J.D.

Stack the riggers, 2 rods on each, 10-15 ft. apart......put 4 baits right in the strike zone...

The 620 has the same software package an the 585, just the smaller screen and less power. 3 seasons on my 620 and I am very happy with the picture and ease of use.

Lots of fish to be had with a small boat 17ft. Starcraft deep vee 90 hp. Merc outboard Furuno 620 with Airmar P66 duel frequency transducer Humminbird GPS plotter Raymarine / Icom VHF's Raymarine auto pilot Depth Raider down speed & temp. Scotty electric riggers with auto stop feature. Minn Kota 55 lb. bow mount electric with power drive and auto pilot. Trax-Tech track system with multiple rod holders Full cold weather canvas plus bimini summer top. and it fits in the garage nicely..........

I fish out of a 17ft. Starcraft and also have a hand held backup radio. I opted for a waterproof Icom model, so I can get help even if ( God forbid) I have to exit the boat. I keep a small "ditch bag" on the port side dash with the radio. 2 waterproof signal flares, and an orange signal flag I can wave at passing boats. I also always wear an auto inflatable PFD as I fish alone most of the time. Jim S.

I have been using an Airmar P66 transom mount transducer with my Furuno 620 for the last 4 seasons.... very happy with my choice. More info. here...... http://www.furunousa.com/Learning%20Center%20Documents/FurunoTransducerGuide-LR.pdf

I'm looking to upgrade my old Tracfone to the LG 800 so I can get weather radar on the lake, mostly around Rochester. AT&T is the carrier for this phone. I want to make sure AT&T service will connect on the lake before I switch over. I remember a thread months back about poor coverage on the water with some carriers. I have a small rig so I'm usually within 5 miles of shore. Any info. on carriers as well as a good weather radar app. would be a big help. Thanks, Jim S.

Troutman, Are you still making 8lb. balls? I would like 2 for spring brown fishing. Thanks, Jim S.

running out of a 17ft. Starcraft for the last 20 years.... pick your days for wind and waves and you'll be fine. Here's a link to a guy who fishes Lake Michigan in a 16 foot aluminum ....... this should get the blood moving..

Tuna Tom rebuilt 7 old Diawa 47 lc's for me 2 seasons ago. Did a complete teardown, clean, inspect, replace broken/worn parts, upgraded all the drag systems..... $190 and I now have 7 reels that work like new with way smoother drags. Jim S.

Tuna Tom re-built 7 of my old Diawa line counters 2 years ago... also upgraded all the drags. Great service, great prices. http://www.tunasreeltroubles.com/

Picked mine up at Hodges Marine Electronics

I work as a mold maker in a shop in Rochester. We have used the Dri deck squares as floor mats for at least 10 years... coolant, oil, metal chips, grinding grit, and constant abuse.... this stuff wears like iron.... I think the mats will outlast your boat !!.... easy to take apart to re configure or clean.

Check this site out..... http://www.tuffcoat.net/utmindex.htm

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: Jim S. / J.D. TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):8-5 Time on Water:7-9 AM Weather/Temp: Wind Speed/Direction: Waves: flat Surface Temp: 74 Location: LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits:4 Total Boated: Species Breakdown:2 steelies, 1king, 1 unknown Hot Lure: spoons Trolling Speed: Down Speed: 2.5 Boat Depth: 120 ish Lure Depth: 45-60 ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS ==================== Got a chance for a quick 2 hour trip solo this morning, Temp. bands are very tight, 44 degrees to 60 degrees in less than 10 ft. Found Bait and fish in 120 FOW, and cris- crossed through a big school of bait until I could get something to go.... Couldn't get the wire / flasher -flys to go today, all fish came on spoons on the riggers, 40- 60 back. NK mag bloody death took a mid teens king, blue and yellow Stinger mag took a steelie, DW SS green gator took another small steelie.

Good post Capt. Vince. I was thinking the same this spring. My brother in law is a marine mechanic, so he got my 1996 Merc outboard in March. Everything made of rubber on the power head - fuel lines, return lines, fuel pump, etc. was replaced with new products that can withstand ethanol. The fuel pump looked to be breaking down, as did some of the fuel lines. .... better safe then sorry..

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: Jim S. / J.D. ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):Friday 7-8 Time on Water: 3hrs Weather/Temp: Wind Speed/Direction: East @ 5/10 Waves: 1ft. Surface Temp: 68 Location: LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: 9 Total Boated: 6 Species Breakdown: 3 kings, 1 steel head, 1 coho, 1 laker Hot Lure: mix Trolling Speed: Down Speed: 2-2.4 Boat Depth: 130 / 220 Lure Depth: 60 / 80 ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS ==================== Fished Braddocks to the lighthouse Friday AM Good temps @ 70 down, some bait, and active fish swimming in and out of the spread. Both wires and riggers were working today, green or white flashers with green or hammer flys, NK mag die hard, purple and black Apex all took fish. Steel head and laker were 6/8 lbs. all the kings were 12 / 16 lbs. Fleas were a bit of a pain on the wires but still fishable. Good luck this weekend !!

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: Jim S. / J.D. ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):July 1st. Time on Water:11AM to 2 PM Weather/Temp:sunny high 70's Wind Speed/Direction:NW 5-10 Surface Temp: 67 Location:North of Braddocks Bay LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: 5 Total Boated:4 Species Breakdown: 2 lakers, 1 steel head, 1 king Hot Lure flasher/fly Trolling Speed: Down Speed:2/2.4 Boat Depth: 170/220 Lure Depth: 90/ 120 ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS Lots of bait and fish off Braddocks in the 175 ft. area. 55 degrees with 120 ft. of cable out. Wires were the best, 300 out on a #2 set, green Pro Troll with a green glow fly, and a green and black Spinny with a green and black fly. The only touch on the rigger was the Steel head 110 down, NK green gator. The king was 17lbs, the other fish ran 5-8 lbs. A few fleas on the wires, but nothing to cause a problem ....yet.. Perfect day to be on the water... ====================

If I ever owned a center console, I would buy one of these....... http://www.fishmaster.com/

Thanks for posting! ( nice website too.) We've been to St Maarten 5 times as a cruise ship destination, but have never taken the time to set up a fishing trip. We are planning to "stop by" again this time next March, so perhaps some tarpon fishing will be in order. Again, thank you for posting. Jim S.

This is how I make my fly's http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/tips/making_flys_directions.htm

Jolly Releases........The ONLY releases used with my big boards since I found them in 1992...

You might want to check this site out for more info.... http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/forum.php

I has 5 old 47 LC's re-worked by Tuna Tom last winter... with the drag upgrades they are smoother than they were when new. fair prices and great service.

Shellback, No thanks on the Ridgebacks....

I'm looking for a pair of 8 LB. down rigger balls for spring fishing. I have a pair of 12 lb. balls I will trade even up for your 8 pounder's. Braddocks Bay / Rochester harbor area. Thanks, Jim S.