Pair of Jacks

I agree…my two concerns are: 1. How the t/m would perform in choppy conditions as I am going with trolling plate on my I/O versus kicker…at least initially 2. I have to modify my bow nav lights to post mount vice current configuration to be visible over t/m apparatus.

Mattjc—did you install your a/p? If so I would be curious if you went with an octopus helm or octopus steering drive? I have a 1992 SeaRay 200OV with 4.3L mercuiser I/O with hydraulic assisted cable steering. I am trying to develop my bill of materials (parts list) and any hacks/lessons learned. thanks in advance for your insight and feedback. PoJ

My research indicates a MK Ulterra #80 thrust which auto deploys and stows along with having the advanced autopilot which coupled with a heading sensor and integration to your GPS/chart plotter is ~$3000. It comes in a 72” shaft. This setup is comparable in cost and less complicated to setup that a RM or similar autopilot. What I don’t know is in at least my application on SeaRay 200 OV is is the 72” shaft will suffice is lift to heavy chop. I plan on doing my refit this Sept and will get measurements. The other issue with be modifying/refitting my bow nav lights to a staff mount if I go with the MK Ulterra bow mounted TM solution.

Nice write up and thanks for sharing great lessons learned.

Interesting discussion regarding lure/bait color. I am just learning the big lake salmon/trout/walleye trolling. Before my first trip to Henderson Bay in May 2022 I basically reached out to our cottage AirBnB host who was also a charter captain and several folks here on LOU to get the cliff notes for success. Unfortunately the weather did cooperate as we got only 2.5 days out of 7 to fish. We scored several browns, pike, and even some early (but out of season bass) trolling the bay. The one constant was the learning curve. I caught fish on every color of spoon I tried; stick baits were very selective with big rapala (j10 and j12) in a blue top, orange side and white/silver belly being the dominant choice for success. However, I learned two valuable lessons: first, just like Chief Brody …I’m gonna need a bigger boat and second, there is a lot more to trolling than going slow and dragging lures behind the boat. So at the recommendation of a contributor to LOU, I purchased and read Capt Dan Keating’s Great Lakes Salmon and Trout Fishing: The Complete Trollers Guide; listened to several YouTube/Podcasts of LO Captains and scoured LOU discussions constantly…taking in the knowledge, wisdom and experience presented herein… Here is what I have distilled: while color is a consideration it’s is one of many variables in the the trolling dynamic, but the one constant in everyone’s advice is honing your skill in presentation of whatever lure or bait you are deploying in your spread to what the target species are consuming. Secondarily, whatever you are doing remember each component of your spread will either compliment or detract from your overall presentation. After 60 years of fishing I am still studying and learning. I grew up fishing Catherine Creek for Rainbows in the spring and browns in the fall…as a youngster I got pretty good at catching vs fishing. My maternal grandfather introduced me to trolling for Lakers out of his antique 14’ Penn Yan with a Seth Green Cooper setup up and big drop sinkers on Keuka Lake in the early 1960s. The ROE then was based on those tried and true old sailer adages: Red at night sailers delight; red in the morn sailer take warn; wind from the North fish won’t come forth; Wind from the East fishing is the least; with from the South the bait is in the fish’s mouth; and finally wind from the West fishing is the best. 5 to 6 hours going up and down the Lake from Hammondsport to the Bluff and back was pretty boring. OBTW— no electronics or even topo maps in those days…it was all local knowledge and experience by doing. Throughout the years I moved on to bass fishing and then walleye and finally both wild and land-locked striper fishing and now I am coming full circle to Salmon and Trout. The one constant I learned is learning never stops because if it does you are either dead or fishing vs catching. Thank you to all of the great contributors here on LOU for sharing your knowledge, skill, and wisdom on the art and science of Salmon and Trout fishing on LO!!!

UPDATE #3: well I am moving on to fitting out the electronics. I made a great score on a used Fish Hawk Model 840 Thermo-Troll and a Lowrance Elite Ti2 9 with Total Scan transducer exactly like the unit we have on our 16ft Tracker Laker Guide DLX. I am currently doing a business case comparing a typical small I/O autopilot vs a Minn Kota Terrova i-pilot trolling motor with remote. Lots of fun.

Update # 2: I finally secured my matching second seat and pedestal!!!

Update: I secured two wise helm seats and one wise pedestal and now I am searching for a Wise plate 8WD399-1 and adjustable Pedestal w/seat slide 8WP21-374. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Pair of Jack

LOU Colleagues— I am refitting my 1992 SeaRay 200 OV to a GL/FL+ to a dedicated salmon/trout/walleye fishing platform. I am removing the stock back-to-back fold out seats and installing two helm style seats. Hence I am looking for two used helm seats with pedestals. I have been searching ebay and Craigslist with no success. I am willing to harvest suitable seat and hardware from derelict boats but cannot find any salvage yards with potential candidates. I did list a wanted ad in LOU classified and got one referral but the referral never responded. I may end up going brand new but ugh that $800 -$1K I would rather put into electronics. Any referrals would be much appreciated. Pair of Jacks

Thanks…so I did find that on the internet but no clarification…so what is the meaning? Is it kind of “read the ad” or something else?

Folks — I tried to figure out what TTT/ttt means in the “For Sale” Forum here on LOU…but try as I might the internet “bon jour” failed me. Thanks in advance for your help🤣🤣 Pair of Jacks

My son and I just added MK Terrova with advance autopilot to our 16 ‘ Tracker Laker DLX. It absolutely amazing…it records up to 16 routes of 2miles each or you can link it to your GPS for infinite route lengths. The advanced autopilot corrects for current and wind drift to reduce XTE. We use it exclusively with the remote control vice the foot pedal. We troll for stripers here on our home lake (Lake Anna, Virginia), salmon/trout on Seneca Lake, and Henderson Bay. Additionally we use it to troll for walleyes in Canada. The added plus is absolute precision speed control. Ours is 12VDC and we can typically get 12 hours continuous trolling from our West Marine AGM batteries. Given our boat is 16’ w/7’ beam there are few opportunities to safely get out on LO we have not tried it outside of Henderson Bay.

What the heck is up with NYS DEC and the EPA!?!?! Haven’t they learned enough from Love Canal and the PCB pollution to the Hudson River to know these commercial entities don’t give a darn about the environmental damage they are doing? https://waterfrontonline.blog/2023/07/19/greenidge-never-filed-water-discharge-reports-required-under-federal-law-u-s-judge-to-decide-whether-thats-ok/

Yikes…I hope you were kidding about tempting fate and safety. Glad you got back safe. You should have at least checked the weather via your VHF and given today’s availability of cellular radar apps, looked at a weather app on your phone. The other thing is God forbid something bad were to happen, now you put others at risk to come rescue or recover you. Consciously trying to outrun weather is bad juju. Just saying… Be safe and keep on keeping on.

I am refitting my 1992 SeaRay 200 OV into a dedicated fishing vessel for LO and FLX salmon, trout, and walleye. I am looking for for used two helm style captain’s seats with pedestals. Cushions would be nice but not essential. I am willing to harvest from derelict vessel(s). PM me via LOU if you have or can provide referral. Pair of Jacks

Wrinkle star is spot on regarding appropriate weather watching for small boats. Last year in May we spent a week on Henderson Bay with our 16 ft Tracker Laker DLX….we got about 21/2 days fishing as wind and T-storms cycled through the entire week. Hence my repurchase/refit of my 1992 SeaRay 200OV into a FL/LO fishing platform. Significant increase in stability and freeboard. Safety first to ensure many days of fishing.

I am down in VA and I joined LOU for the thrill of vicariously catching LO monsters via the posts here and reading all those “thrills of victory and agonies of defeat.” I recently repurchased a 21 ft SeaRay that I will be refitting from a cuddly cabin day cruiser into my FL and LO fishing machine. All the stories, mentoring, and life hacks offered here on LOU inspires and gets my fishing heart pumping. Yes I live on a lake here in VA where any day of the week I can go fishing for landlocked stripers, hybrids, bass, and crappie, but there is nothing like hearing the drag whine as a big LO salmon, trout, or walleye strikes your bait. So please keep the stories and reports coming. As Sean points out the fishing can turn on a dime…besides most reports a are hours if not a day or so after the fact.