jigstick

ive run these downriggers for 3 years with 12lb balls with no problems like you are mentioning.  strange.  Mine have hardly any flex in the boom either. 

I'm really curious. Can't be drifting if multiple people have hit it. I wonder if the coast guard would have a record of what it is?

Def. two bags. I use two of the Big Papa Sport fishing bags in size 36" for my 22' Trophy with a 125 Merc. I can get to 1.5 easily and still not be at idle. I too called the guy and he was more than helpful. We even talked walleye fishing for a while too. From what I understand, the Amish bags are really nice too.

my goal is to be at idle and 1.5mph with the bags out.  My V6 purrs like a kitten even at idle.  Ive never had a problem with fouling or misfires.  If I can get to 1.5mph with bags at idle my fuel economy will be even better.  Id hate to get the bigger bags and have to give more throttle to get "up" to speed. 

What's strange is that he was in 200fow and snagged something only down 40-50ft. That means if what he snagged wAs resting on the bottom it would be 150ft tall. I doubt there's any ships sunk that are still that tall. My guess is that it was some sort of net or a submerged tree trunk adrift and suspended. Leaning towards a tree because it showed up as a strong return on his sounder

I talked to Frank.  I think thats his name.  At Amish Outfitters.  He seemed to think that the 28in bags would work best for my boat.  But the guy above mentioned that the 22in bags got his 22ft boat down to 1mph...and he has a V8.  My boat is 22.5ft with a V6.  Im torn between getting the 22 vs 28.  My boat is so economical to run.  Id hate to have to give more throttle to speed the boat up if the 28in bags are too much drag.  What do you guys think?

Amish Outfitters is now offering their "Beefy" version of bags.  It appears they have wider straps and a reinforced lip.  But they are more expensive.  Do you think I can get away with the regular "buggy" bags?

Any commercial fishing in the area? Maybe some perch nets broke loose and were floating around suspended???

I was laker fishing over memorial weekend.  Ive always used the peanuts behind my cowbells.  But I wanted to try a spin-n-glow for a change.  The peanut seemed to produce more fish.  But the spin-n-glow seemed to catch bigger fish.  maybe it was a fluke.  Im going to keep my eye on it over the summer and see if it stays consistent.  

I don't know what would be worse…drinking the juice from a bait shop dumpster….or trying to choke down some sheepshead.  Good god why would someone eat that fish

Did any strong returns show up on your fish finder?  Where you marking anything on the screen when it hung up?

The Amish Outfitters bags are exactly what I'm looking at. What size are you using? I was thinking of running a 22in bag on each side.

I have a 2252 Bayliner Express Cruiser hardtop / cuddly with a Merc I/O V6 in it with 210hp.  Currently use a Happy Troller trolling plate.  Im seeing some stress cracks in it after two years of use.  Boat idles around 2.5mph depending on waves and wind.  With the Happy Troller plate I can easily get down to 1.5mph.

Im looking to maybe switch to trolling bags or a 15 pitch prop.  What are you guys using?  The idea of running a bag on each side of the boat is tempting due to the increased stability in rough conditions.  I have autopilot so Im not so worried about having to sit at the wheel.  

Any suggestions?

Yeah I'm just not set up for shallow fishing. I need to learn how to use lead core I guess. I've always fished walleye 50ft and deeper. I need to step my game up

Are you talking the windmills located between Barcelona and North East harbors?

I fished out of Barcelona two days over memorial weekend. Very slow for walleye unless you're night fishing the shallows. I fished 45-75fow. Both east and west of Barcelona. Surface temps ranged from 58 degrees to 52 degrees depending on the depth I was fishing. Temp 25 ft down was 54 degrees regardless of where I was. I only picked up a few walleye. But the ones I did averaged 32in and 10lbs. The lake trout where on fire. I hammered them, both on the bottom and suspended.

When u guys are trolling shallow water like that how deep are you running ur baits? I guess I could shorten up my leads on the down riggers and run them10-15ft down. But my big dipsys, even on a 1 setting, will be tough to run less than 20ft down

Unfortunately I don't fish that close to shore. There are supposed to be some pretty big boulders along the shore line east of Barcelona and I don't know where they are. Plus I don't have leadcore. It's hard for me to fish in 35fow with my big dipsys and down riggers. I can't run them shallow enough. But I may try running planer boards off one side of the boat with the deep divers.

So I went west out of the harbor down to the red barn. And trolled east. Picked up two walleye off the dipsy. 90 back. Smashed lakers off the riggers. Nothing off the the planer boards. Fished 55-90fow

Any update on the day bite out of Barcelona? Gonna be there tomorrow fishing. Going west towards the PA line. Planning on Renoskys and harnesses, dipsys, riggers, long line tail dancers

I'm fishing out of Barcelona tomorrow. and Memorial Day weekend as well. Anybody been out of that harbor? I'm thinking of starting in 60fow and trolling to 75.

I think you are more likely to screw up the knot that crimp style. Alls it takes is a tiny kink in that wire to lead to a snapped knot. The crimp kit I use is much less likely to get screwed up performing. Plus the tube in the kit allows for a gentle loop and no contact between the wire and the swivel. I think it puts less press on the wire.

Dude you're the man. That is the exact kit I've been looking for. Thank you very much for the info.

When I first started bleeding I would get air bubbles bubbling up the tube. So I kept pumping until no bubbles came out. Then pumped some more until I saw the fluid level rising in my tubing. Once I got some 8inches of head pressure I closed the bleeder. I did this with each of 4 drums. Once all were bled I went back and did each one again

Ruptured a 3/16 brake line the other day. Upon inspection of the brake lines I noticed some others that needed replacing. So I ran 3/16 metal line from the master cylinder actuator on the tongue back to the first axle. Then ran rubber lines from there to all 4 drums. It's a tandem axle with surge brakes.

To bleed I just attached some clear rubber hose to the bleeder valves and held it vertical to a height above the master cylinder. Cracked the bleeder. Then pumped the actuator with a 2x4 until the fluid was a good 8in up the clear tubbing. Then I tightened the bleeder valves. Does this sound appropriate???

I may just switch back to the Off Shore boards. I never had a problem with those. I just prefer the clips on the Church ones

Lakers are such scumbags. They literally eat just about any spoon, peanut, or fly that I drag on the bottom of my spot on erie. I can't soak a lure long enough to get my other riggers down. I luv em