Smells Like...Fish!

I use "Anderson Style" plugs. Search on Ebay, they are pretty reasonable. They don't hold water and if you fill the connectors with solder you can just dunk the leads of your cable into the solder and once it sets up you are ready to go (no crimps that hold water and corrode).

http://www.andersonpower.com/products/multipole-sb.html

Wow, some really nice rigs there guys! After seeing those, don't think I'll post a pic of my little rinky dink rig!

Noah,

Post up a pic. Everyone likes to see pictures because they give us a chance to spot you out there. The other thing that happens is we get to see what others have done for rigging and someone might get a good idea off of your rig.

For what it's worth, we started out with a 14' Mirrocraft and a 15 hp mariner!

Kyle,

We have taken care of them. Both the Mako and Slickcraft were quite a mess when we got them. My wife says that if other people didn't take care of their boats I wouldn't have them!

Kyle,

She is a 1976 Slickcraft SS245. Looks similar to what you have, What is yours?

Depending on the day we will be on one of these!

In case anyone else is looking for an 898 Frank's had one on display and Gander Mountain in Traverse City now has one out to play with. Of course this is after I drove to the east side to see it!

I picked up a Lakemster card for Michigan last night. I would still like to see the Navionics shots if anyone has them.

Here is the Lakemaster off Frankfort MI.:

Look for a machine and fabricating shop in your area. They will be your best friend if you need something custom made or repaired! They will usually sell you scrap that works for backing plates.

propman:

Rix Enterprise, Inc.

5891 Saraville Rd.

Creal Springs, IL 62922

Ph. 618-996-8237

Fax 618-996-8238

http://rixenterprise.com/index.html

Dave Ash, Here are 3 in Holland:

Impact Fab Inc · Website · (616) 399-9970

3440 John F Donnelly Dr · Holland

http://impactfab.com/

Diversified Welding & Fab Inc · (616) 738-0400

12813 Riley St · Holland

Larry Brinks Machine & Fab · (616) 396-2052

239 S Waverly Rd · Holland

Skip the treated wood for sure! Also be sure to make the backing plate a different size than the item you are mounting. When the backing plate and mounted item are the same size they can act like a punch and can rip thru what they are mounted to. I use a larger backing plate to distribute the load as far as possible.

Well, we got an 898 si in the "to be installed" pile now!

Has anyone used the thru hull si tranducer (XPTH 9 HDSI 180 T)? It looks like the outdrive and kicker will obstruct the transom mount.

I know the supposed limitations of si in deep water but we fish for more than salmon. The si features are for the other fishing we do.

Next dilemma is Navionics Hotmaps Platinum and Premium vs. Lakemaster. I'd like to see screen shots of all three. The ones that I found available online so far are very small. Can any one post or send me an email of some actual shots from Lake Michigan?

Thanks,

Thanks for all the replies!

Does anyone know of any stores in the Grand Rapids MI area that would have a Humminbird 898 (or even an 858) that I could "see" before I buy it? I'll be coming down to GR on Saturday.

Thanks,

I guess I'll start with the "your results may vary" disclaimer!

Most low voltage landscape lighting is 12 volt, so I picked up a LED spotlight at Home Depot for $25. LED's tend to be voltage sensitive especially to higher voltages. I have been using these lights for 2 years and they have not burned out yet. Being a single LED they are not super bright but give a very nice pattern and are more than adequate in our opinion. I guess the best thing to do is buy one and hook it up to see what you think. If you don't like it they will take it back! The worst part is making a mounting bracket!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202025770/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Name: Mike & Cynthia

Age:37 & 36

Residence Location: Fife Lake MI

Area(s) Most Often Fished :Grand Traverse Bays, Frankfort, & Leland.

Years of Experience: Was probably holding a fishing rod when I popped out!

Boat Size and Info: Mako 19B center console & Slickcraft SS245 Hardtop

Boat Name: Smells Like...Fish!

I grew up on Lake St. Clair and got hooked by the salmon bug on Lake Huron when you could still catch a 32# king! Cynthia had the boat in the backyard as a kid on the St. Clair river and MIGHT have fished more than me! Some how we found each other and I am one of the lucky ones who has a full time fishing buddy!

Thanks for the warm welcome. I must admit we were on the GLA site as cmcmjk. I found out about this site from Tangled Tackle in Manistee a few weeks ago and have been reading to see if it was worth joining another forum. It seems like the kind of place we will enjoy.

The tree has it's own story. We brought it in the house and were sitting at the table eating dinner. There were two spoons (still in the packages) from a recent shopping trip and I jokingly said i was going to hang them on the tree. Next thing I knew Cynthia wanted the spoon box and started hanging them up! It wound up being very cool and even glows in the dark!

Maybe we should start a thread to see how many of the spoons can be identified!

ok where do you get your salmon from on the grand traverse bay.. and when, We're in Elk Rapids for most of the summer and there aren't any fish up there until late september... talk to me..

Boltman,

I know West Bay better than East Bay. A good friend of mine fishes EB and swears by the break from 90-150 ft N and S along the peninsula. We have never fished as far N as ER but it's on the list for this summer.We start getting fish in the first to second week of August and East Bay was better this past summer. The access ramps leave a little to be desired on EB that's why we wanted to try Elk Rapids.

Hello everyone!

Just finally got signed up here and look forward to contributing when it will help. I have the best fishing buddy in the world, My Wife! We enjoy fishing for everything that swims and there have been many occasions that she has twisted my arm to get out for the day. We live in Fife Lake MI. and fish the Grand Traverse Bays, Leland and Frankfort.

I really appreciate the high standard of conduct you folks abide by on this fourm. I hope we can add to the wealth of info available here.

Merry Christmas! (or Happy Holidays if Christmas is not your thing)

Mike & Cynthia