I finally booked my first trip with the club. I'm very excited to take my 12 year old son to experience some good fishing.  I'm going to purchase a trolling motor this week to use at the club, so any recommendations would be helpful.  Also, I've never really fished for bass from a boat, so any advice from the members would be helpful.  I'm excited to learn from all of you out there and I have heard this is a good lake.

Hello Robert, welcome to the club!

You can't go wrong with a transom-mount Minnkota.  I like the Endura C2 in at least 40 lbs thrust.  I'd recommend a deep cycle battery as well.  Note, the boat at Blackjack has a bad transom, so I'd recommend bringing a flat board about 12-15 inches long to lay against the transom and pinch between the motor clamps.  Also, the boat did leak, so bring a small container to bail the water.  I saw the owner last time, and she said they were going to fix it but I have no confirmation.

For the fishing, I do well with crankbaits running 5-12 feet deep, and sxy shad worked last time.  Also do well with weightless worms and senkos, Texas-rigged lizards in watermelon seed.  My friend does well with frogs and swimbaits moved close to the surface.

Good luck!  There are some nice fish in that lake, and I hope your son latches onto some of them!

Jim

Thank you Jim.  The "ex" won't let him go and it's not my weekend, so I'll be going it alone.  Not sure I'll use the boat since I'm by myself.  If anyone wants to join me, let me know.  How's the bank fishing there? some of the past reports make it sound difficult.  

Robert, welcome to the club. I have fished that tank several times and it does produce nice healthy bass. I have very good luck fishing from the bank like Jim said throwing moving baits i.e. swim baits, spinner baits, chatter baits, small square bills etc... I also have done well with drop shots, putting a split shot about 18-24 inches away from the hook and dragging a worm or lizzard slowly back towards the bank. Fish the dam and the bank that has the dock on it for the best luck, in my opinion.

Walmart has a MinnKota  55 lbs thrust transom mount trolling motor on sale for ~ $209 which is a lot of power but you will be glad you have it an a weed filled tank or a very windy day. I would also invest in a small economical graph for reading depth and if it can show brush piles even better. Doesnt hurt to have a 5-6 ft paddle just in case the property doesnt have one, helps to push off the bank and through the weed beds.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Minn-Kota-Endura-C2-55-Freshwater-Transom-Mount-Trolling-Motor-55lb-Thrust-36-Shaft/15686837?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=15686837&placement_id=irs-106-t1&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=de9b932d-4b5f-4d89-b558-c85bc5341a30&customer_id_enc&config_id=106&parent_item_id=15686838&parent_anchor_item_id=15686838&guid=6447a921-7fa7-4323-a938-e6af5fce60c6&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

Good luck!

Ron,

Thank you for the information.  I am going to buy that motor.  

Robert. Also welcome. I would recommend getting a foot controlled on/off switch so at least you are hands-free to stop the motor when landing a fish. If the handle does not extend, get an extension. When I have used the jon boats , I purchased one of the swivel seats that clamp on the metal bench. Much more comfortable. I have used  Garmin fish finder 140 for about 5 years and it does a good job on these properties. It also has water temp and battery voltage displayed.

Good luck!!

Bill Fetech

Hello Bill:

Which clamp seat do you use?  I've looked at them, but the reviews are always bad.

Thanks!

Jim Mathis

Welcome Robert,  when i first joined the club we bank fished or went to lakes with boats available (some of which had leaks). After awhile, my fishing buddy and I just bought our own 14 foot jon boat for using on club lakes with small trolling motor.  You can't go wrong with a 5-6 inch senko worm texas rigged weightless in shallows or light weight in deeper water.  That consistently has produced the most for me over the years.  Sure I love trying all types cranks, spinners, buzzbait, topwater (early morning)...but old trusty is the senko (green pumpkin).  Also, wacky rigged senkos seem to be very good for me lately.  Good luck.

Jim. I just tried to find any kind of markings on the swivel seat and did not find anything about the model. I know in previous models they slipped. This one has a fairly stout clamping mechanism and large hex nuts that I tighten down with a deep socket and ratchet. That seemed to solve the slipping issue. 

Bill

Thanks for the advice.  I'm very excited.  Do you know what the bait fish are at Black jack?

Robert:

How did you do at Black Jack?  I didn't see a fishing report.

Jim M

Welcome, Robert! I've been with the since 2013 and still feel like a newbie! I coud'nt tell if you were going to "Black Jack" or "Blackjack" originally

but either way, you're bound to enjoy yourself! As far as batteries, T=motors etc. Walmart is definately the most economic place to shop. as far as

tackle goes, none can match either "Cabelas" or "Bass pro shops" for pure quantity. I hve come to find one of the better stores for quantity And price

is" Academy Sports and Outdoors". They're not too pricey on lures,etc. and can even have pretty good "Sales" on rods & reels.

                                  Good luck & have fun; and remember the Only stupid question is one left unasked.      Tight Lines.  Joel Conner                     

I just wanted to note that the boat at BlackJack now has new wood on the transom!

Thanks, Seth, that's great.  Did they fix the leaking?  Last time I tweaked my back bailing.

Jim

Leak and transom are fixed.