Those arms look pretty slick. I still have the float on my 22! I am going to try the arms this next season and wondered if you made them for the Vex 22 and how it attaches?? Thanks Shane!

The saga continues.
I got the replacement unit today. Hooked it up. It did the same thing the other one was doing. Bouncing around. I got to thinking and moved the transducer cable on the back of the unit where it connects. It lost connection. I played around with it and finally decided there was a short at the connection. I had recently installed a new DD100 (shows digital depth and battery power) on the unit and when you do this, you have to pigtail into the transducer wire connection. I unhooked the DD100 and hooked up the transducer direct to the back of the unit. PROBLEM SOLVED!! Works perfect!!
Now, I sit back down and write Pat a quick note letting him know I solved the problem and he writes back:

John, I’m glad you were able to figure it out. We’ve only had about a dozen failures of the DD-100 and I just received one yesterday from a customer with the same concern. It was, indeed, a bad connection where the transducer connects. Whatever is easier for you, send it to us or get it back to the original retailer. They or we will take care of the problem and get you a new one.

Sooo, guess there are some issues with the new DD-100 now!!

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John,
Wish I had “the” answer for you.
Voltage was my first thought, even before I read that you were heading it back to the factory.

My thought is “GET THEM ON THE HORN!” Name , numbers, dates.

John, you know how to document things, right? Right.

Hoping the best for you my friend,
Denny O

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Thanks Denny! Good to hear from you! I gave them a call this morning and was able to speak to who Pat referred to as “the boss”, he couldn’t figure out what the problem is or why the new motor didn’t fix it. He told me that it wouldn’t be the brushes causing this type of issue. So, after telling me several times that he didn’t know what to tell me he said he was going to send me out a new unit and that I was to send him back my old one. Told me he needed my credit card to do this in case I didn’t send the old one back. Seemed more than fair to me and much above average customer service! The reason I stick with Vexilar after all these years. Sure hope the new one solves my issue. Stay tuned!

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I would check the power. use a volt meter to test voltage of everything including the port that plugs into the back of the unit. Voltage should be the same as battery. A good battery will read 13v or just over and when drained about 11.5.
I notice issues with the bottom moving when the batt is about shot.

May not be the cause but its somewhere to start.

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Mine is showing 12.59.

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Sorry to tell ya but you need to do a better job explaining to us what the unit is or is not going for you.
Rocking back and forth, something is louder and a click or something…

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The rocking back and forth thing refers to the display not showing an absolute bottom or target between the top and the bottom. The flashes on the screen don’t stay at the position they should, instead, they rock back and forth and this can be as much as a foot and half on the ten foot scale. The noise it makes is not the typical Vexilar hummm when in high power mode. There are a few extra clicks with the hummm. In low power, all seems to be good! Hope that helps.

You got to love neighbors like that. Reminds me of one of my own. Just one of those that thinks the world revolves around him. Sounds like you have the same type and I understand your concern about reporting him. Sounds like he may also be the bully type like my neighbor. I can’t think of a good answer for you. I have a feeling if you reported him that it wouldn’t matter anyway. He would continue to be a poacher. I have a feeling if I were you, I wouldn’t be able to stand it and would talk to the local game warden and let him know your fear of him retaliating against you. Maybe the warden would have an idea to make it look like you weren’t the one that complained. Be interested in the results. I hate game law violators. Don’t they know there is a reason for the laws we have? I am guessing, they just don’t care! My neighbor, just the other day, had his friend park completely on my grass in my back yard next to the alley. He knows how much I try to protect my lawn. I know some people don’t care about such things but I do. Anyway, I went over and said something like, I know your vehicle isn’t hurting anything because it has been very dry but would you mind moving it off my lawn? The reply was “that’s not hurting anything!” I told him that I am protective of my lawn and he said so was he! Well, you would have thought he would of understood then but he didn’t. I told him I wouldn’t park on his lawn! People are just stupid! Don’t care about anyone elses property and act like they are the ones that pay taxes on it etc. Some people just have never grown up and like I said before, think the world revolves around them. Will be interested to hear the outcome of your predicament.

Well, what I thought was going to be the cat’s meow is starting make me wonder if it may be more like the dog’s bite! Not sure exactly what to say here but I have now fished the 4, 8 and 12 pound. The 12 for me was just to stiff for throwing finesse worms. I still think it may be a good crankbait line. I like the castability of the 8 and 4 but my big concern is break offs! I have been tying the Nano or double palomar knot as suggested. When it breaks, and it often does, it is usually at the knot. Fishing crappies and yellow bass last night. I probably caught 30 fish with the 4 pound on a 5 foot IMX Loomis with a Shimano 1000 Stradic MG set with a light drag. I must of had 5 break offs after I got the fish in the boat. I would go to grab the fish and the 1/32nd oz jig would break off the line at the knot. The one thing I didn’t do was peel of 6 or so feet and retie higher up the line but I have been noticing this problem for awhile and last night made me wonder why I was using it when I know there is lines out there that don’t break like the Nano does. Then, I remembered how much I enjoy casting the stuff! No, it’s not the cat’s meow! Back to the drawing board Berkley! PS. I am truly one of Berkleys biggest fans but, like everything else, Nano has its limitations I guess. Anyone else have similar experience

Impressive to say the least!! I love to catch smallies! Would love to find a place to go to catch them like that. I live in SE Iowa and we just don’t have them like that anywhere near here and usually make an annual trek to northern Wis. to chase them. If anyone wants to give me a hint or tell me of a great smaller lake to catch them out of please send me an email [email protected]. My mouth is still drooling after watching that!

I just am not much of a canoe guy. Knees just won’t take it anymore. Thanks for the tip on NE Iowa though. Would be very interested to hear whether or not Chequamegon Bay is worth going to in August though.

Can a guy do any good there in early August? I have have it on my short list of places to try. Any other ideas would be appreciated too! I am strictly a CPR smallie type of fisherman. Thanks, I only get to chase them about 1 week per year and my years are getting fewer.

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So maybe this will be a good change of pace. I was thinking about the Babe Winkelman episode where he was Smallmouth fishing with Greg Miller and a guide. My million dollar question is what lake was that show taped on? I have a thought but I doubt I am correct. Hopefully someone knows.

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I have been going nuts trying to figure that one out to and I don’t live anywhere close to that area so it is next to impossible for me. I am a smallie nut and treat smallies with the utmost respect they deserve. I am in SE Iowa and we just don’t have any to speak of. I try to devote one week a year to chase them and hope to get it done within the next month or so. I would love to know where that lake is but understand him not wanting to give it out. Does anyone have a lake they can suggest for me to try? I was thinking I read somewhere sometime about a lake in Wisconsin that was a catch and release only lake. I was thinking that could be lots of fun. I would never kill a smallie to mount/ Strictly CPR! Thanks for the help guys!

Beauties! What else can I say?

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Do you throw them for channels or flats?

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Neither! It is a great bass rod! Guess I shouldn’t have brought that up in a catfish&sturgeon forum?

Well, sounds like he has accomplished what he wanted. I think we can all agree, we like what we like. Rods are like tools, there is one we like for different fish or different fishing conditions. I have more rods than I could tell you off hand. There are certain ones I like for different baits and different fishing conditions. Just the way it is. I do have my favorites. Speaking of which, anyone know where I can buy a Daiwa Tony Bean Smallmouth rod? I broke one the other day, only had two. One of my favorite rods ever and over 10 years old. Great for throwing crankbaits!

Speaking of Beetles. You may find this kind of interesting as a way to clean up your next deer or big game skull:
http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html

I know I am new around here but thought I would contribute my 2 cents. I agree with the Ugly Stick idea. You just can’t beat the number one selling rod in America for Catfishin. Now, if you are going to be using it for things that require a little sensitivity, then Ugly Stick might not be the rod. I love them for catfishin though and have a couple that I have owned for most of 25 years that are still in service today. Also, regarding the St. Croix rods. I think you will find some of them do have a lifetime warranty. I think you have to go up to the Avid series or higher to get it though. The Croix Avid series is a great rod too but not sure I would want to take one catfishin for fear I would break it. Get an Ugly Stick, you can’t beat the price or the durability! My 2 cents. Just want to add, I am enjoy your site already!