S Hovanec

Last month, during my 16th anniversary trip, I rediscovered walleye. The guys at our campground said they were easy right now, so I gave it a whirl. With only 2 rods, a pair of Dipsys and a couple lures, we managed to pull 2 limits 2 days in a rod in only about 2.5 hours each day. Needless to say, I was hooked again. About 7 years ago, I bought a used pair of downriggers, but never mounted them. They've been collecting dust in my garage ever since. The power cables deteriorated, so I ordered replacements (which still need installed). I have been trying to find some non invasive ways to mount the riggers. First idea was to get seat posts and mounts and mount a piece of Starboard between them, utilizing the existing seat bases in the floor. Was a pretty good idea, but it would impede my access to the rear compartment and livewell. Next was the same seat post concept, but doing 2 independent mounts, each tied to the gunnel somehow. Still kinda the same problem. It took floor space from an already cramped 17' boat. Lastly was to just drill 4 holes in each gunnel and mount them directly. Not that I'm opposed to drilling holes in my boat, but I didn't want to do that in case the next owner didn't want downriggers. Then he or I would be left to patch said holes. A little Google searching lead me to Cisco Fishing Systems. They make all sorts of trolling accessories and rod holders. They have this really heavy duty downrigger mount made specifically for the Lund ProTrak system. No drilling required! I ordered up a pair, along with the required adapter plate for the Troll-Master swivel bases I planned on using. The last of the required fasteners arrived yesterday and I was able to put it all together. In the spring, I'll install the wiring to the battery and we'll try to catch some walleye! Cisco mount & adapter plate and Troll-Master swivel base. Transport position Swiveled to find position.

My Lund is the same way. Well, was the same way. Now it doesn't work at all. Time to tear up the floor and replace the sending unit!

guides with ceramic inserts are sized by the ID of the guide frame. I'm not sure how the metal insert guides like the SS-304/Minimas are sized.

When someone asks me to duplicate a production rod, I tell them to just order it and take the money saved and buy a reel. I refuse to build what can be bought over the counter.

Bigger motors aren't always about speed. Sometimes you need more power to tame some angry water. My boat is no speed demon (43mph) even though it's almost maxed out, but it doesn't get tossed around cause it's underpowered. You don't have to use all of the throttle all the time, but when you need it, it's there.

$4000 will buy nice electronics and a TM, but electronics break or get outdated pretty fast. The motor will be with the boat as long as you have it. Put the money in the motor. I'd never consider a boat that's not as near to maxed out as I could get it, unless it's for limited lakes. My boat is rated for 140. Not many choices in that size, so I hung a 135 on it. It should be rated for 150+, but that could be a thread all its own!

The majority of the fish I catch on drophot, I don't feel the bite. The bait is on the bottom with a slack line. When I pick up the slack, there is pressure and I sweep a hookset.

It's a good performer, I'd just like it better as a med-light, rather than mag-lite

I have one built as spinning. I feel it's not powerful enough. Every 14" smallie feels like a 5# fish. It is fun when you do hook up with a 5#er though!

Upon further consideration, I'm gonna rig my boat to fish for walleye. Nothing permanent. Utilizing the rear seat bases to mount downriggers, so I can remove them when I want to bass fish.

Struck out today. Bite was early and we were not. Only got 4 keepers before calling it quits at noon. Baked our brains a little!

Round 2. Back by noon. Yes. Have a bag full and going back tomorrow.

After 13 years, I finally decided to use my walleye boat for it's intended purpose. Years ago, I thought I was gonna walleye fish, so I picked up some gear. I hate trolling, so nothing ever came of it. Heard stories that the fish have been committing suicide, so I rounded up 2 rods and rodholders and set out for 70'+. Didn't get the boat in the water til about 1pm. Was done packing up to run back to the ramp by 4:30. 12 keepers, 12 short and a big white bass. Heading back out early tomorrow. Hope to be back by noon.

Guess I better brush up on my reading comprehension!

Where did you catch them? "In the mouth" On what? "Hooks" Typically no more questions are asked after those two answers.

I doubt the horn on my Lund would comply with the 1 nautical mile requirement. It's not really all that loud. I have a whistle on the key ring to satisfy the regulations.

Website says it's standard on the 2017. Are you wanting a 2018? Maybe it's no longer standard equipment on the new model year?

Was it Jason? He has been playing with the cure temperatures for a while. They just don't bake them at one temp anymore. The temp is varied through the cure process.

I prefer the 2500 size for dropshotting.

My preference is full cork with no foregrip, however my favorite rods have a split Tennessee grip.

even bad cork isn't cheap!

I've used it 3 times. Once when Vanish first came out and 2 more times after it was reformulated and the problems were supposedly fixed.. Every time it didn't make it the entire day before a different spool was on my reel. Don't care how many people love it and have no issues with it, to me it's crap. Only things that Vanish are your money, your lures and the fish!!

Yea it matters. Life is too short to fish with ugly gear!

No problem. It's one of my earlier works, so it's not all that pretty and a little heavy due to my component choices. It has caught a lot of big smallies and even cats up to 15#. Just remembered, I also have a 7'6" MLXF Avid. You can use that one too. You can never have enough DS rods.

I do a lot of dropshotting on Erie. I reserve the MXF rods for tube duty. All of my DS rods are MLXF. @stk44, where are you located? I have a custom LTB 6'9" MLXF I could lend you.....as long as you promise not to boat flip fish with it.