Thread: Home-Grown Boating and Fishing Tips/Tricks

6. When fishing with other people no matter their fishing ability pay attention to what they are doing. Even subtle little differance can make the differance between catching fish and not catching any. There is something to be learned from everyone you fish with. So if they have been fishing for 3 months or 30 years watch and learn.

7. Do not be afraid of fishing new spots. I try to do this everytime I am out. Tell yourself to fish one new spot or area everytime out. It can pay off in a big way.

8- put as much of the trailer in the water to unload the boat if you don't back far enough it can be a pain and the boat can catch on the bunks and follow you part way up the ramp then slip off onto the ramp.

put as little of the trailer in the water as needed to load the boat, often times I see people with the trailer way to deep and the boat wont sit on the bunks. and they cant figure out why.

Originally Posted by beagle man

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put as little of the trailer in the water as needed to load the boat, often times I see people with the trailer way to deep and the boat wont sit on the bunks. and they cant figure out why.

This one is really important with cross wind and a lot of wave action. Just get the bow into the bunks and power your way up with the big motor onto the bunks.

9- Get your boat ready to go in the parking lot and don't block the ramp while loading gear.

10 - Learn how to trim your motor properly when at speed. A well planed boat uses less gas. It's also easier to steer and should track straight with your hand off the wheel at full speed.

11- Use the right prop. At wide open throttle your motor should run between 5000 and 5500 rpm. Too low and rpm puts undue strain on your motor and lessens it's life.

12- Running your boat at 4000 rpm saves 40% on gas.

13- If you idle through the trees or shallows a lot, remove your prop frequently to check for fishing line. This can tear up the seal on the outside of the prop shaft.

14- Treat every body of water you fish as if it has zebra mussels and clean your boat before going to another body of water. Treat bait buckets as if they contain zebra mussels and do not dump the water into the lake when you're done.

15- Wear your life jacket whenever possibel and always at full speed and in rough water. When it's cold out wear it to fish too.

When your motor won't start, check the simple stuff first--dead man switch. I embarressed myself Friday, was going to load it, couldn't start it, so pulled it up on the trailer. Halfway home, I wondered about the switch :-) that's what it was -- (me dummy)

Always remember fishing is supose to be fun(if your catchin them or not) It's not a job and a touney; it is to fish with people not against people; and to make friends and learn new techniques. I wish I could still be fishing with my Grandpa because there is so much more I could have learned and my son would have found him as interesting as I but thats all I need to say about fishing and life, you guy's be safe and never forget what it means to just be a friend!

After using the boat winch to load the boat on the trailer always hook up the safety chain just in case the winch comes undone.

Keep spare bulbs for boat lights in boat just in case they are not working when you get to the boat ramp.

Always check the water in your boat batteries at least a couple times per year.