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I would definitely use backing if you are only using 300ft of wire. I would use at least 500 ft of wire and enough backing to fill the reel with the wire. I have used the albright knot with wire connected to power pro or dacron. I also use rods with twilli tips and have had no problems.

I was looking at the Albright knot but I wanted to know if it would work with the wire. Thanks for the information. Do you make the loop with the wire and wrap with the braid?? Because of the cost of Wire I was thinking about only spooling 300 ft of wire with about 900 ft of braid backer. I doubt if I would ever have more than 250 ft of line out.

Here is a pic of a homemade special brake tool for trailers with dropped axles. I made this a few years ago from some 1/8 X 1-1/2 inch steel flat bar. 1/8 X 3/4 would have been perfect but I used what I had. The 1-1/2 inch stock made for a good handle for my big mitts. The regular brake tool I had didn't work well with the dropped axle. Do what you have to do, but git er done.

GJ Terry. Did you ever fry up the roe from the bluegills. It's rather tasty. I have eaten it from perch and bluegills. It taste just like the fish, but you have to get used to the texture. One thing for sure it's completely boneless.

Is monel wire a single strand?

I have only seen monel in single strand. It's more malleable than other single strand wires.

Joel and I were typing at the same time. Looks like were both thinking about the same thing.

Has anyone tried to splice wire to braid or wire to mono?? Has anyone had a bad kink in their wire and made a splice wire to wire?? If you can make these splices will they run through a twilli OK? Will mono or braid run through the twilli tip?? What I'm getting at if you can make a strong splice to mono or braid, you could use 300 ft or so of wire on top of the backer. I'm not sure if I'm asking the impossible. But sometimes the impossible becomes reality. I have lived long enough to realize that.

Has anyone here tried running monel wire??

Now, Tim has me thinking. Maybe I should try one wire diver.

Welcome aboard Dan. You will like it here. There is a ton of information in these forums. Mike's magnetic persona hooks another. I think he has a way of using that on fish also.

My name is Frank and I run a 22 ft Starcraft Islander Hardtop. I fish Lake Huron and it's bays, and do make a few runs to Lake MI. Have boat will travel. My home port is AuGres on the Saginaw Bay. Sing out if you need anything, or if you want to chase some eyes on the Saginaw Bay.

Most run the wire with divers. I would think those roller rods are stout enough for a Dipsy. It wasn't that long ago that we all counted level wind passes or (bars as we called them). You can be just as accurate as a LC if you don't miscount. Example each pass of the level wind is so many feet. Measure it at home.

I have been reluctant to go with a wire setup. The 2 reasons being, I have done so well with braid, and if you do have a tangle wire line wins. we have had multiple fish on a quite a few times. In 06 out of Manistee 2 of us had a quad going. Charters like it because you can feel every move the fish makes. It excites the customer. On the plus side you can get deeper with a wire diver. When the fish are below 50 feet my riggers shine. Well!! I resisted leadcore until last year. I wonder if someone will convince me to buy some wire and a twilli tip. My motto is never say never.

Good report Cazz. Even though the fish didn't cooperate fully, you got out fishing with a couple of friends. It's always nice to fill your limit, but we all know there is more to fishing than catching them. Nothing like some gills on the pan.

John,GR8 pictorial instructions on how to adjust trailer brakes. TYVM. My trailer does have a dropped axle and I made a special tool out of some flat bar. I like it better that any brake tool because I made it wider and just barely fits in the adjusting slot. The tool never slips off the adjustment star wheel. Again TYVM John

From Mike's (GLF) Post above yours, it has been SOLD.

VG Points.

You are all ready to go fishing; your boat, rods, reels, and lures have all been checked and repaired over the Winter. One thing that sometime gets overlooked is the boat trailer. Most everyone knows to grease the wheel bearings. It is a good time to check for any other faulty equipment, such as rollers, brakes, and lights. Trailers with drum brakes need adjusting. Check fluid level in the master cylinder. I feel it's necessary to jack up the trailer and at the very least spin each wheel to check the bearings. Actually the trailer should be blocked up, to take the weight off the tires over the Winter. While the trailer is up on blocks check the brakes. Don't forget to check the tires and their pressure.

The max. trailer width allowed in MI is 102 inches, or a special permit is required to haul them. The 102 inches is measured at the widest part of the trailer or load. Any trailers over 3000# G.V.W. are required to have brakes. You don't want to compromise your safety, or the safety of others. IF you are involved in a serious accident, even if it's not your fault your tow vehicle and trailer may be checked. In this scenario, your equipment better comply. Boats with 102 inch beams have to watch the width requirement closely, with fishing gear installed.

I'll bet others have suggestions also. Feel free to pile on.

Many are using just the twilli tips. In general the wire is a lot tougher on rods.

It should be more than $50. That's just a little more than a fishing license here in MI.

Running Cut Plug Herring without meat heads is where tuning is very important, especially if it is not run behind a flasher.

Running cut bait in a meat head behind a flasher is more about flasher performance. What you want is a nice slow roll. Like a lot of our presentations boat speed is of utmost importance. Put the flasher and meat setup over the side and see what speed is best. Most everyone that runs meat runs it behind a big flasher (11 inch), but I have at times run 8 inch flashers. The big flasher and meat may not take as many fish as your hot J Plug or Spoon, but it's the total presentation. The big flasher creates a lot of turbulence, and many captains claim that it draws the big Kings into the spread. When the meat rig fires it is generally a Big King. In addition to the flashers turbulence you have the scent thing going for you also. I have only used meat for Salmon 2 Seasons. I had some rigs that came with my boat, and when I got some herring from a guy heading home, my nephew's eyes lit up like a neon sign. He ran it on another boat and got me started. After messing with herring, your hands will smell like the chit house door on a tuna boat.

Walleye are eating Yellow Perch on the Saginaw Bay?? All fish are cannibalistic and will eat whatever they can. I caught a quite a few Walleye last year and didn't see any yellow perch in their guts. How about it Dan or Jason???? Have you seen yellow perch in the Walleye's guts? I'm not saying it never happens but I don't think the perch are the walleye's main source of food. In fact perch and walleye numbers seem to be increasing on the Saginaw Bay the last few years.

I use my basement, it is the only space big enough to handle my full collection.

LMAO Tim. Aint it the truth.

I don't have an Auto Pilot. I have a tension screw on the bottom of my steering that I can tighten down while trolling.

We started in a 16.5 Tracker Deep V, and bought this 3 season's ago now. We just love it more and more as we use it. It's the perfect boat for us, big enought to be comfortable in any conditions we'd want to fish in, and small enought to be easily trailerable.

I had a 16.5 SeaNymph With 2 Cannons on the corners, and 50 HP. My son still has that boat. I was looking for a 22 Aluminum hull HT for quite some time. There was a one month period when I owned 2 Islanders. I bought one very reasonable to use until I found a HT. I never fished that boat, and only had it 6 weeks. The boat even sold for a slight profit. My thoughts are like yours as far as comfort and portability. The 22 Islander is easier on fuel than the 16.5 SeaNymph. My average walleye trip uses 5 gal. and Salmon trips about 6 gal. I don't use a kicker.

Nice ride Kingfisher. I run a 86 22ft Islander HT, as does Redeye. Mine is powered by a 140 GM 4 cyl. There are several people here with Islanders.

I use a flat file and a stone.

I just started running leadcore last yr and only had it out a few times. I think tangles and other mishaps take their toll on the core. I don't think you need to change it every year. I have run Spiderwire braid 2 and 3 years in a row without any problems. I usually retie and strip off bad line. When it gets too short, I re-spool. Most of the time with a year or two of use, the line stripping and re-ties have me shortened up to the point of new line. Every reel gets checked, over the Winter.

WTG Terry. When wifes away Terry can play. Luv it when a plan comes together.

I need to find another grumpy old man with a 4 wheeler and ice shanty to trade trips with. I don't have the $$$ or the room for more stuff. Maybe next year. Come on Spring.