Salmon Fishing Starts Sunday!!

bilproject · 03-29-2012, 04:50 PM

Nice to have all that equipment but remember when trolling for fish in NH fresh water you are only allowed 2 lines in the water per licensed angler in the vessel. Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Really excited this year for the start of Salmon fishing. I have completely re-outfitted my Manitou pontoon to be a luxury comfort fishing machine!! The idea is to be able to quickly change it over from a fishing machine to a cruising party performance barge in a matter of minutes. Here are a few of the things I have done thus far...

I installed a Bert's planer mast system on the bow of the boat. The mast is installed in a Bert's stainless track for quick and easy removal.

Purchased two Big Jons otter boxes to run off the mast system.

Installed a 36 volt, 101 lb thrust Minn Kota Teranova trolling motor complete with autopilot and wireless remote control on the bow. The trolling motor is mounted on a quick release bracket for quick and easy install and removal. I installed the three batteries required in series in a marine cooler and attached a quick release plug on the exterior of the cooler where the motor plugs in. The cooler has a handle and wheels so it can be quickly taken in and out of the boat when not needed. I did not want the extra batteries and their added weight on the boat when not fishing. This system I made really works out slick!!

Picked up a half dozen new Eagle Claw Starfire rods to replace my old and withered rods as well as a bunch of Cabelas depth master reels all set up with different configurations of lead core line and leader for quick change out while on the water. Some reels are designated for the planar boards others for the downriggers and others for deep trolling so a large assortment was required.

Restocked my tackle box (and then some

) with a proven assortment of spoons and streamers.

I will be mounting my downriggers on a track system in the stern of the boat. Just haven't got that far yet as downriggers are not needed for early salmon fishing.

Can't wait for Sunday!!

See you on the water!!

Dan

ishoot308 · 03-29-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilproject

Nice to have all that equipment but remember when trolling for fish in NH fresh water you are only allowed 2 lines in the water per licensed angler in the vessel. Good luck.

Thanks for the reminder but I hardly ever fish alone. On average I have 6 lines out. The planars will allow a wider spread and will present your bait or lure over a wider area of water. Even if I am fishing alone I would still use at least one planar.

Dan

MAXUM · 03-29-2012, 07:49 PM

If the weather looks nice enough I may head out as well, we'll see. Hopefully this year I do a little better, last year nothing but small ones and a couple legal but really skinny ones that I let live another day to fatten up some.

Dan you being on Welch, there are some good honey holes around there.

ishoot308 · 03-30-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAXUM

If the weather looks nice enough I may head out as well, we'll see. Hopefully this year I do a little better, last year nothing but small ones and a couple legal but really skinny ones that I let live another day to fatten up some.

Dan you being on Welch, there are some good honey holes around there.

Hi Maxum;

No doubt Welch is a great area to fish! I don't have to go far to start trolling but sometimes I do. I mix it up pretty good and try different hot spots. The lake has so much to offer. The real trick to a productive day is finding the bait fish.

Hope you have a good year fishing this year!

Dan

jrc · 03-30-2012, 03:44 PM

My wife loves to salmon fish, I find it a little slow. But slow is the hard part, my twin engine non-fishing boat does about 3.5 MPH with one engine at idle.

Do the drywall buckets really work?

I find that at 3.5 mph, I need about double the colors everyone else has to get near the fish. I thought about downriggers but I don't want to drill more holes in my boat. Anybody make downriggers that fit into rod holders?

ishoot308 · 03-30-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

My wife loves to salmon fish, I find it a little slow. But slow is the hard part, my twin engine non-fishing boat does about 3.5 MPH with one engine at idle.

Do the drywall buckets really work?

I find that at 3.5 mph, I need about double the colors everyone else has to get near the fish. I thought about downriggers but I don't want to drill more holes in my boat. Anybody make downriggers that fit into rod holders?

Yes, drywall buckets definitely work and they work well!! Get your speed at least down to 2.5 mph and you will be better off I feel.

Cannon makes gimbal mounts for their downriggers as do most other downrigger manufacturers. They work great as I have a set for my Eastern 22' lobster that I used last year. You can see them here... http://store.cannondownriggers.com/p.../Gimbal_Mounts

Good Luck!

Dan

03-29-2012, 07:49 PM	#3
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	If the weather looks nice enough I may head out as well, we'll see. Hopefully this year I do a little better, last year nothing but small ones and a couple legal but really skinny ones that I let live another day to fatten up some. Dan you being on Welch, there are some good honey holes around there.

03-30-2012, 03:44 PM	#5
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	My wife loves to salmon fish, I find it a little slow. But slow is the hard part, my twin engine non-fishing boat does about 3.5 MPH with one engine at idle. Do the drywall buckets really work? I find that at 3.5 mph, I need about double the colors everyone else has to get near the fish. I thought about downriggers but I don't want to drill more holes in my boat. Anybody make downriggers that fit into rod holders?