Holland Am 8-27-25

[littleboat]

I saw an early morning break in the wind and wave forecast, so up I got up to try out my new downrigger (Optimum) I just installed. Picked up a king at the back of the boat and promptly lost it when it and my bad net job hit the transom from a 4 ft wave. They already started to build quicker than predicted. Estimate 8-10#, in 121.5 fow (7:56am) with Rv green jeans std on slider  on a N trl., dwn 75ft,  btmp 53.
Next came at small laketrout 3-4# in same depth 121.1 fow, (8:09am) , atomic melon std, dwn 90, N trl, btmp 51. Released him to lake (cycling up/dwn 6ft).
 
Had 3rd release, but I think it was just the waves that tripped it. There are really strong currents out there today.
 
The new rigger was really why I was out. The freezer was already full. The rigger had several valuable screens integrating the fishawk, humminbird, and my phone with depth. Speed, temp, etc. But what I really like is the ability to cycle the rigger up and down as you trolled from a few feet to as much as you could cycle without pulling the release out. I like about a 6-10 swing cycle. You can control your rigger from its own control, the humminbird, or your phone.
Attached is a picture of the screen, but it was after I put the fishawk away. I was going to take it on the lake, but it was just to dam rough. But it shows you how it appears on the screen. No, I don't store my fishawk in a freezer.
I called it a day after getting beat up in 3-4 footers.
 
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[Reel-y-hooked]

Sounds  like you were successful at getting fish to bite with your new rigger. I like the fact that you can control it from several devices. 

[Jolly Time]

Isn't fun getting new equipment! The new technology is crazy especially the cycling up and down. I believe it will truly help with getting more strikes. I have heard it works really well when coupled with a 1 or 2 color SWR rigger rod. It creates a whip motion.

Did you try in tight this morning or just blast out to 120fow? What was the surface temp out there? What was the temp at the ball? It had to be cold. I can't wait for the work week to end and get out on Saturday. 

Thank you for the report.

[littleboat]

I started my troll in 90fow. My ball temp was 51-58 when down at 84 ft. Surface temp was 66°. Water was warm unless you were farther out, but the waves got even rougher, different than the bouy. I pretty much stayed between 110-120 fow. If it had been calmer, I would have fished 120-145 fow. I cycled from 87-93 depth because that was where my chip sonar was showing the fish, letting the downrigger do the work while I got used to dealing with the new process. I played with the rod slack so I could see at what point and cycle range would pull the release so I could work with bigger cycle ranges next time. It's kind of like jigging with the boat holding your rod. I think it's a real advantage for fishing. Next time, I'll tell it to go get me a fish while I wait in the parking lot. Love it!

It's time to enjoy that coffee now.

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[SeaFoam]

That is some awesome new equipment. The good news is that I now have an excuse when you smoke my catches! Seriously though sounds like something fun that will put more fish in the boat.


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[FBD]

Buddy first mated on a charter and fished that same 80-120’ yesterday morning.  Went 5/6 and did not enjoy a minute of it from the waves, and that was in a much bigger boat than yours.

 

Great job under the conditions.

[zgrinder on Fin Warrior]

You are crazy to be out in 3-4' waves fishing solo, not that I have NEVER done that before, I just don't do it now.  The netting part is what tests your skill set.

My Cannon DRs have that function but I have only used it twice.  Perhaps I will look at the manual again and figure out how to turn that function on next trip, whenever that will be.

[littleboat]

The waves didn't start out as 3-4 feet, which I wouldn't have gone out in. They pretty much jumped to that with the sudden wind changes. When they didn't go back down, I packed it in and headed back to Holland.

The biggest thing about cycling the DRs is that leaving enough slack on the rods releases so they don't pop on the maximum bottom of the cycle and not an excessive amount on the top part of the cycle. It's really not too hard to figure it out once pops a few times (trial & error).

I probably wouldn't do an extreme cycle spread, making it too hard to keep an eye on with all the other activities on the boat.
My sliders seem to work as usual without sliding down further.

The downrigger creates its own network with Bluetooth connections to the Humminbird , fishhawk, my phone, and other DRs if equipped. I'm not sure how the older drs would make those connections (maybe hardwire).

When I watched the fish follow it, their trails were going up and down with it. It was amazing.

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