Eyefull

It is that time of year again. The Reese-Out-Of-Doors-Club is holding their annual fundraising banquet on March 3rd. Last years tackle donation response was over the top, and again I thank you for your generosity. This year I will be getting tickets to the banquet that I can sell for the club if anyone has an interest in attending, I highly recommend it. The tickets are $40 each and include the buffet dinner, and includes drinks (booze)! If any of you attend events like Ducks Unlimitted, Pheasants Forever, Etc.., this event has a very similiar format. Loads of prizes! It is structured very much the same, auctions, ticket prizes, gun raffles, tackle raffles, etc….. The difference is simply that as you sit in the room, you see the kids that the money goes towards. The kids actually run the banquet and show their appreciation throughout the event. This event directly effects introducing the outdoors to school age children. If you have time I highly recommend attending this event. At worst, you get a great meal.

Just like last year, Eyefull Custom Rods will be putting together a package of things to go towards the fundraising raffles. Anything you have sitting around from your winter tackle cleanup is great stuff to donate to this cause. Lures, reels, line, flashers, plugs, etc… is all great stuff. Last year we divided it all up and was able to put together 6 five gallon buckets loaded with tackle for the ticket auctions. I can say that the ticket buckets were full in front of them! PM me or Email me at [email protected] if you need more information or an address to ship items to. This is only part of what the members of this site donated last year, I think we can beat it this year!

To get things started, I will be donating a $400 MHX Custom Steelhead rod. I am also going to be reaching out to some of the Great Lakes tackle companys for their support as well. Any help with contacts of potential donating companys is appreciated. I feel very strongly about this event as you can tell. I support many of the other previously mentioned outdoors groups, but this event goes to the very heart of our outdoor sports. Getting kids involved in the outdoors, at the school level is the only way our sports will survive and grow in the future. Reese High School and the Out-Of-Doors club is at the forefront of this effort. They are still the largest school based youth outdoors organization in the State!

Having learned from last years tackle drive, I will be taking measures to formalize the whole process this year. I will have a sign made for the banquet listing all of the donors and companys that donated. Last year really caught me off guard with the response and I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed. Just like last year, the Out of Doors Club will provide a reciept for your donation for tax purposes if requested.

Eyefull Custom Rods thanks you for your generosity.

Oh, I forgot to mention, these are both skin mounts, not replicas.

Back in July, actually July 4th weekend, I caught a 20# Lake Trout fishing with Don Alofs aboard the Tangled Mess. After a few phone calls, I was confident that I should put this great fish on the wall. Obviously by Stannard Rock standards this fish is just a good fish. But by Lake Michigan standards, it is a truly great fish.

I had an 11 pound walleye mounted by Larry Buckle of Acorn Ridge Taxidermy a couple years ago and was amazed by the quality of his work. Larry is a lifelong Great Lakes Fishermen, and licensed charter captain, so he knows what the fish are supposed to look like. I was suffering all fall, and through the Christmas Holidays with anticipation about how this fish would look. I have to say that it completely surpassed even my wildest hopes. The fish is beautiful as the photo below shows.

While in Larrys shop, I got to get a sneak peak at Bob Keitzmans 30# King that was caugh aboard his Geteway, winning the Benzie Frenzy for him and his crew. Equally beautiful work on his fish. Photos really can't show the detail work and the awesome finish.

I agree with Don. Blood and gore are all part of hunting and fishing. What are we supposed to do, ask them to go in the cabin if there is any blood when a fish comes in the boat? I haven't seen anything on any of these boards that kids won't see on any boat or hunting trip. If we have to censure a natural part of our sport, I won't be on any of these boards any longer. Having said that, people should try to not go out of their way to make things look bloodier than necessary, there isn't any reason for that either. As long as respect for the prey is given, no issue with me.

The Kato was good for me off Ludington as well, I almost tore my boat apart trying to find a couple more last July! Frank, I find the UV Streak Jr's and Minis outfish the standard colors on the Bay. With the shallow water (<40), they work in high sun, or cloudy days, doesn't seem to matter on the Bay. I do have a couple of favorite non UV colors, but always have the UV stuff in the water also. My R.I.P. rigs(Colorado blades) that CJ Baker painted UV for me get real good reviews and reorders vs. the standard color patterns as well.

Like everyone has said, it is a very personal thing. It has much to do with your spread and how you fish. One thing that shorter rods will also do for you is give you more power and control over the fish at the back of the boat. Typically your rigger fish are on the shortest leashes and come to the boat sometimes too fast and green. A little power advantage is always good for rigger rods in that scenerio.

Those were 10-12' leaders on those wire setups. I won't speculate, but most of the charter captains run long leads. You do have to leader the fish to the net, but many more hits. I started doing that on my boat two years ago and my diver bites went up another notch. The great tips you pick up fishing with the big dogs:D.

It may not cure cabin fever, but it should take the edge off. Lots of board members in here. My son Josh made this video for me this year and did a fine job. Shameless plug: Child labor laws aside, he does good work cheap if you need a video for anything. Please by all means, share it on FB and other places, I can use all the hits I can get LOL!

Here's the link:

http://youtu.be/Z_Vze5suo1k

Thanks John, I'll look into that system. He said that it was installed by a boat owner on a boat way too large for the unit. And said that the boat was a twin screw boat without enough rudder to effectively steer the boat at slow RPM's??? Anyways, the system was in brand new condition last year when my buddy had the simrad system installed on his boat.

Yeah that:thumb:

Thanks for all the information. I may need some recommendations on a place to install it, or if someone knows how and wants to earn some coin on the side? My local dealership doesn't think much of them, but says if it is something that I really want they will do it. That doesn't instill much confidence for me. They did give my buddy a great deal on a used one year old Simrad system for his 23' striper wa last year (1500 installed). So far it worked great all season long. They have another one that is used for one season, I believe it is a Furuno? Similar deal possible, but again, not really all that warm and fuzzy with their begrudging willingness to install one.

Thanks guys. It was a really good find. As near as I can tell, it had to be one of the last ones to roll off the line. I can't even find another 97 240 for sale anywheres, and no owners replied back on several boards when asked about. The boat will first spend some time with Jeff at Traxstech. She will come home a fishing machine. Looking at a full set array of tracks, holders, rocket launcher, and trees, maybe a pair of the new vector riggers if budget holds on course. Possibly some upgrades to the planer board reels, will have to evaluate that further when I get her in the shop. If memory serves me, they are manuals (which is fine), but are located in an awkward spot on the hardtop. Autopilot is first and formost on the electronics upgrade list, then a new 900 series Hbird, then the rigging. It was a very good Christmas for Tony this year. It all sounds like a lot, but I got a very good deal on this gem. I'll post some photos when I get her home. Then some before/after stuff later.

I just picked up a 1997 Thompson 240 Fishermen HT. It has a fresh (130 hours) 5.7 merc under the hood. I want to have autopilot installed. The boat does have hydraulic steering, which I am told is half the battle. A local dealership recommends the Raymarine ST70 Smartpilot. What are some opinions on that unit, as well as others. I know very little about the different units. I am looking at value. I don't need lots of bells and whistles, something simple, reliable, and generally affordable. Some estimates on what should be reasonable for total cost including installation?

Pete, what are you doing with your Grady? I'm looking.

Hi Grant, Merry Christmas. I haven't heard anything from the Reese Out-of-Doors on that, but I have to believe with the success of last years event, they will be doing it again. I think it was in March last year if memory serves me right. I was absolutely floored by the response from members last year with that. It would be very cool to do that again.

Hey, thanks for reminding me. It should be done pretty soon I would think.

Exactly! I wouldn't have traded last year for any, despite the surgerys. I figure pretty soon, I'll have a new 100,000 mile warranty on the old sack of bones:lol:

My son and I spent most of the day today working on the 2011 version of my annual video. This years video, like those in the past will feature hundreds of photos of members of this site. This years video also has loads of actual video footage of many of the great times had by us this season. I promise you, this will be great viewing for the dog days of winter fishing withdrawls. We will be doing final editing and adding any last second photos tomorrow, hopefully uploading and publishing the video at some point as well. If you have any material that needs to be in there, time is short, like less than 24 hours short! Email me photos or video to [email protected]. Lots of board members, sponsors, and all round good people in this years video, thanks to all that helped make 2011 a year to remember. Hopefully with any luck, I'll be able to post a link to the video if it all comes out ok tomorrow.

I have an offer pending on two right now. Just waiting to see what shakes out from those, kind of playing one against the other.

Why, they'll look just like they did before the paint fell off:eek:

Taking a couple weeks to relax and try to put the past year behind me. Three surgerys in one year is too many! Had a hernia repaired Thursday, which went well. While that all seems like a horrible year, actually 2011 yielded some of the best fishing memories of my life, despite my health. Too many great trips with great friends to list here, other than to say a collective thanks to all my great friends. Also, a big year end thanks to all my customers who toughed out a bad year with my rodbuilding with me gratiously and understandingly. Sporatic production is an understatement for 2011 rod building. 2010 saw some 130 rods leave the shop to customers. For the 2011 year, maybe 50 if I get creative!

I am excited about the 2012 season. Taking the business in a slightly different direction. I will be adding a full service, point, click, checkout type webstore utilizing Paypal. Hopefully will be online by Late January. The webstore will offer a range of high use items. Reels, line, lures, and whatever is trending hot with Great Lakes fishing. I will still special order any item, and have access to the same 350 brands as always, but will concentrate on bringing the best prices on the items that you use every day. Input from customers will drive the items in the store.

The rod shop has several projects in the making for the new year. A growing emphasis on river steelhead rods is in the works with personalized rod series projects are all in the making. Also looking at having a couple of my best selling rods mass produced. I know that sounds risky, but understand that the factory produced rods will have identical components as my rods, and be built to my quality and design specs. I won't put my name on any rod that doesn't meet my quality standards. There are just a couple of rods that this is feasible. Rigger rods and board rods are two of my best selling rods and are almost all built on the exact same design principle. Having a reputable rod factory (American Tackle, Lamiglas, St. Croix, etc..) build me these rods to my specs makes sense. It gets the price point down lower, making them available to more fishermens budgets, while at the same time not having any effect on quality. Actually, I hate to say it, but todays high tech CNC rodbuilding machines do amazing finish work on rods, rivaling the best custom builders abilities. The whole deal in my custom rods is in the components chosen, the layout and perfection of the guide positions, and the bullet proof handle/seat/grips. The custom rod shop will still be turning out rods, but concentrating on the higher end ones, and truly custom rods. My customers always express a need for budget minded rods, so the off site manufactured rods will give my customers a more budget friendly option to purchase rods designed, spec'd, and quality controlled by Eyefull Custom Rods.

All of this is just a long winded way of saying thanks for a great year, and I am looking forward to next year with all of you. I tell my wife, that even if I don't make a dime, in the end, I still feel rich being able to hang out with my friends in the fishing business. Merry Christmas to everyone!

At least you have a boat! LOL Merry Christmas everyone!

Great non biased article written by someone obviously from Chicago. Funny how they spin the "Sanitary Sewers" as floodwater control measures, and not flushing sewer down the Mississippi. Illinois and a could care less Indiana don't amount to a split Great Lakes Region. Maybe its time that Chicago figured out how to safely and responsibly handled their sewage and floodwater, like every other munincipality in the US? Just sayin. Almost gagged reading it, sorry.

Two years ago I caught a nice mid-day king off Ludingtion with a Wonder Bread bag wrapped around my Undertaker flasher. Left it on there, put it back down, but no luck. Heck, you never know. Maybe should have swapped out the flasher for a wonderbread:eek:

Welcome to the site, you will like it here. Great people, great discussion.