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List your off season upgrades


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What changes are you making to your boat before open water starts?

I picked up a new to me boat Halloween weekend. It's time to start customizing it to make it mine.

Yesterday I ordered a bunch of parts.

70lb 24V Powerdrive

Adding an automatic float switch to the bilge pump

SS prop

Onboard charger

Trim gauge

Still to add this year but undecided on models:

Rod holders for storage

Rod holders for trolling

April can't come soon enough.

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Got to fix the trim switch, find a better prop, order a new windsheild, swap out the Maxumm for a Terrova and add another HDS. Terrova and HDS are first on the list rest I can live with.

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I've got a bigger trolling motor and need to get a 12v plug-in hooked up for my handheld GPS. Would love a add a small downrigger, but that may have to wait.

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80# Terrova with iPilot and quick release plate for me. Also going to get new tires on the trailer. Next year it's new electronics.

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For those with a bit older boats, adding new seats makes fishing comfy and it also makes the boat "look newer". Got to get good ones though, and they are not that cheap. We put in Attwood Centric SAS and love them, but plenty $$...

Next year will be new Terrova with iPilot. Making sure all the bugs are worked out with two years on the water testing first wink

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For me, I think I'll be upgrading my bowmount motor this year to add i-Pilot ---- I've used it enough to know that I want one.

And I'm sending my stainless prop in to a custom shop -- there's a couple small dings that need to be cleaned up and I want to have the prop rebalanced. I'm also having the prop reworked and customized for my boat and motor combo. I was talking to the shop the other day and I'm getting excited to see what it does to the boat's performance!

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101 Terrova w I_pilot. Should be here Saturday.

Just bought a 2nd 997 with the NVB, interlink, weathersense and a 757C, just because I couldnt pass up the deal. Not sure what Im going to do with it though.

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I havent pulled the trigger yet,,, but the 1st thing on my list is a HB 1198csi for fishing Lake Superior ,,,I cant wait to see the structure Ive been passing over now for years

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80# Terrova with iPilot and quick release plate for me. Also going to get new tires on the trailer. Next year it's new electronics.

I forgot about the tires. Need to pick up a spare.

Thanks for the reminder.

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8'6 Light rod

Shimano Sahara reel

Replaced/added Lures/Jigs

Lindy Rig components (on sale... what up)

To upgrade still Prior to open water:

Obtain a boat (Cheap/affordable/but works)

Purchase a house (May have a negative impact on above goal)

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I got a new 798c si to go with my 788ci I bought last spring. Once they get interlinked it will be awesome. I definitely can't wait to get the 798 installed and hit the water to try out the side imaging on my local lakes. I was playing around with it the last couple nights in simulation mode.

Besides that I'm gonna build a couple casting decks in the back of the boat that will double as storage and maybe some better rod holders.

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Looking over equipment, in march i will be replacing all lines, I will need more trolling spoons for when L Superior opens up. I also need a new starting battery

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Nothing yet, but come the end of March is the Northwest Sports show and thats the place to pick things up at a good price. I will pick up a new heavy casting rod for northerns, 2 new linecouter reels for walleye trolling and probably 10 other things that I don't need, but can't live without.

I will also pick up 1 or 2 Tackle Industry musky rods, but they will be at the Musky Expo, not the Sports show.

I'm also going to upgrade 2 seats on my boat to Air ride seats. I'm sure some other upgrades will come up before summer.

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i will be adding whitecap splashguards to my boat in a few weeks and I cannot wait to get out and backtroll some leadcore!

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I havent pulled the trigger yet,,, but the 1st thing on my list is a HB 1198csi for fishing Lake Superior ,,,I cant wait to see the structure Ive been passing over now for years

That is awesome Randy, if possible it would be awesome to see a screen-shot of the bottom of the big lake! I can't imagine what you will find.

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Well first I have to fix a hole in hull from a deadhead on the pper miss!

Then for optima batteries, old onesare six years old still working well but time to upgrade

Minnkota Tallon,1198 SI Humminbird.

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I bought a new boat in October and the trolling motor is [PoorWordUsage], I will be putting on a new MinnKota Edge 70 lb's of thrust. I also need to put some rod savers in for the guy fishing in the back. I need to put a new prop on it, and just a general tune up. As far as tackle goes I am having a rod and a few reels repaired. Anyone have anything reparied at Wayzata Bait and Tackle? I don't ice fish, instead I buy tackle all winter. I have found a couple of cool companies that do custom stuff, so I am really looking forward to getting out and using it.

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Boat/Trailer upgrades:

Not a lot really, I'm probably going to put a swing tounge on the trailer so it can fit in the garage and/or driveway, reducing the need to drive 75 miles to go fishing which is good with the way gas prices are going. Otherwise everything else has been relegated to a strict wishlist status, but that list is as a long as my arm.

Tackle/Gear:

I'll be picking up a flippin' stick to go along with my second Caenan. I've been looking at the Shimano rods the last couple times I've been at big C and they feel pretty dang good! I'll probably pick one up at the NW Sportshow. I'll also be replacing lures that didn't make it back to the boat (or shore) last season.

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Well first I have to fix a hole in hull from a deadhead on the pper miss!

Then for optima batteries, old onesare six years old still working well but time to upgrade

Minnkota Tallon,1198 SI Humminbird.

Yea ya gotta love that river fishing. This reminded me of a time about 35 years ago when 2 buddies and myself were on the Minnesota heading out of Shakopee going to Carver and hit a sand bar south of the Rahr dischage pipe. We were in a beat up old john boat with the motor locked down and when beached it all but ripped the transom off the boat. So there we were standing in a foot of water on the Chaska side of the river looking for a place in which to climb the bank. Once we got to the top of the bank we had to cross the swamp by the Old Seminary get on CSHA 41 walk back to Shako town. After all who in there right mind would pick up 3 long haired looking freaks coverd in river mud and smelling like swamp gas. Grabbed a boat from an uncle run back down get our stuff. We got the motor but left the boat.

MR laugh

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"i just pulled the trigger of a ranger tiller. got to upgrade the depthfinder and add some rod holders.

iceman"

Pictures?? grin

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i just pulled the trigger of a ranger tiller. got to upgrade the depthfinders and add some rod holders.

iceman

Do tell more, 620T or 618T? Either one is a sweet ride with a ton of fishability.

I got a couple of new linecouter reels and a couple of 10' rods to go with them. My big upgrade will come later in the season.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      Hogs! Hogs!!!
    • MarkB
      My 2 cousins and myself just finished up a windy 4 day trip to our favorite lake. It was the last of the year and was eventful to say the least. When we arrived, water temperatures were 61 degrees and when we left yesterday morning the water temps had dropped to 54 degrees. The fishing was fantastic, once again, and we caught walleyes, bass, and northerns on minnows and crawlers(northerns only on minnows). We found the fish adjacent to shallow rock piles(14') in 20'-28' of water. Our best fishing hours of the day were ~5:30 -twilight in the evenings and until ~ 10:30 in the mornings. Although those two time periods were prime time, fish bit all day. For us, the bite was very light and we probably missed or lost as many fish as we caught. Some people think I'm nuts when I say bead color can make a difference and it certainly did this trip. My cousin's "go to" green/white bead combo did zilch on this trip. It was one translucent red bead and a plain size #2 gamakatsu hook with a 3' leader that produced the fish. We ended up with 137 walleyes and 19 bass for the 4 day outing. We caught far more 17"-19.999" walleyes on this trip than on our previous trips and our numerous slot fish measured from 21"-25". My younger cousin caught 4 slot fish in ~20 minutes one evening. We fish exclusively for walleyes and additional species are incidental. With that said, we caught some beautiful smallmouth bass on this trip and they were right down there with the walleyes, usually in the rocks. As usual, everything is catch and release except for the fish we eat while there and the 12 walleyes(3 individual limits) we take home to the wives. While cleaning some eaters we kept for supper, we always check the stomach contents. One of the walleyes had the jig that is pictured below loose in its stomach!  No attached line, no embedded hook, just the jig! It baffled us as to how in the world it could have gotten there . As you can see, the jig is in good shape so the fish must have swallowed it recently .   The boat traffic was minimal this trip and we had a couple days where it looked as if we had the lake to ourselves. Sunday was a brutal day with wind gusts to 50MPH!. We stayed in and ventured out finally at ~5:00. It turned out to be the best 2 hours of the entire trip. This time, the baby loons were around, the eagles were abundant, the changing leaves made the entire lake area look like a painting. If I could make only one short trip a year to the lake, now would be the time. What capped off the trip was the magnificent display of the Northern Lights. We can't wait for next spring to return, God willing, and, in the meantime, good fishing.  MarkB🙂 The jig found in the stomach of a walleye we ate.   My young cousin with his best of the trip.   a chunky 17" smallmouth   19.5" smallmouth
    • leech~~
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    • Wanderer
    • Brianf.
      What an amazing extended weekend. The fish were happy and cooperated nicely.   We also had the unique experience of fishing under Northern Lights each of the last three nights in pristine weather conditions.  I wish everyone could have that experience, even if just once.  The pics below don't do it justice, though you get the idea.  The walleyes are putting on the feedbag and some are getting rather plump.  We caught mostly slot fish with several 'overs' in our bag.  Our two biggest weighed 8lbs 5oz and 8lb 3oz.     The crappies were active at dusk and beyond.  Almost all of the ones we caught were 14" or bigger.  The biggest we caught was a bit over 15".  We lost two muskies at the boat and caught a 38" pike after dark - quite surprising.   Every fish we caught was immediately released btw.  Water temp 54/55 when we left.  All-in-all, another great fishing experience on Lake Vermilion - for which I'm so incredibly appreciative.        
    • JerkinLips
    • leech~~
      The price and the label.  It's that same exact gas.  
    • Finns
      I don't use gas anymore, what's the difference between them?
    • Fish Head
      Great to hear from you again Mark! I've always liked your posts over the years. 
    • leech~~
      Yep, it's just you know and I know every dad who takes his kids or family camping for the first time.  Is buying the camping gas no matter the cost, cuz it says "Camping" on it! 🤭🤭
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