DipsyLand

You played it safe. Fish another day, I always say. BIG COHO!

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Thanks for explaining what was causing that. It was definitely new to me and very interesting to be on it as it set up. I'm curious how you fished that then. Cold side, warm side, right on the break? I'd like to know how to set up if I ever see that again.

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2 for 2 today. First hit came at 8:30 6 pound laker took an orange crush spoon on a slide diver 50 feet back with 50 feet of line out on a 3 setting in 60 fow on a nw heading. Second was a 9 pound coho that took an rv flounder pounder on the rigger 50 feet down in 125 fow on a ne heading.

Decided to pull lines just before 1 because at that point the slow rollers turned into 2-3 foot chop. It happened so fast I had to ask my passage if it was just my imagination, he confirmed it wasn't. This was in 120 fow. Turned to head in and noticed a distinct difference in the water a ways ahead. Sure enough when we crossed into that area instant slow rollers again. At 95 feet the water went calm again. Stopped an looked back and there was a very clear line where the water went from calm to chop that followed the contour line on my chart. There was even a distinct scum line there clearly defining the calm and rough sides. That was was my something new for the day, never seen that before on any body of water in such a wide open area.

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1 for 2 this morning on a short 2 hour trip. Had to cut it short after I realized I forgot to check the fuel level and was getting dangerously low. Won't make that mistake again.

1: 7:20 am NNE troll 2.5 sog 85fow 52 down on the rigger 21.5 pound king ripped most of the line out of my reel.

2: 8:15 am same heading, speed, and depth. Decent size something hit the other rigger 60 feet down in 85 fow. Shook off about 50 feet from the boat.

Both fish were on mag green flounder pounders.

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Two mylar baloons and a black landscaping tarp for me this year. Man did that landscaping tarp put up a fight.

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Kevin,

From the YouCaring site.

1 Equipment replacement & sensor maintenance $6,000

2 Labor and travel costs to deploy, maintain, retrieve $12,000

3 Winter maintenance and cleaning $2,000

4 Cellular data for modem and GPS tracking $1,000

5 Asset Insurance to protect against loss and damage $800

6 Data management and website fee $3,200

Total annual O&M costs $25,000

For those who may not know. Placement of the Port Sheldon Buoy is in jeopardy for the 2016 season as the federal grant that has been funding the buoy is expiring. There is local meeting for supporters of the Port Sheldon buoy on Monday Dec. 7 @ 4:30. It is being held at BoatWerks restaurant in Holland. No R.S.V.P is necessary all interested in the buoy and seeing it return are welcome to attend. There is also a YouCaring page set up to help fund the return of the buoy with a pretty good explanation as to whats going on with it.

https://www.youcaring.com/great-lakes-observing-system-475212

Hmm... trained birds to deal with summer flies. Seems like there might be a market for something like that.

Yes. I didn't think anyone would take that seriously. I guess given the times I should have been a little more clear.

As do I. I'm not sure what I enjoy more with those big boys. The fight, or trying to net them.

Not to mention dangerous. Almost fell overboard when it zipped in front of my face out of the blue.

Fished 3 lines from 7:30 to Noon running between 130 to 150 FOW. Ended the day with a pair of Kings. Lots of marks (bait and fish) on the graph. Also got inspected by the new CG stealth drone as I was pulling my lines in. I think the boat passed.

#1 Shaker king on Mag Flounder Pounder 60 feet down 30 back on rigger. 145 Fow 2.8 SOG SE troll.

#2 6.5# King on blue/glow plug. 68 feet down 30 back on rigger. 150 FOW 2.6 SOG NE troll.

Meat rig on the Dipsy a depths from 50 to 70 feet went unloved.

Very nice. Were you out on your own when you pulled that in?

Kinda surprised how deep that warm water goes down. If I didn't know any better I'd think the buoy got busted yesterday.

Your down rigger cable is basically straight to the ball. Your mono line has a bow by the nature of trolling speed. That free slider ends up just hanging out in the middle at that bow in the line. I only run free sliders with spoons or plugs, never with flasher fly...that can become a cluster mess really quick. I also only do it when it's a little slower fishing. If action is steady I don't bother

I get how they stay separated while running. It's the release part when, the line starts to straighten out, that gets me. Seems like that's the point were things would start tangling up.

I understand the free slider set up but I'm hesitant to try it. How does the main and slide not turn into a tangled up mess on release?

AM launch is definitely better. On the weekend though you still have to deal with these yahoo's when you come back in. Trying to retrieve yesterday was a nightmare.

Ventured out into rollers this morning, 1 foot or less my arse. Buoy had em at 2.4. Seemed bigger. Boat took it much better than I did. Ended the day 1 for 1 running 3 lines. Nice king hit on White Leroy meat rig on braided Dipsy 148 back on 2 setting in 95 FOW. SSW troll 2.4 SOG. Not much action but what I got I had to work for and was well worth the time.

Decided to play hooky today to go fishing. Started setting lines at 7:00 and fished till 3:00. Ended the day 2 for 4. Meat seamed to be the flavor of the day.

1. Decent enough Coho a little after 10:00, first of the year. SE troll in 170 FOW, 2.5 SOG, Braid Dipsy, 2 setting, 200' out. Took on white and black meat rig behind an 11" white SD.

2. Same Dipsy same settings took another hit about 20 minutes later but it shook off before I could start reeling. SW troll in 165 FOW, SOG 2.6.

3. About 1:00 downrigger went off with a very acrobatic Steely. Think it spent more time in the air than the water. South troll in 160 FOW, 2.4 SOG, 75' down blue/green glo JPlug on it's own.

4. Very shortly after number 3, while trying to untangle the JPlug hooks from the net, the other rigger started yelling. No matter how much I reeled and pulled it just kept taking line out. Ended up loosing that battle but at least I kept my gear this time. South troll in 160 FOW, 2.4 sog, 75' down, green UV meat rig. One of these days I'll remember to back off the throttle when I hook into the big stuff.

On a side note, is it just me or was the water weird today? Throttle untouched I was running 3.5 mph into the wind and waves and 1.9 with the wind and waves. I'm used to that being the other way around. It made it very hard to judge my ball speed.

0 for 1 Last night. Hard hit on a flounder pounder down 65 on the rigger in 115 FOW. SW troll at 2.4 SOG. It let me play for a minute then decided it was bored, yanked my spoon from the leader and left me an empty flasher.