Fat Trout

2 hours ago, Misty IV said:

I got word yesterday that they closed the launch. Not good, especially seeing the projections from Plan 2014 that the lake is due to rise another 10 inches through June and not fall below 247' until September.

Anyone seen Pine Grove launch, by chance? If Mexico is this bad, I'm sure Pine Grove is under water by now.

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As of last week you needed to wade through about 4-5" of water for about 10' to get to the floating dock section.  Otherwise it was fine.

6 minutes ago, bandrus1 said:

Particularly interested in hot steel

don't know if I'm missing something....but Fish USA.com has them in stock. I was able to put them in the cart.  

Edit....nevermind...saw the comment on looking for used LOL

Fishhawk for current direction and your speed.    Then also  Fishhawk for what the fish are doing.....ie I see marks at XXft, where are they in relation to the temperature.    As said, its only data.   but its good data.  the problem is, it takes a whole lot of other info and experience to make it make sense.  Even then, the fish just give you the "middle fin" anyway and leave you scratching your head (ha ha)

Whoa.....   My camper is upstream @ Salmon Country  and when I was up last weekend the lake was as high as I had ever seen it but that picture puts it in perspective.  Thanks!    BTW  Last weekend my Camper was probably 20 feet from pooled water which I had never seen before (that close).  Camper is up higher so no prob there but compared to last fall its a shocking difference.  Last fall I had to lie on my chest and barely could scoop a bucket of water from the same dock that has 3" covering (last I saw). 

Why is it closed?  Lake height?  I'm up there all the time but admittedly use that launch very infrequently.

On ‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 9:24 PM, fjs5252 said:

Hi Sea-IV

I have a Starweld 18 Pro with the same listing issue. At Starcrafts direction, the dealer installed fixed trim tabs that are supposed to fix the issue, but alas, they did not. The tabs they installed are about 9 inches wide and maybe 2 inches deep. In other words, the tab extends only 2 inches back. In our latest calls to Starcraft the dealer and I were both told the same thing. They suggest we bend the tab on the port side down 2 or 3 degrees. The rep I spoke to actually said I should put a vice grip on it and bend it down. I can't imagine that being good for the screws into the transom. I'm still trying to figure out what to do next. I'll be interested in what results you get and would appreciate it if you would post them. Good luck !

I have an 18 Pro.  Just curious.  For your issues do you have a kicker on the port side along with the battery?   I'm running a 115 and I don't have issues (but I'm not running a kicker).  I do have weight based listing depending on passengers (or not) and where they are sitting but nothing bad like the OP is dealing with. I consider this somewhat normal for a smaller boat and not close to dangerous in my case.   I'm intrigued by the 4x12 tabs mentioned as adjusting tilt as needed based on wind, waves & passengers might be nice.   I just wanted to gauge your observations with the 18 as points of reference only.  Seems to me the 18's are marginal on the tilt and dependent on weight distribution where the 20's have a more significant issue that  needs definite resolution.   I like the 18 but have this affliction where I always find see some shiny new fishing gear or boat gear to spend $ on.

bump

Thanks for the info.   any issues / observations with transducer location or proximity to other transducers, engine etc?

The speed / depth / temp probe in the on sale kit looks different than the one in the separate probes....smaller, more compact.  Improvements I guess?

any known cure for the paranoia of loosing a probe? (kidding)

TTT

No reverse chine on that boat? Full V? That's really odd... that's where a lot of cruise stability, trolling and still stability comes from.

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There's a full length reverse chine.  Perhaps however at the length and weight of that particular boat its not effective enough on plane. Hard for me to say.  I have the next size down and don't have the same problems.

Deadrise isn't published (that I've found) so I'm not sure if the series of boats is actually a full V

For what its worth and to aid potential future participation from others.  Has the DEC ever considered a Saturday meeting at at least one location?.  A lot of Lake users travel a long distance and have to schedule in advance to get off of work.    

A week day meeting at 6 can be a tall order for many who can't get off of work or essentially need to take 2 days off to be there.

Just a thought to help participation.  

Looking at the history in the write up seems to prove the effectiveness of stocking cuts.

2008 was very low stocking due to drought.

2011 was year 3 for those 2008 fish.

2012 and 2013 was a banner year for Alewife hatch and is now the bulk of the bait we are supposedly living off of.  

That is the same prop that is on my motor. Just checked it last night cause I am gonna call another Marina in Ohio and see what they suggest before I make a 4 hour road trip to hear them say I am crazy and I lose my crap on them

For what its worth....when you look that prop up. it is listed for a range of Yamaha engines up through 115.   My boat weighs 350# less than yours has 10 gallons less fuel capacity and is 7" narrower so less drag for me.  

I may be on the edge and you are on the other side of a prop that is on the top end of its range of use.   As I think of it.  When I trim up I notice a pitch change so I don't trim up a lot.  I'm slipping a little I think.  

This was interesting btw

https://www.boats.com/reviews/outboard-expert-finding-the-right-propeller/

My prop is a 13x19-K.  

I'd be curious what's on yours and what you end up with.   Next time I have my boat out I'm going to bring up the RPM's on my Lowrance and pay much more attention to the actual performance info from the engine vs my analog gauge on the dash.

Sea IV, have you tried to adjust the trim tab on the outboard?

Interesting Point.  I remember that having a big influence on a little boat with 25hp that I had  ha ha.

I have the same Yam motor on a similar model as Sea IV  My tab isn't centered.  Its one notch from center toward the driver side.  That puts the tail of the tab toward the driver side and front of the tab toward the passenger side.   He's still under propped but this could be making things worse.  

Tell me about it. I tried recording several times but had to hold wheel with both hands. My wife was holding on for life over the weekend cause she thought she was gonna take a swim. Also just before someone spits it out, I don't run around driving like a D**k either. Usually I am with buddies on Ontario trolling or at Seneca with family fishing for panfish. The occasional cruise can't happen cause of this. I can say it's the last New boat I will ever buy.

Ha.....I get it.  I've seen you post before.  You know enough lol.      As for the new boat thing.   All I can say is that there is a devil wherever you go....new or used.  I've seen issues with both....myself and with others.   Where I agree with you the most is in the high end super expensive fiberglass class.  Shocked...shocked at issues I have seen new buyers deal with for $100-150K boats.    

I'm hoping for you its just a prop thing and in your past before you know it!

I haven't gone fully WOT but highest before I backed off was 6200, highest range for motor is 5800.

sounds high.   The prop may be the  thing.

Believe me I know all to well it's weird. I have a extra battery on drivers side, anchor on drivers side, all my flashers, spoons rigger weights everything I can get on drivers side to help counter it. I mean don't get me wrong at its worst it's about a foot difference between each side off level. I know the pitch is wrong on prop cause of rpms which they will correct

A foot!  and with Batt and all that stuff.  wow.   with batt (on passenger side) and my buddy their too, I was ****ing about a couple of inches of steady out of level.....lol.    

My mistake it is a 25" shaft. So pissed I measur d wrong. I have zero cavitation when I am out whether it be calm or choppy. I can say I believe it's torque rotation issue but still have never dealt with this issue with any boats and I previously had a Tracker 18 with a 150 on it and no issues. As for trim tabs well I considered it but really would only need 1. Then the dealer says it's a weight issue also, hmm I doubt it being I added equal weight to each side except for a battery on my side which still doesn't help counter the tilt issue. Now the only time I could run was with a 200# person behind me kept boat level.

still seems weird.  You mention the battery.  That only justifies my lean more now that I think of it.   In that case my battery is a size 29 and on the passenger side with no batt on the driver side.   My buddy also outweighs me by 50 lbs.  zero lean when I operate by myself.   Also zero lean with me and my wife....who thankfully weighs less than my buddy lol.    Just seems odd to me that your boat is that bad with the leand and mine isn't.    Same design, same hull angles I assume..... I'm a little shorter......I would think if anything you would be more stable. 

Ok I purchased a new boat in April, a Starweld 20 Pro w/115 Yamaha 4 stroke. I love the boat and my issue is that when coming up on plane and when on plane the boat leans over to one side. I have my suspicions as to the cause but values honest opinions from people on here. I have had my passengers sit behind me to counter balance it but when I had family out over holiday weekend it became unsafe with all the boat traffic out. I hit a boat wake and was thrown from the drivers seat to floor. I called the dealer and they claim it's the prop because I can't trim up or go wide open cause it's over rpm's. My suspicion is the motor is to higher lower unit is to short. Should be a 25" and they have a 20" on boat. Is this my issue or could it be something else. Boat is going back next week but need ammo cause we as boat owners never know what we are talking about when we go back to the dealer even though I have owned several boats big and small for over 20 years. Help cause this is going into my perch season.

I have a 2015 18 Pro with a 115 Yamaha.  You say your shaft is 20"?   Are you measuring from the inside top of the bracket to the cavitation plate?   Mine measures 25".  My Cav plate is just about even with the tip of the keel....just a little higher perhaps.    

I can run wide open....granted I don't do it a lot.  I can trim up too without issue....other than trimming up has its time and place and trimming up in the wrong chop gives a little more porpoising than I like.    I have a stock Yamaha prop.

I notice a very slight lean with me and another person in the passenger seat but I attribute that to prop rotation torque and its only slight and no bother at all.  I don't notice any lean if its just me solo.

There was a guy on here who had a 2014 or perhaps 2013 who said his had issues with porpoising more than he liked so he put nauticus trim tabs on.  He liked them and said it also slowed his troll too as a bonus.   I didn't want to put tabs on and so far in 2 seasons of use I see no need.  However I mention it as a thought for you.  

I have to say....if you can't go WOT on a 20 footer your motor is set too high or shaft is too short.  I'd have to think you are cavitating if you are going over on RPM's.....but geeze I didn't think they even made a 20" in 115HP.

I can take pics and some additional measurements if it helps...just let me know what you need.  

one bump for end of the season, otherwise I'll look to be back with this in the spring 

Co worker did 3 rd place finisher in fall LOC and placed well in other summer derbies ,has a port in fair haven . He was into fish every weekend . I'm not a derby fisher .

I have moved a rod 4 times out of Mexico from June until now in 9 weekend trips .

Maybe it's just I'm an amateur but it wasn't for lack of trying . We tried jigging , trolling but swimming seemed to produce the best results .

Last year and 2014 we moved many more rods and less fuel

Sorry , just feeling defeated there unlike other waters and species

Rich

I don't know if this makes you feel better or worse.....but this lake is just a stickler for details.  speed, color, set back, flourocarbon (debatable of course).  Feeding fish vs. staging fish.....ha ha well thats a different story.   When I was learning a long time ago I learned a lot of lessons I didn't understand until later unfortunately.  I say to myself a lot .....I wish I knew then what I know now lol.   You have a good attitude, nothing wrong with being frustrated. Every time I pump my chest up with a good series of trips....this lake makes sure to knock me back into reality ha ha.  Oh...and I've been "living the dream" in Mexico area for a long time.

I caught 2 clipped fish, and over 60 naturals this year. I was speechless at the ratio. I assumed it would be about 50-50. Hope this trend continues so we don't have to worry about stocking in the future.

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always the possibility that those fish you caught aren't pen fish but also aren't natural....ie stocked elsewhere.   As I understand the clipping game they were doing for the salmon river was finished a few years ago.   you may be catching hatchery fish earlier that were planning to end up further east eventually. 

My few days of good stager King fishing was a super fast flurry of activity followed by hours of nothing on either side. Really gotta make your bites count when they are like this.

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Yep.  either you start in the right place with the right Sh*t or you grind it out for 1.

 

 

........since I started fishing 4 years ago.   

So compelling until you added this line.   I still agree with you tho