Tomcat

PriorGuy: Were your two big specs out of Lavielle?

Thanks for the input guys. However, I'm confused. Presently, I run a Lowrance X-85 during a week's fishing trip (Sat to Sat) off a 12 volt 33 Amp hour deep cycle battery without having to recharge the battery. My X-85 draws only 400 milliamps/hour with the back light off (90% of the time) and 700 milliamps per hour with the back light on (10% of the time). However, I'm considering upgrading my sonar unit to a colour unit (and maybe a GPS combo unit). Typically, such units draw 1500 milliamps per hour. My existing 33 amp hour battery would theoretically last just a little over two 10 hour days. Consequently, I've got to either purchase a bigger deep cycle battery or somehow recharge the existing battery. The latter possibility is why I asked my original question about whether my 15 HP Honda, outputting 1-2 amps at trolling speeds, could maintain my existing battery at or near full charge while powering a sonar unit. My neighbour advised me that my Honda had no chance of recharging my deep cycle battery because the output would have to be at least 10 amps to initiate the charging process. Any comments on his advice?

I need some help please. I recently purchased a new 15 HP four stroke manual start Honda outboard. The spec sheet says the motor's alternator will output 6 amps at 3000 rpm. I telephoned the Honda technical department and they said that the alternator will output 1 to 2 amps at trolling speed (90% of my fishing day will typically be at trolling speed). First question If I connect the alternator cables to my 12 volt deep cycle battery, would I be able to maintain my deep cycle battery at full charge while my deep cycle battery is dedicated to powering a colour sonar unit which draws 1.5 amps per hour? Note that I have always recharged my deep cycle battery (6 years of operation) at 2 amps. Second question Are there any connection caveats when I connect my sonar unit to my deep cycle battery (that has connections to my motor's alternator)? Thanks in advance.

We found a supplier who will custom make some Grave Digger Hair jigs for us. Consequently, we've been asked to specify what hooks and hook sizes we'd like in these jigs. Since we have no experience in this area, we would appreciate some advice. We're having these jigs made in 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 ounce sizes (we would have liked 1/16 ounce too but there is no 1/16 ounce jig mold available for this particular jig). Tentatively, we expect to specify a size 1 Mustad Aberdeen Jig hook for the 1/8 ounce jigs and a size 1/0 Mustad Aberdeen Jig hook for the 1/4 and 1/2 ounce jigs. These Mustad Aberdeen Jig hooks can be seen at http://www.mustad.no/catalog/product.php?id=640 Will we be OK with these hooks? Does anyone think that there's an advantage to using red hooks? We've also been asked to specify body colour, thread colour and hair colour. Consequently, we'd appreciate any advice on these selections as well. We will be using these jigs for walleyes in typical shield lakes and rivers. Thanks in advance.

Thanks guys. Appreciate the help.

Anyone know where I can purchase some Grave Digger Jigs? Thanks

If you are going to spend $ buying trolling crankbaits, then spend a few more $ to get the trolling bible "Precision Trolling 8th Edition". If you don't yet have a good line counter reel, get one of those too.

Thanks again Moosebunk for sharing a great northern trip with us southern boys. Nice pike. Great pics!

Suggest you have a look at http://www.lindyfishingtackle.com/pages/Drift_Control.shtml

Outdoorguy61: I'm not aware from where tomkat (original poster) hails but I'm (Tomcat) from the Ottawa area. Regardless, no harm done and no apologies required.

I'd recommend that you provide some detail about the type of fishing involved (e.g. walleye, lake trout, etc) as well as the types of water you plan to fish to facilitate people providing you more suitable options to address your requirements. What do you want a sonar/GPS unit to be capable of doing? If you can, establish your requirements first, not the budget. Satisfying budget constraints without satisfying your requirements is false economy.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I really appreciate the input.

Our group has been fishing together for 30 years. Normally, our trips have been to drive-to outfitter locations where we can unload everything directly into the cabin. On many of these trips we’ve taken two 18 liter car buoys of drinking water. However, this Aug, six of us are signed up for a week long walleye trip into a more remote cabin location. Everything we want/require must go into 16 foot aluminum boats and be transported over 2 portages (using a flatbed on rails). To avoid the weight and space requirements of two 18 liter car buoys of drinking water, I plan instead to take in a portable water filter, a MSR MiniWorks EX Filter – see http://www.rei.com/product/47575396.htm capable of producing 1 liter per minute. The resultant filtered water is acceptably clean of any bacteria but will still require further treatment (boiling or chlorination) to kill any viruses. I’d appreciate learning how others address the provision of acceptably safe drinking water on such trips. Thanks in advance.

I had a Tite-Lok transducer holder and wasn't happy with it - but I hadn't purchased the heavy duty model. Consequently, last year, I purchased a portable transducer bracket from Cabela's (see Item:IH-010095) called the Standard Boat Bracket and I've been more than satisfied with it. I can run WOT with a 15 HP outboard on an outfitters boat and my sonar screen looks identical to what I see when trolling at 1 mph. Here's a pic

Here's a reference to info on the Ontario Ministry of Transport web site dealing with trailoring - see http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/re...ns/trailers.htm

For Spiel and Roy: I've read/heard that most fishermen can't handle operating tillers over 60 HP. I'd appreciate comments from both of you on the validity of that statement since both of you are operating bigger tillers. I like to drive from the back too!

IMHO, its false economy to buy a sonar unit that doesn’t provide the performance you want/need. For instance, if you want to be able to see bottom hugging walleye, then a 480 vertical pixel unit would be preferred over a 240 vertical pixel unit. Here’s why. Target separation (e.g. seeing fish close to bottom) depends on screen resolution (pixel count) and the ability of the transmitter and receiver to generate a short pulse and then read it accurately. Divide the typical depth by the screen's vertical pixel count and you get the amount of linear depth represented by each vertical pixel. Consider a common fishing depth of 40 feet and compare the abilities of a 480 vertical pixel unit to a 240 vertical pixel unit. Multiplying 40 feet by 12, you get 480 inches. Divide 480 inches by 480 vertical pixels and you find out that each vertical pixel represents 1 inch. If you divide 480 inches by 240 vertical pixels, each pixel represents 2 inches. To separately display two targets (e.g. the fish and the bottom) you must have at least one blank pixel between them. Consequently, at 40 feet, the 480 vertical pixel unit is capable of showing something 1 inch off the bottom while the best the 240 vertical pixel unit is capable of doing is to show something 2 inches off the bottom. Consequently, with a 240 vertical pixel unit, you could miss walleyes hugging the bottom. However, for water depths and bottom contours only, I agree that a 240 vertical pixel unit is more than adequate.

Here's a recipe for walleye we've used numerous times. Fold tinfoil (18" wide X 36" long) in half to form square (18 X 18) Fold another piece of tinfoil exactly the same size Dice two large vidalia (or some other sweet) onions Dice two peppers (any colour you prefer) Mix the diced onion and pepper Spread a 5/8 inch layer of onion/pepper mixture on tinfoil Add 4 tablespoons of butter (1 in each quadrant) Place boneless walleye fillets on top of onion/pepper mixture Salt and pepper to taste (can add dill too if desired) Pour remaining onion/pepper mixture over fillets Can add 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup if mushroom gravy desired Cover with second piece of tinfoil Carefully fold all edges of tinfoil at least twice to close Cook on BBQ at medium high for 20 minutes I’ve cooked lake trout beside walleye in the same tinfoil package without any difficulties.

With respect to the bacon recipe posted, isn't the walleye way over cooked if you cook until the bacon is crispy? This isn't a criticism. I'm just wondering.

You might benefit from reading Baitcasting 101 and Baitcasting 201 from Fishingelbow's site - see http://pages.infinit.net/fishing/page7.html

Your reports just keep getting better and better. Thanks again for sharing.

Have a look at the Crestliner Canadian 1850 just for comparison before you buy.

Thanks again for sharing such a great adventure (as usual)!!!

Looks interesting - speckles and walleyes and northerns. That will make for some very good dinners. Looking forward to reading your report and hopefully, looking at some pics too.

Nelly: Sent you a PM this afternoon. Tomcat