Misty IV

You're right...shame on me. What was I thinking? Guess I'm in such a hurry to get up to the house and get on the water! We'll have to meet up this summer. I've talked to Clark a few times on here so far. Sounds like a plan! Who wants to bet that Puxatawney Phil was wrong about seeing his shadow and the truth is that spring is right around the corner? Any takers? I know my boat's itching. I crawled inside 2 weekends ago to check on things. I got a strong vibe that she's ready.

Welcome Icekimo! I'll be interested in reading your reports from up north.

Welcome to the site! I personally don't fish for walleye, but sure you'll get a lot of replies and info from the other members here!

Welcome to the site! What kind of ideas are you looking for? Boat rigging, rods, reels, hot spots, etc? You're in the right spot! Great group of fellow Lake O fishermen here with a wealth of knowledge.

No problem. I'm kinda glad I topped the tank off before I stored it for the winter. Who knows what fuel prices will be like come April.

It is hard to tell from the picture. Looks like it might, but tough to call. The 14XG covers the entire Great Lakes. More than we'd need for just Lake O, but at least you're sure you'd be covered.

I was scrolling through the older posts this morning and thought I'd chime in on this one. My Starcraft 221 Islander has the 4.3L Mercruiser and a 52 gallon tank. I can be on the water for 7-8 hours and only use about 10-12 gallons. This includes the running on plane time out and back in. The 4.3L is very fuel efficient, in my opinion. Especially helpful with the price of fuel these days.

You can get the marine StaBil at West Marine. I saw it on the shelves a few weeks ago when I was in there looking around. It was about 2x the cost of the normal pink StaBil we're used to seeing, but if it does what the label says it does, the extra $$$ may be worth it.

I've always been told to make sure the tank is full before storing to prevent open areas where moisture can form and corride parts. But, after reading the above posts regarding the poor gas we have to deal with, I'm wondering if making sure the tank's empty now isn't such a bad idea. I filled my 52 gallon tank before storing the boat and added enough of the standard pink colored StaBil for the amount of fuel. Guess I'll find out in a few months if I made a bad decision or not.

Welcome to the site, Starfish. You've joined a great group of people here!

I decided not to go, just because I assumed Ernie wasn't going to be there. Oh well. Mis-communication happens. Hopefully I'll be able to catch him next time around. Rich, was the phone call you received saying Ernie wasn't coming from someone at Cabelas? Hope he had a great turnout anyways!

Thanks for the heads-up, Rich. I'll check back here in the morning before I hit the road. I'd hate to drive 1.5 hours one way for nothing. Hope Ernie's able to make it.

He will be there both tomorrow the 26th and Sunday the 27th, 11am and 2pm in the Black Bear Room. Downriggers will be his topic of discussion. Looking forward to learning something new.

Anyone headed to the Hamburg Cabelas this weekend for Capt. Ernie's downrigger seminar? I'll be there Saturday for the 11am session.

I have a 6hp kicker on my 22' Islander and it pushes the boat along nicely. When it gets too windy, I have to switch over to the main engine.

That's great news! I have to buy 2 more this year. Will the average price per unit be remaining about the same, do you know?

Thanks, musky! I'm sure the water is lovely. LOL. I heard there isn't any ice on the lake yet. True?

Many of the gas stations around me in SE Pennsylvania are now supplying fuel with 10% ethanol. It's getting harder and harder to find straight 100% gasoline. I have noticed in recent months, my Expedition has started losing gas mileage and it's started running poorly every so often. I've been told it's all because of the ethanol in the gas and the older engines weren't designed to run on the stuff. Last year, the boat ran pretty well, but I also changed out the fuel/water seperating filter 2x to stay ahead of the game. I always filled-up in either Port Ontario or Pulaski. Will be interesting this year if more and more stations have strictly these blended fuels for us.

I'm going to try out quite a few of them this season. Now, I just need another tackle box!

I am continually anticipating the day I take the cover off the boat and start loading all the equipment & gear back on her. Otherwise, work M-F, spend time with my girlfriend and her kids, play with the puppy, spend time with my 3 y/o niece, go to fishing seminars, and a few odds and ends here and there. I have friends who hunt, but it was never something I got into. Ah, is it spring yet?

Great. Thanks. I didn't want to spend the extra $$$ if I didn't have to.

While we're on the topic of rods for copper setups, I have a question. Aside from the visual differences, are there any benefits to using a roller guide rod to a standard guide rod? I know the rollers are more money, but is the added expense going to get me anything? Will the standard guides hold up to the copper being pulled across them over and over? I'm adding a copper setup to my arsenal this year. Already have a reel, just need a rod. Thanks for everyone's input.

My Top 10 list would be: 1. Friendly and knowledgable staff 2. Large selection of spoons from numerous manufacturers 3. Large selection of flashers, dodgers 4. Downrigger replacement & repair parts 5. All aspects of fishing line from mono to copper 6. Assortment of Great Lakes specific fishing rods & reels 7. Ability to renew my fishing license 8. Miscellaneous marine lubricants (motor oil, gear lube) 9. Equipment for being outdoors (sunscreen, hats, raingear, etc) 10. Gear for taking the kids bass or perch fishing when the lake is too rough to go out (worms, bobbers, floats, etc) Basically, I like a One Stop Shop. Having the ability to run in and get everything you need for a day on the water and not have to run around to multiple places is key for me.

Chad & Clarke, thanks for the warm welcomes! Clarke, I remember you from the GLA site, also. Yes, Quakertown is just a bit north of me. I pass the exit on the Northeast Extension of the PA Turnpike when I'm driving up to the lake. I've never been west to the Niagara area. Furthest I've ventured is around Nine Mile to Oswego. I caught my largest king ever just west of the plant a few years ago in the fall. Hopefully have the opportunity to meet you one day.

I was at a seminar last weekend and learned that an ideal voltage around your boat for kings is 0.65 volts. A typical volt meter can give you readings and allow you to adjust as needed. The black boxes are an excellent way to fine-tune your output.