Finally after 18 months ...back on the Water <'TK><

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by rsimms

Welcome back Kotter! Thanks for sharing... great looking boat. Actually looks very similar to my new G3 V170 Angler.

What do you use trolling for eyes, and what is your preferred trolling speed (if that's not asking too much)

Richard, this is one of the areas that I have to work on ... On my guide boat I had a 9.9 ... Four Stroke Merc (Tahatsu/Nissan) Remote Controlled Kicker ...so I could get down to the .6 to .9 MPH range ... Which is perfect for the eyes ...

I wanted my present rig because of the 50 HP 4/stroke and a 1000 pound factory rating out of the box boat (This one is a Cadillac) so I would not have to have a kicker ... I didn't quite make it ...

I have fine tuned this 50 HP ...2001 four stroke Yama in gear idle to 850 RPM about as low as I want to go for performance reasons .. But I am running 1.5 to 1.6 MPH !! .... To fast for me ... So I am looking in to the trolling plates that Cabelas sells to reverse the backwash from the prop ... same principal that Jet aircraft use for braking after landing ... I think this was the majority of the problem this weekend ... TOOOOO FAST ...

As far as bait... Depending on Bottom structure , smooth sandy/gravel ... I go with wire bottom bouncers ...Attached to said bouncers can be a short single hook spoon/beaded leader about 14 inches long which in the south is usually attached a Big Juicy Night crawler ... Also a 36 inch mulity hook Night crawler rig can be attached .. The secret here is to get the bait as close to the bottom as possible ... (Note: Cabelas is the premo supplier for these needs ..)

Second method in rocky structure where the Bouncers will get hung ... Is the Deep running crankbait method ... Get deep diving Cranks and attach the same Night Crawler rigs mentioned above ... This method is you have to watch your depth and run the Crank to it's limit as close as possible to the bottom ... Dangerous stuff ... Keep you Hound Dog Ready to retrieve hung Baits ...(I drug mine out yesterday after getting Sticker shock at Bass Pros shop Saturday ) ... I am glad I have some 30 year old deep diving cranks that cost 50 cents ... I don't use my balsa ones though

And lastly ... Like Sauger fishing ... A lead jig tipped with minnow/shade/Worm jigged vertically in a known hot spot always works ...

Hope this helps ... <'TK>< PS ... Some of our Northern members may add to this ... But guys ... remember where you are no leeches ...

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by fishfindergeneral

TK, have you ever fished Dale Hollow for eyes?

And loved it ... Most of my fishing there as an adult has been with Calvin Short and his Brother out of Celina ... I worked with Calvin for a number of years before I retired ... All of this was Float and Fly for Smallies in the winter ...


Glad that you posted ... I was going to contact you about some Dale Hollow Walleyes with you ... The wife and I are looking for some R&R and some clean economical lodging and a trip ... She wants to see eagles ... I see plenty in the winter ... I don't know about the Warmer Months ... PM me ... Thanks <'TK><

[tkwalker]

First of let me thanks all of the folks who replied to this thread ... Greatly appreciated ...

Yes I was surprised that I won this auction ... A 1993 Competitor with a 2001 Yama four stroke ... (Ins/ never sunk but beached during storm) The boat did not come with a trailer ... A friend of mine in the mutual business loaned me one to go get it ... When I arrived home with it he said ... Hey .. That boat looks good on the old Trailer ... I am just going to give it to you ... ( I rebuilt it from the spindles up ) $$$ ... Tires, wheels , bearings , LED lighting and added the guides and lights plus new bunks and carpet and fender inner carpet and supports . And built the winch post etc ... It had none ... I brought it back with a come-a-long .. Total cost $450 in trailer.

When I picked the boat up (Dammmmn was it cold !!!) There was an additional $300 fee for storage and Ins/title etc fees ...

Plus the trip with fuel cost and two nights lodging came to $700 ...2400 miles round trip...

Had to dismantle two of the seats and replace Broken wood material ... and reupholster with the original seat covers that was on it ... .. Totally replaced the electrical circuit system ... and a major TLC clean up of the boat ... Rebuilt the four carbs .... (note: All four stroke Merc's ... 50 HP and above are Yamaha's .. Merc parts are a little cheaper ..... Serviced the lower unit new ,water Imp ... and fluids ...

So bottom line is that I have around $4000 +/- in the rig ... (Labor of love is free!! ) Now the 2 depth finders and Trolling Mtr. has been in my stable for years ... Hey you can't beat $10 for a new Raytheon At a Garage Sale ..

[agelesssone]

tk and rsimms,
PM me your adresses and I'll send you copies of a story about walleye fishing that you will find very interesting, informative, and rule bending!
I've copied the article out of a magazine and want to get out and try the techniques myself. I'm probably going to try them on the Cumberland below OHD.

[Reel Tune]

I'm glad you both got out on the water. There is nobody more deserving, and you need to do it more often, it's good for your health.

Jeremy

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

Yep that is what it is ... Hey, !! Hey !! as Si would say ... If the baits 10, 20 30 ,40 years ago caught fish ... They still do ... ... It is all about marketing now ... .. Like new auto designs ... must change every 4 years ... <'TK>< And that's a Fact Jack !!!

I thought that was one... and I completely agree with the older baits. That is why I still have boxes of Poe's, Bagley's, Hellbender's, Mud Bugs and Bombers.

[rsimms]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

Richard, this is one of the areas that I have to work on ... On my guide boat I had a 9.9 ... Four Stroke Merc (Tahatsu/Nissan) Remote Controlled Kicker ...so I could get down to the .6 to .9 MPH range ... Which is perfect for the eyes ...

TK... you might want to consider going electric?

Actually .6 to .9 is also my preferred trolling speed for crappie as well and I have always used electric TM to obtain that.

And this year, since I've gone to a 24-volt Minn Kota Terrova system (i-Pilot), it's been awesome. It maintains my .6 to .9 easily, even in the face of a stiff wind. I can troll for ten hours and still have 70 percent battery power remaining when I get home.

If I crank the Terrova full speed, in my boat it will hit 3.5 mph.

And for what it's worth, you can get the i-Pilot Link system and network it to Humminbird w/Lakemaster maps. You can simply tell it you want to troll a 20-foot contour at 0.9 mph and off you go, hands free. It's awesome!

Just the TM is great, and the entire Link system gets pricey... but once you use it, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

Thanks for sharing.