BenLubbs

I know Mike (GLF) uses color codes for different length coppers/cores. I think he puts colored electrical tape around the rod right above the handle. I met some one else who does something similar but they put the tape around one side of the reel. I have written on my reel handles what each has on it but I also have slightly different reels (type and year) that I can tell the difference with. Personally, if I upgrade all of my reels to the same model I will probably go Mike route because it is cleaner.

It's funny that you post this bcause I had the same exact thing when I got my boat last fall. I found out that one of the horns (there were three on) had been added. When I took it off, the original 2 worked fine. I would check and see if it looks like one/both were added latter and maybe take one off. The only reason that I can come up with that they wouldn't run is that they are not able to draw enough current to start the motors in them. This could be caused by a low charge in the battery or too much resistance in the circuit. If your battery is fully charged I would try to trace the wires and see if there is any sort of resistor or anything that would be lowering the current.

I see boats out on the spyglass web cam right now. Should make it out there next week end hopefully:thumb:

Hi guys,

I'm wondering what you run for DR setups. I currently have two sets. One set is Okuma CL300's on Medium Action 8'6" Okuma Classic rods spooled with 20 lb mono. In the past I have only run these poles off my downriggers. This winter I got another set of Penn 209's spooled with 12lb mono on Medium Light 8'6" Travers Bay rods. I plan on dedicating the light line set to spoon duty and the heavy line set to running F/F's. The question comes up after talking today with one of my suppliers at work who fishes out of Grand Haven. He runs lighter rigs than what I do with 6"6' rods and small reels (didn't catch the model but they looked like bass reels almost) spooled with mono or super line.

Thanks,

Ben

I would but I got plans to work on the boat already

Ok guys looking for some help. I'm mounting the downriggers on the rear corners of the boat on some custom made platforms. I'd like to have a ball cradle right next to them that I can put the balls in when rigging or whatever. When ever I search for anything the only things I can come up with are Big Jon mounting bases that have the cradles on them or traxtech cradles but I don't plan on putting any track on the platform. Does anyone know where I can get just a cradle that could be screwed right to the platform?

My favorite F/F colors, pearl/white/blue. Now where do I get one (or two(or three))

Here's my rig

I'll post new pictures soon of it all cleaned and rigged up. Can't wait for it to be ready.

BTW, does anyone from west michigan know of a boat by the name of Char n' Time. The guy lives right by a friend of mine and it's a really nice looking boat but I've never gone over to talk to him or look at it.

Looks good Josh. I can feel your pain as I am working on polishing my entire boat with rubbing compound before I wax it good. I don't have bottom paint cause it has been trailered its entire life. Keep up the good work.

I'm going to have to request that you stop posting videos. Reason, it reminds me that my boat won't be ready for the water for at least another 3 weeks. Good job

I looked at all of these at the Ultimate sport show this past weekend and couldn't see any difference between them other than the finish. I know traxtec and Bert's can be interchanged, i don't know about cannon. I personally have Bert's.

Looks like Kyle stole the words out of my mouth

Especially on a small boat like that a 10' rod can be nice (speaking from experience, I used to fish out of a 16'er). The longer poles let you get out past the downriggers, which you will probably be running off the sides so that they don't get tangled. Also, the 10' lets you have a longer leader between the dipsey and the spoon/flasher and still be able to get the fish in the net without needing to move to the very front of the boat. Too tell you the truth, there were so many other things that I had to deal with when fishing out of the small boat that I never even noticed that the poles were that long. If the boat in your avatar is the boat you are going to be fishing out of, I really don't see you having any issues.

I'm not sure if he still has them but when I talked to Tony at the ultimate sport show last weekend he still hadn't sold the takotas he had and he was offering them for $320 for the pair with copper and backing.

Hey Tony what booth are you at? I was there tonight and didn't see you but saw a couple of other guys. I'm planning on coming back tomorrow to do some more shopping, was there with a guy from our Mexico plant tonight so I spent most of my time explaining the whole fishing thing to him

Was out with a friend tonight and he showed me a picture of a nice brown he caught off the pier this morning. He was using spawn off the bottom. He said the biggest problem was big waves and high winds. Man I want to go fishin'

I'll be around Friday night. Hope to see you guys there

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a dependable truck/suv that will tow my 24' boat with out any issues. I don't really care about looks, just want something that won't give me a bunch of issues too soon down the road. Also, extended cabs are preferable so I can bring buddies with me The price range I'm looking at is around $3000. If you know of a vehicle for sale or happen to come across one please let me know.

Thanks,

Ben

So Guys,

As you know this will be my first season out in the new boat. Being that the boat has never had a name and I never had a name for my old boat I've been trying to come up with a fitting name for the boat, but it hasn't been going so well. My grandpa suggested Ben's Hooker which I like but it has been vetoed by my Mom because possible connotations of it could offend some family friends So, I have yet to find a name that I really like and I thought I'd see what you guys could come up with. (Extra consideration will be given to name that incorporate some part of my name)

Thanks for your suggestions,

Ben Lubbers

Hey guys,

How do you normally match up your flasher/fly color combinations? I've never had really good luck on my flies and I'm trying to get them going more this year. Also what are your go-to colors for flashers and flies. The only combo I've ever caught fish on consistently is a 10" SD White Crush Glow on blue with a white pearl fly.

Thanks,

Ben

When you guys fillet your salmon/trout, how do you deal with the rib cage and the little bones that stick out from the spine of the fish? In the past I have just cut everything off alone the spine and then cut the rib cage out afterward. That part I'm alright with. What I don't like more is the other little bones that come off the spine. I've tried cutting a thin sliver of meat out to get the bones out but that hasn't worked to well so I normally just resort to leaving them in to get picked out while we're eating the fish. Does anyone know of a good way to get them out?

Man I wish I could make it but I don't get back from vacation until later in the day tomorrow. Have fun.

Count me in Ken

Well guys, the work on the boat has been going good although I haven't worked on it in the past week as i've been on vacation in Alabama. Needless to say the taste of warm weather has gotten me fired up to get the boat in the water as early as possible this spring. I got all of the re-wiring of the current electronics done plus adding some LED deck lights, spreader lights for night fishing, and a second battery to power all of the electronics and start the motor in emergencies.

Right now the seats are out of the boat to get a couple issues fixed. I also have the top off because it was not correct to begin with so I am going to get a new one made. Also I have the rails and other wood accents off to be refinished because they were all starting to get pretty beat up looking. I'm going to be enlisting the help of my little brother to help give the whole boat a good polish and wax before we take it out too.

Thanks to Ken (aka Nailer) I have a matching pair of Walker electric downriggers that I am going to be mounting on the corners of the boat along with some ball buddies. Also I have 4 Bert's ratcheting holders and 2 two rod Trees that that are going to get put on 4' Bert's tracks running up the gunwales in front of the down riggers. The downriggers and tracks are going to be mounted on custom made aluminum and wood pedestals that I'm working on.

As far as the spread I've made a lot of changes for this spring. I got two new lead core setups for a total of four. All are Penn 209 Reels on 9' heartland rods. I have 10, 7, 5, and 3 color setups plus some Stinger Dive bombs and Walleye Boards to go with. For diver rods I have Daiwia Accudepth 47LCs spooled with 50# PowerPro on Okuma Classic rods for the high divers and Okuma Magda 30 DXs spooled with 1000' of 30# BR wire on Okuma Blue Diamond Roller Rods for the low divers. For Downrigger rods I have Okuma classic 30s spooled with 15# Ande on Classic Rods.

Right now I'm hoping that I can get the boat on the water by the 2nd week of April. I'm sure the first trip will end up being strictly sea trials and making sure that every think works good there are no issues. I will get more pictures of the progress soon.

Well the biggest thing for sure is the new boat a 24' Slickcraft which will make fishing so much more enjoyable in soooo many ways. Along with that is GPS, Speed n' Temp, Better fish finder, Marine radio, Autopilot, and bigger cooler.

As far a rigging, 2 Electric Walker downriggers, Two 2 Rod Trees, Bert's Track, 4 Bert's Ratcheting Rod holders, Blacks releases, and better tackle storage.

For the spread I added 2 lead core setups (3 and 5 collors on Penn 209's with Heartland Rods), 2 wire diver setups (Okuma Magda 30DX Reels, 1000' 30# Bloodrun Wire, 8'6" Okuma Blue Diamond Roller Rods, and Walker 124mm Deeper Divers), 2 new 10' Braid Diver Rods (Okuma Classics), 2 new light line downrigger setups, 4 new Church Walleye planner boards, 20+ new spoons (Sliver Streaks, Fuzzy Bears, JP Slammers, Moonshines), around 7 new attractors, 3 meat riggs, and 2 Sliver Horde Plugs.

Overall Basically going to be re-learning how to fish out of a bigger boat with better setups.