bulletbob

I am not a 2 stroke/outboard guy all that much, but am a 69 YO retired ASE Master technician that made a life with internal combustion engines.. Just this past october I rebuilt the engine in my Grand Cherokee in frame, in the driveway, on my back, new pistons and all, so I have some "residual" ability left from my work years... I have a tired 1996 Johnson 30 HP 2 stroke.. 90 PSI each cyl... It should have more like 120 psi. It starts[hard], and still runs pretty strong at mid and full throttle, but idles poorly and sneezes like crazy at low/idle speed.. Sure signs of low compression.. No rod/piston noise that I can hear.. I am thinking that in this case a set of rings and a cyl honing as well as new crank seals should get the compression up to where this engine runs better.. I am just not in a position to spend $1500 or so on a 20 YO engine that might have 500 hours on it, and is almost s tired as mine.. I keep buying used engines, and after a year or two of light use, they always seems to go bad.. So I just want to try and rebuild what I already have,.. Its pretty clean looking, good lower unit, electric start remote steer etc.. Rings and gasket set as well as the factory manual, probably less than around 150-175... Just looking for any thoughts, insight, helpful advice. "tech support" from those that have done similar, or those that are serious outboard motor guys with more experience than I have.. any suggestions would be well appreciated... bob

price reduced-The 30 HP and 70 hp still for sale.. both run pretty well, and will start right up, but can use a freshen up as stated.. $300 for the merc, $200 for the Johnson.. Just the lower units on either motor are worth more than the asking price.. same with the power tilt system on the Merc.. both motors come with controls as well.. both motors are fairly clean cosmetically as well,, not perfect, but not beat up either...

still looking for 10 or 12 foot aluminum boat... something we can throw in a pickup bed, and use on small lakes either with oars or a 4 hp... bob

I never really considered perch a spooky fish really.. If they are around, typically they hit and aren't line shy.. I know everyone here uses small minnows, or small grub bodies etc, but personally, I have always caught them on plain old worms i dug out of the yard, caught at night after a rain, or simply picked off the driveway after a heavy rain.. I am NOT a perch specialist like some guys, and am just as happy catching rock bass, sunnies, or crappies... bob

meh... What did everyone do 50 years ago, before digital high tech fish finders, GPS, spot lock etc,etc, etc... They anchored up or drifted, depending on weather, and they caught plenty of fish...

The reason some guys don't like white perch is hey get stunted fast... they can get huge in some places. and are more of a game fish than a pan fish.. If they are a size where cleaning them is worth it, they are a great eating fish.. If they are really badly stunted, they are merely another bait species... They do MUCH better in brackish tidal rivers than they do in lakes.. lots of killies,silversides, grass shrimp in those places, and more predators that eat them such as Bluefish, Weakfish, Stripes, Fluke, not to mention things like pickerel and LMB as they move closer to fresh water in tidal rivers,creeks... They just don't seem to stunt and overpopulate the way they do in lakes... I thought the Muskies and Walleyes in Otisco would keep them from overpopulating, but I guess not// Alewives might be the preferred food source over the much spinier white perch...

Still looking for small cheap aluminum boat.... 12 foot or less.. I bought a nice 14 footer, but its too large and heavy for what I am going to need it for,, Would swap straight across for 10 or 12 footer, or still looking to buy one outright....

are people actually selling bluegills, perch,white perch??.. I didn't know that was even a thing in this day and age. Where would anyone even sell sunnies and 10 inch perch?

1- mid 90's evinrude 2 HP.. Runs like a champ, starts right up -very good shape-hardly any use.. Kept it in a boat as a backup- I have planed a 12 foot boat with it, NO problem, This is the model with tank on top... can start and run any time No issues.. $200 2- 1996 30 HP Johnson long shaft, electric start, remote steer... Runs very well at speed, great condition lower unit, new water pump, actually runs very strong while planing. used it all last summer.. however, its getting tired- has lean sneeze at idle speed, and although the compression is even, its like 90 PSI each cyl.. A good strong 30 HP should be closer to 120-130.. It needs rings .. just getting tired, kind of like its owner- we're both little tougher to start than a few years ago, and need a freshen up on the rings. No major scoring or anything on cyl walls, just age and use .. Can demonstrate here or in boat on the water when the weather gets warmer if interested... $250 3-1987 Merc 70 HP- Long shaft/power tilt-comes with binnacle mount controls--- starts up and runs quite well, but #2 cyl is lower in compression than 1 and 3, I think last time I check 1 and 3 were at 120 or so PSI and #2 was 90-95 psi ... Its been this way for many years, and was never an issue, but I can't sell it as a 100% good engine.. Runs fine, idles ok, power till works well, pretty nice cosmetically.. Can demonstrate here or on water when weather warms ... $350.. all prices firm, thanks.... Will trade for or toward[with cash] 12 foot aluminum boat-,or 9.9 HP tiller 2 stroke, -or 20-40 HP remote steer 2 stroke outboard motor - will consider any brand.... bob

OK, thats good information.. I am in the process of buying a 12 foot aluminum boat to haul in my pickup. and have a couple little 4 HP motors... i have never been to that area, but that swampy stuff looks like great LMB water Might be fun to give it a shot one day, even though I am not a LMB kind of guy really.... Truck is 4 whl drive, so unless its really horrible I should be ok... I'll have to check it out along with the marina this spring.... bob

I guess I didn't know there was a state launch at the south end of owasco.. Besides the marina, I was only aware of the launch at Emerson Park.. Where is the state launch?.... bob

Nothing fancy or expensive... Looking for a small 12 foot or so aluminum row boat that can be thrown in back of a pickup by me and my 11 YO grandson for quick calm water trips.. Jon boat or v front is fine.. Not looking to spend a whole lot as it won't get used much maybe a few times a season.. Hoping someone has something laying in the yard unused that they have no use for and can let go reasonably.. I sold a really nice 12 foot Jon boat myself a few years ago in great shape for almost nothing, should have kept it as life circumstances have changed, and now thats what I need..... PM if you have anything... thanks,,,,, bob

Live bait is food, and fish seem to know that instinctively.. They will try and eat it, because its food and not dancing up and down on bottom or racing through the water in an unnatural straight line... Lures are great when fish are active and aggressive, sometimes better than bait... However over the years I have found that fish will hit bait bait in cold water, where at some point they will just not hit any lure at all...bob

Ok thanks.. It would seem that they prefer rocks more than sand/mud, maybe thats why they aren't as thick in some areas,, As far as keeping bait off bottom, i get it, but i catch them even when the bait or panfish jig is drifting with the wind at a good pace with a hook 2 feet off bottom... anyway, thanks for the replies!.... bob

I no longer fish the south end of cayuga for perch and other panfish these days, due to the Goby infestation there,, Even when using small baitless plastic tails, its just one goby after the other.. They seem to have taken oven, and now I just fish at other lakes, where Gobies don't exist... I was told a few years ago that there are no gobies at the north end of the lake, where much of the spring Perch fishing takes place, in the 7- 8 foot flats mid lake and around the channel that runs north/south.. Now I know for a fact they are in near shore areas up there, as I have caught them around docks by the bushel in the north part of the lake.... So without asking for any specific spots to fish, is it true that there are no, or few gobies mid lake at the north end of cayuga lake?... Its been several years since I have fished that far north at Cayuga from a boat, generally staying south of Taughannock... However, the extra 20 minute ride north would be well worth it, if I can see[and catch] a lot fewer of those miserable little parasites.... bob

I'll have to get out there and check it out one day. Area was swampy looking, tons of deadfall in the water, no sign of "civilization", and those guys were catching some BIG LMB, and as we know, usually where there are big bass to be caught, a LOT of guys know about it. Not worried about that really, more interested in access to the south end of the lake itself... If I find the place where they put in, fine, as it would be great for a quick "car topper" trip, where i just pull a little tin boat off the pickup bed , run out early to fish the morning, then just throw the boat onto the truck and take off, all on the cheap... Just good to know the marina does have a drop box so I can get in very early, and off early as well. Thanks to all responders for the information... bob

Not doing much winter fishing from a boat these days, not set up for that sort of thing.. It would be more of an April into November time frame... bob

ok, thats great...That way, I can take one of my other boats- a 14 foot side console, or my 17 foot center console, both very sturdy and durable 70's Grummans that can take some rough water for their size, and are both better suited for fishing a good size lake than a jon boat is ... as long as I can get out at the crack of daybreak I'm fine with it... We are discussing South Shore Marina in Moravia correct?..... bob

I have seen some videos of guys putting kayaks in a swampy looking area of owasco probably in the inlet south end.. No ramp, they took them off their trucks and dumped them in.. i would like to do the same with a small 12 foot aluminum with a 2 or 4 HP, just me and my grandson for some close to the shoreline panfishing for sunnies, perch, maybe an occassional bass.. No problem using the private launch at the south end, don't mind paying at all. Problem is they don't open till 7am, and in summer I like being on the water at 5 am, and on the way home by 11.. Any idea where these guys might have put those kayaks in??.. It was a dirt lot, no gravel or blacktop in sight... bob

OK, thanks... I was hoping to find a lake with some decent White Perch fishing more than anything else... Crappies are tough.. They are hit hard and seem stunted in most places, and I like sunnies and perch just as much anyway.. No one fishes much for white perch, but I like them.. If Otisco is being blasted that hard for every eating size panfish it contains, the last thing I want to do is make matters worse... Not many people fish Skaneatles for panfish, as everyone there has Rainbows on the brain.. Between there and Keuka I'll be fine... Might try Whiney Point this year as well, but from what I have heard the crappie fishery there is collapsed or close to it due to an abundance of small walleyes, as well as the intense fishing pressure it has always gotten on its population of crappies.. I guess I don't understand why Crappies take such a pounding in NY state, and get fished into oblivion, or at the least, the population is all small fish because they are taken and eaten as soon as they can be stretched to 9 -10 inches, or whatever the regulation is these days... bob

Might give it a shot, only because it has more variety than Skaneateles or Keuka... Years ago before the Zebra mussels and Gobies took over, I -enjoyed spectacular panfishing right from shore on Cayuga all by myself year after year.... sunnies 8-9 inches+, perch 11-13 inches, foot long rock bass, every trip, plus dozens of massive SMB that were instantly returned, Bullheads here and there, a Sucker or big carp on occassion.. Never took a Crappie or White Perch in Cayuga.. I don't think many of those make it as far south as Ithaca.. Kind of annoying having to drive 50 miles each way to catch a few sunnies with a worm and bobber.... bob

If available, try putting a live minnow or nightcrawler, on a hair or marabou jig... Bass, both largemouth and smallmouth LOVE live bait, and will hit live natural bait better in real cold water than they hit artificials... bob