I employed the suggestions of bending out the battery pin and applying dielectric grease to the battery. It was only a one day trial but the remote worked flawlessly as compared to the previous outing when I had to whack it multiple times. It also seemed to take longer to go into the sleep mode.

Someone also suggested that if you place a dime on the battery and then replace the cover you will solve the remote problem. That will be my backup if the above fails.

Considering how many remotes MinnKota has had to replace one would think they would have solved this problem.

Grey Beard

Thanks for the replys. I posted this same issue on other sites and all have had similar reports of problems with their remotes. Exasperating when one remembers how much we paid for this and so far the most consistent remedy is giving it a whack across the back. Maybe MinnKota should do that to the back side of their design team.

Things that have worked to get the remote to restart as reported here and other places are:’
Give it a couple of whacks, bend out the prongs on the battery, light coat of dielectric grease on the battery, pop out the battery and if lucky enough and still in warranty replace. One guy went so far as to carry 2 remotes. UGH.

Grey Beard

This is a link to the web cam for the harbor at MKE. You can control the camera with your mouse so you can get a look at the areas you are interested in. Must be popular on days like this because there were 12 in front of me waiting to control it. Someone was watching the water roar over the walls so I saw what I wanted.

http://www.lakefrontcam.com/

Camera must be off for the season at Port Washington harbor:

http://www.bait-box.biz/feed/

Grey Beard

Most everyone I know uses 27# leadcore for salmon/trout trolling. It comes in 100 and 200 yard spools and bulk spools can be found. Filling your reel to capacity is desired because the retrieve rate is maximized. The left over segments can be used by splicing together using a short piece of 30# mono and 2 Willis knots. Some will say too many knots but after quite a few years of doing this, no failures.

I fill my reels like mentioned before. Easiest is to use same sized reel, fill backwards and transfer. If same sized reel is not available I will take the time to transfer between 2 spools and back on the reel using my electric drill. It takes time but the outcome is what I want. On the Great Lakes Angler site someone came up with a reel capacity formula on an Excel spread to assist calculating backing requirements. I have not used it but I’ve read positive comments from others. Go to the following link and mouse down to reel calculator and open up the Excel sheet.

http://www.glangler.com/tools-and-info

Depending on the size of the reel and the length of the segment one can use either mono or braid for backing. I typically use 300’ of 30 or 40# braid(depends what’s on sale) on all of mine >3 colors because some of my reels are smallish size 320 Penns. All setups with > 5colors are Penn 895 size or equivalent. I use that much braid because I don’t want to be spooled by a big fish. Braid is slippery so I put 100-150’ 30# mono between the leadcore/copper and the braid. Braid is more susceptible to abrasion so attaching the board release to mono I think is much better. (yes more knots but…..)

I use a Willis knot for mono to leadcore and a double uni from mono to braid. I put on the leadcore, then mono, then braid and top off with more mono. When back on the reel I use 25’ of 25# 100% Berkley Fluoro as my leader. When it gets to be <15’ I re-tie.

http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/willis-knot

http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/double-uni-knot/

I typically attach my Off Shores 2-10’ from the lead core. This does not maximize the diving ability and some will let out one to 3 passes before attaching the board. Most important is to be consistent. If 5 colors is hot and I want to turn my 4 color into a 5 color I typically let out 3 passes more than normal. Not sure this achieves the goal but should be close enough. A pass for me is one sweep across the reel.

One ponder-able is how often to change out lead core or braid due to age? I don’t know and have run some of my braid for a number of years. My 40# Ripcord braid dipsys have not been changed for at least 7 yrs and still feels like it would cut off my fingers before breaking. I do cut back a few feet when it looks fuzzy. For the first time I can remember I had a lead core line break mid segment. My recollection was that 6 color was new last year and guessing something other than old age was at play. I have four 2s, two 3s, one 4, two 5s, one 6, one 7, two 8s and two 10s so changing line very often would be a lot of time and money.

Grey Beard

Oops, should have watched the video. Curious what type of rod and line would be used? Torpedos dive well but not enough experience to say how much blow back the probe would cause.

gb

I’m on the Depth Raider pro-staff so…….

I’m not sure how you can run a Fish Hawk without a downrigger? I don’t think I would want to trust a probe with a $200 replacement cost on anything else.

For me speed is way more important than temp. I’ve run into underwater currents>1.5mph and you can imagine how that would affect any presentation. I agree that it is important to be able to read currents monitoring other aspects such as dipsy bend and setting dipsy drags just this side of leaking, bubbles off rigger cable, cable angle and how your in-line planers line up. However, there is a lot more to think about when trolling so I prefer using a probe to take some of the guess work out.

Each product has it’s positives and negatives but regardless you will appreciate how much a probe helps on many days. There are days that currents will be mind boggling and you will find it hard to believe you need 3.2GPS to get 2.0 downspeed.

If I have a choice I prefer trolling into the current, sometimes for miles without turning. Rod and cable angles, planer board angles and the probe will help you find the best trolling heading to keep the whole spread working.

Grey Beard

I have a similar problem with my 337df and not sure there is a solution for readings in very shallow water. I’ve read similar complaints on other sites. Likely you have gone to the Lowrance website to make sure you have the most recent software upgrade. One was supposed to have addressed this but not sure it was successful.

Only comment to make re readings at higher speeds: Transducers do wear out and become less sensitive. One option without a purchase might be to find a friend with a compatible unit and try yours on their boat and visa versa. I bought a new transducer and did help. You can also change your sensitivity setting to manual so the auto function doesn’t decrease sensitivity under power. I think you might get more bottom reading but also lots of clutter.

Good luck,

Grey Beard

I do have Windows 7 but could not get through your process successfully.

I went to the EasyGPS site and downloaded their free software. I was able to get the waypoints transferred to it and edit and delete unwanted waypoints. I then emptied my blank SD card and for the life of me I can’t figure out how to get the edited version onto the SD card. I need to rent a 15yo. I assume that’s what I have to do to get them into the HDS.

Thanks,

Michael

Doc Samson has lots of valuable information on his site. I also found Jason Halfen’s videos and articles very informative and seems the interpretation of side and down scan has lots of cross over between HB and Lowrance.

http://www.jasonhalfenoutdoors.com/

I found this video for HDS setup very informative. It may apply mostly to deep water but still interesting.

http://vimeo.com/15426536

Michael

Some pretty knowledgeable people contribute to the Hull Truth website and lots are salt water boaters with the radar experience.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum-19/

Grey Beard

Solution to the problem was the order of how I turn on the units. First turn on the HDS, then the LSS then the 113 and everything worked. Some call this the electrical handshake.

Grey Beard

I just tried a soft reset and looks like screen shot is back to normal. I will find out tomorrow on the lake. Afraid to turn the LSS back on and will await reply from Lowrance before doing so.

Michael

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Michael

I don’t wash my plastics and don’t think the fish find the out of the package smell offensive. I do believe that scents can help and especially in cold water conditions. I do know adding scents doesn’t offend because a number of times after a fresh application of scent before I could close the bail on the first cast I’ve been bit. There have been a number of occasions in my boat when the ringworms with scent are getting more bites.

I had to give a talk about scent and salmon’s ability to smell in part because my sponsor Brad’s cut plugs are hollow cavity that I fill with garlic roasted tuna. That’s another story. There is a fair amount of scientific information out there regarding fishes senses, primarily about bass and salmon. A salmon’s ability to smell puts dogs to shame and can detect the equivalent of a capful of vermouth in 50,000 gallons of gin. Now that’s a dry martini! One of the professors, Bill Carr who early on worked on attractants has since retired from the university and started his own scented bait company Fishbites. The saltwater guys are using his strips that look nothing like anything that would attract fish on its own quite successfully.

I wish there was more information about walleye and scents. The thought to wash plastics makes sense because if fish can smell that well they could just as easily be offended. I’ve caught a lot of walleyes with unscented ringworms and paddletails so pretty confident the fish don’t mind their smell.

Grey Beard

When I spoke with Lowrance I didn’t get an answer that cleared up my questions. I decided to write an email and got this response:

Thank you for your inquiry.
The technology between the two is exactly the same. The structure scan may have a slightly higher output but that is only because it has the sidescan in with it. The transducers will only see forward and back as much as the transducer is long. Its a thin beam that sweeps side to side and not forward and back. There are many factors as to why the hds fish may have appeared more elongated. Speed of the boat, size of the fish and speed at which the fish is swimming. At 30 feet you are getting a coverage of about 28 feet with both units. The Elite-7 HDI is only different due to the fact that it can do both traditional sonar and down scan imaging at the same time with the same transducer. No other unit can do that. However the DSI is still the same technology as the other 2.

Thank you for choosing Navico products!

Boos,

I’m not tech savvy either. I like you had experience with Lowrance software and navigating their pages and menus. I was able to sit down and help a friend adjust his HDS 5 gen2 with no previous HD experience. Likely you will find your new unit pretty easy to work.

That being said I would expect the same for using down scan function. It’s pretty amazing how much down scan adds to your information and interpreting more accurately what you are seeing on your 2 D fish locater. We were dragging jigs a couple of days ago and I saw a big blob on my 2D (337 lowrance) but on the Elite 5 DSI I saw tree branches. I told my partner to pull his line. He did, I didn’t just to see what would happen and yup, hung up. We started the next pass up stream from the snag.

I’ve only had the down scan a couple of weeks and I think I could go fishing with that unit alone and know as much or more as I do using the 2D. I don’t have side scan and it does look like a bit steeper learning curve. However, if you can afford to get the scan package I suggest that you do it now so you have the down scan.

Good luck,

Michael

Dandy sauger. Not many slot fish for us this fall. Maybe when it gets closer to ice up.

Michael

Joel provides sage advice. I to know that little spot and put in a waypt just in case the stick goes with an ice flow. Lake WI has been a good bite this fall and I will be sad when the ice comes and have to start dreamin of spring ice out.

Michael

Very nicely written. I’ll be sure to tell those that don’t have a lot of experience fishing spring conditions to read this before they hit the water.

Michael

I forgot to mention I washed my rain gear in Nikwax Tech Wash and it still leaked a little. Then I applied the silicone and stayted dry.

Michael

I looked for Camp Dry but couldn’t find as others had rec it. I used a silicone spray I found in the shoe dept and Farm and Fleet. The directions included use on fabric in addn to shoes.

I have Guidewear but can’t remember how old, maybe 8yrs. Finally a little leaking on butt, legs and forearms after fishing 8 hrs in rain. Sprayed an entire can of silicone on it and no leaks in another 8hr day in the rain.

The one issue I have with Guidewear are the pockets with velcro tabs. After a long day in the rain all the contents of all the pockets are wet. The zippered pockets are dry. I don’t know if they have improved those probs with the big pockets.

Michael

I have around 8 yrs on my Cablea’s Guidewear. I’m still dry.

All Gortex can be vulnerable to failure after a few yrs. I washed mine with NikWax Tech Wash which is supposed to renew breathablility and water replellancy. I wasn’t having a problem but wanted to make my investment last a little longer.

Grey Beard

http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/products/productdetail.php?productid=268&activityid=1

The magnitude of problems from Raynaunds varys. There is a lot of info on the internet about this. Keep in mind some medications such as betablockers use to treat high blood pressure can make the symptoms worse. Not much for treatment other than doing the best you can to avoid exposure cold.

Grey Beard

I was hoping the 832 and the Gortex would decrease icing up so I could keep using a superline for pitching plastics late season. I didn’t get a chance to use it before everything iced up but my brother did. He said it iced up just like the other superlines but seemed easier to get the ice off the line with your fingers. That may have been because it was new and hadn’t developed any “fuzz” yet. I’ve found that Fireline is slightly better than PowerPro for icing up but mono rules when it’s really cold.

Disappointed to see the knot strength data. I think that flies in the face of what the company says so good to get an independant review. Lucky me found it on sale before Christmas on line Cabela for $19.99/300yd. Maybe not so lucky if the knot strength isn’t up to par.

Grey Beard

That’s good news. Let’s hope he is home soon.

Michael

This recipe is great with any of the fish from Lake MI. I especially enjoy this with early season coho or late season small chinook.

“FRESH FROM THE GARDEN RAINBOW TROUT”

2 to 3 pounds of skinless trout filets
6 Tablespoons fresh basil, oregano, and tarragon in equal amounts
olive oil sufficient to cover fry pan 1/4 inch
3 Tablespoons butter
6 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
salt
lemon wedges

Chop the fresh herbs and combine 1/3 with the butter and heat in a cup in the microwave for 90 sec. Over a low heat brown the fish in the olive oil. Turn and sprinkle the filets with the remaining herbs. Cover the pan and cook approx. 6 minutes. Place the fish on a warmed serving platter, drizzle on the herbed butter and sprinkle on the parmesan. Serve with lemon wedges.

Good accompaniments would be a rice pilaf and a vegetable.

Chef’s Comments: Two minutes under the broiler puts some nice color on the parmesan. This recipe is great for trout or salmon. Cook the filets skin side down first, when they are turned the flesh with the gray appearance is the fat. This can now be easily scraped off resulting in the leanest fish possible. Follow the same procedure with poached fish.

Source of recipe: self: pharmacists are pretty good at following and creating recipes. Inspired by hungry daughter Heather, who caught the trout.

Cooking salmon on a grill but not on aluminum foil, gets rid of the fishy flavor that some people do not care for. This is our fav. I’ll post one more.

Grey Beard

Cajun Hot Butter

3/4# butter
1 tbl paprika
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt

Melt the butter and stir in the spices. Place in a 1 pint jar and shake occasionally to keep the spices suspended as it cools. Use as a baste for grilling fish or chicken.

Place fish on a medium heat, well oiled grill and baste with butter. Let fish cook until it appears to be almost done, then turn and baste on the second side and cook until done. Do not over cook. You can add more butter at the table depending on how hot you like your food.

90% of the salmon we cook is with this never fail recipe. It’s surprising despite all the pepper, it’s not hot to the palate unless you add more Cajun butter at the table. This is a variation on Blackened Red Fish.

Check out the link to Clements Barge at Genoa. They are affiliated with Capt Hooks bait and tackle.

http://www.clementsfishing.com/

Michael

It indeed was a great trip. I learned a number of things along the way. One of the most important is how invaluable the Lakemaster Rainy Lake chip can be. Incredible details that help keep you off the shallow rocks and find and stay on the structure that holds fish. Thanks to Joel’s boat handling skills we were able to vertically jig 3/16-1/4oz precision jigs tipped with rainbow minnows to entice walleyes living in 30-45fow. I found it very interesting that these walleyes were burping up the exact same type and size of rainbow minnow we were using yet rarely hit, only nibbled. A lot of patience was required to find someone home when you set the hook. Thanks to James and Chris for the advance planning for many things but especially having enough of the right bait for 30 fishermen. My bags of KGrubs and ringworms will be ready for next time.

Having a houseboat for base camp was an entirely new experience for me. We received excellent instructions on how to manage our new home and if any problems were to arise a quick call on the marine band would put us in touch with assistance. Houseboats really save running time to fishing hot spots as compared to the long runs from lodges I have encountered in the past. Before we arrived I wondered about sharing such close quarters with strangers. We were all fisherman so the stranger part lasted a very short time and then the stories started to roll. Fishing, bacon and sausage breakfasts four mornings in a row and end of day reports can be a bonding experience.

It was great to meet so many IDO members and staff. It was a delight to be able to ask anyone a question and find them more then willing to provide an answer. The answers included valuable details that I know will help me be a better walleye fisherman on other waters.

It was a real pleasure sharing the boat with Joel and Dwight. The times of comfortable silence as we waited for the next bite, broken by the excitement of “fish on” made time evaporate. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.

Michael Collins