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Sk8man

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  1. Sk8man
    I know this comment will probably tick off folks committed to heavy lines but for over forty years I used 12 lb test for all my downriggers, outriggers, thermocline leaders, and leads to dodgers, cowbell /flashers etc. on the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario (salmon fishing included) and only had a couple "snap offs" and they were due to me forgetting to reset my drag and because I had used a ball bearing swivel with split ring. I changed over some of my rods to heavier lines a few years back only because of the FLEAS. A lot of guys on salt water catch huge fish on light weight and ultralight tackle including sharks on 8 pound test line.....its all about setting the drags properly, taking your time playing the fish, and if need be chasing down the fish and/or letting them tow the boat a bit. Most guys just want to leave all the other lines out and horse the fish in and not mess around playing the fish. Here's a pic of my son at 8 yrs old (back in the 80's with a 30 pound salmon he caught on 12 pound test line off one of my downriggers. I'm only trying to illustrate a point here not tick anyone off....sometimes we forget that it is mostly about technique not just the fancy tackle. P.S. I realize that with our wire rigs etc. it's a little different situation
  2. Sk8man
    Andy, If you can get one like that for the derby this year you'll be in great shape
  3. Sk8man
    If you don't have a heater it might be worth your while to RENT a commercial portable propane heater from a rental place if you have one nearby if it is affordable. The bottom line is that mounting that motor correctly is very important and it is one of those situations where you don't want to be in the position of later on saying to yourself "Why didn't I wait or take the time to do it right?" I can relate to wanting to get out there soon though
  4. Sk8man
    Use the special MARINE STABIL it is about $20 and covers about 320 gallons> It is triple strength compared with the red stuff.
  5. Sk8man
    I think you'll be a "happy camper" Kuba especially when you add up the saved fuel costs Good luck!
  6. Sk8man
    A few things come to mind in addition to whats been said - 1) Try new plugs if they weren't brand new, and recheck the gap, 2) Was the fuel ethanol (water accumulates in it) gas? If so, put NEW non-ethanol fuel in your tank (at a marina?) and try it, That lean and rich mixture knob should be OK in the middle to start with until you identify other possible contributors. Check the fuel filter if it has one that is accessible to see if it is clogged. The mixture may have been too rich in terms of the 24 to 1 since it is a motor that has had some previous use I'd go with 40 to 1 as it is still in the ball park (esp. since you had that slick out back). If your gas line to the tank was old or stored for a long time it may have had old fuel or contaminated fuel in them that went to the motor and hasn't worked its way through the system. Try a new gas line. I'd do one thing at a time so you can see the results and hopefully identify the problem. If the engine sat for a long time the carburator may need to be cleaned by a competent mechanic. If the lean/rich mixture is set right you shouldn't have to mess with it much under normal conditions even when idling or slow trolling (but right now the temps are far from normal operating conditions).
  7. Sk8man
    Keeping them away from the kicker or your main engine is always the PRIORITY. Other than at very slow speeds you will always experience a degree of "blow back" or angle to the wire on the riggers. As Don said you just have to "estimate" a little where they are in relationship to the counter and your depth finder....unless you are going very fast this will be close anyway. They will look different when you are going with, against, or diagonally across currents. Most of the time I keep mine at 45 degree angles to the transom but I have 4 ft. booms and an 8 ft wide transom also (without ever having a tangle). This also worked with these same downriggers though on my little 13 ft. Whaler and I never had a problem with the kicker or larger motor. If it is possible to extend the boom length somehow this could help out if you have trouble with that present location.
  8. Sk8man
    Like the guys have already said there is no doubt that if you can find the Seneca perch it is the way to go but I had considered the above before making my suggestion about Cayuga. Seneca is a big body of water and you can spend all day looking for the perch if you aren't very familiar with it (especially the northern half of the lake which contains most of the shallow water. Fishing for perch in 50-60 ft. of water is usually not the most desirable or effective way to do it ( but i'll admit there are exceptions) The north end of Cayuga is shallower and has a much more defined weed growth and soft bottom which holds perch in more circumscribed areas than Seneca in the area I mentioned between the park and Canoga and it is only about 13-15 ft. out in the middle near the buoys. This lessens your time finding them considerably. There are some very good sized perch that inhabit that area especially toward Canoga (out from the cottages) and you don't have to travel all over the lake to find them either. Just something to consider. Good luck wherever you decide to fish as the little "greenies" often present a challenge even when you find them (especially in clear shallow water :>)
  9. Sk8man
    Should do the trick Kuba,...good luck with things ...just hope that servicing is nearby if you need it down the road.That is the major reason I've stuck with Merc and Johnson over the years...always some marina that services them nearby and either has or can get parts right away. Some of the other makers parts are hard to get or take forever to arrive. I know you willbe happy with the gas mileage after using the bigger motor etc.
  10. Sk8man
    Anyone heard whether they have finished it?
  11. Sk8man
    If the ramp is open at the State Park at the north end (Seneca Falls) it might be worth a shot fishing the west side from south of the park to Canoga at the what would be the outer edge of the weeds 8-15 ft water till it drops off. Minnows and spikes
  12. Sk8man
    You may already do this but you should run each spoon briefly at the side of the boat to get and idea of how your speed is affecting the action of them... some spoons need to be "tuned" and others the lead needs to be lengthened. At least it gives you an idea of how they are running at speed ( I know that it is not exact because of the depth difference and length of lead) I have found some spoons that I have had to either add a split ring or take one off too. I know some purists would never BEND a spoon but I've been doing it for many years on SOME spoons (e.g. Suttons, homemade spoons, and other light flutter spoons) to get the action I want but yes the spoon may work differently later on at a different speed. Another thing that could be a factor is hum from your downrigger cable spooking fish in the shallows at certain speeds. One of the things I've done for years is I attach a wine cork that has a slit up one side right on the downrigger cable near the boom and it seems to help "deaden" the noise and you can just take it on and off as needed or if you can't get to it in time it drops off at the head of the boom when it is reached without a problem. In the old days you could drink the wine too beforehand but I wouldn't do it nowadays
  13. Sk8man
    If you use the small dipseys and set the setting PAST 3 the dipsey will often keep coming right out of the water and won't stay down...haven't tried doing it with the bigger ones so don't know there.
  14. Sk8man
    Nice fish. Looks as though the lampreys are at it again too.
  15. Sk8man
    Tuna's Reel Troubles reel repair has the carbon fiber replacement drag washers for them. He's real good about shipping quickly etc. http://stores.tunasreeltroubles.com/StoreFront.bok
  16. Sk8man
    Cool! Its also very neat that your family goes with you....my wife fished with me while we dated but it ended as soon as we got married Luckily my son has been my fishing partner since 2 1/2 yrs old.,..
  17. Sk8man
    Launch at north end of Canandaigua is open as of this afternoon.
  18. Sk8man
    Neither do I but it will be on Seneca Kev
  19. Sk8man
    Broadhorizons - Make sure that the measurement is for the same dimension that is inside diameter vs, outside diameter. Sometimes places list one or the other without regard to specifying it.
  20. Sk8man
    That would probably be the ONE TIME that the wife would decide to be out there with ya
  21. Sk8man
    Good advice.....ice thckness is only ONE factor to consider. because when streams run into the lakes currents are set up that reach for large distances laterally and ice also rots in spots from gas pockets, bubblers used near docks etc. Even a float suit offers only limited protection from hypothermia which sets in VERY quickly. I found out just how quickly this year that 35 degree water makes your legs feel paralyzed and it takes you forever to warm up....not a great way to end the season let alone WORSE things that could happen. You almost always hear about people going through at the very beginning and end of the season which is when the ice is most likely to be compromised..it's not worth taking the chance.
  22. Sk8man
    There is a remote chance that I might have close to the record here at least for longest time in the derby....my first was about 1968 when I returned from overseas (military) and I've only missed about 3 or 4 since that point (in the hospital for one of them) The first few I still fished from shore with sawbellies (along the seawalll at the north end and off the Bellhurst dock) as I diidn't even have a boat back then Of concern nowadays is the number of entries though which have decreased over time ....I remember one year we had 2800 plus entrees if my memory serves me correctly vs just over 1200 or so last year. On the good side it isn't nearly as crowded at some of my favorite spots I look forward to the possibility of tangling lines with the Blueghost and Adm Byrd though
  23. Sk8man
    Hooked On Kings- Sounds good to me pardner. Always a lot of fun at the Point....in the old days you didn't have to be so careful of the beers either :>)
  24. Sk8man
    Not sure where exactly you are referring to over there but here on the south side in the US. As soon as the ice is out of the channels of the bays and launches its fair game :>) Its usually near shore stuff so you don't have to travel too far out in the lake to score big...you do have to be very careful though as the water temp is still in the mid to high 30's for most of the lake and there are very few boats around this time of the year no matter where you are fishing. My hunch is it may be a little later there before ice out?
  25. Sk8man
    There is still smeice in the middle esction of the channel at the north end launch ramp. It could go out tomorrow though if the hgh 50's predicted occurs. The outer part of the channel toward the lake is totally clear
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