DJ 17

Lots of times I like the F/F above the spoon, with the spoon on a little longer lead behind and below the F/F. With this theory in mind. The flasher draws the attention of the fish to hopefully draw them in.  If they hit the fly great, but if they don't, as they drift down and away from the flasher they see the lone spoon all by itself and hopefully they look at it as a wounded bait fish behind the "school" and BAM! Just my .02

The only thing I would add is try to put your divers in the strike zone where you are seeing fish on your graph.  If you put it at 175 every time you are really limiting your opportunities.  If you can find a Big Water Trolling book, grab it. It will help you with dipsy dive curves.  Or if you put on wire like suggested above you can get in the area by running the 3:1 (line out/depth) ratio.  I can't remember what the dive ratio is for braid, sorry.

I was in your situation a couple years ago. Searching all over for an open bow multi-species rig. I was looking at, Lund, Starcraft, and Alumacraft.  I finally bought an 2008 Alumacraft Dominator 175 with a 115 E-tec.  This boat has a 94" beam and the 2XB hull is rugged as hell.  I fish for perch in february through April, and then troll for the rest of the spring and summer, and its great.  It also has 2 jumpseats that make it a great rig for my family of four as well.  Just like everyone I wish it was a little bigger, but other than that it has been a pleasure to own.  I have had it on the finger lakes, Ontario and Erie and have never had any problems.  The E-tec is an absolutely awesome motor as well, winterizing takes literally a minute and a half.  Like you, I looked for months before I found this one and had to drive all the way to Connecticut to get it.  Like you have found these style boats don't last long when they are for sale.  Hope this helps

No problem. On an Okuma Convector 55 or Catalina 553 you can fit 450' of Blood run 45# copper w/ 250' of 50# Blood Run Braid.

Might want to send a tissue sample to the DEC as well.

PM sent

Going to give it a shot in the morning. Will you be on the radio?

Devilfish,

I have a Alumacraft 175 with a 115 etec. What motor is on your rig? The reason I ask is that the etec runs on the xd-100 oil. Will the Tohatsu run that oil as well? Meaning you can hook it up to your main fuel and oil tanks, foregoing the need for an extra can that takes up more space on the boat. Obviously, if you don't have an E-tec this point is irrelevant.

Thanks,

DJ

Sorry for the brain dead post above, my computer won't let me edit. I meant to say is it some new spoon?

Is that a wicked tuna? Or is it something new spoon?

DAMN!

I was pulling the boat out of the launch, and in another lane was a grandfather and grandson arguing about how to get their boat out. I went and got my truck and had loaded up and was starting to pull up the ramp( alone). When I started to go grandma came up to my window and asked if would help them. I said I would, but before we even stopped talking grandpa guns the truck and pulls the boat up the ramp dragging the outdrive, sparks flying for 75 yds with the grandson screaming for him to stop. He starts yelling at the kid (about 10 yrs old). I get my rig out of the way and walk over to them with grandma, and he starts yelling at her saying he doesn't need any F$%^#in help.  SO I start to walk away and grandma pleads with me to come back and help.  So I did because grandpa is still yelling at the kid, saying he broke the damn boat etc...,etc...

NO lie... I walk over to the boat and trim up the motor with the switch on the throttle, I walked back to grandma, shook her hand and walked away. Crazy A$$ grandpa never said a word, he was red as an apple!

Wow. That 60lb really separates itself once it gets longer than 300', that's impressive. quite a bit more depth with less line out. 

I have fished out of this boat many times. It is a rugged rig and fishes well.

NOAA report for Saturday as of this morning: NNW 10-20 gusting to 33mph! WTH?

Thats sucky.

I agree. I was hoping for different things that I may have not picked out on my own. I think we all already have a bunch of green spoons and spinnys?? But, maybe thats just me.

good to know... thank you. I got the 45lbs blood run copper suppose to be really good stuff.... we will see.... can you run SD with a fly on copper on the board going 1.5-2.0 mph? or do you think it's to much for it?

Yes, you can run F/F on the copper.  Just be careful on your turns no matter what your lure choice, if you turn too sharp the line on the inside will sink due to the loss of speed, then you pick up zebra mussels or worse get hung up.  I wasn't paying close enough attention last weekend and came up with some zebra's. Luckily that was it.

What size sticks? We use mainly harnesses, renosky's, rapalas, and some stinger scorpions in perch, firetiger, black and silver, and purple.  Wire or braid dipsy's?  We also, tip the sticks with a small piece of crawler on the front hook

Do you usually run down riggers or leadcore and divers?  When we go to Erie, we do well with the core, copper and divers but not much on the riggers.  Mostly sticks or spoons?

We were on channel 72

Nice fish Mr. Clean.  It was us in the red Alumacraft when you came out of the chute and set up.  We marked fish east of the chute but never moved a rod. Did a couple hours in close then went out. Picked up a laker on an NK NBK  and a had a few more releases between 110-150 FOW but that was it.  Radio sounded like a difficult day for lots of guys.  In 150 FOW the temp was basically the same from the surface to 85 ft,  We had a tough day for sure.

Last couple years I have signed up at the launch Saturday morning in Geneva. Its only taken a couple minutes and has never been a problem.

What are you guys using for rods on your wire rigger set ups?

Anyone know of a local reel repair guy in the Auburn area?

Anyone heading out Saturday morning?  We are planning on coming up.