pikeman8

Anybody have trouble posting pics cause the file size is too large. Have been trying to get some pics up but have been unable.

Good job getting the kids out. Did you see anything exceptional at the weigh in? With all the boats at the launch I was suprised I did not see a single boat where I was at all morning in 100-140'. It seemed that everyone was north from what I seen, I was out to the south. I wish I would have known your boat at the launch I would have introduced myself. Im sure I seen you, I have the little black aluminum Triton pulled out at about 12 right when the lauch was hopping.

I assume all running the Z-boards are using the biggest ones they make? I lost one of my offshores last weekend so this would be a good time for me to get some new ones. Would have went back for it but wanted to get in quick the radar looked nasty to the west.

I have been having good success for me this season so far running a spread of 8 lines. Two riggers, two divers, and four leadcore off boards. My question is that I often have 3 or 4 friends on the boat and would like to add two more, effective, lines to my spread. I am thinking of trying either two more dipseys or lead but dont want to get snarled up. I have only got tangled this year so far when running 8 lines when a mad king decided he wanted to investagate all my other lines:lol:. I have been hearing good things about the Z boards and their true tracking so I am thinking I could possibly run three off each side. I am running offshore boards now and they pull back too much with lead for me to try to run three off each side. My dipseys have produced 2 fish all season so im not too keen on putting two more out. Any thoughts? What does your spreads look like?

Running orange or red on your high lines near the surface is always good to put steelhead in the boat. They are suckers for anything orange or red, this year the goldilocks pattern spoon by Michigan Stinger has put 75% of all the steelhead I caught in the boat. I always run it on my highest line in the water, usually about 15-20' down. Then yellow or green between 20 and 50' and blue or white down deep. There are always exceptions though, blue has produced well for me this year throughout all depths though. If you have a budget start out with at least the dolphin pattern spoons, (green, blue, and carmel), they are usually solid producers day in and day out. In general though a specific spoon pattern is not key IMO just the color. Over time though you will find your favorite pattern and you will always make this your first spoon to hit the water.

Was a great day for us out of New Buffalo. Didnt get an early start but set lines sometime around 7:30 and had our first fish before I had three lines in the water. Ended up being the biggest king I have got this season, just a touch over 15 lbs. It came in 100' on a rigger 40 down with a lemon ice spoon. Shortly after pulled a nice 16 lb laker on a Blue Nitro spoon 80 down on a rigger (released). Trolled west and continued to pick away at fish before being chased off by the threat of bad weather at about 11:30. Ended 7 for 9 with one king, two coho, three steelies, and one laker. All the steelhead were very nice and were in the 8-10 lb class. All came on spoons and my dipseys were once again untouched. Three on the riggers, one on three color, one on five color, two on 10 color. Both misses were on the 10 color as well. Blue, green, and yellow spoon patterns took all the fish in either ProKings, dreamweaver, or Michigan Stinger Nitro spoons. Great day for the June lull.

Big Jon holders here, they work great and are very fast to get the rod out of. I ran plastics on my walleye boat and they flexed so much I could not imagine running them for Salmon. I would definately advise to get some decent metal ones. JMHO or you are begging for trouble. It would suck to lose a 30 lb king when it ripped the holder right off the boat.

I haven't been able to land any large kings this season so far but if you are only looking for weight I have gotten some real nice 15 lb class grease balls, sorry lake trout, in the 85-120' range on anything green 20-30 off the bottom. Let me know what times you will be fishing I always am willing to talk on the radio.

This is my first time posting a report on this forum hope this will help somebody out. Two friends and myself fished out of New Buffalo Sat and Sun this past weekend. Sorry for the delay in post. Saturday set lines at 6:00 am in 85 FOW where we hit them the weekend before had four fish in the boat within an hour. Full lead took two a king and coho with Stingray sized spoons in bloody nose and lime tux and downriggers took two a laker and coho 30 and 50 down one on yellow and one on blue spoons. Thought is was going to be a good day. Continued to was lines for three hours with no bumps. Picked up and ran out to 160 and trolled west. About the time everyone was pulling and heading in it just lit up for us. Pulled a triple and a double, all coho, in about 180 FOW. Continued trolling till about 3 and ended up 14 for 24. 11 coho, 2 kings, and a laker. Nothing big though. Most all came on 10 color lead with yellow, green, or white spoons. Sunday headed out at about 2 pm in plans on fishing till dark. Set up right where we took the triple and headed west with nothing till we hit over 200 FOW and the 10 color hit again with the orange crush. Turned and headed back SE and slowly picked away to 11 in the box before pulling lines at dark, 7 coho, 1 steelhead, 2 lakers, and 1 king. Unlike saturday 10 color only pulled two fish. Most came on 3 or 5 color and the riggers set at 40-70' down in 140-210 FOW. Best colors were orange crush, yellow killer, area 51, and lime tux in Michigan Stinger spoons. As well as ProKing Blue magnum taking two fish as well. Also for the first time this season had luck on my dipseys with spin dr's in blue and green with the same color flies set 175-225 back. We should have had our limit but couldnt get fish to stay hooked up. Lost a real nice king in the teens right before dark close to the boat. Good numbers of coho taken but nothing big to mention.

Nice rods I have two of them. Got mine at Bass Pro. Bass Pro and Cabelas both have them online.

Well just ordered a Shakespeare Galaxy 5225XT. Now we just need spring to come and can get the boats in the water.

Thanks guys. I know the antenna is as important if not more than the radio itself. Looks like the Shakespeare has overwhelming positive feedback. I will be putting an order in shortly for one!!

About a year ago I purchased a bigger boat and am trying to get it setup for going farther out on the Great Lakes. I had a 16.5 footer before and stayed close to the pier heads but have got fed up with the crowds and got a bigger boat to get out away from the crowds. I have been out a few times in it with just my handheld VHF but I am wanting to get a more powerful setup. I have purchased an ICOM-304 VHF radio and am looking at getting a good antenna for it. I need one that will fold down for trailering but also one I can get good range from. What is everybody's advise? Is one antenna really better than the other.

Sounds like you will be all set. I know the Yamahas are good engines and people seem to be happy with them. I really lucked out on mine. I found a used setup, used one season, that someone had just purchased the boat with the kicker already installed and didn't want it. So I got it for 2600 installed with everything through a Merc dealer (2100 motor and controls, 500 labor and misc. parts to install). Cant even tell the motor was used from looking at it.

I put that same motor on my boat last year. A real sweet running engine, sounds like a sewing machine. As far as setting it up make sure you get a quality mount. These motors are heavy and I have seen and heard of other mounts cracking and failing in a short period of time. I feel the only way to go is with a Panther, i have one and have NO complaints. Since the Prokicker has power trim you really dont need a mount that tilts as well. As far as everything else goes go with Merc or Quicksilver parts for the throttle and shift cables as well as the control box. Not really any thing groundbreaking just buy quality parts to begin with and it will last as long as you have the boat. As far as the fuel many run off an auxiliary tank so as if the main tank fuel gets contaminated you will be able to get back to port. I myself prefer to just run it off the main tank with a filter just because I have no good spot for a aux. tank. That is a choice you will have to make, either will work though.

Has anyone ran the red power pro line? I have the itch to get out and am trying to get all my equipment ready. I know some of you guys like to run red mono on your rigger rods but havent heard anyone say much about the red PP. I am looking to get some 30# to spool up my dipsy rods and didn't give it much thought till I went to the store and seen three colors; green, yellow, and red. Have you guys really ever noticed a difference in catch rates vs. line color (dipsys or downriggers) or I am over thinking it. I use floro leaders so I wouldnt think the main line color would make much difference. Also is Power Pro better than fireline? I have always used fireline on my casting rods but it seems Power Pro is the 'gold standard' for great lakes trolling from what I have seen. Thanks for your help.

What model number releases do you guys use on the offshore boards?

What is your preferred rod for running lead? I was gonna go with the taloras as I have been impressed with them before but I can get heartlands or okumas much cheaper. I dont think I would have to have a specific leadcore rod either would I?

Thanks for all the input, I still have some deciding to do but sounds like I should at least have one full core and the other either be a 2 or 5. Also I fish the Michigan side of the lake between Ludington and New Buffalo. I pull my boat every time out as I only have a 20 footer so I can go to different ports.

I am getting my equipment all setup to start next season and would like to add two leadcore rigs to my boat. I am starting with two because of my boat size and I only ever fish with one other partner so I dont want to put all my eggs on lead until I can get it to work. My question is what two lengths should I run? I was thinking of running a 2 color and 8 color setup. What would you guys run if you only could have two? Also will 8 colors of 27# fit on a tekota 600 with backer?

Still have these? Am interseted