momay4000

What is he/she calling for? I saw chance of showers, but no wave forecast yet..... Thanks, - Chris

Trophy still produces nice V-hull walk-arounds in lengths in the low 20's where you can get a sterndrive as an option (2152, 2352). I have an '08 2152 with a I/O and it's the best boat I've ever owned. Hope this helps, - Chris

Thanks guys - I have a 21' Trophy. I always use the middle ramp over there and haven't had any issues.....yet. I was over there yesterday and it looks like it's probably OK. I'm more concerned with not being able to get the boat out in the fall. Thanks for the advice gentlemen, - Chris

Yikes! We'll still probably give it a try, but I'm going to take a look down there on Friday and watch a few boats go in and out first....... WWIV - how did the guy get stuck "after" he launched his boat? It doesn't sound good..... Thanks for the input everyone, - Chris

Hello gang, Plan on launching May 1st at the I-Bay State Launch. Anybody have any input on the water level? Sometimes the short docks make it a little difficult to launch even with normal levels. Thanks for the help, - Chris

Thanks for the clarification - I didn't realize that was the case - Chris

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it illegal to be targeting bass this early before the season opens? Even if you aren't keeping them, I believe it's still illegal to be targeting them before bass opens in June. Personally, I'd be cautious posting a report with pictures stating that you were "hoping to find some bass..." - Chris

Nice job Anthony - nice looking brown and real nice water color. We're launching next weekend and then it's game on! Talk to you soon, - Chris

Steve, I fish core all year and love it. 1.) I agree that the sink rate is closer to 4' per color, but remember the more core you have out, and depending on lure, speed and current, the less the sink rate becomes (I estimate that a full ten colors is only down around 35' or so). 2.) Not sure on reel capacity on a 27 Sealine, but I have between 3 and seven colors on my 30D Convectors and a full ten color on a 45D Convector. All reels have 250-300 yds. of 50# Powerpro backing and 50-75' of 20# Seaguar Leader Fluoro 3.) I fish these on in-line planers exclusively and run the deepest core farthest from the boat and the shallowest core nearest to the boat when I run two per side (I know this is "reverse" from what the experts say, but it's what works best for me). I attach my in-line to the PP backing - not the Dacron of the lead core - and wrap a rubberband around the line and release so the board doesn't slip when a fish hits. Then we just reel up to the board, break the rubberband and keep reeling in the fish. 4.) We catch a lot of bonus fish on core - many high kings and steelhead this way, and it's usually our best presentation for fishing in the early Spring when fish are boat shy. 5.) I'd like to experiment this year with a 20 color core with a Cuda Torpedo diver to see if we can target some of the deep kings over the summer....we'll see Good luck - keep it simple, - Chris

Anthony, Nice job - great fish. Way to get out early this year..... Later, - Chris

Fantastic job - way to go!!! - Chris

Shade, #1 - I always measure from the end of the treble to the start of the swivel on the SD. I tie a large overhand knot in the leader to form a loop, then I pass the loop through the eye on the SD swivel, and then pass the fly through the loop to form a simple half hitch around the SD swivel. Ditto what Chromeslayer says on length...... Good luck, - Chris

Boatino, On my older BJ's I used 10 gauge marine grade duplex wire (one red/one black wire in a grey sleeve) and I wired a female extension cord plug (non-grounded or polarized - only two prong plug) to one end. I crimped and soldered two battery connectors to the other end of the wire and attached it to my battery switch. I then plugged the male end of the BJ wire into the female plug connector and it worked great. Make sure you mark each side of your male/female plug with a black line so you hook it up the same way each time b/c the BJ motor is polarized. Otherwise, when you go to let the ball down, it'll go up and vice versa. I lost a cannon ball one year b/c I had it hooked up backwards and when I went to let the ball down, it went up and snapped the terminal connector. Keep it cheap and simple and good luck, - Chris

GB, I love lead core and learned how to use it well from trolling many years out of Ludington, MI. I like the long leads and I fish 27# exclusively using inline planers, unless I fish it down the chute (typically a ten color when the fish are shy). As Legacy stated above, it just seems to have great action in the water and is stealthy. The only problem is I find you need multiple rods to fish different core lengths b/c you have to attach your board or release to the backing and not the dacron sheath of the core. I suppose you could splice in mono in between every color, but it would seem like a lot of knots every 10 yards. That being said, I always fish at least one core rod whether spring, summer or fall - we pick up a lot of "bonus" steelhead or high fish on seven or ten color core that way. Good luck, - Chris

Dude, Welcome back - hope to see ya back at Mayer's in a few weeks - we'll be puttin' in later this year (first week of May) as I'm waiting to make SURE Al has his act together with his finger piers - as you know my boat had $2K in rub rail and gel coat damage b/c my finger pier broke off from the high south winds last year...... Glad to hear from ya - welcome back bud, - Chris

Trolling 82, If you don't run a full core, and you only let out a few "colors", then you're limited to only running it down the chute b/c you can't attach the lead core/dacron sheath to an in-line planer or a release b/c you'll break the core and weaken it. That's why you see so many guys (me included) have so many different lead core set-ups -three/five/seven color reels, etc. I run all of my cores on in-line planers from the spring until the time I pull the boat, and once I attach the board, I'll probably have another 150' of line out just to get the line to the side of the boat and out of the way of my Dipsy's and other lines. Good luck, - Chris

Trolling 82, IMO, I don't think 150 yds. of mono backing is enough for a ten color core. Instead of 30# mono backing, use 50# power pro and you can get much more backing on the reel and you'll still have room for your core and your leader. Good luck, - Chris

Dave, Save your money and the hassle with roller rods - try a Daiwa Heartland rod made for Dipsy fishing and add a Twili-tip. http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store/Twili_Tip.htm Good luck, - Chris Disclaimer - I have to financial ties to Daiwa or Lake Michigan Angler

Spro and Dreamweaver all the way, Sampo swivels now seem thinner and have fewer twists c/w older swivels from a few years ago and they just seem cheaper. That being said, I prefer their dark black finish. Good luck, - Chris Disclaimer - I do not have any financial ties to Spro or Sampo. However I am currently in discussion with Dreamweaver to be a "field tester" for their products although I do not have any financial ties to their business.

YT, I had the same problem with my clear Dipsy's but thought maybe I had a bad batch. The center screw was stripped immediately out of the package and I tried oversized screws and rubber washers but then the plastic cracked. I now use black and occasionally my older chartreuse colors but have not had any problems with the center screw. - Chris

I used Steve's Custom Canvas in Ontario (across from Crown Electric) and he's a great guy and does great work. Not sure if he'll travel to you though..... Good luck, - Chris

Thanks Hank, Great article! Hopefully it puts to rest the debate a few months ago that coyotes, nuisance permits, etc. are affecting the deer harvest. You can't argue with data....... - Chris

Greg, Yes - I only buy 20# Seaguar leader material for everything I own. Everything is tied with an albright knot and it's always been successful for me. Personally I only target browns with my light tackle in the early spring or when it's rough and we stay shallow, so I'm no expert. Good luck, - Chris