youp50

First a sad story about Fishhawk. 5 years ago I bought a Fishhawk x4 system. The first year of use it nearly went back. It was very confusing. After a bit of experience, the probe was wearing batteries out in 40 hours or so of use. That was the confusing part, solid readings for a while then confusing down speed readings. An example, trolling east with a SOG of 2.5 mph and a down speed of 2.7 would indicate a 0,2 mph westerly current. A turn to the west and a SOG of 2.5 mph should give approx 2.3 mph down speed reading. Fishhawk received the probe, tested it, found nothing wrong, but did replace it. The second probe was just fine and I could get several months of use between battery changes. I learned to watch the head unit and ignore dipsy rod tensions and downrigger cable angles. This past spring I sent the unit down, and it did not come on. I brought it back up and saw the heat shrink covered wire connector was unconnected. The back of the connection was roughed up for the silicon glue to grab, but the inside of the probe was slick and the glue had turned loose. I reconnected it underway on a choppy day. Apparently I did not align it correctly and permanently fried my probe. (When your connection comes loose DO NOT reconnect with the batteries installed. DO rough up the inside of the probe so it will not come apart when you reglue.) While I was communicating with the company, the head unit failed to power up. I returned the head unit and was informed it to was damaged beyond repair. No reason given. No parts were returned to me. I was offered a 30% off code. I fish Lake Superior and had the most productive year since the Fishhawk purchase. By getting my head out of my , and paying attention to cable angles rod bends etc. I did commend the company on the great job of marketing, convincing us we need down speed. Old timers can recall the heydays of the 70s and 80s and how speed was judged, remember no gps units either then. (I fished out of Sheboygan to Algoma WI then) I do know the value of down temps and prefer not to rely on the radio for down temps. Radios are very quiet here now, anyway. I would appreciate any insight you may have on down temps options that are not from Brainard MN. I do not have many years left on my life long boycott of them, but it is lifelong.

Try one third, that's what I was taught. One third from the front, one third from the top. The last set I made I used about six inches of quarter inch threaded rod and a rod coupler to an eye. I could tweak the rod fore or aft as I wanted to to change the pull point. I am a in liner now.

Try a 20 dollar cabelas whooping stick.

I was hoping for a thread with contacts for Hot Old Broads with a Boat. (HOBBs) Seriously, I do not think there is a born on date on the stuff. I have seen unpopular line on the peg board for several years. I have taken to buying line from high volume on-line sellers, hoping there is no old stock there. Sea flee is a good choice, they are sold out every year.

When spring thaw sends run off into the lake, a wiggler (mayfly larvae) under a bobber and floated out with the current will catch them all. Whitefish, both the lake and menominee varieties, too. Its better technique where the water is not too murky. Be careful if you are standing on ice. Have an escape plan in place if the ice you are on falls in.

I have found that its best not to get too emotionally involved with netting fish. Pick a method and practice it. Maintain your sense of humor. Its only a fish. The most laughter on my boat last year came at netting time. My buddy was recovering from an eye surgery. "One eye looks like we are one mile off shore and the other looks like two miles!" After a couple of hard jabs to an open mouth, he managed to scoop the biggest of the year. We were laughing like school kids. I did insist he wind in for the rest of the trip and let the netting fall to me. I am pretty good with the net, head first over the stern. Springtime stick baits with the fish hanging on the back hook, speed and accuracy. Vision, too!

Bucks in the UP take a lot of loss during a bad winter. Same fat reserve thing. Pray the timber wolves don't show up. They do many joy kills. I hope that the winter is such that fishing is outstanding this coming July. The Mrs and I plan on taking a few kings from Lake Ontario this summer.

Do you have high whitetail deer winter loss in a year where you have a cold winter and a drawn out spring?