Mike M

Also have you tried this with any other banana type baits like Kwik fish or Mag Lips? We've been tipping our straight running stick baits (renowskis, bombers, bayrats) for years with a 1/2 a crawler on the back hook. We think the 1/2 crawler gets us more bites vs. no crawler. You got me thinking for next year. I got alot of old banana baits in my basement. 

Approximately how fast would you troll your homemade rig ? Also what would you typically run it behind ? Rigger ball, dipsey, leadcore, jet planner or does it not really matter ?

Hey Rick- Thanks for all your great reports !! Us rec guys really appreciate the detail you give in your reports. Its been a challenging year for all of us. Hopefully next year we can be back to normal with tournaments etc. See ya at the Niagara expo !

Anyone else having failures of these counters? Bought 3 new 2116 Scottys in 2013. Been real happy with them. All had a counter with a permanent lithium battery in it. Was told by Scotty they lasted double there normal expectancy. They sent me new counters that run on replaceable AAA batteries. Mind you this did not happen all at the same time. The old counters failed one by one over about a 6 week period. Anyhow all 3 new counters sent to me  have failed. Scotty has since replaced the 3 failed new counters with 3 new ones. The old counters say made in Canada on the back.. New counters say made in Maylasia on package.Person at Scotty pretty much said the old counters were better.Also said we had a bad batch of a couple hundred new counters. Scotty has been good about covering these under warranty. I'm just sick having problems. I'm at a point where I'm carrying 1 or 2 extra counters on the boat just in case. BTW i had another new one fail today.

I was advised years ago if you want to go roller rod for wire divers don't go cheap. My Talora diver rods are the most expensive rods on my boat. No regrets.

Been running 9 ft talora roller dipsey rods for about 10 years now. Can't remember the model #. Use 30 lb 7 strand mason wire.Reels are Tekota 600 lc. Love this combo. Caught a ton of fish on these rods.

Any opinions on Bloodrun Sea Flea line 30 lb test ?? Thinking of trying it this year. Been bumping up to 30 lb big game each year at mid summer. The 30 lb B.G. helps but we still get some feas.

Don't forget about the rod holders for your new diver rods! Important and expensive decisions to be made on rod holders. On my boat I have 4ft of Traxtech track on each gunnel. That track has my outdown riggers mounted  to it plus 4 adjustable traxtech rod holders. Besides running a diver rod from one of the holders on each side the other holders are used for board rods or sometimes we'll run 2 diver rods on each side..Agree with above. Don't go cheap on the diver rods or reels, there gonna get alot of work.Mason or Bloodrun 7 strand is definitely the way to  go. Many days divers catch more then 1/2 our days catch. Nothing like a big King smashing a wire diver rod !!

Rigger weights shoud be round or torpedo shape IMHO. Pancakes are a PITA. You can't get them to run totally true. Currents affect them alot.. Just my HO.

Boga grip with builtin scale is a great tool to have on boat. Very well made and quite accurate. Mine will out last me.

Welcome toLake Ontario Bob!!

I had the TR-1 on my previous boat and loved it . Was a big factor helping to sell that boat. My next, new to me boat I bought another TR-1 and have no regrets. That was in 2013. Best money I have spent on both boats. As far as the EZ-steer setup,leave all the hardware on the kicker and your outdrive. Disconnect the EZ-steer bar and keep it on the boat. If TR-1 ever fails just recconect the EZ-steer bar and continue trolling. As far as parts availability I'm not 100% sure. Talked to Garmin and they did not give me a definitive answer on how long parts would be available. I talked to a marine dealership in pacific NW that has sold and installed probably more TR-1 then any place in USA. Can't remember the name but I wrote it down and will find and post. They made it sound like they have lots of parts that would be available for some time to come. The TR-1 originated from the pacific NW. Company was called Nautimatic marine. My first one I bought directly from them. Garmin bought them out-not sure when. Garmin made no chances or improvements in the TR-1. BTW only component that has failed 20+ years of 2 TR-1s is the pump on my first TR-1. Watching this closely cause I feel someday I'm gonna need parts or need to replace the TR-1. Yes I have read positive reviews on the Reactor 40 AP. If it was me, and they would discount the TR-1 heavally I'd go for it.

I’ve got Scotty 2116 high speed riggers. I’ll be using Amish outfitter rigger snubbers this year. Where should the blacks release be? Between snubber end and ball? Or between cable end and top of snubber?

 

 

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Seems to say small boat travel for pleasure is considered non essential.


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I called the # on that public advisory. Was told this is about recreational boaters crossing borders is now banned. It’s misleading the way it reads. We can still social distance on our boats and fish in NY waters. Called Coast Guard too and they confirmed no ban on recreational boating.


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Very handsome looking dog! Looks like he's happy to be part of the crew.  Does he got some Lab in him?

Good topic. Years ago before EVERYONE had a cell phone there was lots of chatter on the VHF radio. Its very quiet now and personally I don’t like it. The purpose of your VHF is safety. Your supposed to all ways be monitoring 16 even if it’s on scan. We all need to get back to this. Cell phones are not dependable especially on the open lake. I miss the days when I’d get info on the radio to help the days catch. I’ve made some friends on the radio. But # purpose is safety! The radio got me towed in once by CG. Another time by a fisherman 20 years ago and he’s still my friend.Yeah,turn the radio on even if u just leave it on 16.


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I would find a reputable prop shop in your area work with them. My current new to me boat had wrong prop on it when I bought it. Local prop shop let me test 2 different props by giving them a deposit. What a difference when I got right prop on the boat. BTW , I do not like stainless steel props on a fishing boat. No need for it. If you ding something with a SS prop its just gonna cost more  $$$ cause you probably have lower unit damage too. Aluminum props are easily repaired.

I’m local. A place I’ve heard good things about is the Lakeview motel in Youngstown NY. 716-791-8668. It’s in a good location to launch at either Ft. Niagara state park or Tuscarora state park in Wilson. Hard to say where best fishing will be that time in May.
Checkout Lakeview motel on line. I’ve heard it’s fishermen friendly. I’m gonna try PM you with more info.


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They started pulling the lake Erie Ice Boom today. Second earliest removal on record. 

They began removing the Ice Boom today . One of earliest removal dates in history. Go to WBEN website for a cool video.


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We always wear knee high boots for spring fishing on L.O. now. Boots come off when we leave the dock.


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Curious, where do you slip in Niagara county? We trailer from GI. Worried about water levels at Ft. Niagara boat launch.


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Looks just like my Pen Yan Outrage. So ya think spring coming early. Me too.


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Is that Pen Yan ?

I've got a 2010 Merc 9.9 Pro Kicker on my 22 ft Pen Yann. Its made by Tohatso and has a carb. I'm totally happy with it. Runs like a sewing machine. Uses almost no gas. Have a TR-1 AP hooked up to it. Love the set up!  When it comes to making motors that last and are trouble free I've learned from experience to trust the Japanese. Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki,Tohatso . Lots of happy customers!  I've pulled my boat with Broncos,Suburbans and now a Tundra. The others don't compare to the Tundra. When its my day to go I just don't want any mechanical problems!!