Broadhorizons

If you can't afford a speed and temp unit (Depth Raider, Sub Troll, Fish Hawk) set up a wire rod to run as a thumper down the chute (straight off the back between the riggers and you will want to reel this in or move it to a side if you get a fish on another line, wire is can be like a razor to other lines). That will atleast give you some kind of speed indication. If you don't want to use it for actually catching fish, just put the dodger down without a fly/hook. And probably your next question... A thumper is wire rod with a pound ball and a leader to a dodger. Same as a dipsy only a pound ball instead of the dipsy. If you use a snubber from the terminal swivel to the weight, then the leader from the terminal swivel to the dodger, it has better action in the rod tip. Just like a 3-way rig. You watch the rod tip to judge your speed at the depth the dodger is. if it's bumping/bouncing maybe 2 beats a second, it's a pretty good speed. No bounce and you're too slow (dead action) or may be too fast (dodger spinning not swaying side to side) generally. Before I had the x4, I had an 840 with a problematic probe. I ran a thumper all the time and you'd be amazed at the difference in speed from the surface/gps to speed at depth. Good luck, keep asking questions, and don't forget the search function for looking up some common information.

I personally would rather carry the plastic card (NYS Boater Safety certificate) than my USCG credentials while on the PWC. The training certificate or credentials must be carried while operating the PWC.

Jim, nice fish, hope they make it 'til the end. Here's a link for a FAQ from the National Weather Service about lightning. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/lightning/lightning_faq.htm#8 I think these are two pertinent questions: How far can lightning strike? Almost all lightning will occur within 10 miles of its parent thunderstorm, but it CAN strike much farther than that. Lightning detection equipment has confirmed bolts striking almost 50 miles away, but these are very rare. I have a boat with a tall mast. How can I protect myself from lightning? Install a lightning protection system and make sure your insurance covers lightning damage. Lightning tends to strike the tallest object and boats on the open water fit this profile to a tee. Lightning protection systems WILL NOT prevent your boat from being struck, but they can help minimize the damage. Obviously, we may get caught in a situation that you can not avoid the storm but I'm sure that this is not a situation that many of us will subject our clients or friends to willingly. No fish is worth it.

Nice fish Jim. Wouldn't mind a box of those.

Definitely use the fly tyers vise also. Makes it much easier and saves your fingers.

For the guys running two units... Why not adjust the calibration so that both units read the same? The x4 has the ability to adjust the calibration, not sure of the Depth Raider. On the x4 you can adjust both the speed and temp of the surface or the probe sensors, page 17 of the owners manual.

I've got 4 Traxstech fixed position rod holders I'd like to sell. They are the angled model, model RRH-210. I'd like $25 a piece. http://www.traxstech.com/Individual_Rod_Holders.html

I have an x4 and like it. However, if I were to only fish for trout and salmon a dozen times a year, I probably wouldn't have purchased the x4 for about $140 (or even more now) extra over the other two options. If you don't want to mount an additional transducer on your boat or if you plan on selling it anytime soon, I wouldn't get an x4. Either way, there are plenty of guys that like each different speed and temp unit so you should be fine with whatever you choose. Good luck, Andy

Happy Birthday Bill!

I would also suggest calling them. Trevor Sumption, the owner, is very customer service minded. I spoke with him a bit before I bought my x4.

Tom, same place as last year right? Oswego Marina, 3 Basin Street, Oswego, NY.

Or how about that log that was being tossed around that we didn't see til we were past it. Certainly could've ruined the day.

We were on our way back in to Port Bay Saturday at about 2PM and noticed that the water was rushing from the lake into the bay and the bay was very turbulent just inside the channel. This was after a very stiff South wind. The water was rushing though the channel like we were on a good flowing river, not typical. Thought that the freak wind may have pushed a lot of water out of the bay and it was rushing back in to equalize the water levels. Nothing was said on Weather band about this.

Have a great birthday Shawn!

Just to clarify, the trouble you are having is that the dipsy is dropping and spinning like a top while being deployed and causing the leader to wrap around the main line above the dipsy? I had this problem when I started using the 124 Walkers. I started to let them out slower than normal and the problem seemed to go away, a little extra boat speed helped too.

Is there any entry deadline for registration and/or meal tickets? Is there a blowoff day or will the tourney be canceled (with a raffle) for inclement weather? The rules kind of read both ways. Thanks, Andy

Hey, I recognize that background... I was fishing there today too.

I bet most of the people that are driving this change are C&R guys anyway so they don't care about the guys that keep the fish to eat anyway. Does DEC perform creel census checks along the tribs like they do on the lake? I don't fish the tribs often so I haven't encountered this if it is done. That may help indicate how many browns are actually being kept per angler hour.

The last pick gives a new meaning to "stackin' them up".

Happy Birthday Rick!

Looks real nice. There was a post on GLA looking for somebody to make an arch for a soft-top around Watertown. http://www.glanglerforum.com/forum/showthread.php?8984-Custom-Aluminum-Stainless-Work-in-the-Watertown-NY-Area

Did you back them with braid? I run 4 of them and haven't had a problem. The braid might be slipping on the arbor.

With the cost of a wire setup being just about $200 and up (rod/reel/twilly/wire/dipsy/flasher/fly), I wouldn't put it in a $20 plastic rod holder.

Yeah, I use them often on my boat. Just never on coated cable for that reason. I don't want to screw up anybody's coated cable and I don't know any better since I don't use it myself. I use the Scotty's all the time with the exception of Chamberlains on Oneida for walleye. Riggers and big boards for lead and copper.

If ya think it might be the transducer, I have one from my 958 that has never been installed you can try if it's compatible. I'm docked in Port Bay. PM if interested.