Skippers Trophy 01

We have had our electric 8HP Tohatsu kicker on our 20' for about 3 years. We are 'Mercury guys', and found out that Tohatsu was virtually the same motor, so went with it. We like this motor very much so far, no problems.

To answer your questions, I believe that the differences are very slight, if any in the two motors (like the gear shift you mentioned), and for parts, I was thinking about replacing the fuel pump at one point, and my research found that the Merc part was the same, it just had a different part number. I ended up putting a new filter in it, which has worked out fine. I don't know this first hand yet, but assume any reputable shop can fix these motors without an issue.

I have not heard or read very many disparaging remarks about the Merc engines as you have. I think that since most the outboards you see are Mercs, one would hear the most complaints about them as well, that's just the numbers.

Underwater video I took in Cayuga last year.

After three seasons of filming at the lure, we have come to the conclusion that we are using that line as an attractor only.  We rarely get a strike on that presentation, and believe it is useful in bringing fish into the spread, and some of those fish end up hitting the dipsy or other rigger line.

Overall happy to see some healthy looking fish come out of this lake, as all were in good shape with only one Lamprey hit on the bunch.

Tried the South end for a few hours on Friday. Went 8 for 9 including a couple small Salmon, one Bow, and several Brownies, one of which was colored up real nice.

A few pics:

Video didn't come out very clear, water was very green.

The steering connector arm such as an EZ Steer arm has to have foam floatation added to the arms to save them from sinking when they come apart. I lost two and they are an expensive loss. I wish I had the foam doughnuts that slide over the arm.

We use a swim noodle on ours.

Got the boat launched early, only to find we had a bad ground someplace, so spent some time checking connections, etc. Later got some lines down, but still no electronics, felt like 1975 all over again!  After about an hour of trolling blind inside, I changed out a ground wire and we had our electronics again.  Fished out to 400, marking bait around 90, but temps were too high, so set a course back in.  Got to 265 and noticed we had 42 degrees at 100 down, so prepared for action.  Took a hit on a Spin/Fly, but pulled the hook after peeling about 50 feet.  Didn't land any, but got a good vid of a Salmon chasing our other downrigger presentation.

http://youtu.be/K1hO6mogaOg

Just got back from Sodus. After a late start due to some electrical problems, found some good 42 degree water just East of the chute, 110 down over 150-200. Had one hooked on a Nuclear spinny and 42nd fly, but pulled the hook. Didn't really have the time to work that water over as much as we would have liked.

Got a good video tho, will post later.

Nick, you are like a cat in the back of that boat.  Great job nabbing that board!

Way to wait go, at least a few stayed buttoned up for ya.

Did you have to change anything?

Nice group of pics.  Love to see the colors in the fish, great work from the cameraman.

Rambo, like I said, 20# is used by a good number of charters. Keep your drags as light as you can on your dipsies without it clicking out. Also slow the boat as soon as you take a dipsy hit until you have the fish under control. Your 20# will hold up.

 

Don't use a lighter leader on the flies. The 50# is not there because 30# won't hold. It is used because 50# fluorocarbon provides the necessary stiffness to impart a tantalizing rolling motion to the fly. Lighter, softer fly leader will be feckless.

I use these from Spiderking.

http://shop.spiderkingrodholders.com/Outriggers_c3.htm

Oh, they are in LA now, moved from Brooklyn a while back.

Gorgeous fish there, love to see them in their fall colors.

Congrats to the young man on checking another one off on his hit list for the year.

Any idea what down temp was when you got into them?

Finally escaped work to do a little fishing today. Got wet, and the ride home was a little bumpy with 5 footers, but at least we got to hear some drags screaming again, its been too long!

Dropped lines in around 100 feet of water just west of the chute, hooked a LT around 15 lbs. on a NBK spin/fly. When we hit 160 feet of water, the 100 rigger went off like a shot, I tried to slow this train down by increasing some drag, but the drag was getting too hot to touch. When we finally got it to the boat we had to do some quick thinking as he ran around the downrigger wire, but we ended up landing a low twenties King on a green and white Spin/fly. We were working the 48 degree water we found down 100-110 over 150-200.

Nick, we saw you go by us today, could not reach you on the radio, think my antenna is toast.

We found 48 degree water down 100 over 160, landed a 15 Lb. LT and a low twenties King, both on Spin Dr./Fly. Good luck this weekend.

Nice night for you guys. Congrats on setting a new boat record.

How deep did you have to go to find the Kings?

Congrats Billy and crew.

Nice job on finding the heavy ones.

Whats the limit on gold sea monsters?

Great looking pair!

Way to go!

We managed one Coho, 2 BT, and one LT out of Sodus last week.  Seemed like the 100 - 150 range was best for bait and fish.  I cant remember ever marking more bait out there than this year.  Bellies of all fish were packed with 3 inch Alewives. When the Kings do come to play, there will be a large buffet for them!

Pic of what we use.

You can get some cool footage:

Check these two things:

Fuel filter - it has a water separator canister type, when the water in it gets to a certain level, it trips the alarm.  Easy to just spin on a new one, and should be done with regular maintenance anyway.

Oil level alarm - there is a magnet in the small tank (on motor) that comes unglued from the float, causing false alarms.  Remove the one screw at the top of the tank and pull the sensor out.  Put a strong magnet at the top of this sensor and see if the alarm goes away.  If the alarm stops, you need a new tank. 

Cant help with any info on the upgrade, but do you know which alarm is ringing, or what is causing it?

We have been thru a few of these with our Opti.

We are giving it a shot tomorrow out of Sodus, will let you know what we find.