David Dionne

I think mines the 45lb thrust. It’s on a kayak so it works great except in weeds. It gets bound up immediately. I ordered the mosshawg but it obstructs the stowing mechanism. I was then considering the grass ninja with the adhesive tape, but some reviews say it struggles with real grass. Now I’m looking at the Motorguide Katana replacement prop but I haven’t been able to find any reviews on its weed less performance...so I thought I’d ask here. advice?

Thx dens

Trying to figure out the best way to install this in a Bluesky 360 kayak. Im considering putting it in a box, but I’m worried about heat. Heat and water. Does it generate enough operational heat to present a problem in a small box?

I’ve googled pretty extensively and came up surprisingly empty handed. I need to shorten my shaft 17”. What little I did find warned against composite dust...which sufficiently freaked me out. Has anyone here successfully shortened a motorguide composite shaft. thx

I know this is old but rather than moving the ground wire from the negative post to the boat. I think you should leave the ground wire on the negative battery post and run another wire from the negative battery post to the boat. This should ground the boat, then run a wire from the quick release bracket to the boat. Or run a separate wire from the negative post to the quick release bracket. I think this would eliminate the trollers ground loop interference without requiring the boat to be in the water...once again, I think, I’m not sure. I’d like to hear if you solved this, as I’m attempting to tackle the same thing on a large (blue sky 360) kayak.

Dang, I have the same questions...u ever get any answers? What did you end up doing? The 3 in 1 vs the hdi was the main question I had. And I also fish in shallow places as well.

Thanks gimruis, i totally know what you mean and can completely understand and appreciate that. Do you have any input/opinion on motorguide/Lowrance autopilot integration? What unit(s) and transducers are you currently using?

Thx everyone, I know this is a well worn conversation, so I really appreciate the kindness. I can’t foresee me fishing anywhere over 100’, and 90% of the time it’ll probably 50’ or less. From what I’ve been able to gather, Garmin, appears to have targeted this better than Low. I think birds megaimaging is using the highest frequency so theoretically it should have the highest definition in shallow (2’ - 60’) water. But since autopilot is important to me I’m not even considering them. I’m now leaning towards either a Lowrance HDS-7 Live or a used HDS-9 Live (if i can find one). I’m still trying to determine if there’s a better transducer for shallow water than the one they bundle with it...one that sacrifices depth for detail, like i think Garmins 54 does. Anyway thx again.

No one?

I was all set to get a Garmin EchoMAP UHD 93sv with the 54 Transducer. But, I have a Motorguide Xi3 trolling motor...ugh, interoperability can be frustrating. I saw a video of some Russian anglers (boatlab.pro) controlling a Motorguide with a Garmin but the details just weren’t there. Lowrance is the only vendor that official supports and is supported by Motorguide Autopilot (MGA). It looks like the Lowrance Elite Ti2 and HDS support MGA The time I’ve invested in researching Garmin’s HD down and side imaging makes it frustrating to now have to try and compare them...so I’m reaching out for guidance.

So I’ve got the latest Steez and Antares. Historically Ive always preferred Daiwa...but the winner, imo, is the Antares. Hands down. I don’t know if they’ll make a DC version of the Antares 70 but this reel is absolutely breathtaking...and considerably cheaper, from some retailers than ever before. I’m a lefty so I got mine off amazon for about 500. Still expensive, no doubt...but wow is this thing stellar. Granted it’s the first Antares I’ve tried, but I’d trade my Steez for another one any day.

Hey CFDoc, oh I saw and I wish mine were like yours. I tried to call Lews but I was redirected to email...so I emailed them. Covid probably. I fished it again today which makes it the 2nd time I’ve used it. And casting is also quite inconsistent. Sometimes it feathers big time and goes far, others it short casts. I think if I stop reeling at the point I hear the noise, the brakes lose contact, idk. This would imply something might be bent, there is a vibration on cast. Ugh

Wow, that’s quite interesting Scott. Thank you for sharing.

I think I found it on Mikes Reel repair site...ordered a few, hope it’s the right one. thx again to everyone

Thx Francho, u wouldn’t happen to know where I could order one do u? Do u scrap out the red thread lock or just apply a dab of the blue and replace? I think it’s “E13-4503” but I’m not sure.

U guys are the best! TTHHAANNKKK YYOOUUU Now I don’t have replacement screw, but I will order one when I can. For the time being though, am I safe to reuse this screw? I want to believe they used loctite for good reason, is that true, in others opinions?

Here tiz...

I’m really wanting to try this. I was just about to pull the trigger on an X10 Twin Troller when I ran across the kayak bass fishing and TourneyX sites. Looks great, but the X10 isn’t an approved vessel. My ultimate goal, Lord willing, is to find a circuit that awards a bass boat. Im in north Alabama. Im now considering the Blue Sky Angler 360, as it is an approved KBF vessel. Im disabled but stable, financially and I have the time to pursue this...I want to at least try. Guidance?

Wow, thank you for all the considerate guidance. Im currently restricted to fishing a tiny stretch of bank...with tons of grass. I started with floro but I just couldn’t drag the catches through. And since every snapped line “feels” like the “catch of a lifetime“, I switched to braid. Haven’t had a snap off since. Thank you again...

Yesterday I was 2.5 hrs into a stinker of a day, not one bite. Out of frustration I yank my pole...and there was a fish. I thought, wow, crazy. He was tiny, but a catch. Recast, about halfway through retrieve I decided to randomly “yank” again...and again, a friggin fish, a nice little 3 pounder. I didn’t know what to think. Recast...AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN!!! When I say there was no discernible bite, I mean absolutely nothing. There was no wind and it pure glass. I felt nothing and my line didn’t budge. Was fishing a weightless, t-riged 5” yum dinger on a 4 EWG, with maxcuatro braid. I can say this, the bite is, for me, at the very least, half of the fun! But it makes me wonder how many “trickster” bites I’ve missed. I can’t recall this happening when I’ve fished a weighted t-rig... Any thoughts/advice?

I will try a heated straight blade tomorrow. THANK YOU so much, to all, for the guidance.

The pics don’t do it justice. Again, the reason I noticed it was because of a noise on retrieve. Thanks for the guidance, I’ll call Lews tomorrow.

Just got a new Lews HyperMag (TLH1XHL) and it appears that the sideplate doesn’t fit nearly as well as I would expect. It’s difficult to get off and on and once back on there’s a visible gap, probably 2mm, from the main body. I kept hearing a subtle noise on retrieve that sounded plastic-ee and “loose”. That’s when I noticed the gap. When I press on the sideplate, I can make it flush with the body. My Ti model doesn’t have this issue. The new reel is also noticeably louder on cast than the Ti. I woulda got another Ti but I wanted the faster retrieve. If anyone else has a HyperMag, could you look and see if ur sideplate is flush?

Thx for the replies guys. Never heard of a jis, but I do know none of my Phillips fit well. Its stripped quite bad now, I guess I could try to drill it out, but I don’t want to do that. Any other ideas? I did replace a couple bearings so I just reassembled it last night. I’m almost positive it won’t be fixed but I’ll try it later today...and disassemble it again tonite.

Casting distance is everything to me because of the very limited bank area I have to fish. I can consistently get 120-150’ casts...but I’m wanting to try and reach 180-200’. I’m currently searching for the “right” 8 to 9’ rod. My current setups are... Lews Ti 7.6:1, Lews Ti MF 7’3 65# maxcuatro 20# Sunline leader 4^ EWG 5” senko BFS tuned Daiwa TDZ, Fenwick MEF 7’6 Ive tried both reels on both rods...the 7’6 outcasts consistently. The braid makes hooksets a nonissue as well as hauling them through grass.