fundseeker

Is anyone catching salmon in The Big Sound out from Parry Sound?

Is anyone using anti glare "Graph Glass " brand fishfinder screen protectors? I'm considering some for my Solix's and Livescope graph. Other brands?

I installed a boarding platform with telescoping steps that I bought off Kijiji on my 16 ft Misty River. Great for swimming and legal for emergency re-entry into the boat if you fall out. Otherwise you would need to carry a portable gunnel mount ladder which really don't work very well on many boats . And if you fall overboard while alone there's no one on board to place the ladder for you.

I've been burning through a $10 3 volt Energizer battery every 2 days of fishing or so with 6 hours on the motor per trip on avg. 3-4 days per week. . I use the pedal and the remote not just remote. The Duracells last for weeks but they are hard to find at store front retailers with none in Parry Sound. . As someone said it could be the tolerances of the battery to the remote causing the excessive usage on Energizer brand . On a retirement income $7 every 2 weeks is preferable to $10 every 2 days.

Mountain Equipment stores have Duracell CR 2450's for $5.96 each. I'm picking 4 up curbside on Thursday when I'm in Barrie for an appointment. I hope they don't try to swap out with Energizers . The duracells definitely last longer in my remote.

I agree with fisherman. I do a full tie down with chain on the bow eye and transom straps even though I'm 5 minutes to home from the launch ramp.

The Rainbow numbers are nothing like they were 2 years ago. The 30,000 fish that escaped from the fish farm have been depleted by Mannnnny happy fisherman. You might catch one off the Salt dock . If you have a boat you can fish beyond 100 ft of the fish farm where some escapees and occasional naturals still hang out. But as I said locals and GTA day fishers are getting far fewer than before.

I bought 2 strips of bunk material that Connor industries who build Stanley aluminum boats cut off a 4 x 8 sheet of material.

Just wondering if anyone has found an inexpensive online source or store front for Minkota hand held remote controller batteries . I prefer the Duracel 2450 over the energizer because they last much longer.

Oops just noticed there is a Contest section where I should have posted this.

Just thought I'd mention that there is a new contest with $100,000 worth of trips to Northern Ontario fishing lodges being given away to help promote their businesses hit hard by Covid 19. You can sign up for it on the Fishin Canada TV show website. You can enter as a contestant or just enter to vote for other contestants . Even just voting can win you a trip. Good Luck!

I'm Glad you enjoyed your camping /Fishing trip in "The Hoot" . ( "refers to frequent train whistles in and around the town") I've been fortunate to live here for 35 years. "Ya'll Come Back Now"

If you go with a 12 volt Minkota be sure to get one with the Max designation . Those models have variable speed versus set speeds. The Max versions will allow your battery to provide usable power for 3 to 5 times longer. I've had 12 volt Minkotas on 12 and 14 ft boats. I now have a 24 volt bow mounted 80 lb Terrova with 3 year old Wally world deep cycle batteries on my 16 ft aluminum with 50 hp outboard. . I really prefer the 24 volt motor with remote control and foot control. The new versions have better spot lock than mine provides. I troll , anchor and maneuver the boat for casting all day with the electric motor virtually never trolling with my 2 stroke outboard . I live retired in Parry Sound and put a lot of hours on that Terrova fishing numerous days per week. I wouldn't go back to a 12 volt motor.

Anyone looking for a 1200 in Lb torque drill for powering a manual ice auger should check out Home Depot in " Newmarket". They have a Milwaukee Fuel hammer drill / impact driver combo regular $500 for $349.00 which includes the model 2704-20 drill and the 2753-20 impact driver with a 5 Amp hr and a 2 Amp Hr battery and charger in a case. The sales guy there said it was a special combo brought in normally sold in the U.S. I don't know if this combo is available at other Depot's , they seemed to have a very large Milwaukee inventory with promo canopy set up at this store. They said there is usually a Milwaukee rep in the store but he wasn't there Thursday. I grabbed one to power my 8" Fin Bore 3 auger with a Clam conversion Plate I picked up at Sail . Just thought some of you might be considering this and might want to save some $ . Good luck!

Has anyone turned an 8" Fin Bore with the Clam Conversion Kit Gear Box on the Clam Drill Plate with a smaller drill? I am wondering if my CTC Maximum 20 volt Lithium Ion drill putting out 500 inch lb will turn an 8" with the new gear reduction box now available . It will turn my old 6" F.B. for many holes in 2-3-ft of ice no problem but barely turns the 8" F.B. I just bought . The anti overtorque shut off built into the batteries shuts it down every 5 sec or so. The gear reduction box would be a lot cheaper than the M18 Milwaukee .

I bought the Elite 7 Ti last July and am not really satisfied with it. I should probably pay someone to properly dial it in for me me. Not sure where to go in the Muskoka/Parry Sound/ Barrie vicinity. I have spent a lot of time fine tuning the unit and the transducer height on transom and attitude . It is very difficult to keep the extra long , heavy transducer at the same angle after using the boat for a while in waves. It gets knocked off allignment pretty easy.( It has the second generation metal mount) I purchased dimpled machine bolts to go with the supplied dimpled locking nuts they provide but still not adequate to hold it in position . I might need to fashion a turnbuckle affair to it to hold it in place and allow minute adjustments of the transducer angle. Odd that I can't see half of what I am writing in this forum window.

I recall that the unit must be grounded properly for the touch screen to work if the transducer is out of water or you are working on a bench. There is a video on the Lowrance Utube channel that explains how to run it on a bench . It seems to contravene their suggestion that running the transducer out of water may cause it to overheat and damage it. Probably best to call them. I mat still have one of the Lowrance rep's email address if you need it for direct contact.

Hi , my neighbour and I are heading up to the Key River from Parry Sound for the day tomorrow. Just wondering if it's worthwhile fishing for walleye in the river or if we should head out to the river mouth at Geo Bay ? Thanks!

I am considering installing a suspension seat(s) in my 16 Ft side console Misty River aluminum boat due to bad back and neck. I'm hoping to get some feedback . HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS ? ( Not air ride pedestals) AND COMPARED THE RIDE TO Smooth Moves or similar scissor / Hydraulic type suspensions? Two companies who sell both types suggest air ride is superior. Initially I bought some 2 7/8" Springfield EZ Ride Pedestals with base for $250 Cdn , but then found out my seat base is 2 3/8" so I will need to spend $100 + more to get a seat mount that will fit the EZ Ride pedestal . So I'm up to $400.00 or more. I read that they aren't all that good with some concerns about rebound issues. Smooth Moves Ultra Suspensions a scissor type / hydraulic unit rated good are too expensive, Wave Pro pedestals rated very good are $900 still expensive. I got talking to Darby Corp. in Sudbury who sells the identical suspension mechanism to Smooth Moves for $380 but doesn't include the pedestal , swivel or slide rails that Smooth Moves does. Another company in Alberta, Ultra Seats Corp. can provide a similar appearing mechanism to Smooth Moves BUT with AIR RIDE ( built in compressor) rather than Hydraulic including pedestal,floor mount,and swivel for $650 Cdn I am leaning toward this latter air ride suspension which can be adjusted with the press of a button. ( The sales guy says they install them in RCMP zodiacs and other boats with good results , as well as using them in small heavy equipment applications ) Thanks

Thanks very much for your replies and advice guys. Your ideas will assist me with my method to install the transducer. Can't wait to get the finder installed and go fishing again.

Hi, I'm looking for your thoughts on the following method to install a large transducer on a transom? I am considering bolting a piece of 1" x 6" Trex composite deck board onto my 16Ft Misty River aluminum transom on which I will mount the 11" long Lowrance Elite Ti transducer . ( This will allow me to move it around , drilling mounting holes ,to find the sweet spot with the least water surface turbulence and best signal ) I am considering trying to smooth the double row of rivets on the trailing edge of the hull beneath the transom with JB Weld epoxy , and dropping the planed flat edge of the Trex board so that it is level with the bottom of the boat thus creating a smooth trailing edge with hopefully less water /air turbulence and a better sonar signal.The 1 " thick Trex is much denser than cutting board like material. The boat sits on a trailer most nights. I don't believe the Trex absorbs an appreciable amount of moisture. I figured I would use 6 - S.S. bolts and seal the holes and the back of the board with Marine silicone. The 2 lb transducer is supported by a stainless steel frame but could apply considerable force on the 2- 1" screws which will secure it to the Trex board.I am also considering mounting it on the port ( left) side even though some say there may be prop wash with bubbles at low speed on that side causing poor sonar signal when using the outboard motor) I have read that the hinging bolts securing the transducer steel support to the slotted steel transom mount have a history of loosening on this model , adversely affecting the alignment and direction of the sonar signal and quality of the on screen display. I was told to obtain some specialized star shaped stainless lock washers to stop that loosening from occurring. I would appreciate any thoughts or experiences you might have with transom mounting these large transducers . Thanks!

Looking for advice on Sonar/Chartplotter purchase. My 12 year old Lowrance has finally failed. I have a 16 ft side console aluminum with 50 hp , casting decks at stern and bow. 80 # terrova with i pilot capability. I have been considering the Lowrance Hook 7 with Chirp &down imaging & Chart plotter Navionics+ included or the Humminbird Helix 7 Chirp , down imaging & Chart Plotting Nav+ included . I fish Parry Sound 30,000 island area and inland lakes for all species with some downrigging. I'm wondering whether to consider spending more on the side imaging versions. I've read that the Helix 7 may lag in refresh rate what ever that means , I assume it means if won't work possibly at all with the boat at planing speed. ( My old Lowrance worked fine at planing speed ) I may want to mount the finder on the left side of the console on a ram mount and face it forward to view from the bow occsionally till I decide to install a bow mounted unit. If anyone has any experience with these models or suggesting alternatives it would be appreciated. I can pick up the Lowrance Hook 7 for $649 and the Humminbird for around $725. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated . Thanks!

Would 20 Lb Test Suffix 832 braided line be too heavy on a medium sized Pfleuger President XT SpinningReel rated on the spool for 10 Lb Braid? I spooled my new Pflueger President XT with 14 Lb Suffix Fuse braided line and am very disappointed in it. It doesn't cast well at all. I've always used 10 Lb test Suffix 832 previously and liked it . I have a full spool of 20 lb Suffix 832 here I could try which seems much limper and smaller diameter than the 14 Lb Fuse braid which is stiff and wirelike even after a few days of casting and trolling.

I bought the Walmart 31's last fall for a 24 Volt 80 lb Terrova. Worked well on warm and cold days so far. After doing a lot of research it didn't seem worthwhile going for other than wet cell batteries. I spent the extra $ on the expensive on board Minn Kota charger to keep the moderately priced batteries in optimum condition.

I just bought the Cabellas Guidewear 3500 auto inflate PFD when they had their most recent sale. It has the disolving bobbin / pill system. The bobbin with CO2 cartridge recharge kit is around $30 to replace whereas the hydrostatic recharge kit is closer to $90 . I bought a recharge kit t keep on board the boat. Then if I fall in , I can refold the pfd bladder and recharge and use the pfd once it dries out rather than waiting till I get back to a store to buy one. I also bought the Cabellas next one down in value to compare the two . I will be returning that one. Too bad you didn't live closer I'd sell it to you at the sale price I got it for. ( I think the sale is over now)