss with the 6’-6” rod I am making him. I don’t want all of those hooks flying by my head.
Harson, what rod did your daughter use for when she got her muskie?
My friend modified an older St. Croix to fit her by shortening the handle. I can’t remember the exact specs but it is roughly a 7′ rod, I would say about like a medium-heavy to heavy bass rod with more of a moderate action and a bass sized Shimano baitcaster. Spooled up w/ 50 lb. braid it worked very well for her to cast smaller muskie baits. I actually use it myself sometimes to throw larger swimbaits for walleyes and it performs well for that.
I’m thinking of building something like you’ve mentioned above for the younger kids so that they can use their baits too and think that the 6’6″ would be ideal for length, but will probably be a spinning rig as they aren’t quite ready for the baitcaster.
Attended for the first time in 3 years, I liked this venue better, felt like it had a lot more room to move around in the aisles. My kids had a blast with all the activities for them which meant less time for shopping for me (probably a good thing). The lure making area is great as it really gives the kids a great way to get involved. My 2 youngest got to make their own baits for the first time. The fish pic is with my oldest and the fish she caught on her bait made at the expo a few years back, so awesome for her to catch one on a bait that she painted!
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Sad news for sure BK, he was certainly a great guy and a real ambassador for the fishing community
I ran a spread with both cranks up higher behind planer boards and leadcore last weekend and the cranks behind boards far out fished the lead. Going to give it a shot this weekend too if I can convince my kids to leave the beach for a while so we can fish
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Ha that’s awesome! Truly a fish of a lifetime
One of my six year olds caught his first musky too this weekend. Looks like he got showed up by a girl
(Forgive his hold in the pic, he didn’t get raked and the fish swam away with a splash lol)
Awesome catch and great job with the hold, the fact that at 6 he’s comfortable holding a muskie on his own is impressive, it was all I could do to get her into the picture with this one.
Think about making a replica with photo attached. I did that for my son and he smiles every time we look at it together.
That’s my plan, have to get momma talked into it, but I think I have a solid partner to help me convince her
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tony Hanson wrote:</div>
Although with the lucky horseshoe that she seems to carry around, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.Does she need a partner? Nice fish
She’s accepting applications, but has a pretty long list going in our campground already
Wow, cool. How long? Not a real skinny fish either!
It was definitely healthy for this early in the season, she was 54” so now I have my work cut out for me to catch up to my daughter. Best part is my wife got it on video so we’ll get to rewatch it for years
Find the weeds in Cass and you will find the fish, walleyes are in there all year. Plenty of fish on the traditional deep structure usually as well, really depends on how you like to fish, and as others have mentioned, the panfish in Cass are generally a great option as well.
Sold, please delete
I bought an ’07 new and it has the 150 optimax. Still have it as it has been flawless in the years I’ve owned it. I’ve got around 700 hours on the optimax and the only things I’ve done are routine maintenance. Performance is definitely sensitive to the load you’re carrying. With light fuel and minimal gear, the best I ever saw was 49.9 mph. After adding a kicker, anchor, and a ridiculous amount of gear, more typical top end is 44-46. Hole-shot definitely suffers with added weight, whether gear or people. I’ve tried a number of different props, but the best all around for me and my typical usage has been a 17p rev4. This balances a great hole-shot even with a load, along with great mid-range response, fair top-end, and does well with pulling my kids on tubes. Let me know if there are any specifics you have questions on and I’d be happy to answer.
It’s about 9-10 years old and I’m in St. Michael MN
I’m having the same problem.
Sold, please delete.
Where are you located?
St. Michael, MN
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tony Hanson wrote:</div>
After 2 years we decided that this is definitely what we like, so we just sold our RV and ordered a Park Model. We realized that cabin ownership was just not something that was going to work for us, both financially and from the maintenance standpoint, so the seasonal thing is great for us. We go nearly every weekend from mid-April through October and also stay for a week at a time once or twice a summer.I could foresee myself doing this. I don’t really have the interest or time to maintain 2 properties but a park model with a seasonal pass at a resort where someone mows the grass is a great alternate option. What resort is your park model at Tony?
We are at Edgewater, it’s a very small place without some of the amenities of the larger resorts, but it has everything we need and love that it’s a quick trip from our home in the NW metro.
Our family used to rent a cabin for a week every summer, usually Cass Lake area. Two years ago we decided to buy an RV and rented a seasonal lot at Mille Lacs since it’s only about an hour from home. We bought used to decrease investment in case we (or our kids) didn’t like it. After 2 years we decided that this is definitely what we like, so we just sold our RV and ordered a Park Model. We realized that cabin ownership was just not something that was going to work for us, both financially and from the maintenance standpoint, so the seasonal thing is great for us. We go nearly every weekend from mid-April through October and also stay for a week at a time once or twice a summer. Works great for us and the whole family loves it.
I can’t comment on price, as mine was already installed by the dealer when I bought the boat. I can say that after 13 years on my 1860, there is almost no visible wear on the keel guard. I beach my boat on sand just about every weekend in the summer and have beached numerous times on rock shorelines in Canada and it has held up very well (note that on rock I look for as flat and smooth of rock as possible).
Black lab with the grouse is Daisy, we lost her a little over 5 years ago and this was the last bird I shot over her.
Yellow lab is Milly, she’ll be 7 next week and these were from her first pheasant hunt with Daisy’s help 6 years ago.
The little Black lab is Rainy, she just hit 6 months old and this was her first trip to the game farm.
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“Bring your boat.Except for some slabs of ice floating it was wide open a few days ago cant imagine there been any improvement”
I drove past on Monday and it was just as you said, mostly wide open with a bit of shore ice where the wind wasn’t blowing and breaking it up.
I’ve never used them in the winter, but have stayed with Linder’s Hideaway Cabins for open water and highly recommend them.
