invasahata

With a fish the line leaves the clip and the swivel settles on the down spoon that is on the rod. I use an oversized swivel so it actually gets over the spoon. Seems to work ok. With no fish I have to pop the clip and swivel to clear the line. Just need to be careful how fast everything comes up to avoid twists. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Hustled out to 200’. 50 degrees was well below my marks so I split the difference between the 50 degree depth and the bottom of the bait. Spoon program seemed to work with a Kevorkian. Did three little ones and two others that got the net wet. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Despite the advice here I was compelled to keep my fixed slider rig off a rod and ran the set up pictured with a Spin Doctor up high and a spoon only on my rigger release. Good news is I doubled/maybe tripled my hook rate and had good luck retrieving gear (no tangles). Bad news was no change to my rate of boating fish. Next few trips I think I am going to abandon the Spin Doctor on the fixed slider and go with a spoon on a rod with a modified fixed slider approach to compliment the rod. Secondary fix will be to abandon the Spin Doctor set and run a spoon or fly only program with no rod on the fixed slider. Added insight welcome... Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Beauties. Way to stay on target. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

On water at 5am and had a flat run to my spot over 175’. Wind was howling from the east by 8am and waves were kicking. Made my way to 150’ at the duck weed chum slick made by the bay. Screen looked great at 50’/50 degrees over 150’. Saw lots of nets being dipped. Released a king in the teens and a skipper. Cheers to the marina staff herding fisherman coming off the water and pleasure boats going on. Lots of patience from everyone! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Yes. I have the Helix 8. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Thanks JD! Seems like an obvious solution yet it escaped me. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

When fishing Lake O out of Braddocks my West to East troll forces me to up my boat speed from 3mph to 4mph to get my lure speed up to 2mph. This forces my program out of my cone and off my Helix screen. Worth a transducer adjustment or do I just roll with it and focus on mark’s and not worry about marking my program? Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Fished Bay Rats in tight. Had good marks 16-23 FOW but no bite. Changed speeds and still nothing. Signs said to go deep so I switched to Stingrays and ran over 90 FOW for a bit. Picked a laker right off the bottom. Kinda cool cause I marked him a hot second before he hit. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Nice job...I was in the same neighborhood. 2/3 Esmeralda Bay Rat. Things turned off for me around 10 am. I couldn’t keep my boat straight in the wind and change my set so I settled for along boat ride to end the day. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Good eye! Been working a little at a time on my set up. Between the mast and the riggers and the Helix and the Fish Hawk you are spot on...just need flat seas!! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Hard wind from the south for me and my smaller boat during the PM bite. Didn’t bother with mast and boards in the gale so I ran rats and spoons on my riggers over 25 fow. Intermittent marks as I neared Webster. Managed a fat laker. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Add a few extra turns to your program as the turn can help to dial in your speed! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

I was out too and had to make a hasty retreat in my Tracker. “2 feet or less” was too much! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Me too! 18’ Tracker Targa. I have learned not to motor out if the waves force you to dial back your “get to my spot” speed. Inevitably you get to your spot and realize it is to dicey to manage your gear and if you can’t manage gear sure can’t manage a fish. I do fish solo so that plays into it too. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Hey Double-D great post. I am finishing the installation of my Helix 8. What chart/card upgrades do you recommend beyond what comes out of the box. I fish Braddocks, I-Bay Conesus and Keuka... Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Mine is upgraded with a planer mast running into front seat pedestal. Also have a pair of Canon Downriggers. I only run a 10lb ball as aluminum anchor points scare me. Topped off with a Fish Hawk. I typically fish solo so I am a smidge over-rigged. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United