Luke Tuccini

Thanks, Randy. Yep, the Fish Hawk improved our catch more than any other piece of equipment. We bought the X4 but if I had to do it again, I'd get the X4D. You could know the actual depth of your lure and not just how much cable is out. Also (they claim) you could mount a tablet in transom area, and get all depth and temp data on your tablet back there where you're setting lines? We're planning a day trip to Ludington next few weeks. Any tips?

Finally got into some fish. The new Hewescraft was great in the varying winds and current. Two planers each side. 250', 300', 350', 400' copper/ weighted steel. Tues May 25 Port Sheldon approx. 8am to noon. 170' to 190' FOW. Fish were 40' to 80' down. Mostly blue or blue green spoon - both mag size and Super Slim. Of course one hit the Kevin's Girlfriend spin doctor with Pickled Sunshine type fly. First fish within 2 minutes of setting first down rigger 80' - blow back was nuts even with 200# Power Pro and 12# ball. Lure was likely 65' to 70' ft down? Mag blue DW spoon maybe 45' back at 2.5 to 3.0 MPH at lure per Fish Hawk. Fish Hawk was showing currents were strong and constantly changing. Planers were all over. Signal from brand new probe was in and out all morning. Called Fish Hawk and tech called back (after we got home) and said its very common when fishing deep in strong deep current, like when you're getting huge blow back, and then not. Tech said simply turn up the GAIN. I didn't even know you could. We tried to reset it by unplugging two cables but of course no change. While scrolling buttons we saw the screen that said "GAIN 15" but never realized you could just with lower two arrow buttons on left. But we ended up with 6 for 8 fish and had a freaking blast. We two old guys - 68 and 78 - had a double on. They crossed lines and it was panic time. But between laughing and screaming we changed places and rods and threaded rods around and got both darn fish into the box. Then we both couldn't talk for a while until we calmed down and caught our breath. That's exactly what I bought the new boat for. What a morning. So final score was something like 4 kings and 2 coho for total of approx 44 lbs. Nothing really huge but 3 were approx. 10 lbs. Fish were hitting 400' a bit more than others. A couple hit on Downriggers approx. 80' down. Mag and reg spoons blue or blue green, and the one on Flasher Fly. We'll be back, baby!

Sorry for length but I'm a bit frustrated, too. Certainly no expert for sure, but try to get as much different info as possible. Way different year this spring. Retired and new boat all decked out and been trolling since March during tiny "windows" between weather. Fished New Buffalo, South Haven, Holland, Port Heldon so far. Planning on moving north. People in Benton Harbor saying they missed their spring king "peak" and they've moved north? Heard one theory that most trout/salmon did not come as far south for winter, and that may be why spring bite in south is light? South Haven seems like maybe their peak is finishing? Ludington and Manistee charters are doing real well right now. Last week some people were saying Whitehall - Muskegon? Just seems like "great spring king migration north" maybe kinda not on fire in Holland-Port Sheldon a bit. Some kings caught last week and today off Port Sheldon finally, but not like last three years? One boat at PS was 5 for 7 today with no downriggers- 40' to 80' down in up to 200' FOW. Best king was over 15# on Kevin's GF flasher with Pickled Sunshine. That's a Tangled Tackle from You Tube basic for 3 years. Don't give up. Call bait shops. Look on line. You Tube sometimes helps? Ask at the launches. Most people are willing to be truthful? Sent from my SM-N960U using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

Limits all daylong.Best walleye fishing anywhere. Not huge sizes. Seriously over 100 boats inline at Wyandotte ramp. Try to launch before 4 am.

May sound funny, but I'm for real. Are Big Weenie glow meat strips "thicker" and cut differently than other meats. They don't fit into a Diabolical brand meat rig. I've trimmed them down and they crumble and fall apart within 30 minutes. Are the Big Weenie meat rigs designed to hold thicker meats?

Im going to try it thanks. Been marking plenty of fish and trying to increase the catch.

For trolling 40 degree Lake Michigan for salmon early spring: For any Rapala shallow or deep been using loop knot. Dreamweaver size 3 snap swivel for Thin Fin, Thin Fish, Hot N Tot, etc. Started 30# mono, now 12# mono from boards various length coppers. Anybody out there feel strongly about snap only (no swivel) for these lures? Been reading about bass guys only using snap for crankbaits? Does it really matter? Trying to keep lures changing and fingertips warm at same time...

New 7" Garmin bought in August is awesome. Just take a minute to learn about your new transducer "cone width" at bottom of "radar" cone. 4" Lowrance was twice the width of coverage at bottom of cone than 7" Garmin. After purchase I learned: At 100' depth, 4" Lowrance cone coverage is approx 82' wide. 7" Garmin is approx 41" wide. But Garmin shows way better detail? But for trolling Great Lakes you want wider coverage for sure. I'm now shelling out another $100 for new Garmin transducer to get 82' cone width at 100'. My fault; should have checked. Also Garmin does way more stuff and yet way easier to learn. Plus I've now got super great GPS to get straight home in fog and/ or rain storm etc. Plus Garmin customer support is excellent. Sent from my LM-Q710.FGN using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

Also drags on the new Okuma 55's are silky smooth but it's a big heavy reel. A bit large for any younger kids.

I was able to fix Okuma drag issues with a trip to Tuna's Reel Troubles in Ludington, Mich after same type issue after drowning a few fish on planers. Couldn't find "sweet spot" on drag - either too loose and line would keep coming out, or too tight and then fish would drown because reel wouldn't let line out. Tuna has website and will ship. Also premium Tackle store Chuck's nearby and they sell reels and have Tuna put new drags in New reels too.

Nice job! A triple. Did you really mean to type 23# Lake Trout please? Sent from my LM-Q710.FGN using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

Holland Channel had plenty of ice floating in it last Tues. Friday was mostly open but still some smaller ice chunks. Today Tues April 2, 2019 we slowly bumped our way thru small chunks and almost out to end of channel to view huge waves crashing across BOTH piers. We turned around for third time in a week with brand new boat.Some minor scratches to decals on both sides of bow? We're here to catch fish not be a freaking ice breaker. Sent from my LM-Q710.FGN using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App