Priority1

I second the Dipsy recommendation. It's an inexpensive way to start. As mentioned you will need some sturdy rod holders. You will also need some sturdy rods. Dipsys pull very hard, and there are rods made just for them. You may also want to consider a Leadcore setup run of an inline planer board. Welcome aboard Clyde.

GJ Phil. Luv it when it all comes together.

WTG minnow. It will keep getting better into Sept.

I sent you a PM Tom. GJ on the fishing.

WTG King. I may just have to spend some Yankee dollars in Canada next year.

I had my digital camera along, but I never took a picture. All our fish were in the 6 to 15 pound range. I probably would have taken several pics but I was busy trying to deal with the extras that were tossed in the game. Yes I'll fish the Stinger. I will have the Alternator done this week, and hopefully the rigger as well. I was going to sell some rods and reels this Winter. After this trip, I think I'll keep all these rods as spares. I may sell some reels. I was all setup for downrigger fishing when I bought this boat that was also set up. I may be able to repair one of the broken rods, and I'll keep the other broken ones for parts. We broke one rod last year, but I was able to shorten it 6 inches, near the female joint, and make it functional again. I never looked that close at any of the breaks, and may be able to repair all of them. I do a lot of tinkering during the Winter.

GJ Mike and son. I love it when the kids get involved.

Roger69 from this site and I fished Manistee from Wed till Fri. AM. We had a great time fishing although it wasn't my most productive trip there. We both brought home a good load of salmon for the smoker. The trip started off by me forgetting my new leadcore setups. Yes I know I'm a dummy. My Dipsy setups, that were hot last yr, only took a couple of hits with no fish in the box from them. Riggers did fine. Our most productive bait was a white ladder back J plug that I super glowed myself. To add to the problem of not bringing my leadcore rods, we broke 3 rods on this trip. I fell on one rod in the riggers holder when the boat was hit by a four footer. Another broke while I was netting a fish. I was just commenting on how I never broke 2 rods in a trip before, when I notice another rod with a crack in it. 3 fricken rods broke. Stay tuned this gets better. I did bring along two extra rods, and 2 brand new LC reels, that were in the cabin as standbys. We were fishing with 10 rods, that were in the rocket launcher and other holders. Priority1 (The Boat) is limping a little, but she will be OK with another $100 donation from her generous owner. The voltage regulator went haywire, and was putting out way too much voltage on and off throughout this trip. When it would go into high voltage mode the alternator would make a screeching sound that I'm sure must have acted as a fish call (NOT). Due to it's age I'm replacing the alternator and not just it's internal regulator. But wait there's more. After dark Thursday I hook into a nice King. No problem so far, as the Priority1 has some nice lights shining down on the fish area. With rod in one hand I hit the up switch to bring that ball up and swing the Port out and down rigger back to make a little room. All of a sudden I notice the cable spooling out. I checked the clutch only to find that the clutch rod was broken and the nob and rod came out in my hand. I called Roger off the wheel and he quickly grabbed the cable and wrapped it around a rod holder. I proceed fighting the King and after all this Roger skillfully scoops this fish up in the net. Now the fun begins. I have to inch aprox. 150 ft of rigger cable up by palming the riggers wheel with one hand and using the other hand as a brake. after one heck of a long time I get my ball and release into the boat. But wait there is more. During all this trouble we did manage to break off a Dipsy along with a flasher and squid. I have NEVER had a trip with so many things line up against me. Yes I will go back:). My riggers like the boat are 21 yrs old. I'm going to contact Cannon for the part, and check my other riggers also. Our best depth was 80-100 FOW with riggers set @ 50-55. We fished in the 10s just S. of the nets where I had a few way points from last yr. The nets covered up a few of my way points. To get around the nets, we stayed less than 50 FOW or more than 200 FOW. The nets are a PITA but don't let that stop you from fishing Manistee. The fishing there will only get better through August and early Sept. It does make it tougher, but you can fish Manistee even in the dark, if you have the net coordinates. There should be a limit to the number of nets placed in an area.

Personally I use both mags and regular size super glow spoons made by various manufacturers. Sometimes less is more. Even when the fish are hitting mags I seldom use a magnum spoon as a slider. Find out what they want, and give em lots of it.

WTG Salmonquest.

If you can't find the exact thing, get one that is close and color it yourself.

I have been checked a few times on the big water. I was checked a couple of weeks ago @ the dock in AuGres. They boarded my vessel while I was getting the truck. They never asked my permission. I guess they asked one of the crew if they could check our fish. They never asked for a license, but they were all over my boat including the cabin looking for another cooler. One of my crew boxed a Walleye that was 1/8 of an inch short. He did let us off with a warning. We had a legal limit of 15 fish.

WTG R-Turn. Wishin I was Salmon Slamin.

I'm glad you got it figured out Stillfish. Nice night to be on the water.

GJ Jon wtg.

I have some older Cannon Electrics but never noticed the hole. I think you can loosen the clutch and let them down, but I ALWAYS power mine down. Power down and you will never have any doubts about tangles, resulting from lowering the ball too fast. My riggers were weathered when I bought the boat, so I'm sure they sat out uncovered. My boat is always garaged now. Oops you were talking BigJ ons LOL. Well the power down still applies.

I answered your PM Tom. I'm not fishing that tourney but I should be around all weekend. Probably will not go out fishing until at least Sun. I'll need to recover from the 3 day trip to Manistee.

GJ gang. Cazz is just laying in the weeds waiting to put it to ya when you fish the real deal.

GJ Tom. I going to try and get over there Wed-Fri. What kind of a heading out of the harbor do you need to stay in the 16s and 17s? I usually head straight out of the harbor and fish the shelf. I haven't been there yet this yr, so the nets are all new to me.

GJ Mark. I'm going to try and make it to Manistee this week.

It's not fair catching fish using phones. It's too easy to keep em on the line.

GJ Mike.

I'm glad you took a couple of them Witt. Better days are coming.

Glad your better half is back home. I'm assuming that you want to fish Lake Erie.

WTG Jon.