mr 580

Go with what your probe is telling you for speed. If you are used to setting your speed by angle of cable, you need to learn to trust your probe. If you are getting a side slip on your cables adjust your heading. If you have to crank it up to get your speed get your downspeed where you want it. Use GPS SOG along with your downspeed. The probe will put way more fish in the boat than watching cable angle. I wouldn't want to give up my probe.

With a 16 footer and a 9.9 you are starting where many of us did on smaller waters. With what you have for equipment Hemlock and Honeoye are great places to start and get some experience. If you want to try the Great Lakes, either take a charter (money well spent) or make friends with someone with a boat setup to troll big water. If you think you have a lot of tackle now wait and see what a pro has. Pretty big investment to "get real smart" in this game. Nice to see you have interest, but it's a pretty long learning curve. Many of us have been doing this for 20 or 30 years. Make some friends, keep learning and don't try to jump too far too fast. Reading books is great but time on the water is the best teacher. Good luck with it.

Not sure how the Tyee is setup but my guess would be long shaft. My 1775 Pro V takes a long shaft and has pads on both sides of the transom for mounting a kicker. Hope this helps.

I second the recommendation for conversion. The Digitrol II key pads have not been available for years. I have a couple Digitrol's which were converted to Mag 10's. Cannon used to sell a kit not sure they still do, but most Cannon repair shops should be able to convert one for you. You might be able to find a used key pad, but it probably isn't any better than what you have now as that was the weak point.

Have been running 30LC Saltist on wire dipseys last two seasons- really like them. Planning to go with 50 Saltist on ten color and 400 copper this spring. Like the speed and line pickup- drags are smooth.

Appreciate the information- this is an earlier date. It is important to attend- lots of good info and a chance to support the fishery.

The 115's would probably troll fine and you could alternate so hours were kept the same. The questions I would have is how heavy is the 26' Hewescraft and what should you have for power? I'd also compare weight on transom of two 115's vs a 225 or 250 with a kicker. I fish a 25' Proline with a 225 main and a 9.9 kicker so I'm partial to kickers. Two 115's would probably work good too and that boat might be better suited for twins.

I got my training with US Captain's Training and took the Masters upgrade. A few more questions on the test and you have it. Based on the time and dollars invested, I thought it made sense.

Had success with 1oz and 2 oz dive bombs with short cores pulling small spoons or harness's on Erie this year. Never tried them on mono- if I did I'd start 20' or so from the lure. 1 oz would probably get you down 10'. I haven't used them on Lake O - could get interesting getting them off the line with a good steelie or king going.

Wire will get you deeper and has a different signature. Have to be a little careful handling wire and watch for pig tails. Power Pro or braid is a little more forgiving to use. If you fish a lot, you'll probably want both. I use Power Pro early then switch to my wires when the fish go deeper. Each has their place, but the fun factor goes to wire when a big king takes off.

Another option is to use a Slide Diver instead of the standard dipsey. Run the slide diver on 30lb mono so no problem with fleas. When you're done rod breaks down on the mono. You have to run a short leader so the SD doesn't slide all the way to the fish. I loop my line around reel so diver rests against reel when I'm running or storing rod. Takes a little bit to get used to using them-they do work nice.

I used US Captain's Training for my license and would recommend them. They have classes scheduled in Rochester for October, January and March. They have a nice website with good info as well. Good luck with it.

The Panther steering rod I have on my kicker was adjustable - once you get your proper length you cut the threaded rod and screw on the end. Looks like you might have enough room on the transom - put the kicker on and see if there is enough steering clearance. If you don't have enough use a bracket. I've done both without issue's either way- just need to strap the kicker when you're moving. I use a 9.9 on my 25 - once you use a kicker it's the only way to go. Good luck w/it.

Indian and your manual are correct- Mercury Optimax is a 2 stroke. Take the 4 stroke oil back to West Marine and return it. If you put any of the 4 stroke oil in your reservoir-drain it or pump it out. Sometimes clerks in stores mean well, but just don't have the correct information. Have someone go over your motor who is experinced or at least go over the manual thoroughly. Could save some big bucks.

I run my wire slide divers with the heavy weight option and a ring. I put a short section of 50lb power pro to the wire and then double uni knot 30 ft of 30lb big game. I like the diver to slide on the mono. With the SD's I always use a short leader to keep the diver off the fish. I feel the SD's give me more options than a LJ dipsey.

I'm using the Adventure Marine bracket with a long shaft 9.9 Yamaha on my Pro-Line 25 Walk. Happy with how it sets on outboard/swim platform bracket. Steering ties in to hydraulic steering on my Evinrude. Has plenty of prop in the water. Not sure how it would work with an i/o - little tougher to figure out steering geometry.

I always add beads to both slide divers and slide diver light bites before I tie on good quality ball bearing swivel. I then use leader back to spoon or flasher setup. I put slide diver on 30lb big game mono tied to both Power Pro and wire setups. When I'm running wire I use slide diver heavy weight instead of the standard. I've been running them 3+ years without any issue's.

This is GOOD NEWS for sure! Glad Orleans County is stepping up to open this facility. To me one of the best launch sites on the west end of the lake. Would have been a shame if state left it locked up this year. I'll send a note of thanks to them.

In 2008 I purchased a 2005 Evinrude 225 hp ETEC that was new in a showroom. Had full new warranty from BRP. I've been real impressed with the ETEC -quiet, economical, good performance. If you're looking at an engine with no warranty there is a reason beyond sitting in a showroom for a few years. As the others have said get more information or move on. Good luck!

Walkarounds make a great family boat, I 've been running one for 20+ years. Cuddy is great to store your gear. You can run a kicker with an I/O by tieing the the two motors together. I 've had both I/O and outboard, outboard allows for more cockpit space and I think is easier to service. If you are looking out of state be sure to watch for boats that have been in saltwater. I would suggest you decide on power choice and size before you lock in on brand. Important to have a vehicle big enough to move it around too. Have fun looking, should be some decent rides in your price range.

Seaswhirl was also on my "short" list when I decided to update two years ago. Instead found a Pro-Line 25 Walk hardtop new leftover w/225 Evinrude ETEC. Have been real pleased with both the boat and the ETEC. The Proline handles well in the rough stuff and the hardtop provides alot of storage and protection. I have fished with a friend in a 19' Seaswhirl. It's a heavy boat, but for Lake O I like more length to bridge the waves. My advice decide what you want , stay away from the salt, and try to keep it in your budget. Have fun looking!

Long Point has a nice multiple ramp along with fuel. Another good ramp is at the Fish Hatchery @ Pendergast Point on the other side of the Lake. As far as finding panfish-get along the edge of any of the weedlines in 12' to 14' foot of water with some nightcrawlers and the kids should catch plenty of yellow perch, white perch and sunfish. If you don't find them in one place, just move. Usually a nightcrawler gets bit before it hits bottom. Have fun!

I have a 2008 Venture trailer that I checked after seeing your photo. My trailer has one piece formed crossmembers with no welds other than to attach the mounting plates which bolt to the aluminum frame. There's no reason that a fabricated crossmember shouldn't be fine, but it has to have decent welds. I'll certainly be paying close attention to my running gear. Hope you get a satisfactory response from your dealer and Venture.

The download process is very simple. I updated my Lowrance GPS last summer and it went very smooth. Put my mapping chip in and the updated maps worked fine. Sounds like you have everything you need with the card reader and SD card. Good luck!

You can use a short shaft kicker with an i/o if you use a kicker bracket with a long enough stroke to get the motor down in the water enough. I ran a short shaft Honda with a Merc i/o for years. Only issue with short shaft was that it come out of the water if things got rough. A long shaft is a better choice and what I run currently. If you're buying a motor buy a long shaft, but if you have a short shaft and a tight budget you can make it work. Hope this helps.