BRsnow

43 minutes ago, SmilinEd1 said:

Just a clarification on my part, I drive a 24ft Thompson HT.

After reading the title to the thread I thought I better make that clear.

You guys that drive the smaller boats have bigger balls than Bikini Bottoms can make..😆

I have spent many hours in 16’ and also a 24’ and one is more comfortable on the way in and out, but I don’t think either is safer. Definitely drier some days though. I love fishing out of the smaller boat though.

Really more about comfort vs safety unless you are rolling in a very large boat.

If money wasn’t an issue, which of these 3 would you go with?  Thanks.

3 hours ago, Gill-T said:

I wonder since king stocking has all but stopped on Lake Superior and Lake Huron, kings in Lake Michigan have bait to chase in three lakes if they want to go roaming. Lake Ontario kings are stuck. 

They were all leaving Huron to Lake Michigan so they cut stocking when the baitfish disappeared. Lake Michigan has increased stocking but also estimates of 50-70% of the kings are natural reproduction. Currently I think the bait fish situation is stable. Time will tell if it holds,

Even those fish from 2000 are smaller than the mid 90’s . Maybe it is cyclical Lake Michigan is seeing a renaissance of size and numbers.

11 hours ago, HB2 said:

I had a Fish hawk and now a depth raider with same cannonball . 

 

There is a little more blow back with the coated but not enough to make a difference . The probe is smaller on the depth raider . I don't think it's noticeable till you get down past 90 ft. And that's the rigger I run my flashers on which adds to it  . 

 

I'm very happy with the depth raider so far at half the price . But we will see in the long run . 

Thanks, I am torn. Like the simplicity of the depth raider set up and additional transducers. I use 10lb sharks, hopefully they are heavy enough,

5 hours ago, HB2 said:

Fish sizes are down across the board by like 30% from years ago . 

 

The kings have length but don't have girth . Look at old pics . 

 

The bigger browns use to be obese. An 11# fish gets you on the board now. 

 

Many guys are fishing offshore and we can't fill the LOC board with 10# plus steelhead . 

 

I'm hearing the bait has rebounded but by how much ? Certainly not even close to the levels of the 70s , 80s ,and 90s . I see a lot of bait inshore in my area and even that is concentrated to certain areas . But I don't see the huge schools offshore like I use to .

 

My theory about the kings acclimation  to LO might be somewhat true but what about the Browns and steelhead ? 

 

The browns are running 20lb in WI as well with kings sizes going back up again. WI seems to be doing something right,

1 hour ago, rolmops said:

????

I think he is referring to people who liberally let hundreds of feet of line out behind and to the side of the boat.

I tend to use lighter line when possible and fish because I enjoy it. Starting to put together some weighted steel sets and wondered if it is fun to catch fish on them. Is a 300 copper or weighted steel fun or is it reeling is “dead” weight. Curious on your thoughts before investing the funds. Thanks.

People are using much heavier line, perhaps the larger kings are becoming wary of higher LB test.

We came out every summer for close to a decade and did nit get 40’s each year but always got numerous mid 30’s. That is why we made the trip. It was consistent numbers of large fish.

The precision from steering from bow vs stern is pretty impactful. You can link your sonar/gps to TM and have a great set up. Likely if it is too rough to use a longer shafted TM might be too rough to use any autopilot on smaller boat. 
 

I am totally jazzed garmin came out with long shafted TM and blue tooth connection to sonar/gps for nav and sonar.

It was fun back then. We would fish off point breeze for a week in July and recall the salmon weighting 28-42lbs one trip. Visiting from Lake Michigan it was a huge trip for us .  Seems currently Lake Michigan has the bigger kings,

1 hour ago, Earl28 said:

Smooth cable has less drag than naked cable. Plus different probe size.

I run both and the difference is negotiable. Just an opinion. 

Thanks, what weight ball? 

1 minute ago, Legacy said:

 

Depth raider because it requires coated cable

Thanks, that makes sense. I just wasn’t sure since the FH probe I believe Is bigger if that impacted it. 

Seems both have their pros and cons, but ultimately which one has more blow back all else being equal? Thanks

1 minute ago, Yankee Troller said:

200' isn't long in my book. Anything over 300' I tend to like the slower geared reels because they offer more torque.

Thanks

30 minutes ago, Yankee Troller said:

You won't go wrong with a Saltist. I can't speak on a Sealine bigger than a 47 size. The Seagates I had wee OK, but I did not like the high speed retrieve for longer coppers.

thanks, I have saltist for all my reel’s except these I am setting up. Is 200 considered longer? I don’t want to set up a high speed if it is a tough experience to use it. Appreciate the insight.

Same discussions we had in the 80’s and 90’s. Just more expensive equipment being lost.

3 hours ago, bottom-feeder said:

yes

Thanks, I read it can be difficult to mess with, so appreciate it.

Can you reel leader, steel or copper , backing to find right amounts like leadcore, then reverse back onto another reel? They are expensive so figured I would ask first;-)

On 3/28/2017 at 8:34 AM, vetting said:

Just 50lb braid for the backer.  We rarely fish for fish deeper than 75ft under the surface in Milwaukee so I really dont need that much depth.

Older post but I was curious how the sealines have held up?

Going to either set up a 200 weighted steel or 32lb copper, can get a deal on sealine for 1/2 the precise of seagate. Likely only used a couple weeks a year, Is the sea gate worth double? What size is needed. Thank you

Michigan angler heavy bands break at 5-6lb might be able to see small fish and still be heavy enough for bigger fish or deep water. 

I just received a pair as well. The craftsmanship is something else. I ordered booms to make 37”. The machining exceeded my expectations and so far impressed with the product.