Chas0218

Yeah you won't be disappointed. I also need to tweak my down imagining settings. Usually I am out on the water playing with it as I troll but I'm catching too many fish to get it just right. I guess that isn't a bad thing but makes it hard to really get the settings setup for what I want.

great lake skipper has a lot of premade stuff. They list sizes for almost everything they have just match up the size and see if it is flat across the back. Here is a link to their swim decks: http://greatlakesskipper.com/boat-parts/deck-docking/swim-platforms

Question 1: Yes you can stack still but you run the risk of damaging the coating. Question 2: You could run 1 rigger dedicated if you wanted but is a waste of space on your transom/gunnel. Question 3: I have a 23' boat with 8' beam and my riggers have 4' booms. I run 3 riggers usually, 2 mid ship and 90* from the gunnel and the 3rd as close to the center as possible. The center rigger is also my probe rigger. I run the front riggers deeper than the rear rigger. Once I find the temp I run 1 side rigger below opposite in the temp and the rear above the temp. Question 4: Mine is from the 90s and still ticking (knock on wood) they will last a lifetime not much to them that can go bad. Here is a photo of how my riggers are setup. the other side is the same.

If you are alone then yes but when I have 4 guys in my boat and running 12 lines that isn't going to happen. You and me both...

When I run 10 lines on my boards the boards need to be 150' from my boat, I have also ran my boards to keep other boats from running too close. Use proper driving etiquette the boat on the deeper side should have gave way a little being that you can only get so close to shore.

What type of steering? Most don't need the motor pulled to get to it. Razor blade is about the only thing I have found that will get rid of 4200 or 5200, just go slow.

Great Job! Good to hear the season started off on the right foot.

Down imagining goes down and Side imagining goes out to the side. They are used to find bait and structure up to 600'. Other names for this type of sonar are CHIRP and Structure Scan. I have the Raymarine "CHIRP" that is considered down imagining and it works well for identifying bottom types and structure. When used as sonar it shows a lot of detail. For example I can pick up a 5/8oz. sinker clear as day while watching fish swim up to the bait (1.5" minnow). Pretty crazy the technology that is out there now.

The torpedo will add extra drag to the board. I would recommend modifying the board in a way that it doesn't drag any more into the water than it did previously.

Statewide 3 lines unless salt water. Not sure how that works.

I prefer 4200 incase I need to take it back off. It is a little less permanent but will hold up for decades. I had 5200 pull part of my gel coat off.

They are supposed to have a little movement 1/4" seems a little much but 1/8" doesn't seem out of the ordinary. On second thought is the whole shaft moving or the prop on the shaft? If it is the prop and not the shaft just tighten the prop nut and you'll be good to go.

From what I understand you want to get the clips that open towards the board instead of away from it and you should be fine. On a side note I got to thinking about the leadcore question earlier. Why not run 3 leadcore rods on one side of the boat and regular lines on the opposite it would make it a lot easier resetting lines not worrying about the non-lead lines getting into the leadcore. Also can I ask what you are running on the lead in the spring?

Find structure and you will find the smallies. East end out of henderson has some good smallie action if you can get up that way.

If I were to run lead in my spread I would use inlines. I like to run all my baits the same distance back on my big boards and run up to 5 per a side at times. I only stagger my lines when locating fish, once I find the set back they want they all go to the same. Inline boards can be setup so you let out your set back (2 colors for instance) then attach board, let out line so there is no tension on the line then when it looks like the board is at the right distance stop the line and adjust letting it out or pull some in. You will need to be careful tho using leadcore and it sinking you could get it hung up on the bottom before you get the board back where it is supposed to be.

I have caught some of my biggest eyes on these in the warmer months with their tight wobble. They have some great colors many other manufacturers don't offer. I have had to tune some but once they are tuned I haven't had to tune them again. On 150' leads they will get down to 18' no problem at 2mph definitely dive hard and pretty durable. I will have to get some photos of the bills of a few of mine, they are so messed up from digging bottom but still catch fish.

I use the okuma 8'6" GLT classic pro most of them with 20lbs. mono and 12lbs. fluorocarbon leader the mono has a little more give than a braid setup.