Sk8man

Yes Ted there have been guys out the past two days from the launch at the north end Hopefully the water will clear up right about then and it will be "game on"

I know these are very small even the extra large size for the species you are after but they are 40 lb test and if they will fit the eylets or rings you are using they can save time for the bass. You may wish to use a small Spro swivel a few feet above it . http://www.basspro.com/Fas-Snap-No-Knot-Fas-Snap/product/2463/?hvarAID=shopping_connexity

Yes several boats out in the rain. I talked with a couple guys at the launch and they said not much happening and I did't see anything in their buckets in the boat

I think it might have been my own the last time we went out

Yeah Bob "Go big or go home" and....."size matters"

I decided to delete my comment.

yes those bananas I place in your bilge do wonders Get a telescoping stainless steel ladder like mine Bob if you can find one....never any concerns or problems

Good luck.

Haven't seen any boats out there the past few days because of the ice . The water is crystal clear even from a distance. I'd be casting as far away from the boat as you can

Never put your fingers in the gill area or hold them vertically that way if intending to release it and try to keep the fish as horizontal as possible before releasing it.

Skipper is right on target and gave you great advice. The only way I run boards is wth inlines run on the outside and the lines way back with just spoons or sticks and on the outriggers I run small dispeys off braid and with not all that much line out and with the setting on 0 or 1 at most. I also run the outriggers off the front rather than that the side of my boat (I can do either with my setup and fish them off the side when solo) That way you are underneath the board lines with a fish or over the top of the dipseys if fish comes on board lines. It can be a problem however with a big chinook that doesn't listen to you while giving him instructions

You "new to the board" folks are finally making things happen Jason and it is very gratifying to see. Thanks for your efforts and those of the others on the board. I look forward to chatting with you at the Watkins show Sunday.Thanks for keeping us informed. Les

Well basically it relates to your boat itself and where you intend (or have available) to locate them. Thye can be mounted on the tops or sides of some hard top boats and onthe gunwales of other boats. A critical factor is how high off the water the gunwales are on your particular boat. A major reason for htis is that when there is a chop on the water the outrigger poles tend to bounce a bit or tip (fiberglass poles are more prone to the bouncing the aluminums not so much) and you don't want them slapping the surface of the water. Mine are mounted at about a 35 to 40 degree angle or so off the gunwales which keeps the tips out of the water in anything I care to go out in. The holders are critical and have to be VERY sturdily mounted wherver they are mounted on the boat as there is considerable torque transfer to the base from the normally 15-18 ft poles.

They are a nice option to have in addition to the boards. I run mine during derbies as they can be much more easily seen from a distance so most folks avoid coming as close as they do with the boards in crowded conditions. You can run multiple lines from them and I sometimes run small to medium dipseys from them. If they are set up right (at the proper angle up over the surface of the water) they tend to do better than most boards (especialy inlines) in relatively rough water conditions. As far as cons since you already have them there aren't any they tend to be expensive for the good ones especially the holder mounts.

Another important puzzle piece for the Great Lakes puzzle https://www2.usgs.gov/blogs/greatlakesscience/2014/09/05/cladophora-algae-too-much-of-a-good-thing/

Great photos Tg8. I can see a few of my snags near the channel on Seneca real good