times two

Capt Bill: What made you decide to do this? John

I just finished my second year with a 23' Seaswirl Striper. Like any boat, there are a few things I would do different if I could design it....like make the doors at the transom more than 1" wider than a battery!!! But overall, its been really great. If you go that route, let me know, I'd be happy to talk to you about her. John

Both for my original application and also my renewal last year, I used my regular doctor...with no problem. John

I've been running the Okuma Convectors the last 2 seasons. I've got no complaints, other than the "clicker" is to loud...... John

I know someone that is looking for 2 singles....what do you have and how much? John

Capt Bill...happy belated birthday....somehow missed the post until now........ John

Waylander: My brother went to a fly in place called Kesagami years ago now. That might be worth a web search.... JOhn

Jim: You might want to talk to some of the LOTSA boys to see how they like the trollmasters..... John

Pics of the perko holders? Price? John

Thanks again guys. My wife and son must really know me.... dark chocolate, guines* and timmy ho certs...... I haven't quite decided on my present to me ) John

Mother Nature cancelled my last 3 trips this week due to wind....man what a rotten year in that regard....but it was nice today, so I grabbed my 8 year old son, and we shot out for a couple of hours. Lots of bait between 70-95 fow; finally but 1 in the box pushing 9lbs, 165 slide diver with a big watermelon turtle blade....from the lack of chatter on the radio and the fact the pack was spread fast....didn't seem like much was happening....and the lack of action quickly took my son out of it....that NE wind most of last week messed it up, I'm afraid.... Boat's in for a couple more weeks yet...so we're hoping to get my regular crew together to see what we can come up with at least one or two more times..... John

My brief rant of the day..... Sometime, somehow, someone needs to explain to me how you get forecast "updates" in late afternoon, around 9 pm and again at 4 am, all of which call for 3-5 waves on Lake Erie, diminishing to 1-3 feet late afternoon and then at 6 am (a mere 2 hrs after the last update) when you look out the window there isn't a breath of wind, and the lake is virtually flat!

Thanks guys. Ray, wind was supposed to let up for Sunday, but it changes every time its updated!! Imagine that! I'm in until Columbus weekend, so hopefully we can get a few more days in. Last 2 weeks have been bigger fish, but once they have shut off...that's been it for the day.....

IF you are serious about a Striper, I would highly recommend Happy Days Boating in Port Clinton, OH. Ask for Jim Burroughs. He was great when I bought mine in 2008. John

The way Sponge shows it is how I have mine. You can get the releases already set up from Subtroll. I run Blacks', above the probe. John

I used to have a 70hp Evinrude that litterally went thru a primer bulb every other year. IT was the lowest point in the fuel flow and the ethanol ate it up. Shake the bulb. It should not rattle. John

Ray...my brother has a line on some small outboards, and a couple of row boats...what are you looking for? John

Jerry...was the same way on Sunday...good early then bam! that was it. John

Today started off good, as we boxed 3 fish in the 6-7lb range early, one 17"er and a nice steelie, then it died, seemingly for almost everyone. Full moon can be a tough bite for sure! 10 color, no weight, green chatterstick (5"); 62 and 70 ft rigger with a DW green melon, 225 diver with a small green chatter and a copper turtle blade. John

Tim: I am on year 2 of owing a 2005 2301 Striper o/b. Overall, I have been really happy with her. When I got in the market a couple of years ago, I was using a 22' Larson walkaround i/o. That was a good boat, and we caught lots of fish with her. An LOU member still has her, as a matter of fact. But I was getting the itch to go bigger and wanted to get an outboard, so the search was on. I targeted 3 boats mainly...Proline, Seaswirl, and Parker. I could not find a good used Parker that wasn't saltwater, nor were there many used Porlines or Seaswirls. I finally got mine as a 2005 new leftover via Happy Days Boating in Port Clinton. Ask for Jim Burroughs if you call there. Pros: Great running into a good chop, love the hardtop. Nice sized fish box and cabin tall enough for me to stand in. Cons: Do not like it in a big following sea...as you come over the top of the wave with the big "V", she wants to dig into one side or the other...2 hands on the wheel. Also not quite used to the feel of the hardtop in a big trough....I had a softtop...so it feels more tipsy. I have a 225 Evinrude, pre E-tec. That's what was on the boat at the time of the deal, and it was too much more to justify going to the ETEC, but that's what I really wanted. Great on gas, loves plugs (65-70hr trolling per set). Seaswirl, as I have learned, was notorious for wiring issues. I had to redo both bilge pumps. One was wired backwards, and the other auto one was wired to a switch so it only went to auto if the battery was on. Would I buy another? Yes (bigger, twin ob's!). Check out this dedicated Seaswirl site: www.seastriper.com You have to register, but its all Seaswirl stuff...they were a great help when I was rigging mine! John

After the weekends hard blow from the west, and waterspouts, I thought it might have killed the fishing, but all reports from Monday were really pretty good. 80-100 fow west of Dunkirk. Decided to enjoy the nice afternoon, so I took a half day to fish with my 8 year old today. We did 2 eyes right off the bat, 10 color with a green chatterstick, no weight. Little bit of a lull and a couple of junkers and we took another on a 225 slide diver on 2; DW chicken wing, and dropped another on the 10 color. Only fished about 2 hrs before my son decided we needed to go introduce the walleye to some hot peanut oil! Should be good if the wind stays down! John

Little bit tougher bite for us today than of late. Mostly small 'eyes and 1 steelie lost behind the boat...plus tons of junkers. I think we got the biggest sheep I've ever had...pushing 10lbs! 10 color took a couple early, then off the rigs....60 down with Dreamweaver WD green melon, and DW SS chicken wing off the 195 slide diver. Now off to the oak for a few days!

Short report....basically very good at Dunkirk right now. 65-85 fow, west of the harbor. Lots of DW's...super slims and WD's; chattersticks off the core. We did 16 Fri, 13 more today. For a complete rundown, you can check out my blog report at www.timestwocharters.com. John

Walteye...hopefully I'll be long gone by 5 o'clock ) If you want to call my cell I'll give you an on the water report...... John

Ray/Sluggo: As much as I hope yesterday was a sign of good things.....I'm hesitant to say that until we string a few more together. You all know how tough its been this year, and I doubt we will see Ohio fish.....but We roll Fri/Sat....so we'll see. The report of the big laker is true. 40.5 when the finally got it on a certified scale. Came aboard Small Fortune Charters in Dunkirk. Word is on the boat scale, which they verified using 10lb cannonballs....it was in the 45 lb range when caught. John