Big Water

I have the same unit on a 9.9 Honda myself. The garmin hotline will assist you while you are actually on the water and step you through the paces. Garmin Tr-1 Helpline

1-866-559-0229

I had problems with mine because of a failed pump, but they cut me a break on price even though it was out of warranty.

The chain thing could be done but it is risky as it could hang up on something even more easily than the ball and it would be stronger than your cable and connection probably so bye bye if it hangs up. Back in the 70's when I first started downrigging I tried attractors short off the ball (from it) and it didn't seem to do much in the way of increased fish but I tangled with my release a couple times (on turns) and that was it for me .

Les,

I guess I was thinking of attaching the chain with some kind of break-away link. You've probably seen how occasionally bouncing the ball off of the bottom triggers a strike.

Since it's still cold here and I'm bored, I figured I'd throw this out there. How many of you guys attach some kind of attractor straight to the ball? I see this a lot on west coast shows and have toyed with the idea, but never did it. Also, is anyone attaching sections of chain to the balls that drag on the bottom to stir things up when fishing Lakers?

Friend of yours?

Business acquaintance. 

Knowing the guy that runs that place, probably not very good.

Top 50, but again, it isn't a sure thing. Nothing is. Find the marks and then set down.

Not asure thing i understand but wanted to hear it is worth trying. I have had guys tell me ive met when on lake o that salmon dont bite at night.

I never believed it myself .

Im not looking for night charters, but want to fish later at night if we got a late start on a particular day and wanted to stay out .

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I'd say call it a day when the sun goes down and get up extra early the next morning. That's been my experience.

One other thing I've noticed. There seems to be a much higher incidence of seeing a fish on the fish finder and it hitting than in the day.

I've done both late evening and predawn trolling on Lake O for salmon. I've definitely done better in the early morning hours but it isn't a certainty. There have been days that they've hit very well up to first light and then stop. As with many things, it's not a sure thing but it is worth trying.

Now you're talking. Count me in.

Nice collection! Making music is as much fun as fishin for me! Good addictions.

Truth be told......I'm a much better guitarist than a fisherman. But that's just between you and me. Lol

I see a strat! In the middle, is that a Les Paul on the right? Not sure what the other is..Marshal ..yes!

We should get an LOU orchestra going! "Fish on! Fish on! Wind your line ,ya gotta make it whirl, ya can't catch a king reelin like a little girl!"

Strat, Les Paul and a Schecter. Got others too. Amps are Mesa Boogie Mark IV and Dual Rec, but I have a Marshall Plexi and others as well. My original addiction.

Something I haven't seen mentioned on here is if you need to run a shorter copper or leadcore deep use it on a rigger (e.g. extended boom out to the side). Just keep other riggers short and above it.

That's a seldom discussed topic sk8man. I've had days where cores off of riggers were the trick. Not always, but when things get tough, that setup is going down.

Strats, as in Stratocasters?

I'd say 300 undoubtedly. You're more often finding fish in that range.

ImageUploadedByLake Ontario United1456281302.812327.jpg that is a flat fish and my favorite color and a hammer head is like a cow bell just less blades and lighter with less drag.

Take the front hook off and bounce it off of the bottom. Deadly.

I hate my convectors - Im in the process of getting the drags rebuilt and then they are going to get sold. The problem with mine is when I adjust the drag a lot since we fish in pretty bumpy conditions. With brand new convectors I always had to crank the reel 2 revolutions to get the drag to reset at the new position (not sure if that is normal but they were brand new reels).

The convectors just went to that drag system a couple of years ago. When I bought a couple of these new ones I couldn't figure out what was wrong with them.

The second keel is just a piece of bent metal so I won't worry about after market quality.

Planning on 3/25.

I have a TR-1 on the kicker and it works very well on the 9.9 Honda under almost all conditions. If things get too rough for the kicker, I power up a main engine to provide the thrust and just let the TR-1 on to maintain course. Works great.

Check out Wet Net Charters, Matt Yablonsky. He fishes that area 12 months a year and has that region nailed. Good guy that will put you on fish.

Had to take the Greasy Chicken Wing off of our lines last spring because you couldn't keep them off of it. Got tired of pulling lakers.

With only 5 years under my belt I would say that May was easy pickings out of the Olcott/Wilson area. If you weren't catching fish, you were doing something wrong. Jul-Aug was the true measure of your abilities.