GO EASY / REEL HAPPY / SEA-IV -- 2016

[FleetTracker]

Here starts the 2016 Lake Ontario Fishing Season and I couldn't be more excited to get things underway out of Henderson Harbor on the East End.  We have a new boat to introduce to our Weekend Warrior Fleet this year; the SEA-IV.  She is an immaculate 2003 Trophy Pro 2509 WA very recently re-powered with Twin 200HP Evinrude ETEC HO's.  It will be rigged to the eyeballs like the other two boats and give us more "shipping lanes" capability as well as more rough water comfort.  Not to mention it will get to where we want to go in a hurry!    This will be our Tournament Boat this season. We're installing 18' Taco Outriggers this weekend on Taco Grand Slam 380 mounts.

 

 

The GO EASY, a 1990 Penn Yan 245 Contender, may not make it out on the Lake this season.  A compression test just yielded extremely low numbers on Cylinder #5 of the 5.7L (1200hrs).  She may turn into a "when we have spare time project" throughout this season as we tear into the motor and get her back in tip-top shape.  The ol' girl deserves a rest; here's some pics of some good memories on this boat from last season.

 

 

As many of you have read in another thread, the REEL HAPPY, a 2012 Tracker Pro Guide V-175, yielded a cracked hull at the end of the 2015 Season.  Tracker ultimately repaired the hull at their factory in Missouri, and I got the boat back in my possession in February.  Since receipt of the boat, I have been re-rigging it since the boat got stripped clean, and have added a new Mercury 9.9HP Kicker with Trollmaster Pro2 on the port side for this season.  I'm aiming at keeping the hours to a minimum on the Main 115HP 4S Merc and the Kicker should give us even better speed control and stealth for Spring Trout and Walleye. Here's some photos of the new Kicker and fuel rigging, along with some highlights from last season.

 

 

Best of luck to everyone this 2016 Fishing Season.  Following past seasons, I will continue to post reports with many pictures in this thread.  Hope you enjoy!

 

-Devin

Edited March 23, 2016 by FleetTracker

[Thun]

Wishing you great success with the upcoming 2016 season Devin.

[Todd in NY]

Best of luck to you and your customers!

 

The only piece of equipment the Sea-IV needs is a wheelie bar to keep from doing a back flip when you throttle down

Edited March 23, 2016 by Todd in NY

[DWHJR]

I really enjoyed your post about your boats. I am looking forward to your posts about fishing. I don't get out fishing as often as I'd like so I'll enjoy my passion for boats and fishing through others.

[whaler1]

Great looking rides! Boats are like guns, always nice to have a couple.

[FleetTracker]

Update on the Penn Yan motor issue: Nasty stuck valve on cyl #5... getting the heads re-done and while it's half way apart, going to get the lower end all re-done.  New pistons, rings, etc... Boats... the never ending expense!

 

@Thun - Thanks buddy!  Keep in touch.

 

@Todd in NY - haha love the comment about the wheelie bar!  That's going to be a neck-snapping fishing boat.  No customers though... I'm just an avid fisherman like most all of you - friends, family, etc... I'm only 30y/o so I got a ways till i'm close to retirement.  Otherwise I would seriously consider moving into the heavy competition of offering a charter out of Henderson area.  Some day, maybe.

 

@DWHJR - Thanks man - glad to keep this thread going throughout the season.  Everyone loves some good fishing pictures!

 

@whaler1 - Couldn't agree more with you!

Edited March 24, 2016 by FleetTracker

[Dtmasportsman]

Looking forward to seeing the new boat in person!

[Adk1]

love those etec engines!

[jlogger]

Yup, that boat moves with those etecs! It used to be docked a few boats away from me. We would head out of the marina at the same time some mornings only we got to the lake 10 minutes later then they did.

[FleetTracker]

Some updated pics of the SEA-IV. New 18' Taco Marine aluminum telescopic outriggers and grand slam 380 bases, Cannon dual axis double rod holder rigger mounts, a chute Cannon dual axis rod holder in a 6" Cisco track, a dozen new 316 Stainless clamp on rod holders to the t-top structure, and new Cisco planer reels and pulleys with 500# Amish Outfitters spectra. She is coming together nicely... splash down next weekend!!

Edited April 10, 2016 by FleetTracker

[greenboatluke]

Lookin great Devin! Can't wait to see your new rig in person and hopefully get out on it a few times. I'll see you up there this weekend. Super excited to start the season!!!

[FleetTracker]

Couple more pics with outriggers rigged and cuddy loaded for splashdown next weekend. Man working on boats is time consuming... and expensive!

[Dtmasportsman]

Great pics man! Can't wait to see her in a few weeks. Looks like a perfect setup for tuna fishing! With those double rigged outriggers can troll 10-11 tuna baits easily!

 

Should be great for Kings as well!

[FleetTracker]

@Luke - thanks buddy!  We'll be seeing you soon.  Will be up Thursday thru Sunday.  It's going to be a great year!

 

@Dave - Absolutely, looking forward to your trip up for the Walleye opener.  We'll do some damage on that Lake O Gold for sure!  Would love to get this boat offshore after some serious fish... but that means I need new Gear... more Rods, Reels, Line, Terminal Tackle, Lures, etc... Dang it --- It never ends!!!  haha

[steelie]

Awesome rig.. Second picture has a guy with his "rod" in his hand haha

Sent from my VS990 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[CK3080]

I drove down to the henderson launch yesterday afternoon to see if any boats were out and caught a glimpse of your rig at BCC.  Major jealousy.  Sick rig man.

 

I'll be out thurs and fri afternoon this week, as well as sat and sunday hopefully.  New to the area up here, what channel do you guys monitor?  Good luck this weekend!

[FleetTracker]

I drove down to the henderson launch yesterday afternoon to see if any boats were out and caught a glimpse of your rig at BCC. Major jealousy. Sick rig man.

I'll be out thurs and fri afternoon this week, as well as sat and sunday hopefully. New to the area up here, what channel do you guys monitor? Good luck this weekend!

Thanks buddy. Best of luck. I'll be up Thurs thru Sun as well but will be opening Camp up the first day or two with the wife and 1 year old.

Channel 68.

[lineman49]

Awesome rig.. Second picture has a guy with his "rod" in his hand haha

Sent from my VS990 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

 I think he's checking the air pressure in that tire!

  Do your ppl drop a lot of rods overboard seeing all the floats on them?

Edited April 11, 2016 by lineman49

[FleetTracker]

 I think he's checking the air pressure in that tire!

  Do your ppl drop a lot of rods overboard seeing all the floats on them?

 

I refer to them as "buddy savers", rather than floats.  That way, when your buddy fumbles a rod overboard by accident, it can still be recovered, and he can remain your buddy.   I have a lot of money into my set-ups and the small cost of adding floats makes logical sense to me.  If they save just 1 combo from sinking to the depths, it'll be worth it.  In the 2 prior seasons we have ran with these on, we have lost 1 rod overboard.  It was recovered thanks to the float.  The investment has already paid for itself.  I highly recommend it.

 

They are also color coordinated for usage type which helps quickly sort through rods etc... 

 

Yellow: planer/rigger rod - walleye

Orange: planer/rigger rod - trout

Red: rigger rods - salmon

Gray: lead core, copper, dipsey (weight rods)

[lineman49]

Sounds like a good idea.  I wonder if they have any "brother savers".  My brother is the only one that ever dropped one of my rods overboard!  lol 

  Are they swimming pool noodles or made special for rods?  Thanks.  Nice looking rides BTW.

Edited April 11, 2016 by lineman49

[FleetTracker]

The ones I've used are made for rods, but no reason why you couldn't make your own if you had the time and patience (good winter project).  You'd just need to be conscious of keeping the OD reasonable so that it doesn't affect the fishing line between your reel and the first guide in the rod.

 

Here's a link to the ones I've been using.  They hold up well... going into my 3rd season now.

 

http://www.fishingonline.com/shoreline-marine-fishing-rod-floats/?gclid=CjwKEAjwlq24BRDMjdK7g8mD6BASJABBl8n3W6u9emjuloJ4pFziH3swXkWU4sOYGtcBxf-99spGsxoCO4zw_wcB

[justtracytrolling]

So those floats stay on all the time? Have they ever gotten in your way? If not I think I may have to get some. My cheap rods arent much of a worry with guests and customers, but i do have very pricey spin tackle and im upgrading my walleye rods and reels this year also. Amazingly I havent lost one....knock on wood! Though I nearly had a boy pulled outta the boat...if it werent for a dad paying attention! Note to self...little kids cant handle a musky rod when the drag is locked down!

Sent from my LGLS996 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[FleetTracker]

So those floats stay on all the time? Have they ever gotten in your way? If not I think I may have to get some. My cheap rods arent much of a worry with guests and customers, but i do have very pricey spin tackle and im upgrading my walleye rods and reels this year also. Amazingly I havent lost one....knock on wood! Though I nearly had a boy pulled outta the boat...if it werent for a dad paying attention! Note to self...little kids cant handle a musky rod when the drag is locked down!

Sent from my LGLS996 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Hey Justin - All season long man, Never come off. They've never caused us an issue. There are others on Lake O who I've seen use them. It's the nasty waves that Lake O can throw at you when rods are at risk. It's a cheap insurance policy for your high dollar gear.

[lineman49]

Thanks for the info!

[Chas0218]

So those floats stay on all the time? Have they ever gotten in your way? If not I think I may have to get some. My cheap rods arent much of a worry with guests and customers, but i do have very pricey spin tackle and im upgrading my walleye rods and reels this year also. Amazingly I havent lost one....knock on wood! Though I nearly had a boy pulled outta the boat...if it werent for a dad paying attention! Note to self...little kids cant handle a musky rod when the drag is locked down!

Sent from my LGLS996 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I have done the same thing with 1/2" copper pipe insulation and survey tape, put the insulation over the pole wrap the survey tape around once zip tie the tag tag end then wrap the rest and zip tie other tag end. Simple and quick, I don't use them anymore no real need if you are helping the person bring the fish in. I could see it on a spinning rod but they won't work on a bait caster. Make sure when you cinch down the zip ties they are on the opposite side of the line because the small tag end can catch the line. I had it put a nick in my mono and I lost a fish along with an expensive yo-zuri.