School and work has kept me from making the big leap from bank to boat since I first got boat fever at age 17, 8 years ago. Am now the proud owner of a black 1996 16' G3 w/ 40hp Suzy. She is well broken-in, and will require much TLC to get her back into great shape.

Wife and I are thinking about putting in at Paul Jones park on Ray Hubbard for a test drive & try the crappie under the PGBT bridge. Any other suggestions on a relatively sheltered place to cruise around?

Yeah, I've pretty much been a lurker and been fishing vicariously through friends reports and everything folks post up here. Gets me through the day! Guess it's like a "virtual thump". Hope to bump into some of you on the water.

One little area I can think of is to put in at the Chaha ramp across the highway from Bass Pro and drive east until you pass the bridge (not very far.) Stay on the north side of the bridge and you have a pretty good area to cruise around without much clutter. There are stumps near the ramp until you get to the bridge so idle along there for a while.

There is a great ramp in Heath. It has two docks and not far frome some nice coves.

Thanks MUDDOG and Phillcat. Engine was idling at dock and overheat alarm went off. So back on the trailer she went. Replaced bad impeller last night, but no improvement. So the troubleshooting begins...