John E Powell

While units can be set up to talk to each other across NMEA 2000, sticking with one brand that has simple plug and play connections is a much easier arrangement to work with. For example, my friend's boat has 5 Garmin units in total, display, radar, gps, autopilot, etc.. Only the display unit has a card reader. When Garmin releases an update, you download it to a card, pop it into the display unit and turn it on. It scans your network for all Garmin units and in my friend's case all 5 of his units gets updated. He previously had a Furuno fish finder that couldn't be updated because it didn't have a card reader and wasn't recognized over either network on his boat. By contrast, on my similar network, I used a Garmin black box fish finder and a second display and all of my units would update in one simple step. I could also pick which display showed the fish finder and which had the map and gps positional data and the radar overlay. When you mix and match across brands, you can get them exchanging data across nmea 2000, but your not going to get, for instance, your lowrance hds gen 3 to update you Ray or Garmin autopilot. My advice is if your going to mix and match more than one brand, be smart about it and only go off the main brand if the unit can be updated by its own means, otherwise your stuck. Updates don't just improve that units functionality, they also allow the older units to talk to newer units that will come on the market in the future. By sticking with one brand with plug and play connectivity, you get the best functionality across your network(s), the easiest update procedure that you can do yourself, and the best chance to seamlessly replace individual units down the road. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

There are some very nice floating docks installed recently at the park. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

First, I would agree with one of the posters above that if you fish alone and don't have an autopilot that would be the first thing I'd add to your boat. Absolutely no question in my mind. And not just for the convenience, maybe more importantly it unties you from the steering wheel and allows you to spend time in the back of the boat observing what's going on. Steering is a handy convenience, observation of your presentation is priceless. As to down temp and speed, a lot depends on where your at along the salmon fishing learning curve. For beginners to intermediate people it's probably the single most helpful tool. But there was a time before down speed units when people would run out, lower a handheld probe to find the temp breaks, and then troll adjusting their speed from other indicators on the boat such as the bend in a Dipsy rod, down rigger cable harmonic vibrations, and bubbles forming on rigger cables. Nowadays, most people who buy down speed units become so reliant on them that they don't become truly in-tune with the subtleties of currents affecting their presentation. In my opinion, keen observation to details will catch more fish than any single electronic aid. In fact I believe it's the single most important thing that separate top fisherman from good fisherman. After all, most everyone runs a full array of electronics. Do I have one? Yes. Is that rigger usually the first thing I set? Yes. How often do I look at it during the day after setting up? Maybe half a dozen times. I'm far more interested in what the presentation is telling me than what the temp and speed is of a single lure in my spread. Should you get one? Yes. But realize it's just one small part of what makes a consistently productive fisherman. If you become reliant and depend on it, then your staring at a tree and missing the forest. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Garmin Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Well not too big... I just sold my 27' boat. It was a great day boat for fishing, but the cabin was to small for me to overnight comfortably on with all the fishing gear aboard. Something around 29-30 ought to be ideal for my needs. Basically the next size class of boat from what I had without feeding a pair of big blocks. ________________________ Owner John's Custom Rods Specializing in building Great Lakes trolling rods since 1979 First place winner of the 2016 World Rod Building Challenge

I've been looking for a while but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I thought I'd put this out there in case someone was considering selling their boat but hasn't listed it yet. My preferences: 1) Tiara 2900 open 2) Pursuit 3000 or 3070 express (not offshore) 3) Stamas 290/310 4) Grady White 300 Marlin 5) Scout 290 Abaco 6) Chris Craft 30 Sportsman I'm looking for an upper tier, hard top, express style fishing boat with upscale cabin amenities. No diesel boats or gas big blocks. For inboards, preferably 5.7 crusaders. For outboards, 4 stroke and preference for Mercs because of locally available service options. I'm not really interested in any of the 23-24 degree deep V offshore boats like Albemarle or Carolina Classics, they're too tippy at trolling speed for my taste. If you have or know of one that might be coming up for sale, please drop me a message. [email protected] Thanks ________________________ Owner John's Custom Rods Specializing in building Great Lakes trolling rods since 1979 First place winner of the 2016 World Rod Building Challenge

A new generation, a new father and sons project, hopefully some great future memories. ________________________ Owner John's Custom Rods Specializing in building Great Lakes trolling rods since 1979 First place winner of the 2016 World Rod Building Challenge

They've really set in thick out of Wilson, we had to switch out all the small light line reels for bigger flea reels with heavy line. Even the wire divers and rigger cables were covered badly yesterday. Fishing was decent though, fairly steady pick. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Not withstanding the appeal some people feel towards a mixed bag, if I was coming in for a trip it would be at Bluffers Park, Scarborough, Ontario. Here's the current standings of the big Canadian summer derby going on right now: I think I'd be willing to pass on a lake trout or brown for that quality of fishing. The shoreline East of Toronto historically has fishing like this every July. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

I fish out of Wilson 6 miles to the west, but generally Wilson to Niagara bar in April and then Olcott starts up in May and is decent through July. August and September is usually better out ports to the east. As for rigs, If you're after kings, spread out your gear with divers and coppers from the top of the thermocline down to 43 degree water. My best rig the past few weeks has been a wire line magnum diver out 210-230 pulling paddle fly/meat. On a 1 setting these are about 100-110' down. These are pulling kings consistently 50-70' below the thermocline. Leadcore is productive earlier in April and May, but June and July is a copper bite. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Try three levelwind passes of mono, albright knot to backing, albright knot to 10' of 40lb big game (attach planer here), copper next, then fluorocarbon leader. The first time you fish it, attach something that will cause drag in the water like a big paddle or a tripped dipsy. With the boat trolling about 3 mph let all the copper and backing out until you get to the mono at the bottom of the spool, then reel it all back in. This will properly pack the backing. Help guide the backing with your fingers to make sure it's level in the corners. Don't let high or low spots build up next to sides of the spool. Keeping the backing level prevents the backing from digging under itself later down the road causing your line to bind. People usually discover this on the first big fish that runs deep into your backing. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Reply deleted, misread original post.

When you get back in town message me. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

I'm in Niagara Falls. If you want to drive out to pick it up it's yours. ________________________ Owner John's Custom Rods Specializing in building Great Lakes trolling rods since 1979 First place winner of the 2016 World Rod Building Challenge

Ttt Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

I'd go garmin on the autopilot Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Nobody wants a free boat? Nobody has a pond somewhere with kids or grandkids? Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Here are a couple interesting reads... An overview of the status and trends of the Great Lakes ecosystems: https://binational.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SOGL_17-EN_Typo_fix-med_res.pdf Lake Erie beach closings: http://www.wkyc.com/news/health/bacteria-warnings-triggered-for-lake-erie-beaches/451518737 ________________________ Owner John's Custom Rods Specializing in building Great Lakes trolling rods since 1979 First place winner of the 2016 World Rod Building Challenge