Sk8man

X2 on the walleye boards although I have both. The walleye boards are more easily managed too and #30 lb braid on any of them for me with stainless pin replacements and three wraps on the release arm to hold with manual release when the boards are retrieved..

Not just on a boat.... 3 rods per person onshoreline or ice fishing as well

Hey choo-choo - Given the spread out nature of these sightings it looks as though the robins have copied the geese by sticking around NYS and taking their chances on finding food and I'll bet they are kicking themselves in the azz today with this weather

Are the 77/200 transducer frequencies selectable in the units? That is can you set one to 200 and the other to 77?

I'm not sure what depth finders you have or the transducer frequencies but if you have two units and one (e.g. Lowrance) has a dual frequency transducer that allows the option of using both at one time, or separately (e.g. 83 and 200) you may be able to select just the frequency farthest from the other unit (say 83) if the other fixed transducer frequency is say 200 and it may be doable despite the exact positioning of the transducers. If the transducer are in fact the same frequency my hunch is they will probably interact.

I'm not sure of what diffences there might be between the 12 amp and the 6 amp at slow speed input, but I was told by a couple of marine mechanics that the alternator is not putting out much juice to the battery at slow trolling speeds. and that max output is only when the motor is running quite fast..

Funny about robins. Twice now over the past month we have had flocks of them in our yard on warm days digging worms. I was wondering if they may have gotten stranded earlier along the flyway somewhere and are just now still migrating or something. Usually they winter near my in-laws in Florida.

I believe they are either Digitroll 1's or converted 10A's to Digitroll 1's

I think it may be a little more complicated than a general answer because it depends on a number of factors which are missing from the original question, For example, what you are running - dipseys, downriggers, Seth Greens, toplines, coppers, leadcores, the types and sizes of lures, spoons vs. sticks, various sizes, whether in combination or all the same, types of attractors (or not), how much weight (or not) being used etc. and there may be many varied answers. Some spoons or sticks run well when at faster speeds while others don't. Some set-ups may be compatible while others not. The same when using attractors (dodgers, flashers, cowbells etc.). Not trying to over complicate or make light of your question but depths trolled and underwater currents also have to be factored in. That is why a lot of folks have gone to the Fish Hawks and other trolling speed devices to help simplify the process.... and still there can be questions. A few considerations can be helpful though....if you have a speed indication on your depth finder you can make some "guesstimates" regarding your individual set-ups. Run your intended lures at the side of the boat and observe how they each are running at the speed on your finder and adjust each accordingly until it looks good. Do this for each set-up so you have at least an idea how they are presenting but keep in mind this is just a "guesstimate" as they may be running different at depth or in current. A lot of information can be learned also from your rod tips....if they are pulsating (without attractors being used) reduce your speed slightly. Some lures may run OK when your downrigger wire is at 45 degrees or singing but they will also be running way above where you set them at and some perhaps revolving around without doing what you wish them to be doing. A lot of it is knowing your boat, your individual setups, the lures you are using, and assessing water conditions; so gaining direct experience with each is the best way without the electronic "helpers". It can be helpsul to carry a notebook and jot stuff down)

Hank is a man of few words..... maybe he is leaving the interpretation open to the reader...

You mentioned that you are new to downriggers. It is important to give some careful thought about placement of them before installing. It can make all the difference in the world For example long booms and short ones have difference placement issues and any of them when placed in a less than desireable spot can create perhaps unforeseen problems. For example placed too close to the motor and then wrap the wire in a prop on a turn, placed too far near the edge of gunwales the handle or other item may hang up on the dock when coming in etc. Placement can vary greatly with the particular boat.