zgrinder on Fin Warrior

Great work Ed!

no biters at first light. you really had to work to get what you caught. thanks for the report.

Set out to fish at noon with my first mate and eventually pushed off at 5:00pm. Sometimes things just don't go as planned. First time out for us as well. Set down in 130FOW neat Saugatuck and pushed out to 212 with only a couple of tip ups. Marked very little and what we did was pasted on the bottom in >180FOW. Tried running a SWR near the bottom with a UV Wonderbread spoon but no luck. Came back in and found bait on the bottom in 138FOW but no marks and no action. Pulled lines at 8:30pm so we got skunked. Spent more time figuring out why the PSS shaft seal started leaking then stopped, reloading the new Smart Troll app to get it to run then actually fishing and losing gear on a mono DR rod that I knew I should have respooled in the off season. But I believe everything is squared away and ready for the next run after I clean all the flys out of the boat. All reports on the water were slow.

First time out and your already slaying fish. Do they sell Pug Parkas on Amazon? Looks like your buddy can use one. Fin Warrior has been in the water since April 20th. But we have been slammed with travel; 8-d in NOLA for Jazz Fest, 4-d in Jackson Hole on a property matter and 6-d in Buffalo for a memorial service and a devastating Sabre loss to Montreal. Hope the weather and flies favorable around this weekend for a shakedown trip. Catch'em all!

A brown trout let alone that size is a rare find on this side of the lake. Must have been vacationing from WI.

I am putting up the following reels for sale: · 3 Penn GTi 320 - $50/ea + shipping · 6 GT2 320 - $50/ea + shipping - SOLD · 1 GTi 330 - $60 + shipping · 2 Shimano TLD 2000 - $30/ea + shipping (I missed taking pics for these, can send if interested) All reels have only been used for trolling in fresh water. There is no internal or external corrosion of any parts. The reels were always stored in the cabin after trips (not on rocket launchers); sun damage and fading of the composite housings is very, very minimal. I have owned the reels since about 2000 and most of the reels have not been used since the 2023 season. These reels were primarily my backup 40lb mono reels used only when the water fleas were prevalent or used for long lines as the opening in the line guide carriage is wide, readily accepting knots to copper and weighted steel. As I understand Penn manufacturing, the GTi reels were made in USA. The GT2 reels were made in Asia. Internally, the only difference between the two reels is the design of the clicker mechanism. The GTi utilizes a metal clicker tongue with a brass ring to control the tension. The GT2 utilizes a plastic clicker tongue and the spring/pin tension mechanism, similar to current Penn reel designs. All other parts of the two reels are interchangeable. I have never had a clicker fail on a GTi and GT2 reel. The same cannot be said for the original Penn Squall design (fixed in the Squall II). All the Penn reels have been fully serviced before putting them up for sale as follows: · Both sides of the reel opened up · Old grease removed from all parts and gears; new Penn Precision Reel Grease applied · All bearings rotated to confirm operation and lubricated with Penn Precision Reel Oil · Clicker tongue inspected for damage (none found); mechanism greased · Pawl and worm gear inspected; pawl replaced where needed; mechanism lubricated with oil · Drag washers removed, inspected for wear, complete stack of 5 replaced where needed; all washers wiped clean, lightly lubricated with Cal’s Universal Reel & Star Drag Grease, wiped with a shop towel prior to reassembly · Reels assembled, clicker, free spool and drags tested to confirm performance; drags that did not engage when star drag was backed out all the way, the handle was removed, the tension spring replaced new and reassembled to confirm performance (i.e. when the star drag is backed all the way out, the reel will still engage - over time as the drags and tension spring become worn, the reel will no longer turn when the star drag is backed all the way out) · Outside of reels wiped clean with Krud Kutter to remove any grease/lubricant from servicing · Parts replaced noted on reel tags The Shimano reels have not been used for at least 15 years and were not serviced. As with all my reels, the drags were stored with the star backed all the way out. The clicker, free spool and drags all work fine, I just cannot promote the drags as in ‘new’ condition as I can the Penn reels that I serviced. Service Record Reel Model Drag Tension Spring Pawl OOS 1 Gti 320 2026 2006 2024-25 2 Gti 320 2026 2006 2024-25 3 Gti 320 2024 2026 2024-25 10 Gti 330 2024 2025 11 TLD 2000 2010 12 TLD 2000 2010 * OOS = Year taken Out of Service on the boat Happy to answer any questions on the gear.

I have two Otter Boards that have spent most of their life in the forward cabin or dock box that I am putting up for sale to give them a new home. I fish solo about half the time and running these off my out riggers is a lot of work for a simple 3 rod spread - I simply rarely use them. Both boards have the additional half keel and have been re-enforced with aluminum plates to support the keels and attachment line on each board. The edges of aluminum were polished therefore, there are no sharp edges to damage line. The boards and keels are available new at Fat Nancy's for $180 & $80 w/o tax. I am asking $400 plus shipping for the pair.

I have two Big John planer reels that were last on the boat in 2008 and since been stored on my racks of gear in the basement. Time to give them a new home. Pics show the reels disassembled, all the washers and parts are there. No rust and minimal where. The old lubricant has been removed from the tension screw mechanism. Asking $240 for the pair plus shipping.

Pug in the fish box is priceless. Wow, I have the Mighty Nephew spoon on my spoon noodle. Lord knows where I picked that up. I have to admit I dont run it much but might have to wet it more next year. Go Bills!

I think you are going to really enjoy running that new WS rig. It doesn't sway in the water as much as Cu or Pb but it is sure easy to work with on the reel. I hope there is another run or two left for Fin Warrior this year but we are up to our eyeballs with elder care responsibilities over 3 states. The season up to the last month or so was a blast.

Nice catching last night Ed. We might give it a go tonight if the weather pushes off. I don't mind fishing the rain. Janet not so much. The Undaunted / Pere Marquette ITB often comes into Holland harbor however, it currently is moored in Lake Huron so that was no likely the commercial vessel you came across last night.

Way to kill it on Alewives !!! That is about as funny a story I have heard in a while on the big lake.

I am surprised a SH of that size and power stayed hooked up on 300 Cu. Two nice SH in those pics and a nice cooler of fish!

You are crazy to be out in 3-4' waves fishing solo, not that I have NEVER done that before, I just don't do it now. The netting part is what tests your skill set. My Cannon DRs have that function but I have only used it twice. Perhaps I will look at the manual again and figure out how to turn that function on next trip, whenever that will be.

Reel-y-hooked, you killed it this morning out of Pentwater. Plugs have been getting very good reports this past week.

Nice work this morning Ed. With 30 minutes of constant action, who needs coffee . Thanks for sharing you got the downriggers working. Going out tonight before the blow.

Coho dinner is a winner at our house!