List your off season upgrades

[Kyhl]

What changes are you making to your boat before open water starts?

I picked up a new to me boat Halloween weekend. It's time to start customizing it to make it mine.

Yesterday I ordered a bunch of parts.

70lb 24V Powerdrive

Adding an automatic float switch to the bilge pump

SS prop

Onboard charger

Trim gauge

Still to add this year but undecided on models:

Rod holders for storage

Rod holders for trolling

April can't come soon enough.

[not_nuf_time]

788ci Humminbird, hope its worth it.

[Esox_Magnum]

Got to fix the trim switch, find a better prop, order a new windsheild, swap out the Maxumm for a Terrova and add another HDS. Terrova and HDS are first on the list rest I can live with.

[EBass]

55" Sony Bravia!

[DonBo]

I've got a bigger trolling motor and need to get a 12v plug-in hooked up for my handheld GPS. Would love a add a small downrigger, but that may have to wait.

[titelines]

80# Terrova with iPilot and quick release plate for me. Also going to get new tires on the trailer. Next year it's new electronics.

[Nick Kuhn]

I haven't made any upgrades, at least for the time being...

[BoxMN]

For those with a bit older boats, adding new seats makes fishing comfy and it also makes the boat "look newer". Got to get good ones though, and they are not that cheap. We put in Attwood Centric SAS and love them, but plenty $$...

Next year will be new Terrova with iPilot. Making sure all the bugs are worked out with two years on the water testing first

[PerchJerker]

For me, I think I'll be upgrading my bowmount motor this year to add i-Pilot ---- I've used it enough to know that I want one.

And I'm sending my stainless prop in to a custom shop -- there's a couple small dings that need to be cleaned up and I want to have the prop rebalanced. I'm also having the prop reworked and customized for my boat and motor combo. I was talking to the shop the other day and I'm getting excited to see what it does to the boat's performance!

[Black_Bay]

I'm getting a mooring cover and a dodger top.

[reddog]

101 Terrova w I_pilot. Should be here Saturday.

Just bought a 2nd 997 with the NVB, interlink, weathersense and a 757C, just because I couldnt pass up the deal. Not sure what Im going to do with it though.

[mainbutter]

I've been upgrading the power to my two-arm-motor all winter

Bring on paddling season!

[LoonASea]

I havent pulled the trigger yet,,, but the 1st thing on my list is a HB 1198csi for fishing Lake Superior ,,,I cant wait to see the structure Ive been passing over now for years

[Kyhl]

80# Terrova with iPilot and quick release plate for me. Also going to get new tires on the trailer. Next year it's new electronics.

I forgot about the tires. Need to pick up a spare.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Slabasaurus]

8'6 Light rod

Shimano Sahara reel

Replaced/added Lures/Jigs

Lindy Rig components (on sale... what up)

To upgrade still Prior to open water:

Obtain a boat (Cheap/affordable/but works)

Purchase a house (May have a negative impact on above goal)

[reddog]

Oh, I also forgot about the 2 new Limit Creek rods that just came in and a new Shimano Symetre.

[nater]

I got a new 798c si to go with my 788ci I bought last spring. Once they get interlinked it will be awesome. I definitely can't wait to get the 798 installed and hit the water to try out the side imaging on my local lakes. I was playing around with it the last couple nights in simulation mode.

Besides that I'm gonna build a couple casting decks in the back of the boat that will double as storage and maybe some better rod holders.

[tacklejunkie]

Looking over equipment, in march i will be replacing all lines, I will need more trolling spoons for when L Superior opens up. I also need a new starting battery

[Fish Head]

Nothing yet, but come the end of March is the Northwest Sports show and thats the place to pick things up at a good price. I will pick up a new heavy casting rod for northerns, 2 new linecouter reels for walleye trolling and probably 10 other things that I don't need, but can't live without.

I will also pick up 1 or 2 Tackle Industry musky rods, but they will be at the Musky Expo, not the Sports show.

I'm also going to upgrade 2 seats on my boat to Air ride seats. I'm sure some other upgrades will come up before summer.

[jwmiller33]

i will be adding whitecap splashguards to my boat in a few weeks and I cannot wait to get out and backtroll some leadcore!

[fishinfey8]

I havent pulled the trigger yet,,, but the 1st thing on my list is a HB 1198csi for fishing Lake Superior ,,,I cant wait to see the structure Ive been passing over now for years

That is awesome Randy, if possible it would be awesome to see a screen-shot of the bottom of the big lake! I can't imagine what you will find.

[swampbuck]

Well first I have to fix a hole in hull from a deadhead on the pper miss!

Then for optima batteries, old onesare six years old still working well but time to upgrade

Minnkota Tallon,1198 SI Humminbird.

[BassNut33]

I bought a new boat in October and the trolling motor is [PoorWordUsage], I will be putting on a new MinnKota Edge 70 lb's of thrust. I also need to put some rod savers in for the guy fishing in the back. I need to put a new prop on it, and just a general tune up. As far as tackle goes I am having a rod and a few reels repaired. Anyone have anything reparied at Wayzata Bait and Tackle? I don't ice fish, instead I buy tackle all winter. I have found a couple of cool companies that do custom stuff, so I am really looking forward to getting out and using it.

[LegattoAD]

Boat/Trailer upgrades:

Not a lot really, I'm probably going to put a swing tounge on the trailer so it can fit in the garage and/or driveway, reducing the need to drive 75 miles to go fishing which is good with the way gas prices are going. Otherwise everything else has been relegated to a strict wishlist status, but that list is as a long as my arm.

Tackle/Gear:

I'll be picking up a flippin' stick to go along with my second Caenan. I've been looking at the Shimano rods the last couple times I've been at big C and they feel pretty dang good! I'll probably pick one up at the NW Sportshow. I'll also be replacing lures that didn't make it back to the boat (or shore) last season.

[waterwolff]

Well first I have to fix a hole in hull from a deadhead on the pper miss!

Then for optima batteries, old onesare six years old still working well but time to upgrade

Minnkota Tallon,1198 SI Humminbird.

Yea ya gotta love that river fishing. This reminded me of a time about 35 years ago when 2 buddies and myself were on the Minnesota heading out of Shakopee going to Carver and hit a sand bar south of the Rahr dischage pipe. We were in a beat up old john boat with the motor locked down and when beached it all but ripped the transom off the boat. So there we were standing in a foot of water on the Chaska side of the river looking for a place in which to climb the bank. Once we got to the top of the bank we had to cross the swamp by the Old Seminary get on CSHA 41 walk back to Shako town. After all who in there right mind would pick up 3 long haired looking freaks coverd in river mud and smelling like swamp gas. Grabbed a boat from an uncle run back down get our stuff. We got the motor but left the boat.

MR