So it looks like I will be making the change from full time banker to fishing from a boat (if all goes as planned). I was wondering what I can be doing now to ease the transition. I have been considering some guided trips and I'm looking at fishfinders. Basically any tips at all regarding this transition are welcome!

Spend some time getting to know your new boat. Keeping it operating correctly can make your learning to fish from it much easier with less headaches.

If you get a fishfinder, I would suggest buying one with GPS capability.

First thing I would do is take a boater safety course and familarize myself with the rules of the water. Also, if you dont know how already, practice backing a trailer up.
If you're not familiar with boat operation, have an experienced boater show you the basics of operating a boat. It can get 'hairy' in a hurry on the water, if you aren't prepared.

know your boat as stated above, and equip for the worst case scenarios.

The joy of being able to run miles from the bank can quickly become fretful if say, you dont have a prop wrench, or an allen wrench to loosen the trolling motor bracket that causes the TM to be stuck in the deployed position.. or heaven forbid, a broken TM prop.. not that I ran into any of those situations when I had a boat...

maintain the boat(and trailer), so its not a hassle.. but rather, a means of arriving at that fishing hole with ease.

Set you some extra money aside because there will be certain items that by law, you will need to purchase such as life vests, a spotlight, rope for towing, ETC. Probably run around $200-300 for everything. When you register your boat, they will give you an information pamphlet that will tell you everything you need.

Take your time, but be efficient when backing in and putting your boat on the water. Practice a few times and develop a routine so you do become efficient and don't forget anything important such as forgetting to put your plug in.

Remember to always carry your cell, and maybe even store a charger on your boat if you have an outlet... you can install one for $10 if you don't. Never know when you may be stuck out in the water and need to call for help because your boat won't start.

Take your time when learning a new body of water... TX lakes are notorious from going from 20 feet of water to 2 feet or less... a lot of times that 2 feet will be in the middle of the lake. Even in a foot or less, there will be MANY times when the water is so muddy you can't see bottom. Take it slow for a while.

Great advise right there..

Absolutely take the course. And as you get used to launching get in a routine that does not change. Do it the same way everytime so you do not do things like others have said here. Nothing like jumping in Lake Norfork with a water temp of 39 degrees and the wind blowing 25 when you unhooked the front for some unknown reason. And like others have said - take it slow and easy, read the book with the motor and if does not have one download it from online. Have a tool kit, and include jumper cables. Congratulations and good luck.

Fish Catching Travel

I wrote a list of steps to load and unload my boat and use to follow it every time I loaded and unloaded with zero problems.

Since I have stop using the list I have forgot the plug, forgot a strap and had items blow out of my boat....

thanks guys, very helpfull stuff. I should probably look into a boater's safety course! Any idea where to find one around here snmcc?

You can take the boater saftey course online through TPWD and most insurance companies give you a discount if you take it. Plus it has a ton of knowledge that you need to know and will use.

As far as operation of your boat, I would get someone that is experienced to "show you the ropes", if your inexperienced. Learn the basics , get comfortable with your boat and then dedicate some time to get out and get some seat time in all kinds of conditions. Learn what your boat is capable of in case you get stuck out in some less than desirable condtions.

All in all, gain some knowledge and experience,make safety a priority, use COMMON SENSE, and enjoy your time on the water.

Congrats

pick one area and fish it, when I first got a boat I was like a kid in the candy store, barely wet my line before I moved to another spot.

Spend a lot of time on you're lake

If you have been in a boat a whole lot with someone who has experience then you should have learned a lot. If not get someone that knows the ropes to go with you a couple of times just to get the confidence you need.Go out on a lake you know a little about and just play it safe for a while.

EVRY ADVISE read here will save you $$$ and agony later. A fact that many miss out on. There are those with longrande insight that rarely make a mistake. There are those that have the power to learn thru others. There are those that learn thru the School of Hard Knocks and tere are those that just don't get it. When you ask for boater info combined with something else, everyone chimed in on boater safety first. LOTS of info to absorb, so take it in bite size chunks so you can stow the knowledge along wit your gear! If yer new to the water, I would take advantage of the low water levels to have an idea where to fish later when these structures are back UNDER water. More importantly, familiarize yourself with potential hazards that you can see now and hopefully avoid later.