2UNREEL

My brother and I fished in 140-150fow Sunday morning went 6 for 7. We took fish off the riggers 92 down and 37 down. And half the fish came off full core with Stingray spoons worked best. Surprized I did not get even a bump on my diver spindoctors. We marked several fish up high and down low. surface temp was 74-75 degrees. Mainleyl NW worked .

Sounds like a blast!!! Tis the season for furious action...

Check out: http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Marine/Full-Size-GPS-Chartplotters/GlobalMap-5300C-iGPS/Downloads/GlobalMap-5300C-iGPS-Software-Update/ They just updated this firmware on 3/10/08 so if you havent done it I would suggest it, they fixed alot of stuff: Added Lowrance HD radar support via serial communications Added Greek language Added Polish language Added ability to take a screenshot capture of the display on the unit and save to a card/hard drive – In Screen Snapshot mode, use the power key to capture the screenshot Added Navionics Platinum support including 3D view and panoramic photos Added support for the Lowrance Broadband Sounder-1 Updated language translations Improved sonar digital depth tracking in weeds and over bluffs Improved Navionics support Changed Map/Sonar/Radar page to be resizeable Includes all features from previous updates, including: Modified backlighting properties Added ability to add depth as overlay data Improved ethernet stability Moved the Cancel Navigation menu item to the top of the system menu Many modifications to radar settings and features Modified SD/MMC data storage properties Added support for HDM NMEA0183 sentence Improved Navionics card support Added sonar sharing over ethernet Modified memory card reading functionality Enhanced Navionics support Enhanced NauticPath electronic chart support

Nice Report. Sounds like the J-Plugs have been producing lately. Rookies always make the trip that much more of a story to tell.

Nice job Mike, It sounds like you could'nt go wrong.....

WOW!!! I'll bet that was a great time. I love them perch!

It is to an 8 year old boy that never been on the big lake before! The boat got him good!!

Would of been out there with ya Saturday on my old mans boat but we took out a few newbies and within a matter of a half hour we had 1 black eye and 2 sickies aboard and had to head for the next bridge in. I might be out there this Sunday on my boat maybe we can link up.

Thanks for taking my picture Mike, I will PM my email to you. I diddn't have much to haul into the weigh in like the mighty Pirate that washed my boat with squirt guns on the way in. I was happy to finally be on the lake after rebuilding my engine. I still have some carb work to do, other than that we enjoyed ourselves and were happy to help a kid in need.

Still having some trouble with the carb but other than that I love it.

Nice job!!, I know I have pulled some pretty decent crappie out of that lake just off the point.

Thanks for the reply, I would have bought a F250 diesel had the fuel cost been cheeper. I drive my Expedition truck 65 miles a day and its not horrible on gas, I average 15-16mpg and so far what little I have towed my new boat it has not been too bad. The test will be hauling up to Muskegon this weekend. I have now rebuilt the entire top end of the engine in my boat and I will be testing it out on Thursday in prep for the Dreamweaver CFT on sunday. I am EXCITED!!!! Thursday will only be the 2nd time I have had this boat on the water, I need to get my programs set. I haven't even powered up and used my new Lowrance fish finder yet

Great Job and quick thinking getting him home safely. I try to do drills when ever I can to school greenhorns what to do in those situations. We all have to put trust in each other in those situations, glad your buddy will be ok.... P.S. I ate a marginal meal at Cousins last Wed. after returning my drink with a mile long hair curled in it.... Not the first time there, but will be my last.

Some Marinas prey on wealthy people who don't care how much it is and others go out of business eventually. I prefer the internet, all the information and parts are there you just have to spend time finding the right place. I also found NAPA carries marine parts. I got a Sierra manifold and riser gasket set the other day in NAPA and it was in the store the next day. Paid 13 bucks.

Thanks for the tip 1 Mainiac. I am working on rebuilding the top end of my engine at the moment. When thats done I will seal the deal on the new boat with the name on the transom. I will make sure the paint he uses is the right stuff...

Love the sea rays.... Nice rig.

Last night I pulled the exhaust manifolds and I think that gasket between the riser and the manifold has been been for a while. I belive the water definely came in from the exhaust, just not positve where. I am trying to determine if I need to replace the manifolds and risers or not. While I'm half way there I am going to pull the heads and probbably do a valve job on them just to make sure everythings ok. I still need to determine why I had low compression in the two cylinders. I'll be on the water someday......Hopefully before the next tournament.

My father in law came over last night and he is a pretty darn good mechanic. We checked the compression and #6 had 40lbs and #5 on the opposite side had 50lbs. All the rest of the cylinders had 150lbs. We fired the motor up cause he wanted to hear it and he says there is no doubt in his mind that I have a couple of sticky exhaust valves, you can hear the motor at low idle and sometimes they are working and sometimes they are leaking. Also the noise that I am hearing that I thought was piston slap is comming from the new flappers that I put it. They must be sticking occationally, I don't know what to think about those if there in upside down or what. So I suppose I am going to try some magic formula of some kind in a can and run it for a while in the yard and recheck the compression to see if it helps and maybe be able to use it untill I have time to tear down and do a propper valve job. I am going to pull off the exhaust risers and check them cause there is evidence of water around them and replace the gasket, it could be a combo of the flappers and risers letting a tiny bit of water in through a stuck open valve.

I have a 1985 Sea Ray 250. It has a mercruiser 260 FWC. I am going through doing a tune up before I put it back in the water. I am running on ear muffs. The engine sounded good at higher rpm but at low rpm the engine would surge. Occationally off and on I would hear what I would call piston slap or something not firing. I was suspect of the #6 cylinder when I pulled the plugs cause to me it looked like water on the plug along with some oil fowling. So after the new plugs were installed I pulled the #6 plug while running and the engine did not skip a beat. So I pulled the plug and found water on the new plug. I installed new water shutters a few weeks ago cause when I test drove the boat I could hear them slapping the y-pipe. The new shutters I put in seem to be tight fitting and seem to somewhat stick closed. The shutters do not close comepletley either? Could I get water backing up from those shutters into the engine? Or will the pressure from the exhaust blow and keep those open? I sanded the inside of the pipe to allow the shutters to be smoother but they are still somewhat sticky. Also I have evidence of water leakage at the base of my risers? Is this an indicator that the gasket could be shot and I may get water into the exhaust from there? Or do I have my garden hose turned up too much and somehow getting excess water in the engine? On another note it seems like I have what I call steam comming out of my vent tubes from the valve covers to the flame arrestor....Is that normal?........ I am at witts end I need help anything please.... I think my next step is a compression check that I should have done before I bought the boat:confused: Andy

It is also referred to as some form of obsession as well. Welcome aboard!

Well I had problems of my own. After fighting electrical problems before heading out of the yard, we made it out to lake at 4pm. Got out to the lake to discover the new boat needs a new impeller. To make matters worse I have issues with the shifter cable and between the over heating and stalling it was a nightmare today. Looks like I'll be wrenching on the boat this week to get her out and dial it in for the next league event. Wish me luck, I need it!!

What is the best way to prep your hull for some new vinyl stickers to remove any wax or debris? I am ready to put the name on the new boat and also add a little artwork with an airbrush. Am I going to need to clear coat over any paint I apply?

Lure: #116 RAC spoon (aka Nuclear Beaver, is what I call it) Fav. Port: South Haven fished there my whole life. Fav. Person to fish with: My DAD

Well tonight when I got home from work I loaded up the family and headed out to Eagle lake. The mission was to catch my son his very first fish. He is a month away from 2 years old and long past do for reeling in his own fish. Well first cast, I handed him the pole and wammo blue gills were swarming the wax worm. After showing me his bobber go up and down round and round and what seemed like 5 minuites, he finally reeled it in all on his own. About an hour and a half later we had several more little gills and 352 tangles around his pole, his siters and his feet we called it a good night. I managed only one hook in the back after my almost 3yr old daugter learned that daddy doesnt need to cast for her anymore. I am very proud of them and can't wait for their first salmon. I keep an old Penn 309 around and it is one of my sons favorite toys.

My family has boated out of South Haven for over 25 years and I have first hand witnessed it seiche well over 3 ft or better before in a matter of minuites. We have had to chop dock lines on boats to keep them from getting swamped. It is an amazing event.