MadPerry

Rivets. Had 14 of them weeping on my starcraft. Typical of a riveted aluminum boat, especially if it has been pounded in waves over the years or hit things on the hull. Put it up on the trailer, put the plug in, fill the bilge as high as you can go. Wait a bit. Some can be very slow leakers and almost not noticable. All I needed to repair was a center punch, drill, 2 drill bits, aluminum/ stainless blind rivets, rivet gun, 3m 5200, and a little time. My cost maybe 50 bux.

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I use 9' ugly stick downrigger rods with all of my leadcore rigs. Very easy to see any subtle changes to the rod.

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I gotta say no to snubbers also. When I got my first dipsy setup, I used them because they were illustrated on the back of the dipsy package. Thought I needed it. WRONG. Went on to lose several fish before I asked here what gives. Just my take.

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I'm sure there are some rare occurrences of that out there. Voltages, magnetic fields, and signal wires with varying currents can do funny things. I have a whole bundle of power, sonar, fishhawk, radio, etc., zip tied together with no issues. I wouldn't overthink it. If you have an issue, change it.

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You should be able to track those balls to well past 80'. My initial guess is that you;re using light cannonballs? Are you running it in dual mode where 83 and 200 KHz are laid on top of each other?

I run 13 lb torpedos. Usually run 2.6-3.2 downspeed, so there is a little blowback. Add in that I use my fh probe on my deepest rigger which may cause a bit more. I'll have to check which beams are on. That could be it.

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When I'm installing this unit do I need to worry about isolating it from the downrigger power cable?

Probably not an issue unless the gauge of the wire is underrated. That would cause the voltage to drop significantly every time you use the rigger, and humminbird to possibly drop out.

Or maybe I misunderstood the question. Do you mean sharing the wires that go to your battery?

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_{I got the sonar/gps model this past winter to use as a 2nd ice fishing rig.  It has an excellent flasher mode when paired with the bird ice ducer.  Have been using it as my primary sonar since I got the boat out in the spring.  Lots of options and ways to configure the unit.  GPS is tight.  Have the Lakemaster NE card and it does cover Ontario and all of it's bays.  It is a MUST HAVE.  Got the details from Yankee before buying so it wasn't a gamble.  The included maps are just an outline of bodies of water.  The Sonar portion works well.  I can see my downrigger balls to just past 80 feet with the proper settings.  The screen is bright and detailed.  I really like all of the options for what you prefer to view on the left column.  Such as depth, speed, heading, temperature, voltage, etc..  My only minor issue is with screen size.  From the back of the boat it is a bit harder to see.  In the drivers seat, no problem.  I will be buying the larger 7" version and putting the 5 on the bow of the boat.  Great value for what you pay for these.  I will second that you don't need DI.  If you don't fish for bass with this unit, It would not be needed.  Nor the SI models.}

I second the spoons to start with. Regular and mag sizes right now. When I first started, I read the reports section to see what types were working for others and then bought a few other random ones that caught my eye. You never know which ones are going to be hot on your boat.

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Holy smokes another Atlantic!  Hope it wasn't bigger than the 1 sent to the taxidermist...only last week

I purchased nine of these lures recently found they really work for lake trout. Anxious to give them a shot with salmon when they return. I agree great folks to work with had them shipped across the border with no problems,

Curious what your downspeed was running them? Wondering how slow they will still be effective?

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Picked up a bunch today. Maybe get a chance to get them wet this weekend. The patterns are unique and really catch the eye. I'm sure the fish will notice too. Noted really nice paint finishes on them. Should hold up well. Shape and weight seem similar to dreamweavers.

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We were out this am from 5-9am and struggled as well.  Fish are scattered.  Worked 100-450.  My buddy brought in our 1st screamer of the year off a 10 color core w/custom Warrior.  19lbs.  Came at the 350 mark and it took awhile to get it in.  Picked up a 7lb laker off a dw superbread on the 60 rigger.  Finished with a tiny skipper on a dw orange tranny slider on that same rigger.  If it weren't for good conversation and that mature, it would have been boredom.

 

Surface temps 56-59, downspeed 2.8 give or take, and down temp on the 60 rigger at 48 give or take.  Dipsies never took a swing with flasher/fly combos.  Looks like a tough weekend.

 

Saw some boats circling the 130fow area on the way in.  Maybe they were onto something.

Narby's in oak orchard has some.

Cool. I'll check it out this weekend. Thanks for the heads up!

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Any kind of retail presence on these? Like Fat Nancy's or elsewhere? I like to see before I buy

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Congrats on that great looking Atlantic!  That one will stand out on your wall for sure.

We ran 2 of them yesterday in 120fow, down 110. Bit as soon as they were set. Was ridiculous. Hooked 11 before we got bored. 5/0 hammerhead cowbells. 1 green w/ glow peanut, and 1 orange w/ glow spin n glow. Only issue was you have to watch the rods. A lot of them wont trip the releases even at lowest setting. Largest we boated was 11 lbs. 1.5-1.7 downspeed, 10 feet back from the ball.

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Thanks guys for sharing. Gives me a starting point for tomorrow. Did any of you consider going further offshore? Wondering where the bulk of those mature kings are. Not that it ever gets old hooking those steelhead.☺

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Got it mostly installed and can't wait to get out Saturday and test it out. I was catching very few before and hope it makes a huge difference. I have also been fortunate enough to go with an awesome fisherman who has been teaching me tons. Won't be long before my catch average is much higher!!!

You will catch more with it.  It has been the 2nd best tool on the boat behind my sonar unit for getting things dialed in.  You'll be amazed at how dramatically different down speed is compared to surface speed, moving in different directions.  If your lures aren't running at the right speed, you are just burning fuel.  As was pointed out above, Charter Captains have so much time on the water they can look at the bend in a rod and know if they are good.  Amateurs like us rely on tools.

Out for about a 3hr troll tonight.  Conditions and fishing mirrored last weekend, except surface temp around 65.  Worked in and out of 95-120fow.  Green/cloudy water in, and clear out.  9 color core down the chute, 65 rigger w/slider, and wire dipsy at 85 setting 3.  Varying down temp on the rigger from 42-47.  Went 4 for 4 with an 8.1 Steel, 2nd yr king, and 2 skipper Kings.  That Steelhead was the most fun I've had with a fish this year, leaping over and over and over again out of the water.  DW mag glow frog and orange tranny on the rigger took 1 each, with an MS purple knight taking 2 on the lead core.  No action on the dipsy after rotating a few flasher/fly combos and eventually a spoon.  No time for pics. 

 

Good luck to all in the coming days!

I've got to try this sometime.  I love catching sheephead, and bowfin also.  Seriously underrated fish that will pound an artificial with the best of them.  WTG guys!

P.s managed to land 2 lamprey stuck to salmon.. they got a boot to the head.

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Cant put them back in the water, but can we really ever put a dent in their population? Like gobies, they are never going away.

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Great report, thanks.  Although not as many fish, I had similar observations both Saturday and today...... fish spread thin and no kings over 10lbs.  I even had double kings on the same line (slider) and they did not add up to 10 lbs! 

We have been spoiled out of this port.    I'm sure in no time we won't be combining the weight of 2 Kings to get 10lbs.

Fish grips! Best money I ever spent for handling walleye!

Just got them and they are fantastic.  Great for toothy/nubby fish like pickerel, walleye, pike, trout/salmon.  95% of the fish on my boat get released, so I'm trying to get better with fish handling.  I think we still need to support the tails, so a work in progress.  You all know how when you gill a large salmon, there is that slight tearing feeling you have in your hand.  This can't be good.

That fog was thick at times.  I honked the horn every 30 seconds or so coming back in and moved slow as well.  Sounds like you had a nice Sunday.  Thanks for posting details.

Didn't catch 1 laker.. went 9 for 13. 140 to 350 and back. Down 25 to 65. All stealies and kings 3 shorts. Check down speed. I always speed up a bit once Lakers hit..

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This is generally true, but today we could NOT keep those Lakers off, even with a downspeed in the 2.8 range on a FH.  Even pulled the flasher/fly combo that took 2, only to get nailed by another Laker on that same diver rig with a spoon.