do you need the gas motor ? more weight. gas can.
seems like you are paying for that gas motor, and a lot? at that.
what trolling motor ? if it's not a good 40 forget it.
you want that to take over if your gas motor fails.

an older discontinued pelican rhino ( it is that one right?) by its-self, should not sell for more than say, $350.

A new pelican 10E $500 (mine was $450 on sale) + plus a $250 nice 45-55 new troller = $750. the $350 saved gets you the latest in smaller-display finders.

and after my first trips in the Pelican 10E, I'd prefer to not take anyone out on it. not really enough room to handle rods, stretch out, etc. just personal opinion.

I suppose I don't really need a gas motor, I just looked at it as a bonus. It is a 40#. Yes it is a Rhino.

I really appreciate the feedback timbertoes. Thank you!!

Thanks for the awesome report. Always good to learn about new water bodies! That place is only 7 years old, its 80ft deep, and they stock walleye?! What a crazy little lake. Also no wake entire lake is cool, how is it on the pond boat? Still a bit wide for rough wind I imagine...

I can't believe they have a 6.8lb largemouth record from 2011 if it was only impounded in 2007.... that's a huge growth rate for 4 years and it was caught in December! And no lake record for walleye... I may have to make a trip to try and chase lake records and get that off my bucket list. Plus me and my fishing buddy LOVE fishing vegetation and clear water so that place sounds like it is worth the trip for sure!

Does anyone use a foot controlled bow mount trolling motor? I've got the 8ft bassraider, I've decked the entire or should I say almost entire boat with plywood and carpet from edge to edge. I've been using a hand control TM and just ordered a motorguide 40pd foot control motor that mounts just as a hand control motor would mount. Wondering if anyone had any experience with something like that. Also have a recessed trolling motor tray coming. Great little boats.

Hello everybody, Ive been a long time member just don't post much anymore. but it looks like I am joining yall on the small waters. I sold my big boat a few years ago and work has really had me busy the last couple of years, BUT I just purchased a Pelican raider 8 from academy and will be hitting the small waters. Just wanted to say HI and hope to see some of yall out there. Im gonna put my TFF sticker on so say howdy if ya see me.

good deal, Ricky. have fun.

Wheeler walleye are tricky you read seasonal patterns but most are for up north. The toothy critters are packed in there once you get them dialed in. I probably have as many days as anyone out there after it opened. It has the potential to be a realy trophy sm and lmb lake as well as walleye and blue gill caught a giant gill on a sk 6xd last week. Here are a few walleye from the last two weeks. Oh and btw the record will soon go to 7 but I and many others will not risk killing a good bass for a small lake record the guy with the new record brought his own certified scales and promptly released it. I have several over 8 even last year there should be some of the first planted fish hitting ten now also have had smallies up to four lb but won't risk a bass for that either. They are trying to get certified scales at the gate great idea. they are the best eating fish in fresh water I manage some private lakes for trophy bass and normally the only fish I keep are culls out of there. I have been keeping some smaller eyes in hopes tpwd will see they are doing well and continue stocking them there is a fishable population for sure. I just pray with the clear water getting a little colder they are able to spawn. Put a smallmouth in from last week as well.

Oh ps if my bogas get re certified in time I'll have a pick at the lake record walleye.

Beautiful smallie!

Robert, I want to PM you, but you're over your limit of PMs.

the first is probably the prettiest one I've caught there have caught a bunch of them.

I had a learning experience today.

I was stitch fishing a drop off with a small worm. I casted the worm on top of the drop off and was pulling it off letting it free fall. If you have ever stitched fished before you know you have the line in your finger tips so you can feel everything so you can tell when the line pressure is off and it is free falling. The first time the line went limp as it drifted down off the drop but it took way longer than it should have so I set the hook. Nothing was there but when I pulled up the worm it was all in a ball. The worm and split shot was all tangled together. Some big momma had sucked it in and was moving it around in her mouth getting ready to swallow it when something tipped her off and she dropped it. I never felt a tug.

Four casts later it happened again. But this time, instead of reeling up all my extra line laying at my feet, I just held on to the line and swept back the rod. Nothing. The worm and split shot were all tangled up in a ball again. I never felt a tug.

This happend just as I was getting down to my last 15 minutes of fishing, I had to leave and my time was running out.

Five more casts to a spot twenty feet to the right. I was pulling the worm up a hump, watching the spot where my line entered the water as best as can be done to see any movement or jerk and after a 30 second pause I reeled it back the boat.

The worm and split shot were in a ball.

Big fish can pickup a lure, put it in their mouth and you will never know it happen.

Even for a stitch fisherman.

This thread had been viewed over 1300 times since I posted that.

Do any of you "stitch" fish?

I sure would like to talk with someone who does.

Stitch fishing/Bill Murphy/book .... goggle that if you want to know what I am talking about.

I will take it a notch up as far as stitch fishing goes. Try sailing a worm. I like to take a 7 inch power worm on a thin wire hook weightless in a heavy breeze and I cast out with no weight. I hold the rod tip high in the air on a slow action rod and let it quiver as I shake it and let the breeze pull the worm along. If you will really focus on the line you can see the slightest of ticks on it as it is going along. I have really caught a ton of bass doing that. My uncle was always like what are you doing different 20 years ago I tried to explain i was just shaking it. Ten years later they have "shaky head hooks" should have filed a patent lol. I am normally a power fisherman but when it gets tough I will definitely revert back to that. I is slow and painful but very effective.

Thank buddy but I am looking for someone who stitch fishes.

Anyone?