To peg or not to peg, that is the question.
As a guide on Lake Amistad I get this question all the time; "Should I peg my weight when Texas rigging or not?" Well I don't think there is an absolute right or wrong answer to the question, but these are my general rules. When I am fishing around rough cover like standing trees or lay downs I like to peg my weight so that the entire bait stays 'connected together' when moving through the cover. When I don't peg my weights in this situation I have found that my weight will separate from my bait around the cover often and the slack line that is created from this separation affects my hook set when I entice a fish to strike.

When fishing submerged vegetation I believe it is most important first to understand the fish you are targeting. If you are targeting fish that are located on top of the grass then you are better off not pegging your weight and if you are looking to get your bait beneath the grass and are targeting fish on the bottom then you should peg the weight. The situation I never peg my weight is when I am targeting deep open water around any type of structure and cover to include rocks. The separation of the weight from the bait provides a very natural fall and appearance of the lure. The separation also allows the lure to fall more slowly and gives my presentation an opportunity to catch fish that are suspended over the deep structure.

These rules I follow will give you some insight to think about what fishing conditions it is right for you 'to peg or not to peg' based on your personal preferences and the fishing conditions you encounter.

Tight Lines,
Kurt Dove
swtexasbassguide.com

In the lull between the close of deer season and the area lakes warming up, you'll find me pouring Spinnerbaits.

Spinnerbaits are great! They require no special skill, cover lots of water, are relatively weedless, and catch lots of bass, big bass. The following is how I approach spinnerbaiting in the tidewater area from "ice-out" on into April.

I like to use a 5 1/2' casting rod spooled up with 14-17lb mono. I've used many brands of spinnerbaits. I like my own the best, but Terminators, Strike King and Stanley will work just as well. I prefer to use a 1/2 oz to 3/8 oz lure with single #5 or 5.5 gold willow leaf blade. I find dark colors (black, blue, purple, root beer) work best in the spring. I always use a twin tail trailer too. I find the undulating action of the tails really bring the bait to life. I don't use trailer hooks but I do make certain that my hooks are razor sharp.

Ideal conditions are just after a warm spring rain. The runoff has washed in bait, raised the water level and made the water murky. These are all positive factors to make fish move shallow. Key areas of the lake to hit are points, flats and underwater humps. The key to identifying good areas are shallow (1-3') water with deep (8-12') adjacent to it. If it has cover on it, so much the better. Just be sure to keep the boat "out of the fish". Read More

Circle hooks offer other advantages too. According to circle hook evangelist Kurt Kawamoto, anglers in the Hawaiian Islands often come into close contact with turtles and monk seals. These protected species are, now and again, accidentally hooked. "The occasional... interaction with a seal or turtle could potentially pose large impacts on our island fishing activities, traditions, lifestyle, and culture." Read More

BoatUS Insurance Offers Valuable a La Carte Features for One Low Price

BoatUS offers a new add-on package of boat insurance policy enhancements for small to mid-sized boats that adds more features, such as $2,500 in personal effects coverage, a low electronics deductible and a depreciation waiver, for one low price.

"Our new Premiere Value Package has many of the features traditionally found on policies for the bigger-sized boats or yachts, yet we priced it very affordably," said BoatUS Vice President of Underwriting Mike Pellerin. Read More

If your boat has a beam that exceeds the maximum width allowed by the state, then you're going to need a wide-load or oversize permit whenever you leave the driveway. If you leave the state en route to a far away destination, you're going to need a permit for each state through which you are going to pull the boat. Yes, it's a hassle. Yes, it takes lots of time. Yes, BoatUS can assist.

BoatUS Trailering Club members have the benefit of an agreement with a company that will do all the work for you at a 30% discount. Mercury Permits also provides wide-load permits for commercial trucks traveling through every state in the country so they can get the job done quickly and you can be on your way with that boat in tow, and best of all, be legal as you travel.

Our featured guides and charters are selected from our Online Fishing Guide & Charter Locator - each one offering a discount to BoatUS and BoatUS ANGLER Members.

To search for a guide or charter for hire in your area simply go to Boatus.com/angler/locator

Featured Guide - Freshwater

Service: Galveston Inshore Fishing

Guide: Mike Hastings

Location: Austin, TX

Waters: Lake Austin, Lake Travis, Lake Bastrop, Lake Fayette

Species: Largemouth Bass

BoatUS Discount: 10% Discount

Full time fishing guide, Mike Hastings, draws from his extensive background as a professional angler to provide the most comprehensive guide service available. Experienced anglers will appreciate his extensive knowledge of the lakes and productive fishing techniques. Beginners will enjoy learning to catch fish as Mike provides instruction in a patient and effective manner. Git Bit Guide Service will work hard to provide a memorable fishing trip tailored to your interests. Click Here to Find This Guide on BoatUSAngler.com

Featured Charter - Saltwater

Service: Blue Waters Fishing

Captain: John Barker

Location: Miami, Florida

Waters: Key Biscayne Bay, Atlantic Ocean

Species: Marlin, Sailfish, Shark, Swordfish, Tuna

BoatUS Discount: 10% Discount

Fish the Waters of Key Biscayne for Sailfish, Dolphin, Marlin, Shark, Tuna and other species. The Blue Waters offers four, six and eight hour trips. The BWII features three fighting chairs, rocket launcher, outriggers, and a large bait well. For your comfort in the air-conditioned saloon, there is a 19" color tv, stereo, comfortable seating with head and galley and stateroom down. Captain John Barker has been fishing the local and Bahamian waters for over thirty years and he will insure you have a pleasant trip. Click Here to Find This Charter on BoatUSAngler.com Return to Top

Spring Cleaning

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Click Here to check out our latest video from Mike McClelland about getting your boat ready to go out on the water. You can view other fishing and boating videos in our collection at BoatUS.com/videos.

Question:
I have a tandem axle aluminum trailer that has leaf springs. The springs are rusted to the point that I think they should be replaced. The axles have rust on the bottom side. I don't want to have to replace them if I don't have to, but while I'm doing some repair I would rather do it all at once. What would be some tell tale signs that I should replace the axles? If I can keep them, how should I remove the rust? Sand blast, wire wheel and drill? And is there any special paint I should use?

Answer:
Rich, I would look it the underside of the axles and compare measurements from an un-rusted part to the rusted part after removing any loose metal. This might tell you how eaten up it is. Sandblasting would be best and a wire wheel might work well too. You can never know when an axle might fail. If you can't be sure how bad they are, then you should replace them. If it only looks like surface rust than I would recommend cleaning them up and use multiple layers of Rustoleum. Find the kind that you can brush on thick.

Another note: When you have the axle off, turn it up on one end and then the other. Listen for any kind of noise inside, like rusted parts moving back and forth. If it's rusting from the inside out, you will never know how bad it could be.

Have a question for the Trailering Guys or one of our other Fishing or Boating Experts? Click Here

Congratulations to the Winners of our February Weigh-to-Win Cash Bonuses!

February was a busy month for our new Weigh-to-Win Tournament Incentive Program. The following BoatUS ANGLER Members cashed "Weigh-to-Win" checks in the month of February: Kyle Fox, Troy Morrow, Frank Jenkins, Kevin VanDam, Marty Giddens, Alex Davis, Travis Merrit, Tommy Durham, and Artie Phillips.

The Weigh-to-Win program will pay the highest placing, registered angler in most B.A.S.S., FLW, and PAA events, as well as the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. For as little as $38, the cost of a BoatUS ANGLER membership and Unlimited On the Road Towing service, an angler who performs well in a single tournament could win a $150 to $1500 cash bonus. For complete details visit www.BoatUSFishing.com.

Capt. Shane O'Neal's Boat Towing Service Opens New Location on Watts Bar Lake, Tennessee

Business that Gets Boaters, Anglers Safely Home Expands

WATTS BAR LAKE, TN -Capt. Shane O'Neal knows what it feels like to be stranded on a lonely stretch of water with a broken boat with no one to call for help. So in 2008, he opened his first TowBoatUS location at Chickamauga Lake, which gives boaters and anglers a reliable way to call for assistance when their boats break down on the water, run out of gas, or run aground.

Just four years later, O'Neal's operation has just opened its third new location, upstream on Tennessee's Watts Bar Lake. Read More

To see the locations on a map, go to www.BoatUS.com/ServiceLocator

Meet the Newest BoatUS ANGLER Pro Staff Blogger

His recent tournament accomplishments include winning the 2009 Triton Gold Elite Fish-off and the Triton Owners Tournament, back-to-back, 2 time BFL All-American qualifier, winning the BFL Regional Tournament on Kerr Lake in October 2005, winning the points championship in the Professional Bass Fishermen (PBF) team trail in 2005, 5 first place finishes on the PBF circuit, and several other tournament victories over the past few years.

Click here to read David's latest BoatUS Blog

Ranger Boats Announces "Ranger Cup University" Contingency Program for Collegiate Anglers

Program open to both FLW- and Boat US-affiliated college teams

Collegiate anglers don't have to wait any longer to cash in on pro-style incentives. In a recent announcement, Ranger Boats unveiled its newest contingency program, Ranger Cup University, designed to support the enthusiasm and dedication of competitive college anglers across the country.

Modeled after the most lucrative contingency program in the industry, the Ranger Cup®, Ranger Cup University is open to collegiate anglers fishing in either FLW or Boat US-affiliated competitions. Signup for Ranger Cup University is free and exclusively for collegiate anglers, regardless of which brand of boat they own. Read More

Send Us Your Best Catch and Win!

It's time once again for the annual "Catch of the Month" photo contest! Starting April 1 send us photos of your best catch for a chance to win monthly prizes including a One-Year BoatUS ANGLER Membership with Basic Towing, a $50 Visa Gift Card and a fishing gear "goodie bag".

In November one Grand Prize will be awarded in each category, (freshwater and saltwater), in a drawing from all winning entries. The Grand Prize includes a high-quality Replica Fish Mount from Mount This! Fish Company, a $50 Gift Certificate to BoatNameGear, and an upgrade of your BoatUS ANGLER Membership to include Unlimited On-Water and On-Road Towing.

2010 Grand Prize Winners

Freshwater Entry Grant Olsen Dover, Ohio	Saltwater Entry Henry Miller Bluffton, South Carolina

Click Here For Complete Details

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