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I take an ol' fella out with me occasionally that uses nothing but mooching reels for rigging. He doesnt own a level wind at all. As you know, there are limitless options for rods, but I have this stuck in my wee brain for now. It has to be resolved. lol I have experienced very little line twist using the run feature on the reels over the last 10 years or so. Maybe because I face into the wind and cast out a long lead?

Checked out Freds, thanks but not the Omni. I have a variety of built rods in a variety of lengths from 5' to 15'. The current rods I use for spring salmon are the Fenwick Legacies rated 2-10lb. I run 8lb on them but they dont care for below freezing temps in the riggers. I'd like to find something else so they can retire. I'm hoping to scrape up a couple old Omni's or maybe Browning's. Very slow rods. Not ideal for hook sets downrigging, but it's alot more fun than a club with rope that most people use. Yes I frequently have to chase fish down. lol I had a fella here that I had tying rods almost till the day he passed. He built me a couple 7' acid wrap Lamiglas rods I used to run 6lb on the riggers. Those would disappear in the water when you cranked down on them and the cork would bend when you were fighting fish. Tons of fun. Lorne Fletcher, he was pretty well known around different parts of Ontario. Not so pretty rods near the end but he still enjoyed it, so I kept going to him. Crusty as they come, but a good guy.

I know, not a rod any self respecting seasoned angler would give a second look but I bought one I believe back in the late 80's maybe early 90's? It was an Omni "Ten Four" Twist. Trophy XL Rigger Rod. It stayed in the boat as a backup and I had to resort to it one day as my Fenwick Stiks got left behind. I fell in love on the first hookup. Rated at 10-25lb and spooled with Ande green 15lb it handled 30lb+ chinooks like butter. I later had the rod redone with straight guides for river run salmon on the Sydenham River. Some of you may remember the heydays. Insane amounts of big Chinooks. I used it for years with 10lb test until it vanished do due to my carelessnes. Of all the rigger rods I have owned over the years, it's my favorite. I have only found 3 since then and recently sent one down the road with a friend. Forward to these days and I cant find any info on Omni rods. I currently fish Chinooks with Fenwick Legacy spinning rods and Okuma baitrunner reels spooled with 8lb floro. If it's crowded, I break out the Ten Fours. I normally stay away from the crowd of boats because I like to fish lighter gear. I prefer a good battle over numbers. So my question is, did they build spinning rods in the 9-10 foot range? I've seen a couple old 7' that were nice soft rods, but too short. Nothing I put my hands on that comes off the rack now days feels right to me. Even my old River Runner, Wild River, Canadian Northern all seem to be better rods than anything I can buy now. There has to some hanging in a shed somewhere, or in the forgotten corner of a basement?

Did you have 2 batteries for the troller and a third dedicated starting battery? My little 14.5 sc with 25 4stroke is sensative to weight distribution is why I ask. When I have other people in the boat I have to move things around. His a bigger boat, but with the 50hp to push it, I was wondering if it might not be an issue with the family on board.

Having to get towed is always a risk. Thats just boating with older equipment. New equipment breaks too. All one can do is be prepared as anyone on the water should be at all times. Treat it right and I think you'll be fine. I've been on the water my whole life with some questionable equipment including ill running motors. Never been towed, but always ready for it. Just dont go out for midnight cruise's with the wife and kids on board. lol

I agree. Get your bigger motor and get it up to par. If your looking to optimize your boats performance, why waste time and money on the current motor. Use it up while your waiting to repower.

Chances are it just needs the cylinders honed, new rings and gaskets. A much less expensive option. Buying another ol' two stroke may find you in the same position. $2000 is a rebuild. As said, basically a new motor. Sometimes it's the way to go. Better the devil you know. A new engine for 2k is cheap. In the interest of more power, you may want to keep your eyes open for a bigger engine and have it rebuilt while you still run what you have. Maybe find one with good compression and other problems like lower unit issues. Cheap motor and you can tackle it yourself. I just know that if I wanted toys, I had to learn to work on them. Otherwise I couldnt afford to own them when they broke. lol. Broken=worthless. Basically throwing it on the scrap heap and starting over with another old used motor with the same risks. Get some tools, pick up another cheap motor and tear into it. I think I mentioned Iboats forum. Those guys eat sleep and breath this stuff and will help you through anything you want to tackle. It's where to go for boat related problems. ANYTHING boats. I'm sure there are folks here that will agree.

That takes some grit to make a move like that with a family at home. Good for you for going after it. I had a simular opportunity 30 years ago and as a family with 4 kids we decided against it. Still wonder what could have been to this day. Myself and family have seen many sunrises from the Colpoy's dock and as many sunsets from Oxenden. I work primarily on the Bruce Peninsula. We had spot on Mountain Lake for many years. In recent years it expanded so we gave it up, but Wiarton was our home town during the summer. I dont think you'd appreciate what the Peninsula has become. It's a zoo. My typical mornings on Mountain Lake. A stones throw from your farm. Small world

Congrats. Always something with boats. I had problems this morning with my Lowrance. That could be a potential 3k. Use it for the summer and fix in the off season. Old 2 strokes are pretty simple. Have it honed and re-ringed over the winter. Most likely never been done.

Those pics are from the Bruce Peninsula....Peninsula to my back. We had no ice this year at all. I seen your mountain lake pictures and had to laugh. I had my wife have a look and she said it looks like what we hang on our walls and refer to as art. It's what we talk about if a lottery win comes along. lol I frequently see on the news the fire forecast for this season. It doesnt sound good. I cant even imagine getting close to one. Time to make a thermos and hook the boat up. Have a good day

Are you any closer?

Very nice. We've had some great sunrises and sets recently also. Minus the white stuff. Here's a couple from the other morning.

I feel this is like my brief encounter with golf, good clubs, good balls, go to driving range till you get it right. So a bucket of pellets and a stack of targets. Got it. Hope it goes better than my golfing.

I must have bigger squirrels. I screwed two rat traps to the rail of a fence they travel and they completely destroyed them. Next time I didnt screw them down, but put the trap on a tether so they had no leverage. That worked for a couple rounds. I found they can get in the live traps , have dinner and leave without paying the piper. I now put a mouse trap in the live trap. When they set off the mouse it scares the crap out them and they inadvertently trigger the live trap. I discovered that trick one day watching one eat my peanut butter. I wipped the door open and yelled at him causing him to make a run for it. Got him. I;m just tired of having to load them up and drive them out of town 10-15 miles. I used a rattle can on them for awhile to see just how far they would travel to get home. A couple made it 10 miles in no time. I think the rest fall victim to predators while they run around with neon pink tail. lol

Had my glasses on for sighting the gun. They just never seem to be handy when I walk past the back door and the little buggers are sitting on top of my live traps.