Well its getting to be that time of year to start thinking about that extra pile of money we stick in our boats this time of year. Anybody adding anything this year? Anybody recommend something to add? I highly suggest looking at the Smooth Moves Seat Mounts. Smooth Moves 
These are great seat mounts guys. I have two of them in my Lund boat and they are super. Absolutely a must!
Thanks, Bill
Another must have item to put in your fishing boat are some great St. Croix rods. You even have 2 choices being the factory made rods or the custom made rods with St. Croix blanks.
Thanks, Bill
If you don’t feel the fish before he feels you then you need some sensitive St. Croix rods.
I bought a x67c for ice fishing, and to mount on the trolling motor of the boat. I am looking forward to seeing fish marked in color. My other finder is a fishmark 240, and hope they don’t interfere with the other 
. I also hope to get up to Park Falls for some of those rods at a discount of course 
.
I’m going to be adding one of the new Raymarine digital color fishfinders in the back near my T-8 since I spend a lot of time sitting back there backtrolling. I’ve been a Lowrance user for years and still am but those Raymarine digital units have some fantastic screen resolution.
– Well I’d like to put a finder on the bow. I’m tempted to go all out (for me) and get an LMS-332c.
– I’d also like to get a Navionics chip.
– Some mapping software for the PC.
– Also thinking of getting a drift sock to slow me down when trolling cranks.
– Then 3-4 new rods for walleyes as most of my stuff is for bass.
There, that should waste about $1500-$2000. I think I’m going to have to rob a bank or something. 8^) Don’t tell my wife.
I’d also like to take a guided trip on Mille Lacs and one on Pool 4 to learn some spots to fish on the big lake and the river and to do it safely before I strike out on my own.
Big plans, limited resources. Sigh.
I bought some rod holders and a bigger drift sock for my Fishhawk. Now all I need to do is figure the absolute best place to to drill the holes for the flush mounts. Don’t want to install them then wish I put them somewhere else when I start to use them this spring 
No do overs on this one so if there are any shared experiences I would be appreciative.
Have you considered adding rails and going with rail mount holders?
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Have you considered adding rails and going with rail mount holders?
I bought 4 holders and have a pretty good idea of where the back two will go. Basically in line with the seat post on the back casting platform. Thought about rails but had some interferance with back side cleats and gas fill so a single point mount made more sense.
Biggest question is where is the best spot for the front two
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Have you considered adding rails and going with rail mount holders?
I bought 4 holders and have a pretty good idea of where the back two will go. Basically in line with the seat post on the back casting platform. Thought about rails but had some interferance with back side cleats and gas fill so a single point mount made more sense.
Biggest question is where is the best spot for the front two
I am going to install rails on my Mr Pike, you should check them out at Cabelas, that way you can move them back and forth if needed.
KLH
does a 05 lund pro-angler 17 
count?
Jim
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Anybody adding anything this year? Anybody recommend something to add?
Color fishfinder, GPS or combo! Color has become much more affordable and with the closeouts available now even more affordable. Number two on the “gotta have it” list would be the new Navionics Premium map. It’s improved my time on the water incredibly.
I’ve got to put a Bimini top on the boat to try to keep the sun off my wife and kids better. I know the thing can get in the way but it’s gotta be done.
Can’t wait for warmer weather! 
When I bought my Magnum 175 last summer I got to demo a proto type hydraulic steering system ( Merten System )on my boat. I’ll be getting a production unit soon.
It’s a bit spendy but for you guys who run big tillers and especialy if you have a bum arm/shoulder this thing ROCKS !
If you get a chance to demo drive a boat set up with this system by all means do it. They did demo rides in a few different places in MN , WI and I belive the Dakotas last year.
My list is a little different from most of yours. I started building my boat 9/2003 and “had it ready” for water 9/2004. I said “had it ready” becasue it wasn’t 100% complete, but I had to use it last season and chose to leave many of the interior details until this spring. Here is my list…
– finish the console (fiberglassing the console exterior and paint)
– make a windshield for the console.
– install an 11 gal permanent fuel tank
– build an anchor locker
– Install the new electronics
– and about 50 other small finishing things…
Happy 1st day of spring to all of you! 
Dan
Dan, are you saying you built your own boat? 
I would truely love to see any photo’s you may have, it really amazes me some of the projects that people take on!
Wish I had some talent…….
I’m replacing my ’93 evinrude 50# trolling motor for a 2005 Motor Guide Tour edition. It has 82# thrust and should push my Lund pro-v 1775 along real well. Fishing on the Mississippi can really require power from a trolling motor. Anyway it better be good because it’s a done deal!
Brian,
Yes, I did. By accident, I stumbled upon a few interent sites that offered boat plans. At the time, I was starting to look for a used boat. I fell in love with the idea. After much internal “can I really do this” thinking and selling the spouse on the idea, I pulled the trigger. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Not including my time and effort, I have about $3800 invested so far (boat and trailer). I already owned an engine.
It was a great family winter project and no special tools or skills are required.
Here are some older pictures of my boat. I should have some new pictures soon (with the finished interior).
Check out these boat plan sites:
Dan
Awesome boat Dan. I am also a center console guy. Nice striper too..
Are you near salt water?
Dave
Great lookin boat, now I want to make one of my own. Maybe next year.
Great job!!
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Awesome boat Dan. I am also a center console guy. Nice striper too..
Are you near salt water?
Dave
Thanks Dave.
I live in Norfolk, MA. I have live here for about 10 years after relocating from the Chicago area. It is located near the Massachuesetts/Rhode Island border. This is a great area to live for fishing. Within an hours drive, I can fish just about any area of the MA, RI and some of the CT sea shore. Some areas are about a 25 minute drive. Additionally, there are many excellent freshwater lakes within the same 60 minute drive perimeter. Saltwater fishing is by far the most popular in this area. From May through early November, the local waters are filled with Stripers, Bluefish, Fluke (a summer flounder) and Sea Bass. The striper in the picture is actually a sub-legal fish. The minimum is 28″. If I recall, that fish was about 26″. Fun regardless. A good striper in this area is a fish in the 35″ range. It is not uncommon to get 30lb fish. Last year I saw pictures of at least 3 50lb striper pigs.
Given that, I still love to fish freshwater. The local lakes are full of large and small mouth bass, sunfish, perch trout, and pickeral.
A couple of years ago, I was asked to go striper fishing by a friend. Since I had never done it before, I asked him to come to my house and help me select some gear for the trip. Since this was a “light tackle” outing, I expected to use my walley or bass gear. After looking through everything, my friend pointed to my musky gear. “Use those. They are a little light, but should be ok” he said. We didn’t get any stripers on that trip, but we did get into a bunch of bluefish. They all ranged from 7 to 12 lbs. I remember being surprised by the strength of those fish. I couldn’t believe that I was getting 15+ minutes fights from fish less than 10 lbs. I was hooked.
I can’t wait for sping. We got another 8″ of snow last night.
Thanks Ritt. It is a great project and highly addictive. It was something I had to do at least once in my life.
Dan, you are quite the craftsman.
That is one of the coolests boats I’ve seen.
Dan,
Well done!
Thanks for the photo’s.
Hi Dan-
I watched the slideshow and was in ahhhh.
Nice job. What a great boat. Has to give a guy a sense of pride floating around in the water in a rig that cool constructed with your own hands.
I appreciate the kind words. The day I stepped on board, fired up the engine and got her up on plane is one of those days in my life that I will remember forever.
Hi Dan,
I went the opposite direction, from East Coast to Midwest. Every June I go back East and fish for stripers in your backyard… Martha’s Vineyard. Striper fishing is highly addictive; I keep my freshwater time filled by catching freshwater hybrid stripers and white bass.
I grew up messing around on center consoles (70’s whalers) and I had a heck of time finding a center console boat in Iowa when I was ready to purchase one.
Yours is a beautiful, beautiful boat… time to sell it and build another!
Take care,
Dave
Thanks Dave. To say it is addicting is an understatement. I experienced my first bluefish “blitzes” last fall….WOW! For those that don’t know what this is, imaging a large school of 4-12lb 28″ fish breaking the surface feeding on anything in site. Now imagine this occurring in an area of 1 to 2 acres around your boat.
Selling and building another (not necessarily in that order) will be the plan at some point in the future.
The value of the center console is realized when your fighting a fish and you need to chase it around the boat. The funny thing is that side consoles are becoming more popular out here and they think they just invented them.
Happy spring to all!
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