Priority1

Thanks for the tip Capt. Levi. I mostly run two riggers, so I'll switch one to the Rubber band set up. I Used rubber bands for yrs off my big boards. I have one Downrigger cable that needs a couple of feet chopped of because it's frayed. I'll just chop an extra foot off and make one these LEVI SPECIALS. I can't say that I had that many releases with no one home with the Walkers. One thing for sure this is as inexpensive as you can get, and if it works even just as well I'll be sold.

Nice boat Plumbcrazy. I'm trying to count the rods sticking up in the air. You can never have too many. LOL:)

You can launch a small boat @ Tawas River and most of Tawas bay is clear. You may have to dodge some ice flows but that changes with the wind. Be careful by the river mouth. Sand seems to wash in @ the mouth of the river. The main harbor near the State Police Post (DNR Launch) is still iced in. There is still ice near Tawas Point.

I use the Walkers also and they are just above the ball whatever distance the snaps are. I know some balls have a place to hook the release, but I think it's a little safer a touch above the ball. If you ball starts ticking the bottom at least your lure will have a few inches of insurance and hopefully not foul up.

Has anyone tried the Gulp Cut bait? I got a few cut bait rigs with my boat. I have tried Salmon bellies, and some herring with limited success. If the Gulp works it may be easier to keep than the herring strips. I only ran 1 cut bait set up a few times last yr. My glow stuff was so hot I kind of forgot about it. Any tips would be appreciated.

1. Glow YellowTail Silver Streak and any number of patterns in the Super Glow colors, any brand spoon. It seemed to be a coin flip here. The glows were HOT. Most of the time we run the spoons behind a 8 inch white or green glow Fish Catcher Flasher. If it was in their face they were hooked. The Super Glows were slightly better than the regular glows, but most of the time it was FISH ON shortly after putting them down. A Glow Squid behind a glow 8 inch white Fish Catcher Flasher. Note. If I had 2 riggers and 2 dipsys set the dipsys would most always out do the riggers. The exception to this is when there were a lot of fish deep. We always fished early mornings and L8 evenings. KINGS DO IT IN THE DARK.

Welcome Lef T. It's good 2 have U here.

I use the Walker releases and have them tightened down so the fish hook up before they release. Sharp hooks are a MUST. It is also very important to be on the rod instantly. We have also gotten into the habit of Reeling like a mad man even before pulling the rods from the holders. This is even more important with sliders. By reeling first you take up any slack line quickly. If a rigger rod goes on my boat, don't be between me and that rod unless you have it in your hand. LOL:)

I have a 6-1/2 footer I'm setting up for leadcore, but my rigger rods are 8 and 8-1/2 footers.

Yes, the flasher fly, flasher squid, and flasher spoon have been hot for quite a while. The glow stuff puts many fish in my cooler. Come on Spring.

Just another tool for the box. Time will tell, if this tool will gain acceptance. Maybe next year I'll hear all the fantastic reports on this GR8 new product, and just have to have a few. I use Dipsys, leadcore, Bottom Bouncers, Jet Divers, Inline weights, snap weights, Rubber core weights, Downriggers, and just plain old sinkers, to get my offerings in front of the fish. I probably should have some of these. By the way, I just had Perch and Walleye for dinner. (about once a week) I said never, then maybe to leadcore. Now I'm setting up a 8 color rod and a 2 color rod. (Cazz You're a smooth talker). Just like Tim Taylor when he walks in Sears, and views the Craftsman tools. My nipples are getting hard.

A Warm Welcome 2 U Matt. U will like it here. A lot of GR8 info on this site. I fish the Saginaw Bay out of AuGres. I make it over to Manistee 3 or 4 times L8 Summer. I run a 86 Starcraft Islander Hardtop. My avatar looks just like my rig when I yell fish on and I'm into a King. Frank

A warm Welcome 2 U Tony. Maybe I'll run into U on the Saginaw Bay. I fish mostly out of AuGres. I also make as may trips as I can in L8 Summer to Manistee to fish for Kings. It's good to have another East sider onboard. Priority1 standing by on 68 Out. Frank:)

My 22 foot Islander is light, and I only have a 140 HP 4 cyl Mercruiser. Most fishing trips I average about 1 to 1-1/2 gal per hr. If I limit fast the GPH rate goes up because the ratio of run time to trolling time. I never run wide out unless I have to. I get it on plane and pull the throttle back to just maintain it. I spend a lot more time trolling, than I do running. I spend a lot of time making sure everything is in top running condition.

Mines a 86. Got to luv them Starcrafts. Mine Looks just like my avatar when I get hooked up. LOL same color and a hardtop.

FreeTime, VN Setup. I'll bet when you open that 200 up, the only thing in the water is the prop. Lund builds a GR8 boat.

Been there Mark. Last Summer I netted a big King and had the rigger wire wrapped up in the net. It was my grandson's first King fishing trip, and the Salmon were giving him his baptism of fire. What a bear trying to get that mess squared away. Before I could even start to get it untangled, fish on the other side. I always have two nets onboard. Memories are made of this stuff.

lhvernon, Nice boat, and fish Capt. I like your catchy name, and everyone knows I'm partial to Hardtops.

Are you talking about Yellow Birds when you mentioned "Bird Rods"? I do use 30# Spiderwire braid on my Low Divers (Dipsys). I use 25# Ande on my High Divers (SlideDivers). I wouldn't change a thing on my Dipsys or SlideDivers. They sure put a lot of fish in the box last year.

GJ Dan. What a day to be out there.

The ballast water, Sewer leaks, and intentional sewage discharges, do need to be addressed by the legislature. What gives municipalities the right to send there Sh-- downstream??? Sewage should run in their streets, if they can't process it, but NOT in our rivers lakes and streams. The big problem is the way most cities set their sewer systems up. If there were separate sewers for storm and sanitary there wouldn't be the problems we have now. Most municipalities have combination sewers. Separate sanitary sewers wouldn't need to be near as large as the storm sewers. It all boils down to $$$$. Over the long run not having to treat storm water along with household waste, probably would pay for the separate sewers. Even if the $$$ payback isn't quite there, certainly clean water is worth the investment. Many cities have opted to build retention basins, to hold storm water and sewage until it can be run through their sewage treatment plants. Retention basins help, but unfortunately they are not sized to handle the big storms. My 2 cents and then some.

I ran Trilene 17 XT for yrs, but I got a deal on some Ande 25 so I gave it a whirl. The 25 didn't seem to have an adverse effect on the # of fish we hooked. I also use my riggers for walleye and run Trilene Big Game 10 for them, and the same for the boards. The reels I use for walleye have 17# backer and about 100 yrds of 10# on top. We seldom get out much more than 100ft of line fishing for eyes.

Luv dem SeaRays. Certain Hulls are EZ to spot on the water, from far away. Sea-Rays are one of them. A Quality ride there Mike.

VN Boats. Luv that Fly Bridge.

I had a gift card for Frank's Great Outdoors, so I got my fishing lic. on that. The person @ Frank's said the fees were not going up this year. It seems like it would be hard for them to charge two different rates for the same season, but nothing would surprise me.