Bass & Walleye Boats articles from October 2005

Bass & Walleye Boats archives from October 2005

Preparation vs. luck.(sport fishing)
October 1, 2005... Whether you're tournament fishing or just fun fishing, preparation is the key to success--and that goes for both fresh- and saltwater species. Preparation includes time on the water, or in tourney lingo, "prefishing;" developing a strategy and...

Here's to Hydro-Tec.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I first want to apologize to Hydro-Tec for the accusations made by Joe Raimondo in last issue's Shop Talk letter, "Hijacked by Hydro-Tec." I do not know this person, but I do know a number of people at Hydro-Tec. Over the last several years,...

Playing favorites?(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... After reading "The Main Event" in the June issue, I was really surprised that BWB would print such propaganda. How, with an honest face, can you call this a "hot-rod shootout," when the only hot rod was the Merc? The Yammie is truly stock out...

Trolling-motor shootout.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I just wanted to let you know that you guys are producing the most interesting and informative boating magazine on the market. Keep up the good work. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] And speaking of interesting, how about trying something...

More and better trolling power.(Electronic Fisherman)
October 1, 2005... Trolling motors that operated at both 12 and 24 volts used to be king. Now, nobody makes them. So when one dies, it is usually replaced with a new, more efficient 24-volt model. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two...

Performance service.(Seat Time)
October 1, 2005... It's high summer as I write this, and that means there's hot, humid and heavy boating activity on my local lake, as well as others across the country. As anglers know all too well, service is at a premium during these times. When the rig's...

Breathe easy, move fast.(boat trailer cars)
October 1, 2005... Boaters are always looking for ways to squeeze a little more power from their tow vehicles. To do so, most people first think about playing with computer chips, programmers or aftermarket "cat-back" exhaust systems. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Fastest bass boat crowned.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... It was a longtime coming, but when David Shook of Hendersonville, Tennessee, finally got his title shot in April, he made it count. Screaming across Florida's Crescent Lake in his Merc 2.5 Drag-powered Allison XB2002, Shook smashed the existing...

BWB welcomes new art director.(Around the Dock)
October 1, 2005... If the pages of BWB have a slightly different look to them this issue, there's good reason. We've hired a new art director, Mark Bertrand, who brings to the table eight years of design experience. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bertrand has...

Great lakes cleanup plan proposed.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Federal, state and local officials have proposed a long-term strategy to help solve serious issues facing the Great Lakes, such as the invasion of exotic species, habitat degradation and toxic pollution. At presstime, a partnership released a...

Humminbird, Navionics honored at MAATS.(Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... At this year's Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), the Las Vegas sun may have been heating up sidewalks, but indoors, several hot, new products were burning up showroom floors. In July, the National Marine Manufacturers...

Extension handle takes the hassle out of tiller steering.(Finders Keepers)
October 1, 2005... Don't get rid of your tiller handle just because it's too short; lengthen it with a HelmsMate extension by Ironwood Pacific Outdoors (800/261-1330; ironwoodpacific.com). The popular U-model tiller handle ($49.95) works on outboard engines up to...

Tackle earrings can reel women into fishing.(Finders Keepers)
October 1, 2005... How can you lure your leading lady into fishing? Try giving her a set of FashionTackle earrings by Adventus Products (952/924-2460; fashion tackle.com). The earrings are made from actual lures and spinners that attract a wide variety of fish...

Stow your rods when towing.(Finders Keepers)
October 1, 2005... So, you've got Plano boxes, tackle-storage compartments, rod holders and even drink holders to make sure you've got a place for everything and everything in its place on your boat, but where do you slow your sticks in your vehicle when you're...

Stabilizer counteracts sway on leaf-spring-equipped vehicles.(Finders Keepers)
October 1, 2005... If your tow vehicle has leaf springs, chances are the RG Stabilizer by RollGard Performance Suspension (888/880-8949; amtechsprings.com) will vastly improve its ride when towing. The company claims its patented Counter Spring Technology damps...

Compact competence: Garmin GPSMAP 178C Sounder; This unit combines electronic mapping and dual-frequency fishfinding in one compact offering.(Fishfinder Test)
October 1, 2005... Throughout the years, Garmin (913/397-8200; garmin.com) has offered the GPSMAP 178C Sounder in two versions: one with a built-in GPS antenna and one with a separate GPS antenna module. Our test unit's built-in antenna delivered gripe-free...

Battleships aluminum: five hot aluminum bass rigs square off to see who's best.(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... When editor Steve Quinlan and I converged on Missouri's Stockton Lake last spring to conduct an aluminum bass-boat shootout, I debated the amount of excitement I'd feel, especially when the hottest of the quintet was only supposed to top out in...

Foul-weather angler: we test Stratos' 201 ProXL in some of the snottiest conditions imaginable.(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... 'I was a long time coming, but we finally got the call from Bombardier that the production E-Tec 225 H.O. for our Stratos 201 ProXL project boat was in transit to John's Custom Marine in Stanton, California. The minute we got the call from...

The Abcs of tiller handling: pro tips to help you catch more fish through better boat control.
October 1, 2005... Walleye pro Jimmy Bell has more than a decade of tournament experience, netting Rookie- and Angler-of-the Year titles, eight major championship qualifiers and three national tournament wins. Much of his on-water time has been spent with a...

Current choices: 2005 marine battery buyer's guide; Selecting a battery still means balancing size and weight against starting power or trolling-motor running time, but new charging technologies are challenging old perceptions.(Buyers Guide)
October 1, 2005... Conventional wisdom has long recommended powering your trolling motor with the largest deep-cycle batteries that you can fit in your boat without unbalancing it. You have read in these pages that a tape measure is often more useful than a...

Silver lining: Yamaha offers improved tiller controls and digital instrumentation for 2006.
October 1, 2005... Over the years, Yamaha has been one of the more prolific companies when it comes to introducing new and bigger models and accessories. Yet, as we learned at the company's recent 2006 press intro, we won't be seeing bigger, more powerful silver...

Beneath the surface: metalflake gelcoat repair requires plenty of patience, but isn't as difficult as you might think.
October 1, 2005... OK, so you've scratched the metalflake on your new boat, or you've got a few battle scars on the one you've had for years. No problem. We're about to walk you through the process of repairing scratches in metalflake gelcoat. But we've got...

Flying high: Fisher's Hawk 186 Sport offers bass and walleye anglers uncompromising quality at a very fair price.(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... When Fisher Boats introduced its all-welded Hawk 186 Sport last summer, we were among the first to test it on Missouri's Table Rock Lake during Tracker Marine's press intro. It was a hot, balmy day with little wind and little to no chop on the...

First-class flats: the Suzuki-powered Action Craft 1890 strikes a good balance between economy and performance.
October 1, 2005... You feel a bit different running a true flats boat when you're used to flighty bass boats with their nose-high attitude. At least we did after we got the feel of the Action Craft 1890. Like most flats boats, the Action Craft likes to be trimmed...

Time to trade up?(boat maintenance)
October 1, 2005... I own a 2000 Javelin Renegade 19DC and currently run a 2000 Johnson 150 with a 23-inch-pitch Renegade prop. The boat runs approximately 59 mph (GPS) with a full tournament load at 5500 rpm. I tried a 25-inch-pitch Renegade and my rpm dropped to...

Straight Shooter?(boat maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Can I have an OMC Shooter 27-inch prop rehubbed for my 1997 Mariner Super Magnum on the back of my Gambler Intimidator II? I have a hydraulic jackplate, and am presently turning a 25-inch Predator Beast up to 6550 rpm running a little over 72...

Wacky tach.(boat maintenance)
October 1, 2005... My tachometer just recently began to "peg" out at 7500 rpm at wide-open throttle (WOT) but gives the correct reading at idle and midrange speeds. The tachometer shows no indication of variance at any other point and the needle is steady at all...

Aluminum boat performance.(motorboat maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... You guys have done numerous stories on jackplates on fiberglass boats. I was wondering if one could benefit my aluminum boat. I have a 2005 Lund 2000 Fisherman with a Mercury 225 OptiMax. According to my digital SmartCraft monitor, I'm turning...

Spring in his step.(Shop Talk)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... I am a longtime subscriber to Bass & Walleye Boats, but I have a problem that I have not seen addressed. I have a 1991 Lund ProV Deluxe (18 footer) with Merc 135 and 8 hp motors, and front and rear trolling motors. The starter battery is in the...

Worth the weight?(motorboat maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... My dad has a 1997 15-foot Javelin bass boat that came with an Evinrude 50 on the transom. He'd like to upgrade to a 70 since that's what it's rated for. He originally thought a four-stroke was the way to go, but in talking to a nearby dealer,...

Fighting tiger.(Hot Rigs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2005... When Eric Harris is not in court practicing family law, he's out on the lake fishing for the elusive largemouth bass. "It's therapeutic," declares the attorney from Missouri. Harris' therapy sessions take place on a 2005 dual-console Ranger...

Interdependence day.(boat ownership)
October 1, 2005... I hate to be the one to deliver the news, but boat ownership doesn't necessarily guarantee independence. In most cases, it creates a unique interdependence between you--the boat owner--and any number of other people who have a direct or...