Paulywood

I use a Uniden Solara radio and this antenna: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=15966&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50157&subdeptNum=50187&classNum=50188 I have had good luck with them and have very good reception. For being on the lower end of the price spectrum they perform very well. I have had a few friends that have also put them in and they have been happy with them also.

No, you combat fished last year. I combat rode around and broke your equipment:)

A couple of other things that are specific to me is that I refuse to run anything over 300' on principal. I'll use Divebombs to get deeper. I also don't combat fish. I hate it and refuse to do it. I am thinking about a short core or short copper on the extra rod. What is the copper equivalent to a 3 color and 5 color core? Maybe I'll try some short copper setups.

I think for this year I will keep the copper's at 300' and change the 7 color to something else. I can always run the 5 color with a divebomg to get deeper. I'm thinking a 125' or 175' copper. Will that fit on a Convector 45?

Thought I would get some opinions on this, here are my current core/copper setups: 2 Fullcore 1 7 color 1 Halfcore 1 3 color 1 2 color 2 300' copper setups All the core rods are on Okuma Convector 45's. The 7 color needs to be redone. Here is what I'm wondering. Should I keep the 2 copper setups as 300' or shorten 1? Should I turn the 7 color into a 3 color, 5 color or a copper setup? I just got the copper setups last year and 1 has never seen the water. Needless to say I'm not real confident in the copper as I am with core. I also have an assortment of Divebombs that I use to adjust to different depths. Thanks for your input.

Welcome aboard Greg!

I can make either Ken, so it doesn't matter to me. I can help out Jon in June, also.

I have the same one as Jim. I went through a couple of them while they worked out the bugs but the one I have now seems to be working good. I love having an AP and wouldn't fish without one again. It was an easy install.

Yeah, I have 5' on each side and all 3 companies are interchangeable.

Any of the 3 would be a good choice. If you go with the Bert's check out Northwood's in Pinconning. They have the best prices I have seen. I think you can even get them online.

Welcome Dave! My brother lives in North Branch which is over in your neck of the woods. Let us know if you need anything.

Welcome aboard Todd!

If I'm reading Matt's post correctly he was always going to school, just wondering if he should get his license now or not. The truth is there are few minuses in getting your license. The only ones I can think of are that you would have to fish tourney's as a pro and if you didn't keep it up you would have to pay for it again in the future. I think you know the pluses. As most have said, it's pretty tough to make a living fishing. But it can be done. It would be a lot easier to try when your young and don't have a lot of responsibility. Especially if you can start out running someone else's boat. While going for business would definitely be useful, you should also make sure you get a degree in a field that has high employment rates and pays well. Most of the guys who make it as full time fishermen made a good chunk of money in another career before fishing or have a second source of income to live off of. ie Their wife makes big money. Good luck with what you do, you seem to be pretty level headed.

I've bought things from them in the past and haven't had any issues. You might want to check with Frank at Calumet Marine. He sells a lot of electronics and is a sponsor here.

Agree with the above. I use a Uni to Uni to go from braid to mono and then a Willis to go from mono to core. I always use a double Willis and have never had one fail. I can even tie them on a boat.

I plan on swinging over friday after fishing the Saginaw River for some eyes.

Good job Kevin, gotta say, I'm a little jealous.

Honestly, I always fish every lure that I get for free. That being said, I think that it is better for lure companies to get their products into the hands of the weekend warrior types than into the charter or pro tournament anglers. The smaller guys are actually buying lures where as the other guys are usually sponsored. If you are getting equipment from one company, it is unlikely that you will run lures from another company. I know that some of the companies have sponsored events such as the WMFL and the Muskegon League (sorry Don, can't remember what it's called) and I hope they feel that this has been beneficial to them. I know that I always appreciated it and if I had luck with the lures I went out of my way to post reports and fish them as the year went on. JMO

I use them and they have really come in handy. I had success when the water warmed up putting them on a fullcore to get deeper before I had copper. I have also used them to shorten up lines, ie getting a 5 or 7 color to run as deep as a full core. They aren't hard to get off the line, easier than an inline board. I also put them about halfway down the core. If you use them and get comfortable with them I think they can be very valuable but that's JMO.

Nice rig! Welcome aboard.

I have big Jon electrics and had big Jon manuals and they have been great for me. Check out lord of the riggers for the best prices.

A broiling pan works well. Also there is a recipe for bacon wrapped laker in f & s this month.

I know some guys replace the I with a u, because they are ficht up engines. A lot of guys just mixed the oil to bypass the injection system. I would be wary.

I know that towns & cities are required to separate the sewers. Lansing & grand rapids are both doing it now but it's expensive & takes time. I know I don't like fishing for taper headed brown trout.

I have a 22' sportcraft and rigged it with 2 riggers in the corners and 5' of tracks on each side. I have 2 bert's holders on each side and a set of home made trees. I would like a set of big Jon trees but they aren't in the budget. The adjustability is great. I like my layout.