Plugs

Thanks for posting, I really enjoy seeing the process and learning a bit even though I hope I never have to do it - nice work! One thing I have been curious about since you started. How did you know that the transom was flexing - were you actually able to see it somehow?

UV here as well. I got mine at an ace hardware, but they had to order it. I think some of the automotive guys use them to see leaking radiator fluid, or something along those lines. Do not trust the store if the package does not say it, I had similar issues and most of the time they have no idea. The light they put out is purple.

Last year while cleaning fish with the kids watching, I decided to see what they were eating. One of the Steelies had a lot of bugs in their "tummy" & one of the Salmon had a lot of Alwives. My daughter immediatly thought that the small fish in the Salmon were "babies". After a quick chuckle, it was a very good learning experience for them, including showing them the lure used and how they looked like the bait. If done correctly, they can really learn. It is especially fun at supper time when they have caught the fish and understand the whole process.

Our 2 favorites for the season were Modified Blue Dolphin & Super Screw. I know I caught a lot of fish on these two and bought many of them through out the season.

Towards the end of the season, we had some luck with UV Blue Mango, Skittles and a lure that has a strange name. It has been good the last 2 falls after the run & I think it is a Super Slim which is White with a Blue center & I think is SSEM1935 based is what's on the back of the package.

I typically make a few lures with the kids each winter & am just getting ready, so look out for "Monkey Man", "Tootser Pie", "Killa", or "Family Time" next year!

Can't wait for Spring!

Very nice work!

Looks like your Arch may be a little shorter - are you looking for a hard top to go under it? I do not have any real experience in this, just trying to show another similar boat set-up. I have heard some good things from a local Michigan comapny who makes Arches. They may be able to give you an idea as to your options even if they may not actually be able to help you out with a hard top. I have not personally worked with them, but was thinking about adding some holders to my existing Arch depending on how far I get on my winter wish list.

Anyway, their website is http://www.towersunlimited.com/main_htmls/misc.html.

Nice looking ride!

Shane

John - Nice looking addition! I have wondered about a hard top a few times, but have been happy with my canvas so far. What year is your boat? I may be interested in seeing a a few more pics, just to see your entire set-up as I am changing a few things around. I have only had mine for 2 summers and am always looking for ideas.

Eric - Not sure what you have to work with, but here is a pic of a similar set-up with canvas. Looks like my Arch may have been a little taller - this was the way I purchased the boat.

Shane

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Last trip of the year headed out for a short trip with Hour Late. Left the dock at 9:00 am to find the lake a little rougher than we hoped with 2-4’s and the occasional 5. Made our way out to 140 FOW and headed east to set lines. We trolled in to 90 turned around and picked up a 6-7 pound Coho in 114 on a JJ McMuffin on a rigger down 78. Trolled out to 160 turned around and headed back in. Back at the dock by noon.

Seemed to mark the most fish in the 140 range, but could not get anything going. Water was still green and the temp did not seem to vary much. Lake laid down as the sun warmed us up and ended up being a very nice day to finish up (minus more fish).

Talked to Bachelor I at the launch and he did better earlier in the week out to 215. The Coho had 6 very small baitfish in its belly.

Great summer for fishing and boating & I learned a lot. Looking forward to spring!

Shane

10-7-AM

Left the dock at about 7:30 and went out to ~ 240 FOW sent lines and kept going west. Found the Blue water around 250 and hit 2 going through it the 1st time. Stayed in that water the rest of the morning and ended up 10 for 12 with Steelhead, Coho, Kings and a laker on a ½ core in 260:confused:.

Used mainly regular and small spoons:

Craigs Christmas was great till the 4th fish broke it off.

Glow Candy Corn

Mini UV Blue Mango – ThanksTM:thumb:

Jagerbomb

10-9-PM

Left the boat in the water after Friday, but could not get back to it due to a busy weekend with the family. My wife and 4 year old son went with me to pull the boat and go for a “rideâ€. My wife looks at me about 4 minutes out on the lake and says “we are not going fishing are we?†So, it was not a real long trip with only a few rods set, but we ended up going 2 for 4 between 250 & 270. Same rigger rod parked at 150 went 4 times with a DW Super slim which is white with a blue center. Got a king and a Coho missing a steelhead and another king.

I think I need to back off the drag once hooked up with a rigger down that deep as it was set tight & the fish lost were jerking the rod without taking drag.

GREAT WEEKEND:D

Glad the tip helped. I don't think I have ever caught a steelie on a purple lure - always seems to be white, blue and orange. Still learning how those fishies think:grin:

Thanks guys.

Ben - I'm sure we will run into eachother again, I was to busy shooting the breeze and letting the other guys clean fish;)

Did you hear us on the radio about the purple and did it work out?

Went out at 4:30 with the rain quitting as we set up in 120 and fish on the graph. Nice night on the water ending up 6 for 8. 2 steelies, 3 kings and a Laker that was returned.

Fish were in 125 FOW of water and deep - we had one rigger down 135 and the other at 100. Fish seemed to like Purple as Purple Nurple and Rasberry Dolphin each took multiple hits with one on a Glow Yellowtail on a 150 copper. We slid out to 160 for a bit and got a couple hits out there, but the graph was not as consistent.

Got a freind his first 2 big lake fish and he was all smiles after the second one gave him some fun at the back of the boat.

Does anyone know where the results from this year are posted?

Yeah - copy that on the speed - it did help the next trip out. May be a Sub troll in my future this winter!

It was a nice looking fish - I just never heard of them out that far, which is why I was so suprised. Here is another photo of it on the boat.

I was in a bit of a slump and this night was no different. Trolled from south of Holland to Saugy and back in 75 to 115 FOW looking for Kings in a little tourney with nothing much going. Had two riggers go off at Sunset within 30 seconds of eachother, with nothing home on either. Just after sunset about half way back the 150 Copper with a Modified Dolphin in 100 FOW starts going out a bit, but enough to know it was a fish. Charlie grabs it and after we get the board off, he says it feels like a fairly decent fish. It was pretty dark by this point & with the net in the back of the boat thought we had a Laker with his mouth open, or foul hooked fish, but was amazed as to what we put on the deck:D

Before you see the pic., we went out Sat., picked up the speed a bit and managed a nice box of kings:grin:

The Hex is off the boat!

30 Inch Walleye that was over 9 pounds:cool: This thing had a HUGE head:)

http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/2/4/7/imag0565.jpg' alt='imag0565.jpg'>

I switched my Dipsy leads over to Fluro this year as well as lengthened them a bit. I have to say my dipsy's are doing better than they have in years past. What Supertramp said is key - need to use leader material, regular Fluro line will not cut it. It is pricey, which is why I hae not switched anything else over, but may try my sliders next...

Hour Late and I out of PS on Thursday 8/11 and had our first skunk:mad: in quite awhile. We stayed inside 100 FOW all night as we did not have much info on where to start. Found out later fish seemed to be in 180 – 230 FOW.

He went on his boat Friday am out of Holland and went 3 for 5 between 180 – 190 FOW water. I believe he said big white paddle with white fly went 3 times ~ 40 down in the rigger.

We were back out of Holland Friday night starting in 220 and going 5 for 8 in about 212 FOW. Big white paddle with Blue fly took three fish on a wire dipsy back 150, frozen veggies took a couple rips on a rigger down 48, a black lure with an orange diagonal stripe (anyone know what this is called?) took a hit on a half core and Super screw took a hit on a 250 copper.

Now that we felt we had found some fish the plan was to get up early Sat. and really get after em. I slept on the boat and was awoken to thunder, lighting, and buckets of rain in the early am. We waited out the storm and headed out late to find more rain and waves that were bigger than we had hoped. We trolled the channel a couple times till the rain stopped & managed one sheep head – they were jumping all over the place.

After the rain we trolled out and wandered between 80 & 100 getting two kings and having another spit the lure at the back of the boat. One of these came on a white paddle/blue fly on a rigger down about 40. Can’t remember what the others hit as the waves were a little interesting at times. The farther out we went the bigger the waves were which is why we stayed inside a bit.

Hope to be out the next two weekends for at least a couple trips each time – good luck!

Thanks for all the help! Found a remanufactured prop at johnsons for a good price. Have a great week!

Shane

We are on vacation with the family and just shredded our prop. Anyone have a 15 1/2 r19 prop they want to sell quick? We are staying on hamlin and dont need anything new. Kids just want to ski and tube.

Thanks for any help,

Shane

No fish pictures last night, but did manage a nice sunset:)

http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/2/4/7/imag0501.jpg' alt='imag0501.jpg'>

Fished from 6 till about 9:30 and ended up going 5 for 10 mainly from 50 - 60 FOW. Three Kings, 1 steel & a laker. We started in 85, but did not see much out there and slid in pretty quickly - marked some crazy bait piles last night.

We ran one Flasher fly - Big Green Glow Frog which had a break off and got a King on a dipsy back ~ 140.

Rest of the bites came on spoons and I was not keeping track that well as the flies were keeping us busy. Hits came on a Superman, Mod Blue Dolphin, Glow Wonderbread, Mixed Veggies & a small Stinger which is white with a blue center.

Had two steelhead that gave us a nice show before saying goodbye - the second one jumped at least 5 times:grin:.

Very common sea fleas. Slap the line on the water while bringing it in to get them off.

After getting into it last night, it definately seemed like some of the wire was brittle. After I stripped about 500 feet of it it was much harder to break, or even cut.

Talked to a guy at work yesterday and he had an intresting comment. He said when he sets his wire dipsy's, he always makes sure the line is in the middle of the spool before he puts it in the holder. He thought he noticed issues if the line was towards the outside that it might dig in between itself and the side of the spool after running for a bit, or a big hit. Seemed like a good preventative measure that I thought I would share.

Thanks,

Shane

Well - I just got back from the Outdoorsman to replace the paddle we lost after the last break off. I stopped for lunch checked Facebook while waiting for food & see Blood Run has a special on wire - HMMMM. I then check this site to see the replies along with the info that Blood run has a special on wire - HMMMM.

I'm maybe thinking the signs are beginning to point to new wire .

Thanks for the input, I will check them out a little closer and then decide if I need to replace. The wire on the one reel definately looked a little smoother than the other, so maybe I (or probably someone else on the boat;)) let it slip once and caused some issues.