Sk8man

Keep in mind the bigger you go the more battery usage which also applies to the throttle You should be fine with a 55# and can get by with a little less. Some of it depends on your battery size/capacity too. Hopefully your Honda has an alternator too.

thanks for the positive comments cinnamon fish....much appreciated.

To answer your initial question: drifting with both live or dead bait has been done for years on the Finger Lakes. It can be done with the single method using a three-way swivel with sinker suspended (weight adjusted to conditions) with various length leader, the method you mentioned above, or using multiple leaders on a Seth Green rig with treble or double hooks and live bait slowly drifted through the water. Night fishermen have used a modified version of this rig for years while anchored as well. The problem with using the multiple leader rig on Lake O is the presence of kings as they could easily destroy one of these rigs by tangling it up in ways you've never seen The key to the drift method is the wind direction and velocity. Conditions have to be nearly perfect to do it successfully e.g. light wind blowing from a favorable direction for your position on the water to achieve the right flow and speed. It can be a lot of fun and effective when done correctly.

I think katydid is correct. The movement of the jig attracted the impulsive (instinctual) feeding urge of the laker much like action of a spoon or stick when trolling. When they are feeding on live bait they often "test" the live or dead bait first which is noted by a tick tick on the rod tip. If they don't feel resistance they then will grab the bait and run with it. At this point they may not even have the hook in their mouth or throat which is why you don't pull on them yet. You wait for them to stop (perhaps turn the bait around in their mouth?) and swallow the bait (usually head first) then they run again and then you pull on them. What I am describing here is a feeding "process" rather than an impulsive chase/grab which applies to the jigging. If there is a lot of bait present they can afford to be "fussy", but they are nearly always vulnerable to their impulse to strike something moving near them when near bait. This could also explain fish with multiple bait still in their mouth throat and stomach still striking a moving jig or lure. They may not be all that hungry but the impulse to grab bait is still strong and determines their behavior. I know this is pretty hypothetical but after seeing it happen a few thousand times it is a strong hunch

I think you may have identified part or all of the problem. The rods may be too high up vertically forcing the boards downward and pulling them towards the boat. They perhaps need to be lower and especially pointed more horizontally " My rods are higher than the roof on my boat....placed in rod holders on my roof supports. The rods point extremely vertical, and towards the stern of the boat. Maybe if I had them point lateral....the boards would plain more?"

or https://give.salvationarmy.org/event/ithaca-fishing-derby-2018/e173384

If the boards are set up with the line in the main release (most of us set it up so the line is either clamped down very tight and/or wrapped arounf the release so it won't actually release) and then undo the board on the way back in manually. From the main release the line should go through the pin area at the back of the board to the lure. With that as a given there aren't many things that could prevent the main line from going out with the board attached to any reasonable distance other than too slow boat speed, the line slipping in the main release with the lure going back but leaving the board as is, or the lure overcoming the pull of the board.

Might want to try using the Church walleye boards as the weights on the bottom are adjustable. I've pulled 10 color behind them but with spoons not cranks. The crankbaits generate a lot of pull on their own depending on size. I have a set of the TX44's and actually started with them but I view them as overkill for eyes and they are much clumsier to use in that situation especially if they dive on you but they do pull a lot of hardware behind them.

I sent the Salvation Army an email about it so hopefully they will change the info on the website.

Thanks.

Any more information on it?

You could become a millionaire Don

The braid may reduce blowback but during waterflea season you may wish you weren't using it

WTG Mike

The standard wire is usually 150 lb test some is 200 but keep in mind that the larger the diameter the more resistance in the water (=blowback). Most brands in that 150 lb will do the job fine. Some commonly come in 200, 300 and 400 ft sizes.

You might want to search previous posts as there have been many previous indepth discussions about the topic.