Equipment Inventions/Modifications Latest Topics

Fishing Solo?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:44:52 +0000

Good afternoon. Question for those of you that enjoy fishing solo: What is your best practice for netting a feisty salmon when you're by yourself? Long rod +long leaders + long landing net + feisty fish = Early Release?

Losing In-Line Off Shore Planer Board SST's

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 17:16:58 +0000

Finally catching some fish - last three trips totaled about 16 for 19 with combined weight of over 140 lbs. but....

Got my name and phone on the boards but batting about .500 this year for returns. Finding a few on Facebook Marketplace but new ones are close to $70 now so really trying to not lose any more.

Watching "Russel" on You Tube, and he swears by Sam's Pro releases on split ring in front and standard OR 16's in back using a 50 lb. Power pro braid. Now popped free about 9 boards so far this year like this. Recovered 3 and 3 returned with phone call. Thanks Russel.

Local bait shop says Russel is full of it, and just use Dreamweaver Ninjas and get it over with. Super easy to set and change but fought a 23 pounder on 350' copper, and the board kinda took some of the fun out of it.

Per two other "experts" we put 10' of 30# mono in line to wrap around Sam's Pro and then on back we changed to the heavy super tight yellow "swinging arm" release. Tried popping just the front repeatedly and then both releases popped and that was No.9 lost for the year.

More advice was just do it exactly as "Russel" and it that it would well most of tie. Put the split rings back to hold Sam's release, but still like the tightest yellow arm release, and got some tiny (3/4") carabiners to attach to rear split ring and now smack fish in the head?

Anybody else got any better ideas, I'm sure willing to listen, thanks.

how do you minimize line twist?

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:48:01 +0000

How do you minimize line twist?

I am using barrel swivels, and fairly cheap bearing swivels for spoons. I seem to be getting a fair bit of line twist- more than I was hoping for or expecting.

What are some of your tips for minimizing line twist while trolling- esp on downriggers.

Related to this, I was using the rubber band method on downriggers for most of last season, but I had a couple of lines break off. It seemed like the line was moving through the 2 rubber bands I had on the line in 8-ft of water, and as I put pressure on it to break free the line would slide a little then snap. Any experience with this?

Dipsy Storage

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 20:39:13 +0000

I have been hard a work designing a good Dipsy storage system and I think I have come up with a solution
Say hi to The Dry Dock!
This is a Patent Pending design
Sold in 12 colors and 6 different sizes
3D Printed from high quality TPU that makes these indestructible, adorbs shock, and protects your diver all in 1 package

LJ = Lure Jensen

45mm or 1.75 Dia By request

65mm or 2_1/4 Dia By request

85mm or 3_3/8 Dia By request

Standard LJ w/ no ring or 3_1/4 Dia

107mm & Standard LJ w/ Small ring or 4_1/4 Dia

124mm & Standard LJ w/ Monster Ring or 4_7/8 Dia

Prices range from 10 - 20.00 + shipping
If you are local to me we can work out a pickup

You can find us here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577722235954

There is a video there also

Email: kd3dpfs@gmail.com

How do I update my hds 5x

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 19:58:40 +0000

I just bought a boat that has an hds 5x on it and I have an hds 7 that I want to add to the boat. I tried to connect with an Ethernet cable and it tells me to update with the same software. I am trying to get the hds 5x updated so they can communicate. I have the software on a card but cannot get the 5x the take a download from the chip which is in the 7. I read that you need to press and hold the up arrow then press the power and release and hold the up arrow until the update starts. Well the power button is also the light button which won’t let it start an update. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TrollBuddy Trolling Device - Group Buy

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:30:46 +0000

TrollBuddy is offering a group buy again this year.

Group buy price, with the LED switch, is $675 Each +shipping from Virginia for Great Lakes Fisherman forum members. Price on Amazon is $850 for the bolt-on version.

Group buy price, with rocker switch, is $595 Each + shipping.

Call the factory at 804-368-8428 to place your order.

Website is www.trollbuddy.com

Trollbuddy_Spec_Sheet_March2019.pdf

Pool noodles

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 03:14:25 +0000

I’m like everyone else I wrap my leaders ,crawler harnesses, and whatever on noodles. Then I throw them in the compartment or who knows where then I come up with putting them on a paper towel holder! Now if I’m fishing walleye I slide the noodle that’s got the harnesses I want to use on My Paper towel holder.and if I switch to Salmon I slide that one off and put the noodle that’s got my leaders on it ! (works good for me)

Cannon Electric Down Rigger Question

Tue, 12 May 2020 23:44:57 +0000

I have several Cannon Electric riggers, the question I have is there any way I can add auto stop to these so the rigger will stop when the ball hits the surface of te water on the retrieve.

Trolling Fly Storage

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:24:11 +0000

Was wondering what everyone uses to store there trolling flies in?? I have been using swim tubes with a box setup but always ends up a mess.

Grizzly

Im still new

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 19:50:27 +0000

Ive used down riggers before so i got that. The question i have is planner boards i wont have a mast for outrigging. My thought is i run out some line connect it to the board then run the board out from the boat. Do i need some sore of diver type device to get my bait to a set depth. Thanks sorry for the long post Thanks

Sent from my SM-G950U using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

Penn fathom master rod holders

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 05:21:46 +0000

Penn fathom master rod holders

Anyone got 2 for sale ?

Trolling Fin/Skeg

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 22:58:28 +0000

I normally troll LSC for eyes through the summer. In the spring I troll up in Huron for lakers and salmon.

In LSC, my iPilot/Minn kota 55 trolling motor is good for eyes at speeds less than 2mph, but for bigger fish up in Huron I have to use my rear motor and take it down to 3-3.5mph. Trouble is, using the rear motor I had to steer manually again and that's a huge pain when you fish alone. Until.. I saw a trolling fin/skeg someone had made and fastened to their trolling motor / iPilot combo last year, and I made a crude one to try it out. It worked great - with the rear motor moving me forward at 3-3.5mph, I straightened my steering wheel out, put my trolling motor in the water in the front with the iPilot active (with the prop off) - set a course - and let it steer for me. Super cool. Worked like a charm and I hauled in Lakers all day each time I went out.

In the fall, my father in law took my crude fin/skeg back home to Germany with him and he crafted a new aluminum one with more surface area and much more robust (pics below). I can't wait to get out there and try it. Just wanted to share in case anyone is thinking about doing this. If you have to use your rear motor and want to focus on fishing its the way to go. It works great.

Leader length?

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:54:48 +0000

New to big lake fishing. Just wondering how far behind the cannon ball i should clip the line and how long the leader should be between the flasher and the bait. Thanks for all the help.

Snaps and swivels

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:51:12 +0000

What kind of snaps and swivels do you guys like to use. Also what pound for the snaps.

Starcraft project boat question

Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:49:12 +0000

Hi guy's, bought a 1972 24 foot Starcraft Chieftan as a project boat. She runs fine but needs lots of tlc. She's never been rigged for fishing. I fish Superior and ocassionally Michigan and want to get her dialed in. Only paid $800 for it, trailer included. I have downriggers, boards, all the gear and was wondering if any of you have any pictures of a boat like her that's similar or same so I can get some ideas. I have a bigjon mast for my small boat and want to use the reels off of that and somehow fabricate trees with these attached. It has a newer camper top and was wondering if anyone else has one and built/uses rocket launchers. Any tips are appreciated.

Riviera Downriggers

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:18:40 +0000

I have a pair of Riviera electric downriggers I'm going to use here in Washington State and wondering how well the motors hold up. They are old but like brand new. Everything works great and only thing there isn't a auto stop.

Thanks Steve

Painting old j plugs

Sat, 04 Oct 2014 02:41:21 +0000

Has anyone tried to paint old j plugs and what where your results. Bought some old j plugs and thought i would tried too revamp them with some color. Is it worth the hastle?

Tackle ?

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 00:34:00 +0000

I just bought a box lot of salmon gear at an auction, several useful items ie: dipseys, spin doctors, jet divers, flies & ect. The question I have there was 20 of these set ups also in the box, and I have no clue on how & what to use them on or with. Any suggestions, Thanks Rudey

Led lights for flashers..bechhold and son flasher and lure

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:56:39 +0000

Check out my new flasher with led lights at fishcatcher.com....we have 2 led lights in the 11 inch, and the 8 inch can come with 1 or 2 led lights.....have the lights in blue, red, chartruese, and white...life span is 200 hours of trolling...water activated ground on the lights....when not in use dry the metal probes off to shut off lights if they are blinking...very simple to replace lights...

Try our lights out for ice fishing, and jigging...

U can check out video at fishcatcher.com

deleting digi-troll II boxes.

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 00:31:13 +0000

After buying 2 3 position switches from Ebay,along with 2 10A brekers...... i have been able to eliminate both boxes from my cannon 10As.............thanks to the guy who made the switches, this saved me some serious cash.........

deleting digi-troll II boxes.

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 00:27:45 +0000

After buying 2 3 position switches from Ebay,along with 2 10A brekers...... i have been able to eliminate both boxes from my cannon 10As.............thansk to the guy who made the switches, this saved me some serious cash.........

Ridgeback rattler downrigger weights

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 13:55:38 +0000

Good morning guys,

I have been searching all over the net and I'm unable to locate Ridgeback Rattlers. Are they not produced any longer?

Thanks

Need a cannon speed-n-temp probe

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:21:33 +0000

My cannon speed-temp probe shorted out and I was wondering if anyone out there might have a probe in working condition that they might want to get rid of.

Bert's track end cap hex bolts

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 01:50:21 +0000

My daughter dropped one of the hex head bolts that hold the end cap in place on the track. Does anyone know what the size and thread are for these bolts (long way from a dealer but close to a hardware store...)

Thanks

Chas

new camera coming out

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 01:32:04 +0000

Check out this camera , Water Wolf , you put it inline with you baits now you can see the strikes this is cool .

Check it out.

http://waterwolfhd.com/