BillM

That's the direction I'd be heading. You don't have a sonar on the boat with maps? If not pick up at least the Navionics boaters app for your phone. I wouldn't go out there blind.

Definitely a maintenance thing. Need to wash it with Nikwax or similar to restore the waterproofing. I do it once a year. Going on 5 years? Still as good as the day I got it.

Buddies are out today, blanking so far.

If you did that you'd be going northeast. Just look at a map, directly east of the lodge you'll see the Western Entrance and a bunch of really nice looking bays and shoals. Goodluck! Let us know how you make out, some amazing water up there.

Cabela's Guidewear here. Not cheap, but it pays for itself the first time you're out in a torrential downpour and you don't get wet. I also layer underneath it when muskie fishing in the fall. Awesome stuff.

You're pretty exposed out there. If it were me I'd head east and fish all those back bays/shoals on my way towards the western entrance.

You sure like to make assumptions when trying to prove a point. You can fall out of a big or small boat, it really doesn't matter. You ever set lines in rough water? A PFD is great for keeping you on the surface, but in cold temps it doesn't help with hypothermia. Your best bet is to get back on the boat. Without a tether, you've got zero chance of this. Talk about using common sense, lol.

That's quite the bonus of using a tether, especially in 40 degree water temps. PFD or not, you're done for out in the middle of Lake O if you can't get back to your boat.

Not really for making it easier for the thrown pilot to swim back? Huh? That's exactly why you wear one, lol.

Rinse your gear after a day of fishing and what you use now will be just fine.

I'm guessing more people are drowning then getting run over by their own boat. We lost a member here from exactly this. Out in the big water fishing by himself, went over board (maybe setting lines? who knows)

My answer is based upon the location the OP is fishing. In your case, I'd fish the deepest weed edges/rock transition points I could find.

Snot rocket males will be in the shallow stuff. The big females will be off the deep edges come August or out in the vast nothingness chowing down on all those oily fish (Herring, whitefish, etc)

Still terrible lol

Yeah, pricing in todays market is absolutely insane.

250lbs really isn't much of a difference. That's like having a buddy in the boat. I've got a Lund but I'd pick the boat with the best layout for you. Built in gas tank on the Crestliner would be a big plus as well. If you're fishing smaller lakes with crappier ramps I'd really consider a roller trailer and perhaps a Drotto which will make loading/launching easier.

Nowhere, 50-100mm of rain in the forecast. Bass can wait, lol.

What's wrong with a 25L tank in that boat?

Who keeps bumping 12 year old threads? FFS people.

Walleye guys probably catch more muskie then the idiots like me out fishing for them

Saw 62 degrees out in the big water near Honey Harbour on Sunday. Will be interesting to see what the bass are doing come the weekend.

It's always unfinished business out there

GBay muskie opener. No bass gear in the boat

Make sure your next TV is a Sony.

Shouldn't be hard to catch bass on Rice. No need for other people's waypoints.