jdh

Gotcha. I replaced the handle/lever this year on mine because the trim/tilt switch had shorted out. Cost about $80. If there's other issues it can get pricey quick!

I did some quick searching and found the following setup for trolling inland trout or sockeye salmon: https://gonefishingnw.com/making-a-custom-wedding-ring-lure Probably not what you're looking for though.

I don't have an answer about a replacement, but what's the issue with the existing controls?

Thanks. Looks like I'm busy tomorrow. Maybe Sunday.

I understand some people have been putting the hurt on some lake trout in this area. Not too likely, but I might go for a boat ride tomorrow and was wondering what water the lakers are typically schooled up in right now. Any tips? -JDH

I've done it on my 1993 70 hp Johnson outboard. When you run a 50:1 premix you need to keep in mind that it will be going through too much oil at low rpms or at idle. If I understand correctly, the VRO will run at 100:1 when at low rpms and will ramp up to 50:1 at full throttle. If you troll with the motor it may not be the best idea. When I use mine it's only at or near idle when I'm cruising out to the lake, but I run a kicker once I start fishing. Make sure to run it hard near the end of the day to clean any extra oil or carbon accumulated during idle or low rpm periods.

I've run the 20's with 15 lb test line. I would run 30's with 20 or 25 lb test. I did install the dragmaster kits in them though.

Are you running the divers off of the triple tree? If the angle is too high on the diver rod you'll have trouble getting separation. Diver rod holders are usually best just above horizontal.

Post a picture of your rig when you get a chance and I'm sure more people will chime in! -JD

I use Blacks releases. Used pinch release for about 3 trips back when I started and gave up on them quick. I haven't had a single problem problem with them. With regards to divers, you're doing something wrong. Not sure what though. Ask someone who looks friendly at the boat launch about your setup. Poor driving will tangle divers quickly though. Nice job getting into a few fish!

There were schools of coho in 10-20 fow south of the piers. I went 1-2 casting for them from the boat. Water was warm but the fish were in there. There I would expect there to be ore though with the cold water.

Thanks for the report. Sounds like 30-60 feet has been good near the pier heads - probably Saugatuck & Grand Haven would be better than Holland though.

I'm happy with the 13 hits. The bite was definitely slower for us than the day before, but was still pretty darn good. I avoided putting out the copper until a couple hours after we started fishing. I lost a 400 copper last year to someone who barrelled across my lines on a west troll - when the pack was all North-South and then yelled at me on the radio to "learn how to drive" because we made him reset his rigger & diver...

I'll keep a better eye out on the wave period from now on. Might have something to do with it. Thanks.

Holland 8-20 am Fished Sunday with my friend Lek who's from Thailand. He is used to river fishing, but not so much big lake. It was too bumpy for us to go on the SW troll like the pack, and we struggled to get through all the boats. We started in 140 and ended up getting bumped in to 130 before we managed to sneak out on the NW troll. As soon as we hit 140 again rods started firing. We went 4/8 in the the first 30 minutes or so before the action died down. The rest of the morning we struggled to get hits and finished the day at noon going 7/13. We only hit fish on a NW/NNW troll direction. Speed was 2.0 to 2.5 at the ball. What worked? Riggers for the most part, but we took a few hits on the divers too. Rigger down 120 early, 150 later - 11" Double UV white paddle & Poofster Fly - HOT (4 for 6) Rigger down 105 - Moonshine Mag Flounder Pounder RV - HOT EARLY (2-4) Mag Diver on 1 back 205 - Netminder UV Showtime SD & Spotted Dick Meat Rig (1-1) Slide Diver on 3 back 270 - Flee 4 All Standard Sized Fuzzy Bear - (0-2) We put out a 400 copper, but didn't get hit. Rotated a few spoons out on it but nothing. -JDH

Port Sheldon Buoy wave height? Before the new website came up I knew that my comfortable limit for fishing was waves under 1.7 ft. Now a few times like today I go out and the buoy is saying 1.2 ft, but it's definitely rougher than the "old" 1.7? And the the other day is said 0.7 yet the lake was flat as glass? Something just seems off. -JDH

Holland 8-19 am Fished with Kid Coulson and Andy today. Thanks Andy ( @firstin ) for visiting the mitten state from Wisconsin. We had a good time today! We set lines at 6:30 in 140 fow working out on a SW. Fish started hitting when we got to 150 fow so we turned SSW and kept getting fish until 170 fow. Then the action died so we worked out and switched to a WNW troll and started getting fish again past 190 out to 210 where we quit. Speed at the ball 2.0-2.5. Story of the day was our biggest coho wrapped himself up in the leader line with my blue dolphin and broke off about 40 ft back. We did a tight (as possible) turn and went back up my GPS track & found him and scooped him up! Finished 11/13 with 4 kings, 4 coho, 2 steelies, and a lake trout. What worked: 2-3 Rigger down 120 - 11 inch white paddle & poofster fly 1-1 Rigger down 95 - Moonshine Mag Yellow Flounder 2-2 400 Copper - Mag silver streak Blue Dolphin 1-1 400 Copper - Moonshine RV Mag Blue Flounder 1-2 Slide Diver on 3 back 250 - Fuzzy Bear Flee 4 All 2-2 Mag Diver on 1 back 225 & 300 - Netminders UV Showtime SD and BW Spotted Dick meat rig 1-1 Mag Diver on 1 back 180 - White Glow & Green Spots SD and glow fly 1-1 Mag Diver on 1 back 205 - UV Green Bikini Bottom SD & Green Fly Going again tomorrow. Good luck guys! -JDH

Tie a 2 ft segment of 40 lb mono to the copper and tie the leadcore to the mono.