Rich s

Vhf with scan will pick up any call within range . i have had cell service from Oswego to sandy pond if needed to call boat us

Here is my second year take on the Great Lake or big water . If fishing smaller lakes that I have such as lake George , schroon lake and rivers like the mighty Hudson or muddy Mohawk , it's pretty easy to toss an anchor and wait it out . There are always passer by boaters so I felt comfortable if a mishap happened . On the Great Lake , sometimes you see boats and sometimes you just see horizon . Given the conditions of high seas and deep water I don't want to rely on another angler for support . I realized insurance was the cheapest peace of mind I could have out there . Chances are if you call , someone will come be it liability issues . That said , I myself , wouldn't give a second thought giving or calling for assistance to another fellow boater . I have often heard the coast guard call for assistance from any boat in the area to help , and they did , until they arrived . A kicker motor is great although I don't have one mounted ( it's in the basement ) but I feel better spending the $75.00 a year Rich

One thing I added this season and would recommend to everyone is boat us insurance . It's a very cheap $75.00 piece of mind that runs year to year when you sign on . We had our outdrive break on the last trip of the season last year . Thankfully is right at the dock . The day prior we were out in 4 plus seas and even a kicker would have been difficult .

I Have a lightning detector . It detects at intervals of 6-4-2 miles . Cheap insurance for any situation

I have owned a 89 221 islander 4.3 for 3 years now . 2 of them have been docked on the Great Lake Ontario . My eyes were bigger then my head when I bought the boat . I found out the things that were not so important on smaller put in take out places needed to be addressed on a Great Lake or any long term dockage . That said , I have found after owning many glass boats they are the most easily maintained . Granted rivets are a whole animal if problems happen but aside , everything on that boat is basically pretty simple do it yourself and can be fixed . As for the fish ability and conditions . 1. The 221 fishes 3 perfect . The 4 th man works fine , it's all about how you lay out gear , coolers and grill . Yes we fish , cook , swim and sleep on that boat . 2. Sleeping , I stay 2 adults always almost every weekend . If you don't plan on sleeping on the boat then find a use for storage in cabin . 3. We consider 3-4' waves the norm on the Great Lake . 4 footers plus then it starts to become not as much fun as attention needs to be taken on everything . My boat has been on 6 footers and I have felt safe . My only complaint s 1. Wife wants bigger cabin with walk in . 2. I want bigger (30') more wider , heavier and space in the back . I am happy with my islander and would not resent my purchase a bad one Good luck .

So memory service . George Pataki eliminated sangging in 1995 . Salmon stocking on the Great Lake Ontario was reduced from 5.3 million ( ny ) to 2.5 ?

I personally go for the fun of fishing the Great Lake with friends and family . Yup I burn gas , yes I would like to catch fish other then goby , mussels and dink perch . Really wanted to and trying to focus on a laker program from there , be it jigging , drifting or trolling just to find one . So far in 2 years there it hasn't happened , geesh Lakers are everywhere right ? No matter no worries , the king is dead . Moving west for me only means more time and expense . Didn't mean to come across as a complainer because I'm ok with my time spent in Mexico . Just throwing out my useless reports . So far I'm on week ( end ) 6 for the season at port . Catch rate = 2 Browns , 1 rainbow ( not steelhead ) , 1 skippy drowned salmon . The times she lets up play have been priceless . It will come and it only takes 1 Rich

Not saying you won't find info here but I boats is very helpful as well .

We went out of little SR 6 am Saturday and started a north program at 100 fow in front of the SR . Went as deep as 160 fow . In 10 hrs not a rod fired but upon reeling in we had drowned a skippy . Sunday we went out on a west program from 6 am till 10 am and never moved a rod as well . While last year was a struggle , this year is much worse for us

Where the boat is docked in Mexico on the little SR was getting pretty shallow 2 weeks ago . I hope it's not sitting on the bottom when I get there tomorrow

It's hard for me to add from the past or dispute the current but here is my perspective towards the Great Lake and Mexico area . Family had a trailer boat in the hey days of the 80 which I would experience . Once that opportunity disappeared I took to the tributary fishing and it was zero - 100 at any given year for 35 years . 3 years ago I was blessed with the lake opportunity on my own accord once again to share with my family and grandkids . Yes it is a hobby ( for me ) to fish the Great Lake Ontario , yes I threw some money into the sport . It's been a struggle but not a defeat to catch fish out of that great lake . Some of the best times have come on days when we caught nothing . It's a place that offers opportunity , the fish are a bonus I try like heck but don't get discouraged , well unless we get blown off , that sucks . Personally for me if my lines are in the water , I'm fishing and if I'm not then we are having fun on an adventure I will leave the scientific data to the experts

I have upgraded from tite loc holders last year to big Jon this year . No comparison . Big Jon are quality holders

Personally I take those nice ball bearing snaps that come with the flasher and attach one to my mainline on every rod then if I change flashers I just undo / remove the one on my flasher and attach the one from main line in its place

Thanks folks that was basically the answers to my question . Currently without extending my boom , my riggers work fine as is . I wasn't sure if by extending them would help with less blowback or if there was an advantage to keeping the line/ cable farther behind the boat . Thanks again

Is it suggested to extend the rigger boom ? If so what are the reasons ? I have an extendable boom mag -10 but never adjusted it out . Just wondering if I'm missing something by doing so . It seemed to me that extending it adds more pressure on the boom . Thanks : Rich

While you said both are acting the same , to me it seems like low voltage as suggested , weak battery, terminal connects , etc . I have been there before . Another check if they pull up slow is the cable - pulley set up at the boom . I had mine foul a few times on the pulley and cause excessive drag = draw on power . Had it happen again this weekend again . Cannon has a upgrade pulley for them but I haven't switched myself

Yup