momay4000

Autopilot update - I called Simrad several times along with a few distributors/dealers and it was a fiasco. I've never seen a company who didn't know their product line like Simrad. Every dealer had a different answer, and I'll I wanted was information on converting the cables, bezel adapters, helm clearance, etc. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hardplace with this, but I've decided on waiting for the X-5 from Raymarine. I want to thank everyone for their time helping me. I'm sure the Simrad products are fantastic, but the dealer support and company tech. support was a joke. - Chris (disclaimer - I do not work for Raymarine, I am not a dealer or their products or have any vested interest in the company whatsoever)

Gentlemen, Thanks for all the help and the very fast replies to my post. I'm not sure the exact make/model of the steering helm unit on my Trophy, but it appears that Simrad can supply a bezel kit and extra cable if needed. I'll give them a call and take it from there. Thanks again guys! - Chris

Since I still can't get my hands on the new Raymarine Smartpilot X-5 sport for my cable steered Trophy, I'm looking for any other options. I've called multiple dealers and it's appalling how little people know about these products. Can anyone give me ideas on an autopilot for a 21 foot cable steered '08 Trophy? I'd prefer a helm driven unit as I do not want to convert the cable steering to hydraulic. Thanks, Chris Trophy 2152 (4.3 Merc Alpha-1 sterndrive) 3500 lbs. dry weight (displacement around 2300 pounds)

Way to go Shawn and Kevin! Fantastic story - it's great to see how proud you are of your son and what a great outdoorsman he's becoming. My girls are only 4 and 2, but already my oldest can identify a buck rub and deer tracks when we walk in the woods. Thanks for sharing your story with us - Happy New Year! - Chris

11000 Shoot two with one shot and you get a 500 point bonus... - chris

Mark, I won't be there but I've heard him talk before and he's great...I'm bummed that one of his topics is "offshore steelehead fishing" as I thought I was the only one that knew about that...lol. Last year it seemed like we were the only boat out deep in the late summer while everyone else was in tight around the river...... Nonetheless, Dan is a great speaker.....make sure you ask him about 12# test. Happy New Year Mark - see ya in the spring at Mayer's - Chris

Thanks for clarifying, that makes more sense. - Chris

Gambler, How do you run both a mupped rig and a fixed cheater at the same time? Essentially you would be running two "fixed" cheaters and consequently if the fish hits the top cheater and slides down, wouldn't it come into contact with the fixed mupped spoon and potentially break the line? Thanks for clarifying, - Chris

Raider44, Last year, our riggers were our hottest set-up by far. Here's some advice: 1.) Sometimes "less is more", i.e. eliminate your tightly stacked presentation and simply run one spoon off each rigger. That being said, in July mupping our riggers was stellar. 2.) You may be running your spoons a little tight to the ball. Try presenting your spoon a little further behind the ball, i.e. use the "100 rule" .... the total feet down + lead behind the ball should = 100. Certainly this is just a rule of thumb, but if you're only running some of your riggers down 50 feet, having the lure only 10-15 feet behind the ball might be a little tight. 3.) Try running one of your riggers with a flasher (maybe 15-20 feet off the ball), and the other a clean spoon further back. Often times the flasher acts like an attractor and the fish will hit the spoon further back. 4.) It seems like you might have been fishing a little shallow with your riggers for July. Typically that time of year, the thermocline is deeper and we were fishing 80-140 feet down with our riggers. Once we find 42 degree water, we park one rigger there and work up. Good luck - Chris

1.) Big Jon Downriggers- both work fantastic and all parts are original. Both have fixed 40" booms (the reason I'm selling is b/c I need telescoping booms). The Subtroll probe/wire and all connectors is INCLUDED (does not include the Subtroll dash mounted sensor unit) 2.) set of Big Jon ball cradles (new last year) $450.00 for everything May contact me at (585) 301-2197 or PM me - Chris (Ontario, NY)

Fishman, You make an excellent point - I only use the 12# mono for spoon and stickbait setups. However, for our flasher rigs, we use 20# clear Big Game. I mark each rod with colored tape to keep the 12# separate from the 20#. Thanks for bringing up that important point. - Chris

You know how many clean breakoffs we had last year using 12# mono? Zero. Any breakoff we had was right at the knot on the swivel. It makes you "fight and feel" the fish more, and I'm telling you we catch more fish on the lighter line. When we first started using the lighter line, I was skeptical, too. Nonetheless, I don't need to be convinced anymore. Longline makes a great point - you need to inspect 12# test very frequently, b/c anytime there's a frayed area, we cut it off. - Chris

Jack - you'll have 100 different replies on this but in my opinion there's typically several common themes - use good line, keep it simple, use stronger test in the summer for the fleas, and use GOOD fluoro leader material (typically 20#) Don't worry about 12# test "breaking off". Trust Keating!!!!! We use: 8# Berkley Big Game (clear) for all of our brown setups in the Spring 12# Big Game (clear) on all of our other rods until the fleas get bad. 30# Big Game as soon as the fleas get bad in the early summer On all rods we use 20# Seaguar flouro leaders (except on the flasher/fly rods where an invisible leader isn't necessary) I've said this many times, since we've gone to 12# test on our rods, our hook-up rate has probably tripled. If it wasn't for the fleas, I'd run it year round. Good luck, - Chris

One more tidbit of information - make sure your Dipsy's have a decent set screw in the middle which holds the weight in place. The screws on some of the newer Dipsy's seem to "bottom out" and then the weight creeps and the diver no longer planes to the side properly. Either use a larger aftermarket screw or we use a small rubber washer beneath the screw (also try the newer Walker divers which seem to avoid this altogether with their clicker mechanism). Trust me - take the time to make sure you have a decent screw or you'll have one heckuva tangle. Either way, we love running a dual diver setup as it really helps with a nice presentation in the water, especially when the fish seem to be scattering behind the boat. Good luck! - Chris

Tim - Thanks for that website info. - what a great link! - Chris

Give me a break - Alpha-1 drives are not cheap and they don't break easily. There's no "data" which supports this whatsoever..... I've had both drives - an Alpha-1 currently on my Trophy and a VP Duoprop on my previous boat. Both drives were fantastic and I haven't had any issues other than routine maintenance. VP: Pros - very well built, shift very easily, quiet, Duoprop option was excellent, very little corrosion VP: Cons - more expensive maintenance, can't get Volvo in Brunswick products (Trophy, Bayliner) Merc: Pros - well built, cheaper maintenance, good dealer/parts availabity Merc:Cons - outdrive scratches easy when cleaned, some have corrosion issues (I believe this was a Bravo drive issue), shifting is harsh c/w Volvo drive I'd give a marina a call who services both and talk with a boat mechanic....good luck! DISCLAIMER - I have no financial ties to either Mercruiser or Volvo, I don't sell boats or have any vested interest in recommending either product other than offering my honest opinion - Chris

I agree with Iceman - make sure you at least take a peek at Big Jon holders. I have four heavy duty Dipsy rod holders and a set of doubles on each side along with the holders on the DR's and they're fantastic. They have a heavy duty "pull pin" that you pull in and out to adjust the angle. They're extremely strong and durable. The only problem is I wish the gunwale bases had a "track system" so you could slide them for adjustments. Just my two cents - no matter what you do, make sure you buy a rod holder meant to take the punishment of a Dipsy rod.... Good luck - Chris

YT, I'm confused - why are the top two pics of the bucks (in the woods I presume b/c there is leaves on the ground) cropped off at the neckline? Thx - Chris

Way to go....fantastic first buck. I agree with JR - any deer with the bow is a trophy. I'm sure you're still smiling ear to ear....and you'll never forget it!! - Chris

November 1st, 2008 Location - 8F - Town of Ontario (behind my house) Time - 6 til 9 AM Wind - calm Temp - cold, likely less than 32 deg. Activity - one small 4 pointer, no doe...one new scrape and one new rub (actually one of my ornamental maples I planted last year). Used Tinks for first time today, but small buck didn't seem interested.

Nov. 2nd, 2008 Location: 8F - Town of Wolcott Time: 2:00 PM til dusk Wind: SE, light <5mph Activity: only saw one doe and about 20 turkeys, lots and lots of rut activity - several nice scrapes (one area had three areas scraped with lots of droppings), multiple rubs (20-30 trees over approximately a 5 acre area, one tree was a maple 8 inches in diameter and same trees which were rubbed over last few years). Seems like the rut is in full force where we are hunting..... - Chris

Yankee Clipper hit the nail on the head - if you use mechanical blades, they cannot remain "barbed" and must be able to retract and pivot into their original position. Scroll to pages 20-21 of the NYS DEC manual (link below) http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf ... ebiggm.pdf - Chris

Pike Hunter, I think I recognize that boat in your picture. I believe that knucklehead docks at Mayers and just got that boat this year. Several times I've seen him around the docks and he can't dock his boat to save his life. I've also seen him cruise through the dock channels doing about 15 knots and churning up quite a wake with his radio blasting.....maybe it's not him, but the boat looks familiar..... - Chris (yellow Trophy on D-dock)

10/23/08 DMU - 8F (Town of Ontario) 2:30 PM Temp - 45-50 degress; sunny and clear Wind NNW <5mph Activity - hunting ground blind, saw 7 total doe at same time interval, one spike, all deer nose to ground on way to food source, all following same trail. Took largest doe at 2:30 PM. Area loaded with rubs, but only one scrape. Spike seemed interested in doe, i.e. sniffing their "arses", etc. DMU - 8F (Town of Wolcott) 6:00 AM hunt Temp - below avg. roughly 31 degrees on way in; cloudy early, then sunny Wind - calm Activity - no deer seen. Good rub line, nothing new. Two scrapes. Very little deer activity opening week. No bucks yet.... - Chris

Stinger, I've been waiting for six months to get this unit for the cable driven steering on my '08 Trophy. I've spoken with several customer service reps at Raymarine (the local Marinas don't really have all the details) and finally last week I spoke with one of the "tech guys" and apparently there is a problem with the software/hardware on these units and thus they aren't going to release it until December/January. I think they may have released some units already, but b/c of the problems they were recalled. I don't have any other information other than it's supposed to be an economical choice for cable driven steering. Since there has been issues with the computer, it's hard to get any useful feedback. - Chris