New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

[MyBuoyToy]

Hi Everyone!

Some may say I'm a bit crazy but I just bought my first boat so I could enjoy some summer fishing fun hopefully! I have never driven a boat let alone launched one before... *chuckle* but I am pretty good with cars, trucks, large trailers, heavy equipment etc... so this should be a cake walk right??
The only thing that concerns me is the "no brakes" issue...

Anyhoo... I bought it 2 weeks ago(after a craigslist scam on a different boat) a 1983 Bayliner Capri 19'2" and thankfully got it from a nice gentleman who helped me with alot of information and even called to be sure all was going well. I did take it out last weekend briefly on a small private lake in the thumb that I own a lot on to get those privileges. (I planned on fishing from shore but quickly decided that was for the birds and as such the new boat!) And did well with it - even launching and loading it myself!!

But I am pretty green on fishing equipment, etc... this is a smaller lake that has pike, crappie(how do you people eat something with that name! LOL), lg mouth bass, catfish, sunfish, pike, bluegill...

I am hoping to get some practice tomorrow to get maybe brave enough to go out on some other larger lakes and eventually Lake Michigan(of course lake Michigan I dont think I would go on alone - Im brave but not stupid!)

I have purchased a couple new poles and had a couple old ones - basic fishing tackle - any tips on some good starter lures and tackle I should look at? And yes I have all safety equipment as required for the boat also...

Thanks for the tips and if there is anyone who knows any great spots in the Thumb or surrounding areas to try let me know! I am always willing to try new places as soon as I get comfortable with the boat that is.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

so this should be a cake walk right??
The only thing that concerns me is the "no brakes" issue...

might be a cake walk, i don't know? but ya might consider that if ya have troubles with your boat, depending on where you are, ya might not just be able to walk away from it. like in the middle of nowhere when something bad happens w/o anyone at all around to help you.

i would also suggest ya take a boater safety class either through you local us power squadron or us coast guard aux. w/o boating experience, these people will be a big help to you for you getting everything ya need ready to go and be safe about doing so.

also, ya might check out a book called chapmans seamanship and boat handling. this book has everything boating related it. all the facts.

good luck on your new adventure...

sorry, can't help ya on the fishing part. i'm just a pleasure boater....

 

[MyBuoyToy]

New boater

New boater

I wouldnt be in an area where there would be no one around to help me especially not with me being new to the boating thing... like I said I am brave not crazy!

The lake I am going on is small and people are super friendly and I will be sure someone knows I am out there also. There seems to always be at least one other person on a boat or pontoon.

And I was being sarcastic about the "cake walk" thing... I actually volunteered last weekend at this lake for a kids fishing derby and they had DNR, Bass pro spokesperson there giving some demonstrations and they were a great help after the derby and gave me information on a boaters safety class the local sheriff department offers that I did register for. So thanks for that info and I have the safety side pretty much covered along with being wise enough to keep it on the small lake for now...

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Pike and small mouth like spinning lures around here. I'm having great luck with a minnow colored one right now (silver/black with yellow fluff on the hook). Pike will usually hit anything fish like..or anything that gets close enough. Crappy will go for small spinners and rubber twisters. If one isn't working try a different color. I use brighter colors in the early evening and duller colors mid-day....but my luck has been spotty...last year sucked.


Ian

 

[MyBuoyToy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

cool thanks - gonna hit fishing tackle store before the night is over so I am a bit more prepared tomorrow hopefully!

 

[seabob4]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Congratulations on your "new to you" boat! There are a ton of people here and on other sites that will help you along as you get to know her.

The most important aspect of boating is safety, both for others out on the water, and any passengers you have on board. You have now become a "Captain", whether you have a piece of paper stating that or not, and you are responsible both for your boat and for others around you that your boat may affect. The water can be a very difficult place sometimes, whether it is a small lake or a large body of water...

So now that I've scared the sh!t out of you, go have some fun! BTW, Crappie, down here in Florida, are called Speckled Perch, or Specks. Is that better?

 

[MyBuoyToy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

MUCH better name... I could actually maybe eat them with that name!!

 

[lncoop]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

MUCH better name... I could actually maybe eat them with that name!!

I'm guessing you haven't tried one. If so, once you do you'll forget all about the name. Good stuff.

 

[marcortez]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Might as well get a good start on terminology.

A "pole" is something you "pole" vault with......a "rod" is a fishing "rod"

So.....you have a fishing ROD rather than a fishing POLE.
(but it's ok to call it a pole....up to you)

All the fish you named are carnivores.....they eat "meat" in one form or another....ie: other little fish, crawdads, worms, lizards, small crustaceans and small children, on occassion.

Some fish want their "meat" alive and swimming or crawling, while others are less discerning....like catfish.

What an angler has to do is either present "meat" to these fish or attempt to "fool" the fish into thinking they are about to gobble a chunk of "meat"

Your skill in presenting these fake chunks of meat will directly determine your luck in taking home the "bacon"

Practice practice.....casting, retreiving, various retrieve speeds, bouncing the bottom, swimming and otherwise trying to make that chunk of metal....or plastic.....to look real.

Good luck

 

[alwims]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Just a short note. Crappie is some of the best eatin' you'll ever get, especially if you learn how to say the name. It's not Crappie with a crap, it's Crappie with a crop. A better spelling should have been Croppie, but that's the English language for ya. BTW, best language on the planet.

 

[KidFloater]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Welcome to the great/frustrating world of boating. Maybe I can help a bit by telling you the stupid things I've done when I first started boating.
1. Don't launch without the plug in, yea I've done it and anybody else who says they haven't forgot this is well, you know.
2. If you throw your anchor out don't forget to get it back up before you move.
3. Make sure your outdrive is trimmed all the way up when you launch or trailer back.
4. A decent depth finder is a great investment to help save your prop.
5. Pay close attention to the other boaters ESPECIALLY the jet skiers!
6. Relax have fun

 

[cr2k]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

If it helps to take your mind off the crappie, catfish are bottom feeders.

 

[MyBuoyToy]

Fishing/boating education

Fishing/boating education

A "rod" to me is an engine part, surgical part put in your back or a pretzel to go along with a cold beer... I'm a country girl... LOL.

But I did wonder how long before someone mentioned that...

I just want to catch a catfish because they are HUGE at this lake.. And would be way cool for pictures!! LOL.

I have been told crappie where good eating so I shall hopefully find out!

I will be grabbing some worms in morning on way to lake and try a variety of what you all have mentioned and see what works! Sure hope this sunny weather holds for tomorrow!
Thanks,
M

 

[seabob4]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

If it helps to take your mind off the crappie, catfish are bottom feeders.

What did W.C. Fields say about drinking water?...

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Crah pee = great eating

Crap pee = how the fishing can be at times

Good to hear your signed up for a boating course, well worth any investment, be it time and/or money!

Find a friendly fisherperson{usually hard to find any other kind lol} on your lake and buddy up, maybe swap a bar b que or a 12 pack of adult sodie pop's for some insider fishing tips

 

[MarvJ]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Thanks for the tips and if there is anyone who knows any great spots in the Thumb or surrounding areas to try let me know! I am always willing to try new places as soon as I get comfortable with the boat that is.

Welcome to the sight and congrats on the boat. I?m relatively new to the sight and this is my second year using a boat to fish. Saginaw Bay is a great place to fish. I fish there a couple of times a week. Launch from Sebewaing Marina which a nice place to launch from. Good people and doesn?t seem to be to crazy busy. The channel is long but haven?t had any problems getting out. If you do head out to the bay pay attention to the weather. Know what its going to be before leaving and pay attention to it when you get out. It can get pretty crazy out there quick if your not paying attention to the weather.

I spent my first year getting to know the boat and how it handled. If any fishing got done that was a bonus. I target Walleye which mean I do a lot of trolling. My gear is centered around that style of fishing.

The following web sight is a wealth of information for different bodys of water in Michigan: http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=90

Good luck out there, have fun and be safe.

 

[MyBuoyToy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Just wanted to fill everyone in on my venture on the Lake to fish yesterday!

Had great weather and a great time until about 9:30pm when the skeeters started biting! But it was time to get off the water anyways.

Got the boat launched and loaded incident free and actually got to run her around a bit on the lake to burn out some carbon! Lake was quiet with no one else on it until later in the afternoon at which time I was obviously courteous and quiet and just fished.

Caught a bunch of fish - a wide assortment - Crappie, Sunfish, Bluegill, Bass and even a perch! I did release all of them THIS time - but I knew I was out to practice/learn more than anything and knew I Wouldnt have time to clean them by the time I got home - plus I dont know how to clean fish *chuckle* so going to learn that this week from good ole Mom!

I can see the addiction though... it was beautiful and quiet out there - and can definitely see the perks of a private lake... Only one other boat and a couple pontoons late in the day so no crowding - no loud noise etc...

Thanks again for all the info and I have been checking out the links as I have time and very informative!

Been told I need to hit the Bay but think I want to do more "learning" before I venture to much!

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

OK, so you're a country girl who bought a boat, on a whim, can launch and retrieve by yourself, took up fishing on your own, and went out and did so by yourself and caught fish??

So I'm gonna ask the obvious...Are you single!!??

Welcome aboard, you came to the right place to learn about boats, that's for sure.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

Just wanted to fill everyone in on my venture on the Lake to fish yesterday!

Had great weather and a great time until about 9:30pm when the skeeters started biting! But it was time to get off the water anyways.

Got the boat launched and loaded incident free and actually got to run her around a bit on the lake to burn out some carbon! Lake was quiet with no one else on it until later in the afternoon at which time I was obviously courteous and quiet and just fished.

Caught a bunch of fish - a wide assortment - Crappie, Sunfish, Bluegill, Bass and even a perch! I did release all of them THIS time - but I knew I was out to practice/learn more than anything and knew I Wouldnt have time to clean them by the time I got home - plus I dont know how to clean fish *chuckle* so going to learn that this week from good ole Mom!

I can see the addiction though... it was beautiful and quiet out there - and can definitely see the perks of a private lake... Only one other boat and a couple pontoons late in the day so no crowding - no loud noise etc...

Thanks again for all the info and I have been checking out the links as I have time and very informative!

Been told I need to hit the Bay but think I want to do more "learning" before I venture to much!

Good for you! We went out Sunday to the local little lake..only to find an active bass tournement....the lake was a zoo..and the fishing was terrible...

I wish I was there with you...could use some good fishing.

Ian

 

[MyBuoyToy]

Re: New to boats and fishing! Michigan Gal learning

And I have a great job, my own home, all my teeth and hair!! LOL.
Not to mention a cool Ford truck! ;+)

But unfortunately, yes I'm single.

Thus the name of my new found hobby/boat! "My Buoy Toy"