Good luck with your search, seems the prices have been driven up by all those people leaving New York, Jersey and California. I myself would love to get out of Illinois as soon as possible and do the same thing.

Not sure about Rend Lake, but I agree Kentucky Lake (Tenn Side) was really slow. Guide worked his ass off but very few fish

Trying to plan a fall trip for crappie fishing, and both of these locations are on my bucket list. Has anyone been to them, and or has a favorite between the two.

Thanks for any and all advice.

thanks so much

Planning a trip to Kentucky Lake Oct/Nov for Crappie. Can anyone recommend a good guide service. Several on Google, but sometimes there is one special one that did a good job for someone else. Thanks for any and all help

Hell I am always wondering what I am doing wrong, ha. I fish between Clinton and Shelbyville, with Shelbyville being my favorite. I usually fish just crappie and everything is deep now with the heat. I get out about 5 in the morning to work the banks and then go to some deeper points. I have found the maps of the lakes provide you with some excellent details to structure and old roadbeds. Best of Luck

Around Clinton people have good luck around the spillway if you do not have a boat. Bloomington Lake Evergreen is pretty good

I reached out to Johnson Outdoors and heard nothing back. Spent the money thinking it would add a degree of safety in my old age, but it actually increased the risk trying to get it stowed while on choppy waters.

Trolling motors really went up for sure, and the prices I was quoted between the Ultrex and Garmin Force were only a couple hundred difference. Found an outfit called EchoFishing who knocked off 200 for fathers day, so I treated myself to a Garmin. My boat could have gotten by with a 50 inch shaft, but thought if I changed boats in the future the 57 would be more flexibility. Nice thing is that shaft is adjustable and motor is powerful. Works both on 24v and 36 v system. Good Luck

Found myself in same position. Minnkota customer service had no answer when i emailed them about the issue, and their web site stated they are out of stock on a lot of parts and motors. Seems like trolling motors increased in price like used cars, but like you felt who I am leaving my money to. Purchased a Garmin Force and extremely happy with it so far.

I have found it useful going to new locations, or even learning new fishing techniques is to hire a local guide service to take you out. There is some interesting You Tube Videos I believe by Wired to Fish where one of the main lakes is Lake Egypt.

Good Luck

While stowing my Ulterra motor it stopped halfway up. Tried recycling the system and finally had to pull motor apart and manually store it. After waiting three weeks to have it looked at learned that circuit board burned out.

Researching, this seems to be a systematic problem with this particular motor, and wondering if anyone else having problems with their electronics on other model motors (Cost of Circuit board was estimated at $450 and that does not include labor). Seems for what I paid for this motor it should last a little longer than it did. My luck just went over the two year mark, but did not have that many hours on it.

Real question is has MinnKota become a substandard company buying cheaper components and charging more for their products?

Have not been there this year but, the crappie are said to be biting. You can always read Steve Welch blog at Lake Shelbyville Fishing and maybe pick up some tips from that.

Used to step off my tailgate and enter the boat both launching and loading. Also tried using a 25 ft rope which I attached to the truck and would use that to launch and load. Both worked fine, but finally broke down and bought a good step system attached to the trailer tongue which works just great. Cost were around 400 but when you put that into perspective of breaking something it did not seem that much. I use the system with a 18 foot boat and it was worth every dime, just find a company you like.

Had both and just for launching and leaving it sit either will work. For traveling I prefer the bunk, and wished I would have bought a double axle rather than the single for stability.