thompsm7

Could anyone tell me what methodology they use for what finish they use on the backs of Michigan Stinger spoons for browns? I've seen some success using copper backs, but don't really know why that is. I was hoping to better understand why one selects a certain back finish. Thanks for the info.

I run a B60 with my Humminbird 957 and love it. It is very clear and picks up marks significantly better than the stock transom mount 'ducer. Go for it, you won't regret it.

On the Fish Hawk, I find I get interference on the Fish Hawk (not the Humminbird) when I have the gain on my 50Hz element turned way up. The symptom is the down temperature dropping out occasionally. That said, the transducer is solid and you don't need the gain turned up to see fish while trolling.

I run a B60 with my Humminbird 957 and love it. It is very clear and picks up marks significantly better than the stock transom mount 'ducer. Go for it, you won't regret it.

On the Fish Hawk, I find I get interference on the Fish Hawk (not the Humminbird) when I have the gain on my 50Hz element turned way up. The symptom is the down temperature dropping out occasionally. That said, the transducer is solid and you don't need the gain turned up to see fish while trolling.

Use Spin Dr's and flies. Mountain Dew and green with chrome work well. Also Chrome Frog took all our kings today. They were hitting 65 down on the riggers.

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Oh, and the 1 foot or less forecast certainly wasn't accurate. We stayed in by the pill boxes in 75-95 fow to keep out of the chop.

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We were one of the boats out today in the trench. We went 4 for 4 with all coming on a Chrome Frog Spin Dr with Pro Am fly down 72 on a winger. We marked a lot of streakers, but a lot seemed to disengage. They didn't touch any other pattern we tried. The fish are definitely darker and not quite as wild as summer Kings. It was great fishing the trench without a hundred boats.

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I was in the trench on Saturday too, and heard it was on fire.... Funny, I never saw it. We landed three kings over 25lbs but that was it. We took our fish off the high rocks in 95 fow with our riggers almost bouncing the bottom. Temperatures on the bottom were 59 degrees and our down speed was 2.5. We were on the shallower side of the flotilla and only saw about two or three boats land a fish. One of my buddies fished out west of the trench and took three kings that morning too. It just seemed like the wind moved the fish inside the trench or out on the flats.

Bill Saiff out of Henderson Harbor does a great job. I've fished with him many times. Tell him Matt sent you.

There was a bass/walleye tournament, and there was a ton of boats along the shores and around every shoal. We ran out of Henderson to 170 fow and did five kings. We took half our hits on the riggers with Dreamweaver SS Midnight Special spoons, down 75 to 95. The other half came on dipsy's out 210 with Carmel Dolphin Spin DR's. The temperature down 85 was 53 degrees and down 100 it was 49 degrees. We didn't take anything deeper than 95, so the active kings must have been above the ice box.

Have you looked into Wingers? They help pull the side riggers away from the back of the boat and your back riggers. I've not had an issue since going to them. Also, using different weights probably isn't the best approach. Essentially you have 4-5 feet max between the riggers and different blowback could become problematic, especially on modest turns. The Wingers will help you get around that though.... They were a great addition to my spread and I seem to catch more fish off the Wingers than the back riggers.

How'd you guys do this weekend?

The "wall" will be productive. There's a bass/walleye tournament this weekend, so I imagine the pressure out there should be pretty light. Last year, the shallows were packed with boats, and we had the deep water to ourselves. I plan on hitting the shipping lanes if weather allows, otherwise I'll probably be on the mountain. You can reach me on the radio, "Yellow Fever" on channel 18.

I would start my spread where the temp drops to 42 degrees and then set riggers from there down. You can also figure your diver rods go down approximately 30 feet for every 100 feet back. That should help you bracket that temp break.

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We fished browns on Stony Point and did well with Michigan Stingers and J11 Rapalas on weight rods off the planer boards. Similar program as above with natural colored spoons/stickbaits. We also did well in the trench 25 to 45 down over 90'. We did have to compete with a lot of boats in the trench, so I'd shoot for drowned island or off the lighthouse in 60 fow.

I assume that may be the new Fish'N Chip, but I'm not sure. I think Navionics may be moving away from the Fish'N Chip. You can still get the Fish'N Chip for the Great Lakes from West Marine, but I'm not sure for how long. Make sure you get the 1' contours though.

Regards,

Matt

I swear by my Navionics Great Lakes Fish N Chip.... It has 1' contours and has helped me dial in on structure I never knew existed. I fish the trench primarily out of Henderson Harbor.

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Spoon - Dreamweaver SS Midnight Special and NK-28 Sea Sick Waddler

Flasher Fly - white w/green spots Spin Dr with Atomic Glow Pro Am fly and Carmel Dolphin Spin Dr with Atomic Crazy **** fly

These have proven to consistantly produce Salmon and Lake Trout on the east end.

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Great feedback guys.... I like the rule of 100 feet as a guideline. Also, seems like stained water you can shorten the leads up, and in gin-clear water stretch them out. Does anyone have any preference on flasher/fly vs. spoon?

High Bidder - I am running a Humminbird 957c, which has similar output power as 1157c (1000w RMS if running the right 'ducer). I was unable to ever get my transom mount 'ducer to produce any picture above about 2.5-3mph. I replaced my engine plugs/plug wires and re-routed my 'ducer cable to prevent electrical noise but no luck. Getting away from the transom seemed to be the key, because I can run wide open without much more than a few random spots which could actually be bait fish. I think you'll need the 50Hz capability to really see many fish because the 200Hz cone is 12 degrees, while the 50Hz cone is 45 degrees. You'll have a much wider swath with the 50Hz cone and see a lot more like your downriggers.

Does anyone run two sets of Church Walleye boards? I'm going to give it a shot in Henderson for walleye this year. Any feedback or advice would be appreciated.

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Is there any science as to the lead off the downrigger ball? Do you go short or long? Do you change when you run flashers vs spoons? I got schooled Sunday off Sodus running spoons 10' off my Sharks, but found that lead to work well on staging kings in summer off Henderson Harbor. I was just curious if there was any science or just personal preference.

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I had Krenzer Marine in Sodus Point install an Airmar B60 thru-hull transducer. I'm running a Humminbird 957c and the improvement over OEM transom mount 'ducer is fantastic. I'm able to run 30 mph and still have no turbulence interference whatsoever. I was even able to mark fish when running 10 mph, which is a remarkable improvement... Overall, I'm very impressed with the B60's performance and happy with the upgrade.

Thanks to Billy V and Crazy Yankee for their advice.... My Humminbird/Airmar setup is working beautifully!

What kind of steering do you have? I have a 23' walkaround with power assist cable steering, and I'm having Krenzer Marine in Sodus Point install a Si-Tex SP-110 with Dashboard Drive. It is the competitor of the Raymarine SPX-5R. I had heard quite a few poor reviews of the Raymarine wheelpilot, so I went with Si-Tex as the alternative.

Thoughts and prayers are with the Tuttle family.... We all take a certain amount of risk fishing Lake Ontario, but this tragedy makes me realize how real those risks actually are. Be careful out there!

Great call on the Wingers.... You'll find they spread things out and ultimately catch more fish. Did you get a color on the ladder back? I have glow, but was curious if others had more luck with different colors.