Cotaco Creek, 8 Nov 14

[Spaceman]

First trip of the year. Absolutely beautiful morning. Albeit, I got a late start. Fished for two hours: 0900-1100. 5 black crappie that averaged 10-11 inches. Crappie bite was very subtle. Mostly caught yellow stripe...probably 20-24. Yellow stripe bite was aggressive. Water surface temp was 56 degrees. Only used Monkey Milk today. Fun day! All catch and release. Separately, I launched at Indian Creek (Triana). There now is a huge laydown near the boat ramp.

[wahanlin]

Any size to the yellow stripe? Thanks for the report.

[scout-j-m]

Spaceman, I have been meaning to ask you for some time about your boat. Those smaller War Eagle combo boats interest me. I'm looking into buying a small boat as I live in Cullman where Lake Catoma has a 10hp limit and I work in Triana/Madison and frequently fish the river backwater around Limestone bay after work from a 12' flatbottom I throw in the back of my truck. You think a new or well tuned 9.9hp would push your boat ok if it wasn't too loaded down? I have fished in plenty of 14-16' flatbottom and mod-V boats outfitted with 9.9 2-strokes that seemed to plane easily and still get up to around 20mph. None of those were advertised as duck boats though and were probably thinner gauge and lighter boats than yours. Just curious.

[Spaceman]

Wahanlin, Nothing notable regarding stripe size. About the same length of the crappie. They were feisty and fun to catch.

[Spaceman]

Scout-j-m, Let me first say that I believe in conventional wisdom regarding motor size for the boat. I strongly believe you should have a motor that matches the max rating for the boat. My War Eagle is rated at 40hp which is what I would really like to have, but the 30hp was in my price range . I original started with a 2012 Yamaha 25hp manual start That was a great motor. I changed to the 4 stroke 30hp mercury electric start after neck surgery. Both motors have been great although there certainly is a difference between a 2 stroke and 4 stroke. Top end for my boat is ~31mph. Now for the boat. I am extremely happy with my war eagle. I would recommend this boat to anyone. If you want to see it, send me a pm. I'd be happy to show it to you. Now to end the diatribe and answer your question...I do not believe you would be happy putting a 9.9hp on this boat. Please let me know if this helps...I do understand you have hp restriction in Cullman

[goatdaddy]

I was there the same morning. 5 keeper crappie and a little bit of every other kind of fish that were in there. Mine were on minnows though.

[scout-j-m]

Scout-j-m, Let me first say that I believe in conventional wisdom regarding motor size for the boat. I strongly believe you should have a motor that matches the max rating for the boat. My War Eagle is rated at 40hp which is what I would really like to have, but the 30hp was in my price range . I original started with a 2012 Yamaha 25hp manual start That was a great motor. I changed to the 4 stroke 30hp mercury electric start after neck surgery. Both motors have been great although there certainly is a difference between a 2 stroke and 4 stroke. Top end for my boat is ~31mph. Now for the boat. I am extremely happy with my war eagle. I would recommend this boat to anyone. If you want to see it, send me a pm. I'd be happy to show it to you. Now to end the diatribe and answer your question...I do not believe you would be happy putting a 9.9hp on this boat. Please let me know if this helps...I do understand you have hp restriction in Cullman

Thanks Spaceman. That helps me out a lot and I completely understand. A motor as small as a 9.9 is kind of pushing it on any boat over 14ft anyways. If they would just change the HP restriction to stay at 9.9hp for two strokes but allow higher hp for 4 strokes I wouldn't have this problem...but I think the restrictions are more politically driven from wealthy doctors who live on the lake rather than a true concern for emissions.

I'd love to check it out in person sometime. I first noticed it when I was searching through posts on fishing in Cotaco Creek and noticed that you were a common poster for reports there and saw pictures your rig in those posts. I work at the Boeing Jetplex behind the airport so I am pretty close to the Triana launch. I'll try to remember to pm you about it sometime.