Yankee Troller

Going to a 1KW transducer is not needed. Your typical Airmar 600w 50/200khz transducer will do whatever you want on Lake Ontario. Chirp is not needed and nor is the extra money you'll spend on those transducers. However, Airmar just launched a Medium Ultra Wide Chirp transducer that has my attention. I don't think you can go wrong with the Garmin ECHOMAP series, but if you plan to run radar you will have to jump up to a GPSMAP series. Humminbird just dropped their new Xplore series. I'll have some soon, but I'm currently running the SOLIX which is very similar. Lowrance/Simrad are good, but if you ever need customer support, GOOD LUCK! I sell and install electronics at Krenzer Marine. Feel free to reach out and chat. I can even sell you whatever you need. I dropped a video a few weeks back showing my SOLIX running the Airmar 600w 50/200khz transducer and included a screen shot of my HELIX picking up my flasher down 200' with t hat same transducer.

If you run the correct transducer there is no need to tilt it backwards for sonar purposes.

After a few years of use with the FishUSA's Flagship Series Trolling Rods I'd say you can't beat them. Below are the models we use and for what presentation: Downrigger Rod FFSHIP-T-802M - We use this primarily for spoons with 20lb main and leader. It pairs well with a Daiwa 30 or 47 size reel. I've had captains using other brands fish with us and comment on how great this combo feels in hand. Wire Diver Rod - FFSHIP-T-902MHW & FFSHIP-T-1002MHW We run these rods with 30lb wire using Daiwa 30 or 47 size reels. Really nice rod with a twilli tip already installed. Leadcore/Copper FFSHIP-T-701MH - This rod is good from 300' of 45lb copper to 600' I still prefer a little bit lighter rod on the 300' copper when using a spoon. This rod is a stiff rod, but you need that on those long coppers. FFSHIP-T-802MLC - This is a good rod for cores and short coppers.

Raymarine EV150 is a popular option. Give Kevin Jerge a call at the Wilson Boat Yard. He's out your way, and very knowledgeable about Raymarine APs.

Cable steer or hydraulic?

We have one on our Tiara and clean fish on the water every time out. This boat doesn't have one, yet. Most of the times I clean fish on my tailgate when we get back. I bleed them out in the live-well on the way back in and utilize a cardboard box opened up on my tailgate. Some places, like Oneida, wont allow us to clean them on the lake.

For starters, I need to extend a huge THANK YOU to Krenzer Marine and the Smokercraft family for the opportunity to get into a new Phantom. I'm truly enjoying fishing from this boat! If you are in the market for an Aluminum fish boat reach out to me. I spent a lot of time over the Summer sitting in this boat deciding where I wanted to put things, and how I wanted it rigged. It's no secret we love our Cannon Downriggers, Humminbird Electronics, and Minn Kota trolling motor. All of which, are on this new Phantom so we can utilize the "One Boat Network" features. I hope you enjoy our walk-through video, and I'd love to hear your comments or questions. I purposely waited to make this video. I felt I needed to get a bit of seat time in the boat and gain a true understanding of how I wanted things, and how to utilize the given space. If you've followed along over the last few months you've seen it's a fishy boat!

I've got 8, and I have been contemplating selling them and switching over to the new 20's. I use them for 3-4 weekends a season and then they sit in my garage. Hmmm

DJI osmo gimbal

I, personally, have not gone to weighted steel for a few reasons. #1 proven by Smart Troll it doesn't have the dive curve of copper. #2 just to keep things simple with one dive curve to remember across the board. That being said I hear its much more user friendly, but I was also blown away by the Morgan's Tackle super copper with the tinned coating. We've used another brand for a long time and the tinned Morgan's was much more user friendly this season.

I use 37'

I've fished with Rush and so have some buddies - https://www.odysseafishing.com/ He also has a YouTube show - https://www.youtube.com/@LocalKnowledge

Yes, clipping it to both.

Anytime, and thanks for watching.

We get asked often how to run cheater lines. Specifically, pinned cheater lines. Here's a clip from the outing we filmed with FishUSA.