justtracytrolling

If it was easy it wouldnt be any fun! Be back thursday to build a deck, but Ill have time at night to fish!

Yep thats the ticket, and I went exactly that. I also put fender washers on the keels and the strings.

old man, Funny you should say that...last year opening day we forgot the net at the house...of course we caught a nice fish and couldnt hardly get pliers on the hook. muskiedreams, I use the precision trolling dive curves to come up with a setback that gets me to the desired depth. I use the rapala deep taildancer tdd11 for deep trolling when I want to troll over 2.5 because its very deep and unlike reef runners they can be trolled to 4 easy. Tdd11's dive about 30 on 10lb dia line and 36 on 4 lb diameter line according to their conversion chart. I have 3 different diameter braids. I use heavier braid on the outside and thinner on the inside. On my inner most line on each side I put a 3oz clip weight at the desired setback. Then I hold the rod tip at the approximate height off the water the the release clip will be on the tow line and slowly feed line out while going the desired speed. When the clip hits the water you are at the dive curve depth, and then you can add more line to go deeper. Today I added line till the clip was about 2-3 feet down. The clip also acts as a weedguard. Without the clip weight you have to add a lot more line just to get to the dive curve depth on inside lines. You can do the same thing with an inline board to pick up a few feet with a lighter clip weight. If Im going past 40 feet down I use the 20 plus method table in the precision trolling book. Basically if you put a 1oz clip weight 20 feet in front of your deep diver it gains 30%, and a 2 oz another 30%. Its not exact im sure, but it is repeatable and its the best Ive come up with so far to troll cranks fast below 30 feet. The new walleye copper might be another way, but I havent seen a dive curve for over 2.8. Doubt too many guys use big boards for tigers, but unless im solo I prefer big boards to inlines.

Ive been using otters with the extra half keels since I bought my otters. I have been happy overall, but after reading how Captain Rick has his otters rigged I decided to scrap the recommended knot set up and try his setup. WOW! What a difference. They pull much better at very slow speeds. I tried them today at 3.5+ trolling for tigers, and they worked great fast too! Caught a 38" tiger that I just couldnt get up and was able to slow down under 1 and bring the fish up without my boards collapsing. Thanks again... Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Water temps are rising very fast and the main lake us in the 60's. Tracy and I thought we would take a troll before we headed home today. Still couldnt find any eyes so I jumped the speed to 3.5 and it was only minutes and we had a drag singing! After a great fight we landed a 38" exceptionally fat tiger. Neither of us had a phone so no pics...ill be sure not to forget it again! Fish was caught 38 down over 60 fow on an inside board line. The seaguar smackdown 20lb braid is incredible...gets deep and I leaned on that fish harder than normal on 30lb just to see if it would take it... and it did! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Exactly Les! We all need a little patience...me more than anybody! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Got up twice last night and looked for alewives and fish working...nada...dead flat, bright, and not a ripple anywhere. Im sure if I ground it out for hours id get a fish or 2, but im looking for some numbers...any day now its got to pick up! Gonna try trolling again now that the water temps arent all over! I know of 4 walleyes caught...all of which were hard earned!! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Plus these captains help ALL of us with their participation on this forum. Byoung62 is spot on! I just looked up Yankee Trollers rates...650 a day or 1000 for two days that isnt 800!! if anyone thinks this is too much check out what a rig like his runs, and what it costs to maintain. Plus there must be plenty of smaller charters that are cheaper. Bottom line is if you think its so much dont hire a charter. Just keep fishing off your boat, and dont add up what you spend on your boat! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I think its understood that the captain puts the boat on fish and sets up the trolling spread and drives the boat. That's how it is for my guests too. I thought that was the whole point. If I hired a charter I certainly hope the captain isnt counting on ME to catch the fish as you put it. If you can do it yourself dont hire a charter. Or hire a casting/jigging trip where you can think your catching the fish...its still the captain putting the boat on fish no matter how you look at it. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Great detailed report as always! Tnx. Must have been bout impossible out there to skunk that many boats. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

800-1000 isnt dirt cheap!! On ontario 500-650 is the rate which is dirt cheap!! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Pm sent! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Everyone on this site with a decent boat and decent gear who fish regularly, every weekend at least, know just how expensive it is. Captains arent over charging and earn every single penny! Break down your cost per trip recreationally including boat winterize, storing, slips, GAS, repairs, insurance, tackle and you will see its not a huge profit. Oh by the way they work 12 plus hours a day for you. Does anyone really think they charge too much? It costs 250 to 300 just to rent a boat....so for that again you get a captain, gear and oh by the way you catch fish.... Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Went out last night after the tiger tourney for walleye. We setup in shallow water that has produced very well and had very little alewife action. Had some bass working early, and saw a nice eye when I pulled anchor, but nada! Went back tonight and water was as flat as it can get, and far less alewife action. Then I cruised several other spots and found NO bait. It wont be much longer and its gonna pick up dramatically! Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app