grubson wrote:

Anybody planning on fishing tomorrow? Weather/ wind looks good. I might make a trip up there for the day.
Hopefully the bite has picked up since the last time I was up a month ago. Anybody been out there this week?

I’ll be up tomorrow. Probably the last trip in the boat for the season and figured I’d take the girlfriend out for the first time haha.

Bunch of buddies and guides gave me the lowdown said the smallie bite is on fire which I figured. The walleye bite isn’t too bad but nothing crazy.

Looking forward to light winds and teaching her to livescope.

gim wrote:

Thank you for your honesty and openness Chris.

I didn’t mean to personally attack you or anyone else with my previous comment. You seem like a reasonable guy that understands the ramifications of this technology and where the tournament scene is headed.

Congrats on your finish.

I didn’t take it as an attack so no biggie at all. I really feel it isn’t going anywhere so I just had to embrace it. I almost quit tournament fishing because of it. But why give up? Just learn and adapt and go with the flow. I know Wisconsin its up for a ban debate. It will be interesting to see what happens. I haven’t paid much attention to the whole thing. I’ll still continue to compete either way.

Not all of us really care about giving out details on a public forum. The tactic of targeting suspended fish would be next to impossible without FFS straight up. People say that you can go over them with 2D and do the same. The fish on the bottom sure probably get a few. But the fish up high not happening.

I learned a TON about how the walleyes of Mille Lacs react to a boat going over them. Those guys out on the flats I can sit and watch fish meandor away from boats as they get close or go over them. Sure again you might get one that don’t care but more often than not, those fish don’t like it.

How do I feel about FFS in tournaments, I am two sided on this one. I personally hate it, but I love it. The reason I hate it, is because its transformed tournament fishing. It’s all anyone does anymore. It’s not the same as a few years ago where rigging and other tactics were used, and we had to be technical which is what I really liked. At the same time, I love it because it is fun but its also frustrating at the same time. When you see fish and they don’t want to bite I don’t care what you do, sometimes they just will not bite. so, FFS doesn’t really help in that aspect, but it does make me more efficient.

I heard an MLF announcer at a recent MLF bass event talk about it. When certain conditions happen and they can’t use FFS because of certain reasons, you see the newer guy’s struggle because they’re very good at FFS but royally SUCK and there finishes show if they had to go the old school way they struggle.

Back to telling people what we were doing and sharing it on this forum…. Straight up….. We don’t care….at all. A person with FFS can go do it but not all spots hold those calibers of fish. You still need to find them.

We can’t keep fish and we don’t have another event out there this year so it’s not a big deal to us. I will be fishing the couples event out of Hunters Point in a week and a half, and I truly don’t think I’ll be doing the same thing at the same spot. I’ll check it out though lol.

As far as FFS in general for fishing, it keeps my kids entertained and it’s much easier for them to enjoy fishing. If they’re not catching, they lose interest. So, if I can get them on fish with it, it keeps them happy, entertained and spending time with me. No one’s forcing anyone to require it to fish. If you fish tournaments, you won’t be able to compete without it though. It’s the nature of the beast. There are slot limits, and it just gets me to my limit faster.

Carry on boys and tight lines to all of you.

Throw at them and let it glide past the fish. Could watch the fish on livescope react to the bait as it went by em. They’d either hit it fast after they saw it, or they’d follow it to the bottom and hit it on bottom.

Could have done it with a jig as well, but I just went with what was working for me. And yes suspended 5-10ft below the surface in 35ft of water.

I took 3rd in the Hunters Point Shootout Saturday with 33.6lbs (AIM weight would have been 39.42) I was fishing right next to the winners who are friends.

My teammate won the AIM event Sunday. I gave him all the info that was working, and they had a bag! I fished right next to em all day. The key to their success was using 2 drift socks to slow them down to scan with livescope.

I was doing alright till my drift paddle rubber bracket on the paddle cracked and then it was tough. But we ground it out anyways in the brutal conditions. I think we finished with 30.6lbs for 25th or 26th.

That fishing was unreal and if I said what actually was working to most people they laughed and said “yeah right”. I learned a lot this past weekend, and I have been fishing the lake since I was little.

35ft of water targeting fish 5-10ft below the surface. Those were all big fish. An occasional fish on bottom would be decent but more 21-24″ fish than anything.

We lost track of the number of fish caught each day. The bite was crazy good.

The entire time we literally didn’t catch a fish smaller than 20″ and our biggest was just short of 28″.

I used a drop shot the entire time. Pretty tough to get me to change what I use anymore.

john23 wrote:

I believe the ulterra is the only quest that comes with the advanced remote. I sort of like the mini because it’s super light and does most of what I need. The iPhone app does the rest, as do the networked locators.

I have the MSI transducers and don’t use them much. But I also have a 360, which can act as SI when needed. The problem I’ve had with the built in SI is that the motor is turning a lot so the images aren’t steady.

Yeah I got the MSI/DI transducer in my quest and I believe it was a waste of money for me at least. I’ll never use it, nor do I have it hooked up.

I switched from a Ghost to a Quest Ultrex and run 2 36V 50ah Amped Outdoor Batteries. I run it hard especially during tournaments and so far this thing has been awesome.

I did have some time on the old Ultrex in my buddy’s boat so I can compare. The Quest is quieter, but I felt the motor to turn may be a touch louder but its comparable. Lots of power that’s for sure. I really like the drift mode feature that the advanced GPS has. I know the older Minn Kota models can get this or come with it now but it’s very nice. The only thing I thought sucked was that I had to buy the good remote. It doesn’t come with it like the Ulterra and others do. You get the mini remote but wanted the LCD Screen. The remote is fantastic. Batteries in the old big remote would maybe be good for a couple of days. I am still full after 3 months.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Walleye Hungry wrote:</div>
Forest lake continues to crush me on the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>walleye fishing. I also do not have FFS which i think would help, just dont have the means to buy it yet.

Do you think you would have been as successful without it? would you have been able to pinpoint them on SI? I have spent a lot of hours cruising the weed edge with SI when out with the family but usually dont find a ton to stop on. I tend to stay on Lake 1 as well

I do not have ffs and have done excellent out there just fishing weed edges I’ve found to look fishy. Mark a fish, fish for that fish and move. I have also had some really bad days out there. My 2 or 3 biggest local walleye have come from that lake. I typically try to avoid 1st lake tho. Even though my accidental 54 inch musky came from lake 1 right at the beach.

Essentially, Bearcat is correct. You could fish weed edges and catch a few. I essentially went out there not expecting much but needed to up my fishing in the weeds game for tournaments to compete a bit more.

Could I have caught fish just fishing without FFS, ehhh probably. But FFS I was able to find fish much faster and target them specifically which made me more efficient which is what i need to be doing in tournaments.

As far as what I looked for that’s a bit harder, but I will give it my best shot. Essentially worked from deep water to shallow knowing the only walleyes I have ever caught on that lake have always related to weed edges. As I got in, I scanned the weed edge while going into the wind which makes it much easier. Then saw balls or torpedo’s on the edge or them hanging out in open pockets on the edge of the weeds. Throw at them and they would instantly commit. Leech worked the best as panfish surprisingly wouldn’t touch the leech. Crawler the panfish attacked and stripped it clean. Then plastics which they wouldn’t even look at.

I consider myself pretty good with FFS but weeds are a bit more of a challenge. so, it was all practice for me.

My ghost I would never do it.

With the Quest Ultrex I have now, I wouldn’t have a problem doing it. The remote will lost connection but the command is already in the unit. Just like if your batteries in the remote die on the water. It will stay anchored if that’s the last command that was given.

Once the connection is reestablished it would be like nothing’s changed.

Oh I agree. Used to live on the lake and would fish it all the time and just always struggled with walleye for some reason.

Now that I have been tournament fishing for a number of years and learned a lot it was just fun to go out and really put it together for once. Moved back to the area about a year and a half ago and just now getting a chance to get back out there and play around. Been spending too much time on Tonka.

Judging by the MTT results, I’d say fire lol.

I’ll be up Thursday through Sunday this week pre fishing for the Tournament this weekend. Looking forward to sharpshooting fish for four days.

I may have some. Not sure how many but I’d part with them Never used them.

Got my homie Willy out in the boat right away last fall. He loved it! I took him out for the first time this spring crappie fishing and didn’t make it 5 minutes and had to yank a hook out of his lip though. He jumped up at a hook when I was doing something and got it. He learned his lesson though that it hurt and he stays clear of them now.

Otherwise he has been good. Just start with short trips and work up to longer ones. I keep a small rubber foldable dog dish and always have water for him.

In another week the true test will begin. He will be pre fishing and actually in the boat for the AIM tournament on Mille Lacs since his normal watcher is busy and I have no choice. But he’s been out for some longer trips and done just fine.

Just be patient, keep it calm and pay attention to what the dog is telling you as well. Whether its heat, or being thirsty, or even just weird quirks you may catch on to.

My dog will freak out if you don’t let him just lick a fish a couple of times before you throw it back. It’s like he gets upset lol. So, we have a rule, 2 licks and back in the water the fish goes.

Oh side note! if your dog is a freak about bobbers cause you throw one out to fish, I learned to give mine an old junk bobber to play with and it distracts him.

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I run Amped Lithium’s. I had 3 100AH 12V and now run 2 36V 50ah and have never really had a problem. I have heard of it but it’s not too often that I run in severe cold. I have charged them in some cold temps though and never had a problem.

KNOWING this can be an issue though I have carried an old school shop light. In the event I feel my batteries won’t charge because it’s a bit too cold, I have a 3 to 1 plug and I will plug in the shop light because I always know I have an extra plug then for the light if needed and I toss it in the battery compartment. Again, never had to do it yet.

$100

125obo

200obo for the new one

150obo for the used one.

$200 for the used on obo

250 for the new on obo.

It wouldn’t let me edit the main post.

Even if you rotate you can’t see the lure?

I noticed I had to rotate the pole in down view to see my stuff. But usually, could see a few lines with no problems.

You could also try clicking the transducer up one notch as well.

There are some hidden gem ponds around the metro that produce some monster gills and crappies.

I know one that is private and has been that way for many years. Been out there a few times and the fishing is something dreams are made of lol.

When I caught a 12″ bluegill and thought that was a giant and got one upped by a 12.5″ I was amazed. and 13-15″ Crappies one after another.

Granted again private but still they’re around!

Minnetonka has some really nice crappies and also someone else mentioned forest lake. I’ve seen some 16 inchers come out of there. Heard of some 17’s but personally never gotten to see one. Far and few between but those are lakes that will produce the occasional 15″ plus.

I’ll be at the game as well and can’t wait. I was there last New Years and that was brutal to watch. I also have tickets to this New Year’s game at US Bank for the Packers/Vikes game. Lambeau is an experience that’s for sure. Packers’ fans are actually pretty decent and were fun to mess with.

I’ll be taking some of these suggestions above.

Fishing the Fall Swamp Donkey tournament Saturday while I am there. Should be a good weekend.

If I wasn’t headed to Green Bay, I’d be there for this. Sounds like a great event!

Its a nice area. There isn’t a ton of stuff there, but its right on the water, casino is decent and plenty of places for all types of food.

Free round trips tickets, you can’t turn that down. BTW Waffle house every 40ft there haha.

The left side is what my setup looks like. I used the 4″ Thill Big Game bobbers or the 3/8 – 1/2oz Thill Wobble Bobbers. Some guys also like the weighted Thill Pro Series which work well also.

Put enough weight (try 3/8oz egg slip sinker) then a bead (this keeps the knot on the swivel from getting beat up) then to a swivel. Fluoro leader to a 1/8oz jig of choice. I have been using Tungsten lately and really like it.

If you use braid, I use to slip bobber stops instead of one. It keeps it from sliding.

Just my .02 cents and what has worked really good for me. You’re still going to get a tangle around the slip sinker from time to time, but it’s going to happen. But it is rare for me to get one.

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Egg Sinker

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I got pulled over in the “fast lane” recently. Not another car in sight as far as I could see front or back on 371 near Nisswa.

I was going 6MPH over the speed limit. He pulled me over for literally “staying in the passing lane”…

Doesn’t have much to do with this post but it reminded me of that. I chalk it up to the state trooper was bored.

I use heavy egg slip sinkers in the 1/4oz range above a swivel because it gets the bait down fast. I target fish with livescope so fast is key with a bobber. Get rid of the plain hook and go to a tungsten jig in the 1/8oz range.

Less tangles, more efficient easy to cast plain and simple.

I have had both and stuck with my 0 deg. I find it easier to track baits on my setup. I have the ducer mounted on the shaft of my Ghost.

Checkout Rosemore Outdoor Gear Rods. I didn’t have time to get my rods out of my boat before a tournament out in Green Bay last spring, so I used my buddies’ rods. He let me use one I believe called the Double L. 7′ MLXF. And I’ll tell you what. that rod was awesome! I believe they’re in that price range for you as well. I’ve used a lot of rods over the years, but I’d put that as a backup to my custom rods any day.

Cullen Vinar wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Chris Messerschmidt wrote:</div>
I run an Amped 12ah in my FLX 28 and its awesome.

Is it significantly lighter with the lithium in it?

Yep, it’s quite a bit lighter. 5.57lbs on a standard vexilar battery and 2.75lbs on a Lithium Vexilar Battery. The Amped Outdoors battery I have is 1.11lbs. Which I did double check mine is a 7.5ah not a 12. But I have never run mine out of juice.

The 7.5ah is rated for I believe 30hrs of use which is plenty for me running a weekend even with the Ice Defense thing running.