MY2SONS

I do know where you can get a heck of a deal on a Tekota/Heartland/Torpedo wire/tip combo though. It's in about 100' of water just north of the first set of nets off Muskegon!

May be I'll start my trawling there next summer:lol:

I noticed a few guys showing coolers full of fish, and none of them bled the fish out. I've found that before you put your catch in the cooler cut the fish's throat just behind the gills to get a good blood flow. This will allow the fish to bleed out before you get back to the fish cleaning station. Your cooler will get pretty messy, but the fillets are a lot nicer, cleaner, and in my opinion taste better since there's no blood in them. Just wanted to offer it up for you to try.

3 boats, one day, good fishing. Dusted the snow off the boat Saturday AM . Launched right about the time the sun was coming up. Kicked on the mr buddy in the cuddy to take the nip off. Car was registering 27*. Ran out to 150FOW and put it on a west troll towards the same way points from the last few times out. Just like clock work, hit the area wof the 1st way point and we started taking hits. Little bit of everything took hits. Lost a little bit in the confusion of the action. But finished our 5 hour trip 16/24. Kept 13, 9 steel and 4 salmon. Kicked back 3 other nice steelies. Here's what worked:

125 CU Starburst 5 hits

175 CU Superscrew 4 hits

9 color BLUE/Purple/Yellow 3 hits

5 color lemon ice 3 hits

3 color double orange crush 1 hit

DR 48 Down green dolphin 1 hit

DR 92 down flounder pounder 1 hit

DR 92 down/slider mixed veggies 1 hit

DR 72 down peters monkey shine 1 hit

DR 34 down red veggies???? 1 hit

Kind of lost a little detail in the action. At one point we had 3 on when the rigger @ 48 started hammering, lost that one on the rigger too busy with the other 3, landed those and then a 4th and 5th came in shortly after we got the 3.

Here's a few pics:

Our box

All 3 boats fish

Carnage

3 boats took a total of 32 fish to the cleaning station. Was an awesome day to round out the year. Tried to get out this morning. No wind on shore, drove to the piers to get a look and looked great. By the time we got to 100FOW we hit a huge wall of water, decided to turn around immediately and head in.

Just a little helpful advice. If you slit the throat just in back of the gills to bleed them out while they're alive it makes for a lot tastier fish. The blood makes them taste a little different. The cooler gets pretty nasty, but you won't have the bloody mess when cleaning them.

my opinion all this equal rights for everyone, oh we took your land and oh, we made you guys slaves so we owe you the world crap needs to STOP. I have absolutely no problem with ANY race but please people, it's 2010 already! Enough of this b.s., what's good for one should be good for all!! EQUAL RIGHTS, I don't think so any more. I'm sorry if this offends any one but think about. Really, is it equal rights when one race can spear fish and another can't. Or only a certain color of skin can go to certain colleges. Please, equal rights for who?

I agree 100%.They have no right to piss and moan anymore.

I got a feeling my season is prob over too. Just got a new boat and the weather has been too windy to even get it out. Well its been a great year for me and at least great hunting times are coming. Avg just under 7 fish a trip with usually 2 guys, cant complain about that. Cant wait for spring but a little sad to retire the Nee Hi. Hope everyone has a great winter and may spring come early:p

What kind of boat did you get? Got any pics to post?

Wow! That was a long time. Very sad, but glad the family can have closure. Sure makes you realize just how fragile life really is.

I have the standard red/green bow light, a combination remote controlled spot-flood, two 55W halogen lights on the rocket launcher, two courteous lights on rigger board, and my white mast light in the center of the rocket launcher. Let there be light.

Got a little crazy:eek: with my lights. I'm putting two 130 watt KC Daylighters on my radar mast for docking, and fog.

Drop me a line when your going to be coming up John, things change from spring to summer to fall.

Will do. I miss it up there. Looking forward to trying my luck. Any marinas you would recommend for transient boaters? I slip in Holland, but wouldn't mind towing the girl up North for a weekend.

we saw this all summer in Ludington... it's horrible we picked out 8 ballons in 1 day...I'm pissed...

I found a few balloons this year too. I altered my course a couple times thinking maybe someone's planer board broke off, and was floating, but when I pulled up to it it was a freaking balloon.

Trash -- including syringes, used blood vials and a City of Milwaukee garbage can -- washed up on Lake Michigan beaches along Michigan's Mason, Manistee and Oceana counties in August.

More...

That crap pisses me off!:mad: Keep your s&$t on your side of the lake. I hope the coasties find out who's dumping that stuff in the lake, and give them a fine they will never forget. Our lakes are too beautiful, and precious to pollute. Syringes, and blood viles! What a shame.

Taking a buddy of mine out this weekend (weather permitting). He is a Big Brother and is bringing his "little brother" along. We would really like to put this kid on some fish. If anybody can give me any info (areas/colors/depths) on St Ignace salmon/lakers it would be much appreciated. If you're out there this weekend the boat name is Bobber O' Riley. Thanks! Tight Lines!

I'd like to get up there next summer to fish St,Ignace (I love that place), but I've never done so. Can you give me some ideas on where to go fishing around there?

Are these the images your speaking of?? Looks like a king thats turned. Pretty common around this time of year

Thanks for posting the pics, and the input.

John

I put Cannon Digi-Troll IV's on my rig. Love them, but they're pricey. They have a jig function for moving the weight up and down, bottom following capabilities, three variable, and programmable speeds, and they're fast even with 14# balls on them.

dave, I store in zeeland good price, clean, un heated. send me a pm for contact information

I live in the Zeeland area. Where is this place you're talking about for storing boats? I recently found a place off Port Sheldon, but willing to see if there's something better.

Hopefully this works, but here is a picture of the fish in question. I think it's a king, but would like another opinion. Haven't seen one like this before.

Went 5 for 5 with a good consistent bite as the weather was turning. Started in 40 fow before sunrise to see if I could catch any staging fish. After doing a figure 8 in front of the peir heads, pulled lines and headed out to deeper water. Re-set lines in 80 fow and started trolling West to deeper water. After changing program from glow lures to flys and plugs, had first fish hit on 300 copper in 130 fow with a mountain dew spinny and hill billy stomper fly (13lb female king). Fought first fish until I hit 150 fow (about 15-20 mins), spun around and headed back to the 130s'. Once in the 130s', started trolling South into the wind and waves, and had 2nd fish hit on rigger parked at 62 feet with a green dolphin spinny and oceania fly (12.5 lb Atlantic male). After waves started to increase about 8:00 AM, I started riding the trough of the waves by trolling North East, and had my 3rd fish hit in 120 fow on 225 copper with a green paddle and green crinkle fly. As I had fish 1/2 back to boat, 300 copper started singing. I cranked the drag down on 225 copper and water skied small king into boat with out net (2lb king). I throw rod with small fish in the front of boat and started working on 300 copper. I really had my work cut out for me since this fish ran the board out about 100 yards before I could get to it. After bearing down on fish for 20 mins, netted 4th fish (10lb king). After throwing both fish into cooler, tried to let out 300 copper again, but only made it about 15 feet before rigger popped. Ran copper back in, throw rod back to front of boat and got on rigger rod. Fish really tried to tangle up by running side to side and diving under the boat, but there was nothing left in the water to tangle with (except rigger ball and boat prop). After trying to tire fish out for 10 mins, and realizing the net was wrapped up with a fly in it, I skied fish over the back of the boat to have my 5th fish in (7lb Steelhead). The funny thing was that I caught the last fish down 90 feet in 100 fow with a UV plug (strange to catch a Steelhead at that depth). After putting 5th fish in cooler, a down poor of rain started, and I had enough of getting bounced around and now drowned like a rat. That was all I could take with 1 to 3 foot wave and pouring rain, as 1 man in a 14 foot boat. Ended my morning fish at 9:30 AM.

Went 5 for 5 with a good consistent bite as the weather was turning. Started in 40 fow before sunrise to see if I could catch any staging fish. After doing a figure 8 in front of the peir heads, pulled lines and headed out to deeper water. Re-set lines in 80 fow and started trolling West to deeper water. After changing program from glow lures to flys and plugs, had first fish hit on 300 copper in 130 fow with a mountain dew spinny and hill billy stomper fly (13lb female king). Fought first fish until I hit 150 fow (about 15-20 mins), spun around and headed back to the 130s'. Once in the 130s', started trolling South into the wind and waves, and had 2nd fish hit on rigger parked at 62 feet with a green dolphin spinny and oceania fly (12.5 lb Atlantic male). After waves started to increase about 8:00 AM, I started riding the trough of the waves by trolling North East, and had my 3rd fish hit in 120 fow on 225 copper with a green paddle and green crinkle fly. As I had fish 1/2 back to boat, 300 copper started singing. I cranked the drag down on 225 copper and water skied small king into boat with out net (2lb king). I throw rod with small fish in the front of boat and started working on 300 copper. I really had my work cut out for me since this fish ran the board out about 100 yards before I could get to it. After bearing down on fish for 20 mins, netted 4th fish (10lb king). After throwing both fish into cooler, tried to let out 300 copper again, but only made it about 15 feet before rigger popped. Ran copper back in, throw rod back to front of boat and got on rigger rod. Fish really tried to tangle up by running side to side and diving under the boat, but there was nothing left in the water to tangle with (except rigger ball and boat prop). After trying to tire fish out for 10 mins, and realizing the net was wrapped up with a fly in it, I skied fish over the back of the boat to have my 5th fish in (7lb Steelhead). The funny thing was that I caught the last fish down 90 feet in 100 fow with a UV plug (strange to catch a Steelhead at that depth). After putting 5th fish in cooler, a down poor of rain started, and I had enough of getting bounced around and now drowned like a rat. That was all I could take with 1 to 3 foot wave and pouring rain, as 1 man in a 14 foot boat. Ended my morning fish at 9:30 AM.

Can you post some pics of your catch?

Good job on the fish, And those Flies But I have done this 1/3 bleach +1/3 dish soap + 1/3 water windex spray bottle and spray inside of boat when you start getting flies on board, WARNING try not to get it on fabric, my boat is wash-down it so it's easier to deal with, but it Works most of the time.

Does the dish soap make the deck slippery, and slimey?

Decent trip out with a good friend and my father (always a blessing). BUMPY BUMPY ride.

We fished the morning from Holland where I was slipped for a few nights back home to port sheldon.

Fished 55fow to 110fow' date=' most prodcutive was 85fow.

65 down on the rigger with meat and a uv 11" flasher went in 45 seconds. I though, YEHAW, here we go. Never went again all morning.

The other rigger went three times with a green and white 11" flasher with a 1" chrome stripe on the back and a yellow fly.

Full core went once with blue veggie.

All fish were nice size. Smallest about 8lbs, biggest about 15lbs.

Nice shot of my 9week old son in by the fishes.

Nice pic of the fish, and your future fisherman. Congratulations!

Speaking of not reading signs. I was at the marina a couple days ago, and the men's head had a BIG bright yellow sign on the door right at eye level that had in large four inch letters "CLOSED FOR CLEANING". This doofus walks right up to the door (looking at it all-the-while), and opens it, and I hear the lady inside say something to him, and he said "Oh your cleaning right now?". I wanted to swat him right up side the head. We've all had brain farts, but when they're this obvious it makes you wonder how out of a hundred thousand sperm he was the fastest.

I have been saving away fro the past 2 years and the time has come!!!

I bought a boat, (Mostly so my older father in law can still get out and fish)

Now comes the fun of rigging it:)

Anyone with extra gear they are looking to sell let me know..

Looking for:

Rod holders

2 rigger rods

2 dipsey rods

2-4 core rods

and just about anything else under the sun:)

I have a new Frabill net that I'll make you a good deal on. Let me know if your interested. Also have 2 Diawa Sealine SG47LCA reels mounted on 8' Talora rods for sale. They're brand new, and never been used. Excellent for downriggers.

You have to love the guy that has to make all kinds of adjustments to the boat while he is parked in a launch lane. That and the person who has to fill their cooler one item at a time while parked in a launch lane. Do this stuff before you leave the house so that you don't look like a fool.

Don't forget the guy that pulls his boat out of the water just far enough so he can get out and completely wipe his boat down. Saw a newbie the other day drag his lower unit up the boat launch then after realizing what he was doing he proceeded to try to back down into the water again. Lucky for him there was an experienced boater that caught him before he damaged the unit too much, and helped him raise his I/O. That is one nasty sound.

Man' date=' I love my dock.

I hated that kind of crap.

Being a firey red head I had no patience for these shinanigans.[/quote']

I hear ya. I used the DNR launch ramp in Holland for years, and finally got fed up with it so I got a bigger boat, and rented a slip. The first time I launched my new boat at the DNR launch some moron ran into the back of me, and didn't bother to say they were sorry. They just sat there with a stupid look on there face. I was in a good mood at the time so I didn't go ape sh#@ on him.

I forgot to mention the interesting one. Once the marina in town fills up, the cruisers park at the launch ramp to spend the night. Sure just tie that $300,000 boat to the ramp dock and not pay a fee. Then bolck the am fishermen from launching their boats. After a few calls to city hall and the police this problem is somewhat resolved. Now we have fireworks on the bay every sat night which means that the tourists take over the boat launch...more fun.

Doesn't sound like this couldn't be cleared up with a few blasts from a car horn at 4:00 a.m. Some people are just plain ignorant.

just purchased a 22 foot seaswirl hard top and need opinions on whether to apply bottom paint--is it a must --can it wait-- what to use--do it myself or pay. lot of questions i know appreciate any info

If you plan on slipping the boat, or leaving it at a dock for an extended period of time I'd put at least one coat of epoxy barrier paint, and one coat of a good anti-fouling paint. I put Interlux CRC on the bottom of mine because I leave it in a slip, and I want to make sure it's protected. If you trailer yours it isn't worth it since the slime, and crap won't build up that quickly. As far as doing it yourself I wouldn't suggest it for the first time application. If it's not done properly it will just flake off and that stuff isn't cheap! That and the stuff is highly toxic so kids and pets getting around it when your painting is a concern. You have to rough the bottom of the boat up first, then apply barrier coating, then bottom paint. There's a time frame in which to do the bottom paint after applying the epoxy. If you do it too soon, or wait too long you won't get good adhesion, and will tend to flake off.