Ecto2

Fished west of Oswego in front of Fair Haven Saturday and didn't come across more than a trace on the downrigger lines and that was after a long wash too...

Fished straight out in front of the chute lines in at 6:30AM - started in 100FOW and rolled north with the wave direction all the way out to 550FOW. Water Temp 60 on top and 49 down 60' until about the 300FOW then it was colder on top and down (58 top and 45 down 60'). Cloudy and strong south wind until late morning then wind died and sunny and the black flies came out. Blank screens for the most part. Any bait clouds we saw were in 120-180FOW. One bite and one fish on the deck - 21lb King on wire dipsy back 185 1 setting pulling dragon slayer 8" SD w/ green frog fly. That was at about 8:45AM. Greatful to avoid the Skunko.

Let your 5 color straight out the back and then hold for a minute; clip board on and free spool so it stays behind the boat; let it out a little farther than you want it set so it will clear the inside board; engage the reel and let it plane out and around the inside board; It should be running above the seven color and slide right over the top. Adjust as necessary once its outside the other board Caution on running a plug on the outside and a spoon on the inside as they could be closer in depth than you would think. Also letting the 5 color get up to speed before clipping the board on helps ensure it didnt sink deeper on deployment. At least thats how i do it. When in doubt or if confidence is low, use it as an opportunity to change the lure or check for debris on the 7 color and just reset both lead cores as you would when you start. Cheers!

I thought you were a TX6 Magnum Mini Planer guy!!! Cheers Bud

I would agree. that would provide same amount of protection from twist. Cheers!

I would terminate with a ball-bearing snap swivel at the end. Smaller size for spoons and larger size for flashers. Coppers tangles are fun enough when they happen...best not to wrap all your leader up the line if you can avoid it. I did tie directly when using a J-plug

South winds offer some protection even if wind blowing steady at 10-15. Otherwise, I always tried to wait until i had a "2' or less" wave height prediction with a boat 20' or less. Also be prepared to pivot to fishing a bay for warm-water species OR trailer to Cayuga or Seneca because that Lake O does what it wants regardless of weather predictions. Windfinder App seems to be the most reliable prediction tool and it shows how different the wind can be from one port to the next. Also worth looking at what the wind did on the previous couple days...as it does take the lake some time to settle down after big blows from the west, east, or north. My drive to lake is currently 2.5hrs so i get your question and concerns. Best of luck!

Same here out of Fairhaven. Thinking about "Increasing The Hook Gap" on all the lures...:)

I guess i would say that puts my mind at ease with the snubber quality!!! Thanks for sharing. Who hasnt had a rigger out still and drive away...$^!+ happens when your on the water long enough. I do have 2 spools of Scotty rigger line, and i think after the season i will change it out to be safe.

Recently shook out a "new to me" boat that has cannon Mag 5's immediately was concerned with the speed and auto stop bounce. Purchased HD Fish Thief rigger snubbers and on the first fishing trip with them was very happy with my decision. They absorb the shock and keep the weight just under the water line. Makes getting to my releases easier too. May rig up a section of heavy Kevlar braid (or something similar) to tie in between the terminations from the ball to release just incase it ever comes loose there would be one last hope that i don't lose the weight if the snubber breaks. (similar to the idea of the Dacron that they used to put inside the LJ dipsey snubbers). Something about not trusting a jelly-rope just hot-welded together...

I like a little section of heavy mono just for the wear. If the chop is heavy it may cause the board to slip back and be banging on the junction of core to braid. A quick fix might be to just half hitch (2 or 3 hitches) a rubber band on the braid where you want the board to stay and put the loop in the rear pin. I have been doing this regardless so that if the board release pops it doesn't slide all the way down the line and we can get it off the line quicker. Been using the little craft sili bands instead of rubber release bands because they are smaller and weaker, so they dont get caught in the guides or the reel if you end up reeling them up. Be good Mantooth!