chowder

I've got a pair of Cannon riggers on each side of my boat. Last weekend my corner port rigger stopped working (had to bring 13lber up from 100' by hand). This was only the 3rd time I've used this rigger b/c it was new this spring (replaced both older Mag 5 corner riggers w/ new Mag 5 HS units). So, I figured "typical of what you get anymore when you buy something new" and started using the other port rigger instead (an older Mag 5 Long boom). This rigger worked fine for 2 or 3 fish and then it quit working too! Today I checked the port connectors w/ a test light and got power so I took one of the starboard riggers over to the port side and plugged it into one of the port connectors and it works! What the heck? Now I've got 2 dead riggers and what looks like some kind of weird electrical issue that caused them to go "off" on me. Any ideas?

If you drill out the bottom of a Walker or LJ mag dipsy and substitute this for the slide diver bottom it will perform exactly like a reg. mag dipsy. I secure the Walker bottom to the slide diver top w/ a pair of small self tapping screws. This is not a complicated job and when you are done you have a slide diver setup w/ a mag dipsy depth curve AND no long leader when you get the fish to the boat. I don't even use regular dipsies any more now that I've got this hybrid setup.

I think you got it right w/ the Ugly stiks, I run 6 different cores and 6 different coppers to 600' on the med and MH 7' rods-no complaints!

Congrats! Sensational!

I use slide diver tops w/ a mag dipsy bottom & weight as my main wire diver setup. On these rigs I use a rather short 30lb flouro 'slider' leader (18'). After I thread on the sd, I use a bead in front of a high quality swivel (throw the cheap thing that comes w/ the diver out!) and then I use a 2-3' stretch of 30lb flouro to a big coast lock snap for my flasher.I usually run these out on a setting of 1.5-2.0 I also have a pair of super braid sd rigs I use for running spoons higher in the water column. The 20lb floro 'slider' leader I use on these setups is pretty long (50'+). For these rigs I use the reg size sd as it comes out of the package w/ and w/out the largest ring. On these I also slide a bead after threading on the diver and then tie on a high quality swivel, then a 2-3' 20lb flouro to a high quality 30lb+ ball bearing snap swivel. I usually run these out on a setting between 3 and 6.

We really pounded the fish up north yesterday w/ some back to back doubles & triples, but just couldn't find one bigger than our best from day 1 . Fortunately our best day 1 fish held on for a third place finish, so we got back our entry, paid for the gas and actually even made some money! Most consistent combos were the 500' & 600' copper w/ gator/black widow/diehard spoons out in 250-350 FOW. Riggers & divers were luke warm most of the time both days (even w/ the same spoons we were running on the copper and long leads) except when the fish seemed to turn on (11:00-1:30, both days). When the bite was hot, spinnies & flies hammered the lakers. I have to say that the best part of this weekend was spending two days hanging with my son Elliot on what he calls the "floating man cave".Thanks to everyone who put time into planning & pulling off this event.We had a blast! -Andy

Hey Buck Master, Happy Birthday!

Tried to keep w/ you on the radio and get you dialed in but kept losing you, sorry man. -Andy (sent pm w/ my cell)

I sent a pm last nite.

Hey Sean, I tried to get you on the radio but no go. Just gutted a dozen or so and there was one partially digested alewife in the whole lot but bait pods all over! Go figure? You gonna be back tomorrow?-Andy

Started out pretty rough today when we started to sink half way across the lake this morning. Yep, I put my block drains back in after draining the I/O in my Islander last weekend but forgot to reattach and tighten the hose clamp on my upper coolant hose . We went from that disaster into a series of fish that came unbuttoned right at the boat. When we left after weighing in some of our better fish we had a thin hold on 3rd place with a 10lb 6oz laker. Hopefully we can pull ourselves together tomorrow and hit em hard!

Hey Split, when you gonna have that fish fry ready on Fri? I'm going to stop at Barney's & register at some point and I'm hoping to time it so I can pick up some fish dinners on the way home. -Andy

I'd get the advice of a competent marine mechanic who has done a lot of kicker installs b4 you go very far. I just went thru 2 kicker installs on 2 different boats & believe me there is a lot more to getting everything to work right than it looks at first glance. Spending a few hundred on a bracket is the least of your worries, remember when you are done you want a setup that didn't break the bank but that works well and is ultra dependable. P.S. You should look at the Yamaha T8 or T9.9 (I've got one next to a Merc and they get along just fine!) and also remember; you get very sensitive speed control from a tiller model compared to a factory remote throttle setup.

LZ have a great day & thanks for the advice on my kicker project! -Andy

If Elliot & I can manage to get over there no secret lures or mannequins are gonna help any of you guys.

Glen, you got a nice bunch of spring Kings there! Sure looks like a lot more fun than work!-Andy

You probably all ready did this but, make sure the problem is not the solenoid on the trim motor.

Hey Stinger, do you charge by the hour or do you have some kind of package price program?

On top of the weather I have labor issues to deal with. I gotta see if I can borrow Stinger's trusty buddies, Honey & Sugar. I'm hoping to get them to cover the midnight milking and then slide back into rod holding duty! -Andy

I drained my I/O & drive and now with a clear conscience I'm making a good winter time venison stew with turnips, potatoes, onions, and carrots. Let it snow, it will slow down the hay crop and we might be in Barney's yet!

I had calf pails with 3" water frozen solid this morning & it's supposed to be colder tonight and Mon. night. If the temp goes to 27 (as predicted) and there is wind then there is going to be some pretty hard water here and there.

I would seriously consider draining your I/O today (or yesterday) if your boat is out of the water in an exposed location. We are experiencing an unprecedented period of dangerously cold weather w/ a windchill below 20 degrees. Also, if you did not trim down & drain your outboard after the last use you probably should. It's better to be safe than sorry when dealing with Mother Nature when she's pissed even if it is Mother's Day!

Start working your way up to the trestle. Work the weed beds that have openings in them. Learn how to read the weed beds as they change from spring to summer. Set up w/ the following rigs, use them in succession until you find a working combo, work it until it stops firing. 1. Spinner bait setup (blk,white,green,etc) 2. Super fluke setup (white) 3. Jerk bait/crank bait setup (change colors & shapes), and sometimes it's worth trying a topwater presentation, especially real early and again near dark.

At this point it doesn't look like Elliot and I are gonna be able to fish that weekend b/c it looks like we'll be chopping hay by the end of next week + we've had some major challenges in the labor dept as well So, good luck to all but lookout, if it's certain to rain I'll buzz over to Barney's & enter on Fri. afternoon. -Andy

Hi Jim, I see you around town now & then. Sent you a pm. -Andy