[Matthew_Shirley]

Man – It was stupid ass Swolfest (which to their credit do raise a fair amount of money for good causes)… but the dock was slammed, and I didn’t do any recon on guides. I should. And will. Good advice and I will do this moving forward – If you go take the test, it sure is nice to know what grade the ‘smartest’ people in the class made. Tahnk you for taking the time to respond to my OP

[Matthew_Shirley]

Another Riptide Terrova user here. Nothing but great things to say. A few pointers:

I’d go as big as your boat will allow. They offer a 60″ shaft at 12V (55lb thrust). Do not do this.

I’d go 24V minium, and do some math using your boat specs (bow height, weight capacity) to decide if you can handle 36V and shaft length options.

Also, always pack spare batteries for your remote & a small screwdriver. We are all good about charging the trolling batteries, but that is useless if you don’t have power to your remote. As Devin says, “ask me how I know”

[Matthew_Shirley]

Any preference on outboard Devin? I know you’ve run em all but sure seems like that Merc did good by you (at least from where I sit). Curious to see what you choose.

Alternatively if it’s used, I’m sure you’ll deal with whatever.

But would like to hear your thoughts

[Matthew_Shirley]

matthew@

• This reply was modified 1 month, 4 weeks ago by  Matthew_Shirley.

[Matthew_Shirley]

Happy to get in a group text. I don’t have facebook (thanks Devin).

What is the best way to share phone numbers? Post email address in the group then email each other phone numbers?

Doesn’t look like there is a DM function on lafbelite (which i am fine with btw)

[Matthew_Shirley]

Appreciate the feedback fellas. Full planning report to come in the next day or two

[Matthew_Shirley]

I will be fishing Grand Isle Friday afternoon, Saturday AM, Sunday AM….. But agree. I remember last year a million boats went out early in the dark, ran everyone and back before noon with Nada to show for it.

Winds calmed down, and the smart guys relaunched and murdered them in the afternoon on the beaches.

Rising tide will be topping out relatively early in the day (approx. 0900 – 1000).

Ryan/Cliff – you guys have a VHF with range ? Happy to be on the horn with you this weekend.

[Matthew_Shirley]

Brotha – Check out all of Devin’s stuff on advanced inshore navigation. Specifically Google Earth Pro Desktop. Not the app. Google Earth Pro can be downloaded for free. Check it out

Do you have a GPS? If so what kind?

[Matthew_Shirley]

I’m obviously working hard over here at 15:18…. but, I love.. and I mean love, some kind of emblem/coded decal that says nothing of LAFB… but we all know what it means. I.e. the mermaid

[Matthew_Shirley]

[Matthew_Shirley]

Certainly could have tried drifting Lake Decade. And it is important to know if numbers are to be had there. But, I was more interested in exploring the ‘unkown’ than the ‘known’. If we would have whacked em in Decade, I wouldn’t have gained anything of substance from it – aside from the macro knowledge of trout location given conditions… which is important i get it. But, decided to push the envelope – if I was able to get on something in the south side of Sister Lake (or even further S), I would have felt I truly discovered something interesting.

[Matthew_Shirley]

Went on a guided trip years ago – Trebble hook through the tail. Guy was a psycho about it. Would absolutley flip his lid if the cork went down and we didn’t get a bite. This was the impetus for my LAFB journey by the way.

[Matthew_Shirley]

Heard on all fronts. And agree with you.

Plan, at least from my perspective was not to say “Fish are at X, come on!”

But more of general real time reports with elite members who will be at the same estuary at the same time.

No fishing spots. But overarching theme reports “beaches good, islands in the bay nothing, many redfish seen north toward Leeville, water clarity awful north of east grand terre, etc”

I’ve been promising a planning report and will deliver that soon

[Matthew_Shirley]

Thanks for the reply Devin –

Yes, I have every single track (fishing trips, safe routes, old island outlines, etc.) individually labelled.

I am a phsyco about it…

I know there is a way to export a single track….. It would help if I could power the unit inside my house — and brute force attack the software.

[Matthew_Shirley]

I often feel like some sort of physics researcher at a univeristy… testing hypotheses, deconstructing results, rinse and repeat until we can report some sort of earth-shattering discovery… . Your recent trip out of Beshel’s is an ultimate testament to this.