New boat break in and fishing Willard Bay Sat 19th

[Mildog]

I’ve had my new boat for over 3 weeks since I picked it up on road trip. Crestliner 1750 Fish Hawk w/merc 150 Pro XS and Merc 9.9 kicker Minnkota Terrova .  Finally after scheduled trip to Florida (some SW fishing)




 and other misc stuff as well as putting some equipment in it. I finally got it out for maiden voyage Sat at Willard Bay. Got to Willard about 2 pm , gas gauge read empty!!! I swear dealer said gassed and ready to go when I picked it up? My bad for not checking, ran back to nearest gas station put 20 bucks in. Gauge read almost full so it had more gas that gauge showed (27 gallon tank 20$ would near fill it) Launched at South Marina about 2:30 . Put 2.5 hours on it at various RPM as recommended

Decided to put some time on the 9.9 kicker for break in and figured I should fish at least a little to see how fishy this boat would be ?. Set timer for one hour and fired up the kicker put out a couple trolling lines. After a bit of learning curve on big engine steering link and a bit of dragging cranks I realized that while figuring everything out a
I had tangled both lines been dragging them that way for 15-20 minutes??
Cleaned that mess up retied and put lines back out. By the time timer went off I landed 4 wipers,
One chunk 5.4 lbs and an almost 23 inch walleye at 4.75 lbs! Me thinks this will be fishy boat. Ran great performed as expected going to be lots of fun! Let 3 smaller wipers go kept walleye and wiper for several dinners! Looking forward to many more great fishing days! May run out tomorrow and try for kokes test outbruggers and drop the Minnkota electric for a test didn’t get a chance to try it out yet!

[Troutster]

Wait, where are the new boat photos? Thanks for the report. I’m going to try to get to Willard this week. It’ll be my first time this year and second with my Vexus. Sadly, I think my boat is a better fisherman than I am. Did you troll with planer boards? Any tips like speed, depth. Thanks!

Post some photos!

[Jmorfish]

Nicely done!  good lookin fish...also looking forward to my first of year Willard trip, after some boat trailer maintenance..tks for your report..

[SkunkedAgain]

Wow not only a new boat, but two toads... In fact they are the best fish I've heard stories of yet this year out of Willard... Very nice... Looks like the Bay was a little packed Saturday, at least the camp ground seemed to have a bunch of folks packed in there as I drove by.. Hope the fishing was more pleasant... thanks for the report... J

[wiperhunter2]

Nice report, good to see some bigger fish have come out to play, congrats on a nice catch. How fast were you trolling? What kind of lures were you using? I'd like to see some pics of that new boat too, so I'll know who it belongs to, if I see it out there.

[dubob]

Nice report Pat.  Hoping to get out to Willard myself tomorrow.  Break-in the new motor for an hour, troll for a couple hours, another break-in hour, then home.  Lots of new learning going on with MK Ulterra, Garmin Echomap Ultra 2 106SV, boat options, etc.  Life is good.  

[Mildog]

Bob, yes it is lots of fishing to be done hit Jordy for more breaking in put another hour on big motor and about 3 on troller could not find kokes got 4 bows. Played with stuff on boat moved riggers rod holders around for best set up found they with more load in boat, the transducer was spraying toward motor not good tweaked that a bit . Should be good now , if not I’ll put splash guard above transducer,
First try on down-riggers, I installed socket plugs in the boat.
Plugged riggers in, no worky??? I know I did it perfect!! Then I realized power is not wireless!! With all the rigging, adding connectors fuse links and terminals for finder, livescope and riggers , I never hooked the wires to the battery for the riggers ?!! Didn’t take many tools mostly a break in motors trip . Hooked them up with the fishing pliers I had, easy fix , still no worky!! Then it hit me, the fuse links I installed didn’t have fuses in them duh! I had a bag in glove box ALL GOOD! Electric and lithiums worked great, Garmin 106 live scope good , used my home made pole from old body worked good but I’ll buy a pole I figure which one.
New boat glitches and tweaking it , having fun!! Heading to Powell in AM have work to do on houseboat
Then fish a day if two!!
Later
Can’t post too many boat porn pics, may want to stay incognito!!? ?
Bella likes her new ride too!!

[SkunkedAgain]

Man you are on a roll, little jelly over here, sounds like a great time keep it up and I hope Powell goes really well for you... Good thing you're skilled on the boat set up, sounds like lots to see to, to make it work well for you... I need to do some permanent wiring on my boat to get the 360 and mega live hooked into the boat system instead of mobile power packs, but I kind of like mine so I can take it on the ice as well, have to try and set it up so I can still do both... Congrats on the fun times and thanks for sharing them... Later Jeff

[chubby chaser]

I’ve had my new boat for over 3 weeks since I picked it up on road trip. Crestliner 1750 Fish Hawk w/merc 150 Pro XS and Merc 9.9 kicker Minnkota Terrova .  Finally after scheduled trip to Florida (some SW fishing)




 and other misc stuff as well as putting some equipment in it. I finally got it out for maiden voyage Sat at Willard Bay. Got to Willard about 2 pm , gas gauge read empty!!! I swear dealer said gassed and ready to go when I picked it up? My bad for not checking, ran back to nearest gas station put 20 bucks in. Gauge read almost full so it had more gas that gauge showed (27 gallon tank 20$ would near fill it) Launched at South Marina about 2:30 . Put 2.5 hours on it at various RPM as recommended

Decided to put some time on the 9.9 kicker for break in and figured I should fish at least a little to see how fishy this boat would be ?. Set timer for one hour and fired up the kicker put out a couple trolling lines. After a bit of learning curve on big engine steering link and a bit of dragging cranks I realized that while figuring everything out a
I had tangled both lines been dragging them that way for 15-20 minutes??
Cleaned that mess up retied and put lines back out. By the time timer went off I landed 4 wipers,
One chunk 5.4 lbs and an almost 23 inch walleye at 4.75 lbs! Me thinks this will be fishy boat. Ran great performed as expected going to be lots of fun! Let 3 smaller wipers go kept walleye and wiper for several dinners! Looking forward to many more great fishing days! May run out tomorrow and try for kokes test outbruggers and drop the Minnkota electric for a test didn’t get a chance to try it out yet!

looks like a blast, I wish Willard wasnt a 2 hour drive up I-15 for me, I'd love to give that lake a whirl.

[Mildog]

Break in hours at lake Powell today fist trip on Powell with new boat
Mixed bag fun day Crappie , walleye, LMB , SMB  and of course stripers!
Great weather fun day and a few more hours in the boat!

[dubob]

Break in hours at lake Powell today fist trip on Powell with new boat
Mixed bag fun day Crappie , walleye, LMB , SMB  and of course stripers!
Great weather fun day and a few more hours in the boat!

Unfortunately, I have NOT been able to get out yet.  Prepping the new ride has turned out to be more of a chore than I first thought, and life's obligations keep getting in the way.  But I am making progress and have HIGH hopes of being ready to launch next week.

And DUDE - those are some hog crappie!