BAITNH

welcome Mike   Hooksett  NH here 

the smelt  are gone  endangered there was none  on the whole east coast.

I just got some Chinook divers in the mail today all stainless cant wait to try them

I hear this past winter was slow fishing for smelt

Once the ice is thick enough to walk on get a fish house cut a 2 x 4 foot hole in the ice matching a hole in the house the same size hook up a 100 watt bulb with a generator and a dimmer switch. the smelt come up into the hole to feed on plankton in the light slowly dim the light and they will ball up tight. that's how we fish for them with a drop net

its very hard to do in open water  something you want to do through  the ice.

Barndog, we were there for 2 weeks got there the day before Easter had the best spring fishing ever 30-40 a day a mix of all including 7 kings I have never been there and seen the lack of fisherman there. Going back last 2 weeks of July

low sides  on the Parkers

has this boat seen the salt water  ?

I am thinking of  going back  to the  big O    I have been going to Fair Haven  and slammed the fish in April. I wonder if the lake may be set up there?   Would  the bar be a good bet considering the water is still ice cold from what I hear?  Looking   for my best bet  to find some kings.  any advise ????

Newburyport     will have   stripers  there  lots of places to fish from shore  either  at Plum Island  or  the state park in Salisbury   Lots of  bait shops will have frozen   bait.   Outgoing tide is best.  Surfland  is  one of the largest tackle shops  there   drop by and find out what is going  on    I have   some friends  that  charter  out of   there  check back with me and ill let you know   whats  going  on.

  FYI   take a ride a bit south  of there  to Essex   The Clam Box      best  fried  clams  in the world

what is the  perfect boat for recreational fishing  on the big  O  all   times of the year ?

what  model HMX  are you putting on riggers ?  i used to use  dr82 c    wish i had some more of those

these days using wire, copper, lead  heavy mono and god knows whats next  has anyone tried  the splizzors made by Buck for cutting    these lines ?   a bit pricy  i think

nice  solo job  when you grabed the  top half  of that rod  i thought  it was  going to break.

I may have some will check tonite

Hey where are you in NH ? I can lend you my 1/2 keels to try just replce them is all.

are there  landlocks  in NH  big enough  to trip the release ?

I had the same issues  what speed  are you trolling at ?  I played  with the   strings like  10 times  and then it seemed to work right   for me  also  using  washers  on the back side so  you don't get a pull through.     I   did get the   2nd keel this year and it helps more.   I know  it was a pain in the ass  playing with them    but at last I   got them  to work

I have to say most mornings  they hit anything  we put on the boards 80 % catch  was on thunderstick jr  j110 j150 j109  being real hot  as well  as  fire tigers, bleeding shad. We also  put  2mag spoons  on the riggers   and got a lot of bigger fish on them.

bearing endplay should be hand tight and no more. a water resistant grease is best to be used, and cool down your hubs before backing in the water. If you pop you caps and see the grease getting milky it is breaking down with the water. always carry a spare set of bearings with you. I get 5-7 years on a set of bearings and then I change them only cause I feel its time.

use American made bearings there are so many out there from China and they are junk first of all they have a problem with 52100 bearing steel and quality is poor that's why that almost what you see out there even from the trailer mfg. I have sold bearings for 35 plus years and have seen all kinds.

go a bit more west  to Fair Haven  try Little Sodus Inn   or Screwy  Louies  to stay

welcome Matt, lots of info  on this  site

we will have   2 boats fishing  out of  Fair Haven  starting Saturday 4/20  and another  joining us the following week im not sure on how often I will be able to post , so if you want  reports   pm     here and ill set  you up  with  a number to call

after  talking  to many  on this forum   I have gone to wire  from ATOM MICK   I spooled  it up  just fine, when you ger out there  ley out slowly   all the way and reel it in.