Sk8man

Make sure Brian has his sandals on so he can walk across the surface

Take Froggers advice. I have personally seen the results of his efforts and his boat looks/feels almost brand new. Whatever he did was pretty amazing to me and looked highly professional.

I've been using outriggers on my Whalers since 1979 but less expensive models both fiberglass and aluminum and there have been times when they have been much preferred over inlines or bigboards. and Mark lined out great details above regarding them. I have found them to be especially desirable in heavy boat traffic during derbies because they stand out from a distance ( I have taped fluorescent stripes or bands on them for higher visibility) more than either type of board and folks have tended to give me a wider berth than with boards. I do bring the lines in a bit closer though at those times They also can be somewhat better during a chop and again visibility to other boats is better than boards. I don't have a hard top so I run mine out of gimbal mounts with heavy duty outrigger/rod holder mounts toward the rear if fishing solo and by rail mounts at the front of the boat otherwise. I've always used Black outrigger releases although I've experimented with others including the Aftcos which are more expensive but I don't think do a better job at least with freshwater setups. I set the Blacks a little different than on downriggers as I don't loop the line over the arm I just close the arm on the extended line so i can let out or bring in line without bringing things back in. You do have to play with the tension a bit so that it will release OK on fish but not on wave action etc. and set your drag accordingly as well. I usually run smaller dipsey setups off them or longlines in Spring They can also be run with boards outside of them or inside but line lengths have to be adjusted accordingly too. I'd give up my boards before my outriggers at this point although I know some folks don't care to run them. I use parachute cord and heavy duty swivels at connections near the release so I can change out the releases or correct any (very infrequent) tangles.if they should occur. It is handier than having one solid line for releases. Keep in mind when locating and securing the bases that they generate increased and substantial torque the higher up they are placed but you also have increased clearance etc. from the wave action in heavy seas so the bases also have to be substantial and with no "wiggle" or play (braced or supported underneath if necessary).

WTG John and nice report. We opted for perch fishing but 6 pickerel (a couple about 4-5 lbs) spoiled our plans by chasing them away before the wind completed the screw up

Usually you'll see lakers deep and near bottom near bait which is also usually bottom oriented as well within that 150-200 ft range but you'll also find a few very large lakers in shallow water competing with large pike for whatever they can find there e.g. small perch, sunfish, rockbass and more. They are pretty much scavengers when cruising in shallow and I have never caught a small laker in the shallows at this time of year just big ones and I think it is because the bigger lakers can compete with the pike while the smaller ones could be considered "bait". The browns, landlocks and rainbows can be scarce about now at the north end but sometimes they can be found around the mouth of the outlet at Dresden and in the southern parts of the lake out from stream mouths especially. Slower trolling with heavier lures or spoons that "wobble" (e.g. Daredevels) often take the bigger pike and lakers about now.

Thanks Mike.

Very nicely done! The bluffs are exceptionally interesting because they are ever changing with the wind and moisture sculpting it all the time. I used to do photography and have photographed nearly every place there and each time it has been different so that in any painting or photo things will look slightly different and if long periods of time elapse the entire landscape is transformed.....really cool and she captured it beautifully.

Anyone out there thinking about a guide trip on Canandaigua I'd be checking out Paul as he is a very knowledgeable fisherman with a real nice new boat and he has a handle on the lake as good as anyone out there.....it would be money well spent

When I bought my boat I had them install 4 plug in receptacles and I have never regretted it. Although I usually use just 2 or 3 downriggers I can relocate them anywhere in the existing 4 gimbal mounting holes giving a lot of flexibility in how I run different setups. The receptacles fit the connectors very snugly so there is never a problem with the connection and the downriggers run from a separate battery run through a 30 amp breaker. Tip: When you change the connections at the motor end make sure the wires go exactly as the old ones or the polarity will be reversed.

Sounds a little off price-wise because the cable kit (with disconnects) alone that you want is about $54.00 plus shipping from Fish307.com. They are very easy to install....just closely observe and or mark where the wires attach inside. You may need to reseal things with silicone after and instead of drilling out the hole for the new plastic grommet fitting that the wire runs through I just used silicone to seal the existing hole up (is somewhat pliable etc.) and after a few years now no problems whatsoever. http://www.fish307.com/cannon-mag-10-downrigger-parts-pre-2006-models/

Hey Mike You may want to double check with Fran Barrett about the resin and materials just to make sure before going too far with things if you're unsure. He really knows his stuff.

Nice going Paul. This weather has been unreal for this time of year hasn't it? I'm not sure what to make of the difference in depth markings unless maybe the display (LCD graph part) screen rewrite wasn't "catching up" at that point with the digital component for some reason (temp?)

First of all there are different types of planer boards the big boards use a mast in the front or perhaps on the sides of the hard top on a boat (and use different releasing methods) while the inline boards which you have indicated are run directly from the line on your rods. Although they can be run to be released from the tension devices on them I run my inlines with the tension cranked down to the maximum and then bring the boards in manually and detach them from the line and then bring in the fish and net it. Before attempting to run more than one set of boards make sure you are VERY familiar with the initial set that you start out with as you could be in for some real annoying and potentially expensive messes as there are some sequences for letting them out and resetting them that work a lot better than others I'd suggest looking at Youtube videos and/or get together with someone who is already using the boards and see how they do it .

I think that captures the scene thus far real well Kev. I've had all my stuff ready since October and it looks as though I may be ready for the 2017 season now

Flags are useful on ANY planer boards as they aid in being seen by other boats especially in choppy water. It isn't a warm and fuzzy feeling having your boards run over I made the ones on all my boards rather than buying though.

Kevin you couldn't ask for a better present than that one for XMas Congratulations!

Justin is one heck of a fisherman and sportsman and for anyone out there considering fishing for the eyes, tigers and smallies on Otisco this is the guy you want to be out there with