2UNREEL

Received a report of some kings spawning on the PM last week. He says they were kings. I would call that pretty late and messed up. Despite the warm water, fishing was great last year possibly better for me. The fish will be around for quite some time, they just might change their habits.

Last year the Silver Streak Sponge Bob was rockin the late afternoon evening bite.

If you mean a few bugs by letting people deaviate from the rules you have set than you have a lot of bugs to work out. I am sorry to have to say this but if you let someone weigh fish after the check in time of the rules you set you are leting them cheat. This is no different than any other tournament rules. You let boats weigh in past the weigh time and the stole money from the other boats that followed the rules and did what the rules said. Rules are rules and if anyones a critic of them it is you. Reguardsless of being a fun tournament there are rules in place. If you truely want a fun tournament than make no rules otherwise you are condoning cheating by letting people break rules, and more than once....

Back in the day I knew a guy with an RDF(Radio Directional Finder). Not sure how it works for sure but I remember using it in a heavy fog to determine location. I think the coast guard uses these or use to. Boat names are often duplicated and that sucks but to give bad info on a severe storm is murder.

It was a great trip, and a HUGE thanks to Captain Chip for the great time. Its amazing to come together with great people from up and down the lake who share common interests. There never is a dull moment and always something new to learn about someone or something. This is the kind of thing that promotes our sport and if anyone gets a chance to take someone else fishing from another port or another state I would highly recommend it. I can tell you one thing those walleye guys will give you one heck of a workout......non-stop action. A big thanks to Terry for the quick tour of the Detroit ghetto and getting us home safe

(correction)That Silver Streak mini mixed veggie is permanetly attached to my 3 color. I had fun watching Jarod reel in that dandy greaser. Most of all the boat was running again and I am a quarter way through the new drive break in.

I highley doubt it is gear ratio. The gear ratio would not make a 75% decrease in wot . I would look to make sure you have not spun a hub in your prop. Also the new (used) lower unit could be cavitating from exhaust around the diameter of the prop housing if it is worn. Does your prop mate up nice and tight? Also due to age of the ouboard you may have an ignition issue with the points. My 2 cents

I am with you.....believe me. This year our boats are heavy on the pocket book. The fish will appreciate the nice work done.

Great job on the tow, we all need help from time to time. Sounds like you were fishing Allegan Dam for a minute.

Spoke too soon, looks like I will be pulling the motor next weekend to change the coupler maybe I will catch you all at the next outing.

Hopefully the 2UNREEL will be in full effect next weekend mechanically dependent.

Sounds like you guys had a BLAST!!

Sweet looking boat. I love the sea rays and its going to be a nice one when your done. That's an awesome name I googled it

Nice work guys! Jarod has the Steelhead down now

Wishin I had twins yesterday. I am partial to Sea Rays so good luck, I think you'll like it. It's fun to rig a virgin fishing boat.

Nice job Randy

Coast Guard Aux and Tow Boat US are not in the water in South Haven yet. I was at the mercy of other fisherman. I was exhausting all my resources to help a fellow sportsmen out before having to call 911 and have St. Joe coast guard haul me in.

You have that right Frank. Conditions change in a heartbeat on Lake Michigan and you never know what can happen. There is no worse feeling than being stranded and trying to figure out how your going to get out of it. If I was taking on any water I would have been screwed the 2 hours that I was at drift trying to raise help. I will drop anything anywhere to help someone in distress. I have been involved in boating my whole life and seen body bags on swim platforms come in the channel. All over a minor mechanical malfunction gone horribly wrong. I never want to see that again.

This is what happens when your outdrive upper gear case blows when your running on plane. The chunk missing from the housing was laying in the bellows and could have been a disaster. The castle nut ring thing should be screwed on the housing versus blown over the yoke on the u-joint. I am sure the gears are a pile of mush. At least for myself I did not do any wrenching on this part of the outdrive, that was done last spring a Fenville Marine. You just never know when this stuff is gonna blow. New outdrive is on order...

Captain(Jeff) and crew of the Silver King out of South Haven are an outstanding bunch of guys. My upper gear case gears on my outdrive blew out on our way to do some fishing 5 mi south of south haven today. They pulled their lines and without hesitation pulled us in to the public launch. This time of the year its not easy finding a tow boat let along another boat out on the big pond. Thank you air horn and vhf for hailing our rescuers. I am in forever debt to those guys.

2UNEEL with be out there tomorrow. We are going to run south out of South Haven and shut down at the Palisades and run south. We may wind up in St. Joe but we should be in radio range. Good luck all I know I will need it early spring is not my strong point.

Here are a few things to consider when taking people fishing with you. Many people loose sight of some of the dangers during a sport like salmon fishing. Please add to this list as I will not cover everything. 1. Train EVERYBODY on board how to: - use the Radio channel 16. It will call the coast guard or anyone near to assist you. - Location of all the life jackets and how to use them. Recommend they wear one. Make sure they all fit. - Basic functions of how to operate the boat. forward, neutral and reverse - Read the Longitude and Latitude on the GPS. This is key to get help in a hurry. - Where the fire extinguishers and flares are located 2. Drive the fact in everyone's head that people are more important than fishing gear and NO ONE is going overboard. Everyone looks out for everyone. Grab them just because. I would rather get my shirt ripped off my back cause someone thought I was going over than having someone watch me flip over the transom. I saved my father from going over the back with 3 lures deep in his hand. He was trying to untangle them and a cannon ball got caught in a gill net. People on board watched it happen. I reacted and saved him by his ankles, it haunts me to this day. 3. Carry a leatherman, knife, clippers or something in your pocket to cut lines / wires fast. You never know when you will need them and you will find it very handy. Anything beyond a couple of twists in the line I cut and retie. 4. Watch the weather. Sometimes the best weatherman is you. Many many websites will show forecasts, take a look before you go and you may be able to save yourself from getting caught by a heavy front. Assume the worst and don't try to outrun a front cumming at you for 5 more min of fishing. Run into port and if it clears head back out. 5. Put gas in the boat. Its expensive but better than finding yourself 20 miles out with steelhead flying and no gas to get home. Some VHF radios may not have the range to call for help and cell service is spotty. Also waves can pick up fast and you might find yourself burning LOTS o Fuel to get back to port.

Great thread.

That's great to hear Don...... I knew we could get your boat set up to get rid of that kicker. It has been bugging me all winter.

Nice Steel...we'll look forward to your return after your surgery good luck