Well the internal map software has no contours or detail so there is no problem using that software because the system can keep up with the changes.

Obviously Lowrance has saved a few bucks by using a processor that just can’t keep up with the data changes and process the changes to the display. I replaced a raymarine dragonfly with this system to give me a better display and I had hoped a better system. To compare the two I found the following. Raymarine dragonfly 4 was a nice bang for the buck package however the size of the display was only a 4 inch and the biggest problem was the transponder was about 6 – 8 inches long and stuck out from the transom just asking to be bumped by anything floating in the river. More often than not I had to readjust it so that it was at the proper angle. Finally I hit a dead head and broke the mount.
The Hook 7 has only the issue with the GPS maps and I guess I can deal with it seeing how I fish mostly the same body of water and know where to travel when traveling at higher speeds.

I guess I’m curious as to how close and how fast are you going. Obviously if your zoomed out such that you really can’t make out the contours then what’s the point if having GPS. Traveling in known waters in areas where you have been is not a big issue but if your on a strange body of water and don’t know what your headed into then this could be a problem. Overall I like the Hook 7. My setup seems to have no problem reading water depth when I’m traveling fast. I had a lowrance before that I replaced. I had a moment of weakness and bought a Raymarine dragonfly 4. Overall the Dragonfly 4 is one of those bang for your buck kind of fish finders. The biggest thing that was a problem with that unit was the trasnponder. It was a long pencil like transponder that obviously because of the leverage could easily be knocked out of position so I was occasionally having to reach out the back and push it back into position. Unfortunately I hit a dead head in the Mississippi which broke the mount.

Bottom line I am disappointed that Lowrance had used such poor technology and released such a product. I work in tech and I can’t help wondering if they knew about this or they just didn’t bother testing there systems out live with the various maps they claim to use.

So I’m hoping to find out what the best map software is for this configuration and end my frustration rather than just living with it.

Well from what I hear the ammonia in windex and other window cleaners will dull the finish on a plastic display. I’m not sure what size screen or resolution you have but on the newer eagle fish finders they are puting a 640 x 480 resolution on a 5 inch screen so they naturally put the clearest plastic they can.

I have seen some posts on the internet when I google the subject with a variety of responses but I hadn’t seen anything that seemed simple or cheap other than water and a soft cloth.

Well maybe others might have some better suggestions. I didn’t see anythng on the eagle website unfortunately.

I happen to be getting a late start yesterday and was flipping stations and ended up seeing a 30 infomercial by BRP Evinrude pushing there new E-Tech engines. There take is that as we know a 2 stroke doesn’t need oil changes, and there E-tech has fewer parts and less maintenance … etc. They also claim to be more fuel efficent than 4 strokes. Sounded real tempting.

You can watch the infomercial at http://www.evinrude.com/

I did go to the local library. If your a Rochester resident you know how good it is to have a huge library with everything you’d want except James and Dustins video. Oh well that one was worth paying for. Al Linder well I’m glad I didn’t pay anything to watch those.

But back to the impeller. Yup I’m all set thanks guys.

Just picked up one a couple of weeks ago. Its like night and day compaired to the foot pedal. Go for it you won’t be disappointed.

I know this doesn’t help with your problem but I think Minn Kota would have a better setup if the AP feature had been an add on like the co pilot is. Then everyone would just buy a power drive and add the AP if they want. Oh well just a thought.

Thanks for the info. After reading Jarrad’s report about the fishing down at Alma and seeing how I can’t seem to find someone to fish the IDA with me I’ll probably go to Alma.

I had sent a note off to mini kota suggesting that they make a AP option in the co pilot so that if you own a PD unit you could add AP. I got a reply from whom ever saying that it sounded like a good idea but obviously not good enough to get them to make one.

Well I think everyone else has given there 2 cents worth on this … why not me. Well as far as MaH, you can’t help feeling that his post was put here to stir up the pot after all he is a new member and this was basically his first post and he didn’t put in any information on his profile.

With respect to his post, Yes I do feel at times this board seems to do a lot to hump products and guides but heck as someone mentioned James is the one paying for this so what do you expect.

As far as stringers of fish go. I don’t have a problem with it. I’m assuming these fish are going to be consumed by someone who feels they are safe to eat and taste ok.

As far as the law goes I would assume also that the DNR would make changes when they see it fit to make them. I’ve seen changes made in regulation in the past in my home state out east where limits were reduce and catch and release rules were implimented. That made me Mad as Hell but I also knew it was a necesary. If your over 40 I’m sure you can reflect back to when there were fewer people and also fewer fishermen.

I hate to say it but I think its just a matter of time till changes are made at Pool 4 too.

As far as Catch and Release goes I doubt any walleye fisherman practices a real catch and release where they use barbless hooks and don’t bring the fish in the boat. Out east in trout waters you’re even restricted to either artifical lures or flys (no bait).

So bottom line I think MadasHell is really enjoying the response he got… its almost like a computer virus.

I guess what I was looking for was some input on whether to use a transom mount and run it all the way up to the front of the boat or if a transducer kit for a trolling motor is really worth using. I can see how having the transducer on the trolling motor would give you a better idea of the fish below the boat in shallow water but some fishfinders don’t have this as an option and certain things like speed detection like the one on my raymarine L365 obviously would not be available on a transducer that is mounted to a trolling motor. So to compensate for that a GPS combo would work but is a lot more money. Any one had a chance to check out the new Humminbird Matrix line. This has a GPS feature that currently only cost $50 to add. I was also curious about the Matrix 35 and its 90 degree feature.

I just picked up an Okuma this morning from Mike.
Mikes prices are competative on these reels.
For more info you can go to Okumas web page at http://www.okumafishing.com/

After reading Mikes post I decided to try my luck during my lunch hour at Foster Arend. Well not having a lot of time ment that I wasn’t going to go get bait (sorry Mike) so I tried a suspending #5 shad rap. I nailed a couple of beauties in about 30 min using a slow jerk retrieve. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try bait because its so dam cold working a lure with that wind in your face.

I’m interested

I’m interested. If its for free its for me!

one last point is that stocked trout sometimes don’t taste as good as a nice fresh native…

You might want to wait a little on the Precision troling book. They are coming out with a version 7 some time this summer I think and obviously it will contain more lures and info on how to troll them.

Check out http://www.precisionangling.com

You’d be suprized at how well something as simple as a low sudzing poweder laundry detergent like tide works. Just mix a quater cup and a gallon of water. Spung it in on the spots and then rinse. This also works on wall to wall capets in the house.

I too suffer from back pain and the one other thing I feel is missing is a good adjustable seat. I’d like to find something that has an adjustable lumbar support where the angle of the back, the hight of the lumbar support and the amount of lumbar support could be made. I don’t know if there is a seat like this available but one can hope.

Well I picked up the Cabelas transom saver and now all I have to do is install it.

One comment to those who don’t use a transom saver. When trailering your boat with out a transom saver I would think it is best to put the motor at the smallest safest angle that gives you clearance from the ground rather than all the way up. This will minimize the torque on the transom created by the weight of the motor. If you can trailer the boat with the motor vertical then that is the way to do it but I’m sure most motor shafts are too long to do this.

I was wondering about the drift sock thing. It sounds like your using only one of them. Does it end up under the boat or of to one side and if it is of to one side then which side. It obviously effects your steering. Also was curious as to how well the drift sock holds up when trolling like that. I know they run about $30.

Well after reading my owners manual on the motor it does recomend that if the boat is trailered most of the time that a support like a transom saver be used. I takes some of the weight off of the transom and it also keeps the motor from bouncing around on the trim rods (assuming you have a newer boat with power trim). I also called my dealer and asked and they claimed that I should have been told when I picked up the boat that a transom saver should be used if the boat was going to be transported alot on a trailer. Of course the transom saver that Cabelas is the first on I have seen that has the bend in the shaft to handle my kind of trailer so I don’t understand what they were talking about. I’m sure a dealer will say anything to cover there ass.

Well I brought the boat in to let the dealers mechanic have a look. Turns out the idle was adjusted a little low and the mixture was a little lean. So after making those adjustments and running it in the tank for 10 min or more it looks like the problem has gone away so I should be all set. Now to start saving for that kicker.

This might sound stupid but you could test you bilge pump at home when the boat is on the trailer using a garden hose. Just run water in the main deck for about 5 or 10 minutes and then turn on the bilge pump. Of course you also need to put in the plug at the back. Then you should see water being pumped out of the boat.

I’d watch out at Roschen Park. If your by yourself like I usually am and decide to wade out on to the dock and tie up your boat, take the pier on the right. The one on the left has a big hole before the pier starts and if you don’t watch your step you could end up all wet like I did last Sat.

Well I thought I’d add a little more info on this which I find interesting. I had only surfed the web to find the towing capacity of my wifes car and so I decided to actually look at her owners manual. It says that her car is normally rated at 1000# but if the car has a heavy duty cooling system and a few other things like a v6 and auto transmission then it can tow 2000#. Now my car is a 99 buick regal with more horse power than her’s, better brakes, and I also think but I’m not sure but it may already have a transmission cooler and yet GM says it can only tow 1000#. As far as the boat goes you hit the nail on the head. Yes I’m picking up a 1750 fish hawk with a 90 hp yam …

My old boat that I have had no trouble towing is a 73 tri hull vintage. My guess is that it runs around 1400# in weight.

Bottom line is that I’m going to take it easy running to lake pepin and back…

thanks for you help

Well I guess I’m a little sheepish when it comes to eating sheep heads. I guess it is all in how it is prepared that would make the difference. I’m a fussy eater anyway.

Well after having my wrist slapped by the ftr staff I have cleaned up my act and wanted to pass on that a good web site that is free for adding photos here that won’t give you the problems others have is

http://www.webshots.com

The only trick other than keeping the size of the photo to something reasonable is also figuring out the url to the photo. Usually a right mouse click on a picture in netscape will give you the “view image” option and once you are looking at the image by itself you will have the url of the photo in the location: box.

I’m not sure if this works the same in IE … I don’t use IE sorry.

I would post one here but I don’t yet have any fish related ones. Maybe by mid October the fish will be jumping in everyones boat at it won’t be a problem to catch one worth photographing.

Good grief… lose the clown. Any and all images to be imbedded in posts here on FTR are to remain within the realm of “fishing related” material.

Its fun to play but please lead by example when you do. We have the capability to turn off the ability to imbedd images for one or ALL users.

FTR Webstaff

Edited by FTR webstaff on 08/31/01 06:11 PM.