skipper19

To answer your question on stacking straight off the rigger wire, normally you would have your ball lure behind the stacked lure. In most cases for instance you are trying to attract a king to a big flashy lure on the stacked rod and have a smaller spoon on the ball release further back. To stack one lure above the other I would keep around 8 feet above the ball lure , and 10 to 15 feet shorter lead than the ball lure. However be aware that sometimes the ball set will come up and grab the line of the stacked rod and get a tangle started. Be sure when you POP the rods loose from the release that you do the stacked rod first before the ball rod to avoid the chance of tangling [ Post made via Android ]

Nice fishing used to fish Henderson all the time. Great place for variety.wether trolling casting or jigging there's always something to try and the harbor is good for those blowoff days in the open water. Used to love casting for northerns along bass and gull islands and grab some perch off the drops and shoals around six town and lime barrel. Great job! Mark [ Post made via Android ]

He was correct in saying 1000 (one thousand) feet and you cab fit all that on a Daiwa 47 . You need that because occasionally you will be running the wire out over 300 feet to achieve depth. A screamer will pull at least 400 to 500 more off the reel. So get the 1000 ft. And you will be safe ....unless the fish is really energetic and goes 700 ft. [ Post made via Android ]

Braid and wire for dipsy will give about the same performance, but wire will be the best when fleas start up so just go with wire, malin 7 or torpedo brand are good choices 30 lb. Two riggers with one rod apiece is good for a narrow beam, but if you want to stack another rod you would need the other rod holder or use one in the gunnels that is near to the rigger.and angled out from the other rod and rigger boom. Stacking a small dipsy on the rigger cable will give you a nice wide spread and that is called a down and out. That way you could run six rods off your narrow beam and never have a tangle unless the boat does a whirly too quick. Three fishermen would probably be ok in your boat and you could get 6 rods in that way. Stacking one rod straight above the other can get messed up on a release, but the small adjustable dipsy pulls out ward away from the ball lure and never gave a problem. If fish are deep run the small dipsy on a 3 setting on 30 lb mono (your clipping it to the downrigger cable in a scotty pinch pad) to pull outwards and let it out 90 feet and clip it to a scotty release 30 feet above the ball. Then lower your ball to the depth the sounder is showing fish. The small dipsy will be behind your ball lure and out about 10 to 12 feet for that second chance hit from a looker. You can run big divers out from the gunnels and the whole set will cover a very wide swath of water with 6 lures in a V formation. The second rod holder on the downrigger is always handy for just about anything too. Mark [ Post made via Android ]

Man BP, that has to be a sickening feeling. Glad you are still with us. It brings to mind a friday last week as I was coming in from offshore at dark. I was traveling along at about 20 mph cause I had a long way to go to the Oak. It was Clear and calm and the ride was easy. I stood outside the console and peered out across the shimmering water looking for any vessels that might be out there somewhere of course with THEIR light on continuously. I was thinking that the smooth lake would entice small boats out there and being a friday the possibility of coming up on a small boat was very real. well I did pass one that was in about 200 feet of water, no continuous light on but was smart enough to bring a flashlight and blink it at me several times as I was passing. Ok so that got my attention and knew he was there but at the last minute. So now I wonder ...is that a distress signal, maybe I should go see or stop and check it with my spotlight. I stopped the engine listened and put 3million candlepower out there but could only see mist off the water, didn't hear anything so went on. Motored up to just on plane and kept it there for the next couple miles when I encounter another small vessel out of port about in 80 feet of water. Again no continuous light and the flashlight showing me his position. Two boats without any continuous lighting and I would say have to be powered, are out there with no all around white light, just a flashlight. I may be wrong but I believe law requires a continuous all around white light to be on when powered or anchored away from dock. Only UN-powered vessels under a length of 23 feet, may have a flashlight to be turned on and warn an approaching boat.....anybody out on the water after nitefall should have an all around white light on at all times and a flashlight to be a secondary means of attention getter in my opinion. Mark

I'm with ya Nick! Typeing along and out of the corner of my eye the rod pops....throw down the phone and run around the console to grab it then it seems like what I was posting is like old news now cause everything is changing auto pilot would be good then I wouldn't get so far away from the good #s and have to get back I was tempted to go out to the 30 lines but there was such good screen there in 26 to 26.5 I couldn't tear myself away. Mark [ Post made via Android ]

I have had 2 center consoles since 1988. First a 19 foot with no t-top. Then a the boat I have now that is a 22 foot hull with an integral bracket and bow pulpit to make 24 ft. I like the cc for ease of moving around the deck, and it is handy when useing dipsy rigs to be able to move freely towards the front of the boat. It's main downfall is the exposure to elements, but I am not bothered by that much since most of the time I'm at the back rigging or reeling anyway. I do have a t-top on this 22 ft boat and a winterfront that I leave on for spray protection and wind deflection, it works well for that. If I was going to get another cc I would be sure the t-top was of adequate size so you could get curtains for it. Storage is always below the deck in hatches so they need to be dry, look for channeling to scup water away from holds below deck. In console head with adequate headroom is a plus. As for ride in heavy seas the hull should have 21 degree deadrise, and an aggressive Carolina flair in the bow area for a dry ride. Side winds in rough water will blow water spray into the cockpit so a flair and t-top closure is desirable. Most walkarounds I have been on have a cabin or sleeping berth that can be of some shelter but not something for extended stay in inclement weather unless the boat is significantly wide beamed, more than 8.6 ft, and at least 26 ft long. The helm area is easier to protect on a walk around where you can sit out of cold wind or rain. But if the fishing is going hot then you will be outside anyway. It's a matter of preference, I just like the cc platform and the multitude of arrangements on different brands. There are definitely many choices out there and some are much better than others. If I had the right money and looking for another cc it would be Regulator or Scout, or the new Mako 284......these are big bucks but the market is good for the buyer right now. Lightly used is the way to go , lots of them listed used for sale. Mark [ Post made via Android ]

Fishing out of the oak today and had 0 fleas in 240 260 fow. But I use 30 lb ande. Usually get some on knots and such but nada today. Mark [ Post made via Android ]

No auto pilot but wish I did have cause I get way away from where the action is by the time I net the fish. I just keep the boat going with the wind and waves and it stays pretty straight. I don't try to do any difficult setups just downriggers or a copper out. Dipsy if I feel spunky. Just harder to net and hold rod with the dipsy leader. Mark [ Post made via Android ]

Hahahaha.....I'm laughing again out here today on the lake just thinking about the whole scene of Art and his choppers LMFAO! [ Post made via Android ]

Forgot my phone charger...battery low...guess I'll report later ...pulling rods and headed home, lake is settling down nicely now...perfect day and 4 for 5 skipper out. Mark [ Post made via Android ]

Traded the rigger spoon combo out for a 250 copper and a protroll fly combo....seeing many hooks 50 down over 230 image upload Just got another king about 12 lbs. Back at my numbers. Same spinny and crinkle mirage atomic fly [ Post made via Android ]

So far west is not best troll....huge bait pod just blocked the bottom lock at 45 ft over 261 [ Post made via Android ]

Making the turn west...all so far going east [ Post made via Android ]

Took a hit on the cheated spoons, no good hookup big doctor on the bottom and NK green Gator mag slider [ Post made via Android ]

7 other boats out here working same area west of me now [ Post made via Android ]

gif upload Just pulled these two one after the other same spinny and fly. Coho and king 230 fow 70 down [ Post made via Android ]

Gettin tough to do this alone and post as I go [ Post made via Android ]

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):7/27 Time on Water: RITE NOW Weather/Temp:nice...cool...sunny Wind Speed/Direction:10 mph nw Waves: 1 to 3 Surface Temp 74.9: Location: straight out now LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): 25.6 N...12.3..W =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: Total Boated: Species Breakdown: Hot Lure: Trolling Speed: 2.5- 2.7 sog Down Speed: Boat Depth: 240 Lure Depth: 65-70 ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS Came out this morn about 7 am, met some big rollers going east, but settling down now a bit, took a 330 heading to 250 fow and put out my two rods one with spinny and fly on the starboard rigger and the other with spoons cheated. hosting images Took this guy about 45 mins ago 18 lb king On the nuclear green mtn dew spinny and a crinkle mirage atomik fly 70 down 20 off the ball ==================== [ Post made via Android ]

Now those are some fish Stan ....nice steaks on those fish, looks like some good fat on that one in the cooler. Mark

Was good to meet you there Matt, I too was a first timer for a tourny like this and found it to be a blast. One good part like you mentioned is the format lets everyone experience a prize in a position that normally wouldn't score anything to bring home. I had a hard time getting an experienced team together and opted for my friend Art who is not experienced at anything in the boat, but he was good for two more rods Found out that was tough on me after 15 fish to the boat, rod handling, netting, navigating and driving the throttle and wheel, rigging the lines etc etc. I was a whopped puppy playing in the big rollers out there as well. ....Hmmm ..Maybe Art shoulda not got 3 sheets to the wind the night before...he spent part of the day yakking at the rollers and said that maybe he should have a beer to help recover from hangover and cracked one at about 7:30 am....well I didn't see how that worked for him since he was "hangin over" the side and catching his false teeth as he yakked. Those choppers ended up on the deck along with the sea fleas and fish scales Shouldda seen the look on his face when he put those bitters back in....PRICELESS! Mark

Nice job on the second place Rick great Laker...don't forget to eat that "yellow" meat ..yellow paddle and big fin fly....shoulda known it was a conspiracy Rick Mark

Very nice big king Rob I was happy to be there and participate in a very well run and laid back style of tourny. great job team Mark

I think he said he left his camera was in his pants pocket back at the van....buffy again

That's not the only thing I've had happen near thunder storms on the water. If you have graphite rods they will attract static too. I had my rods in a holder near the grab rail around my console and heard the snapping noise and wondered what the heck?... well there wasn't any lightning yet but the rods were getting charged by the dark cloud going overhead and arching a spark to the grab rail from the rods. I grabbed them to put down in the bottom of the boat and got a good jolt from them too! I can only imagine what would happen if having copper out 600 feet collecting almost an 8th mile of electricity from the lake into a high point on the boat....could be you!....NOT GOOD....UHHH, UHHH. Mark