skipper19

Happy B day Larry, I think I can remember those days now....reconnect a few old brain cells and....FLASHBACK!!!!!..YEAH MAN,,,,it was cooool..... have a good one Mark

Thanks JR, was draggin the yukon out for the first time this year. I think there was just a tad bit too much snow on the ice and it was tough pulling. I could see the tub plowing the snow into a wall in front of it and then having to climb over it. Sure got the carbon blown out of me on this trip. Two of us pulling was good for a couple hundred feet and then stop for a breath. I'm not sure even a four wheeler would have the traction to pull it today with the slush under the snow and a few drifts that were a bit thick. Mark

What do you guys use for skis on your Yukon and how many do you use, 2 or 4, what is the best way to attach them so they don't pull off. easier pulling would be nice, the yukon weighs 107 lbs without any gear and I got a lot of that. Thanks. Mark

Spin doctors and flies in the Keys Ray? Dipseies? ......WOW man you are really going to draw attention to those lures down there .....be sure to go to the blue Oyster club and mention those lures ..after dark....in buffy mode

http://www.protroll.com/books/?id=5&p_id=3 Chapter 2 here has a very good explanation of galvanic action between an UNCOATED downrigger ball and the metal snap and stainless cables of the riggers. Often I thought that the coating was there to protect the boat from being beatup by a swingung ball or rolling around.....which it does ...but stopping the galvanic action is the biggest factor, and for what reason, IT IS IN YOUR LURE SPREAD, , specially with short leads from the ball. Lead is in car batteries for a reason, it only makes sense that a coated ball is your best protection, as well as a coated or heavy plastic attachment to the swivel on the cable, and eye of the ball. It makes mention of wheel weights as a source for manufacturing rigger balls, and the impurities of other metals in the weights being even more receptive to stray electrical fields. BY the way, I have the Pro Troll Black box, but It is the same as the Cabela brand. I run my box on a constant .600 when starting out and usually leave it there unless I get the "feeling" for something to change. The natural voltage on the cables is usually between .200 and .300 depending on depth and days used and the condition of the water. I also have a fiberglass boat which is more insulated but it is the electronics on the boat and outdrives that are the biggest culprits of electrolosis. If the ball is a visual atractor to the fish then it can't do any harm to make them feel goooood, when they come closer for a look. Hence, I have shortened my leads from the ball spread considerably. I used to use leads over 30 feet more often, but have found the results to be a little better with shorter leads now. I also run the current on all 4 downiggers to get a more even distribution. Mark

Got one on my boat. The static voltage reading is in the positive side of the current which is OK. It is negative current that supposedly repulses fish. If you have that problem, then you might find a benefit from the black box being able to counteract the effects of the negative charge on your cables. As far as the black box showing a significant change in the mood of the fish, I can't say. I have fished for hours and forgot to turn it on and then did so, only to find that nothing really changed on that day, but then other days it did soooooo, I am not going to say it helped for sure 100% but it didn't ever stop a good bite either. For the money it is worth finding out about your voltage on the cables hanging in the water. It will be different for different bodies of water and for different conditions of the water day by day. It also depends on how much cable you have hanging in the water column. The only thing I can say after all this is that, for piece of mind as far as the unknown goes, it helps to see the consistency of a constant positive charge on the cables that is not repulsive to certain species of fish. If you have negative charge on your cables and the fish are in a positive charge environment then they will be subjected to a discharge from them the closer they get to your cable spread, and have the came result as us when we experience a shock, discomfort....There is a science involved here that fish are magnetically and electrically guided as they swim, but I am just a truck driver and I know little of the magic involved there. Mark

You clear out the dinning room..now where are ya gonna sit and eat the family meal?... wait ...that's it .... Your gonna eat out all the time......In the garage and the basement where your mounts were ....oorrrr... maybe while yer eatin yer fruits of yer huntin an fishin efforts....she believes that somehow, under the watchful eyes of the deer, bear and fish, you might become slowly un-nerved into not being the mighty OMGanothershortfatbaldone, and stay home more B Mark

.22-250 loaded with 55 grain full metal jacket, is my favorite, if you handload (less pelt damage) very fast and pinpoint at distance . Other than that the 5.56mm or civilian .223 readily available factory loads in FMJ 50 or 55 grain. Bullets of hollow point design are too destructive on pelts. Bullets of pointed soft point are marginal for pelt damage but will bring the critter to a halt quicker than an FMJ bullet. Calibers over 6.5mm or .264 are too much for thin critters like fox and coyote. As for gun design, the .22-250 is chambered in mostly bolt action rifles, and some single shot models. However if you like to have the option of a quick follow up shot, an auto loader would be your best choice in the .223/ 5.56mm. I am currently looking at the DPMS Panther chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor. There are many choices there, but my favorite is the DPMS Panther heavy stainless barrel, topped with a 50mm objective lens scope of choice for light gathering properties at low light or those perfect calm nights with a full moon in the snow. Of course if you got lots of money to spend...3rd generation, or higher, night vision scopes are the best way to go for total dark nights. Mark

I had some issues with the Troll Master speed control on a Yamaha 9.9 four stroke. It was caused by the wire harness to the servo being run parallel to other electrical wiring. Mine was directly related to being too close to the spark plug wires under the cowl. Re-routed and now no problem. be sure you have a good electrical source to the control head, one that is not shared by a sonar especially because the pulses will cause an interference with the unit. Mark

Ole Saint "Nick"....he will send it to ya down the chimney...get yer furnace outta the way

Ray, You had better get those bones all spun together into a chandelier for the wife and hurry up about it. Then tell her you been workin on it since her B-day and give it to her ASAP or you might be SOL for the next session on the lap and gittin yer hair smoothed Are those mostly from Indy?

Troll Master and very good representation of the products. Had one of the servos go bad and they replaced it for me FREE everything including the express shipping overnight...VERY commendable company. Mark

Only Tom isn't too bad. Look at this crew Notice the not so bumpy

Aloha, Mele' Kalikimaka, Are we in paradise yet? Here in the USA and on this family of LOU, specially with YOU Ray to bring such a nice greeting to us. I feel warm all over..Cher turn the defroster down..Please? From the Hyways of the USA, Cher and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a safe and prosperous new year. Mark & Cher

Stan, your old friend is prolly gonna come back and make you feel real gooood, then he's gonna kick yer a$$, and then we will see who has passed OUT Mark

=================== Check this thread out...it may be of interest to some of you or your gov't officials about what is going on with the waters we share. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14436 ====================

You take VISA? oops overdrawn ....euros? oh that's right I already have one of those. Silly me...It's your's Ray...com'on do I hear 3.11

Not sure..but if it's not the real fruit and only a picture with a circle/slash on it I would say it's not a real threat No spiders....that was the jinx of the fruit. What if ya ate one on land and went out fishing with it in yer belly How about the banana flavored suntan oil....hmmmm. depends on who's wearing it. If she's pretty and in a bikini, I think I will take the chance...Let's ask Pete..he should know if that would be ok or not Mark

Is not the deer supposed to have the tongue hanging out?

Happy b-day Vic.....now it's 18 hrs and 46 mins into it...how does it make you feel? Mark

Sounds like he's on the right road now...good to hear the progress Mark