The donation page doesn’t appear to be working correctly. You can fill out all the data but then there’s no place to actually submit a payment. I tried to do my part!

This weekend I ended up talking to a guy that runs in PWT events and he said he runs two 8″ units on his console – one for GPS and one for sonar. He dislikes the split screen.

That’s how I have it set up now and I kind of like the dual monitor setup and am worried that even a 10″ split display might not be ideal.

Any opinions on that?

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The Lowrance HDS units may fit your bill as well. They are the top of the line units in the Lowrance lineup. The units range from four different sizes (the 5, 7, 8, and 10) plus you have the ability to purchase Structure Scan at a later date. Whereas Humminbird, you have to purchase everything up front in order to be able to have access to Side Imaging. There are some very good deals and rebates going on for the HDS Units as well as the Elites that you may want to take a look at.

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Noted. That might be right up my alley. What’s the structure scan cost as an add-on? What other costs are there and do the dealers do installs too?

Thanks, guys! Greatly helpful!

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No budget recommendation

Great unit for a lot less!

Combo units are the way to go. You can use full chart to get to
your spots and then go split screen chart/sonar to find the fish.

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Sweet! That top one is pretty money. So to be clear that’s a combo unit but it only takes Navionics chips?

On that note have there been any upgrades in chips for Mille Lacs recently? I have an older (7 years) Navionics and maybe 5 year old Lakemaster. Sme flats or other spots weren’t perfect but overall they’re very good. Preferred the Lakemaster one.

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Are you looking to stay on the Lowrance side, or would you consider making the switch over to the Humminbird units?

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I’d consider it but I like Lowrance and a lot of stuff is already wired for it. Have a second boat that’s wired for the same Lowrance unit to transfer over. But that might have to change either way I suppose. I guess I might have to change GPS puck as well depending on what I get?

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Do you want all the new techy stuff? Side imaging, Down Imaging, weather etc…. where do you fish mainly?

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This boat is 100% Mille Lacs.

Seemed to have caused offense I guess. Oh well. Post volume is a fraction of what it used to be on here. Sorry to have caused such a stir….

Definitely vertical on Mille Lacs. Need as much water clearance as possible as on the east side it’s sandy and shallow. This year should be pretty decent but there’s many where a lift won’t even work.

Haven’t really thought about a canopy. I’d worry about it getting torn apart in a good NW wind….

I have a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it’s the V6 model. It’s been pretty good to me overall and I’ve now got 115,000+ miles on it and it tows our 2,200# boat with no problem.

I can’t speak to the V8 version, however.

Yeah, that was good times. And guess who’s invited back out with dad this weekend? Good luck is good luck!

Great points being made all around and I think I agree with pretty much everything I read. It’s not that I wouldn’t like to try it once in awhile when the time is right, but the fact of the matter is I don’t have the time nor the willingness to learn the trade enough to do it well.

Maybe a couple years ago when I was up there every week and willing to try and learn new things by practice I would. Fast forward two years and I’m married with a kid due in September and all of a sudden my fishing time has diminished significantly!

So, I stick with some tried and true methods and do as well as I can as the conditions and bite allow. I just hope we get a little action this weekend. Up there ’til Monday, so we shall see whether we attack the eyes on the pond or go for a little pan/bass fishing on some smaller lakes to keep the lady interested enough to stick it out for a few hours.

Good chatter, all!

Some good points being made. And I’d say those who say it’s good to be well-rounded, you’re absolutely right. For many out there – myself included – it’s probably a combination of lack of equipment and lack of knowledge as to why we haven’t fished this way.

I haven’t ever fished during the late fall – trolling or otherwise – but that is something I’d like to try at some point. Deep basin and no man’s land trolling – while definitely effective for many – doesn’t really float my boat (don’t pardon the pun).

Any of you guys out there that focus on rigging, spinners, or bobbers dabble in pulling cranks at all?

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A lot of people do not like pulling cranks because they are no good at it…. anyone can pull a crank on a weed line but get into long line and lead core trying to run cranks at fish suspended 8 foot off the bottom in 34 FOW is where it becomes an art. Try to pull cranks in the open basin on mille lacs and then just say its just put it out there and reel em in as the bite.

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Oh yes, don’t get me wrong. I apologize if I wasn’t clear, there’s definitely an art to it. One big reason I’d never fish that way is I have no idea what the heck I’d be doing in the first place so it wouldn’t be worth it to even try. No doubt it takes a lot of skill to perfect the style, that’s for sure. It’s a LOT of work to set up too, that much I can gather.

That said, still not something I’d really aspire to learn either. But I hear ya, I’d need to learn a lot to be able to do it affectively, no doubt. It’s outside of my skill set at the moment.

I’ve had both chips and I sold my Navionics, if that tells you anything. Have not tried the new HDS or whatever it is, but I will say both LM and Navionics have some spots they’ve missed on the lake. So don’t get too mad if you’re fishing a flat and you think it should be 33′ and it’s 22′ … I’ve found a few spots like that on both of ’em.

But overall, I’d definitely stick with the LM.

Thanks, guys. If you come up with model names and possibly prices you paid that would be VERY helpful!!

I’ve been out in the boat with Bobber, too, and he runs and excellent service. I’m sure the other guys are fantastic as well … not like they’re unknown names on the lake. Can’t go wrong no matter who you choose from that list of all-stars!

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Next week….Who’s going?

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I have 4 Wanamaker tickets to Sunday’s championship round and an onsite parking pass (Lot W). I’m thinking of selling ’em, so if you’re interested shoot me a PM and we can talk!

Word.

The gal and I have had 3 fantastic batches in a stand east of 494 and Bass Lake Road. There’s another stand that’s the same people by Cub Food in Plymouth as well. VERY good stuff … and this rating comes from my gal who’s a former SoDak farm girl that knows her corn!

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I have Hazeltine Members Club tickets for Saturday with on-site parking. First, what would be the best way to get down there (coming from the northern burbs)…I imagine it’s a zoo anywhere near the course. And second, anyone know what the members club tickets get you? I’m guessing there’s access to a special tent of some sort?

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Here you go – good website for general information on the event. I’m heading on Sunday – should be a blast! PGA Info

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If your playing 18 holes, play the highlands and then the lowlands. (Rent a cart!)

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Actually, the Highs are 18 and the Lows are 18 as well. If you play the Highs it’s a mandatory cart … with good cause!

I actually just secured 4 Wannaker tickets and onsite parking (which is a BIGGIE) for FREE for the Sunday championship round from work. Not too shabby!!!

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We are playing the highlands course, I was told that is the one to see. I guess we will find out.

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Skineboy and I have/had been members there for many years. The Lows are a better for pure golf experience and the Highs are better for scenery and whatnot. Got some gimmicky holes we’re not fans of, but it’s a solid track, too.

You’re a winner either way. Not sure what kind of shape it’s in at the moment. I’ve only played there once and that was a couple months ago now. Good luck!

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Pasta by the bucket – great stuff!

I ran into this place randomly as it’s on the way to my fiance’s house. Look it up online and it got rave reviews by folks so I gave it a shot. It’s outstanding and very reasonably priced. They make homemade garlic cheese sweet bread that’s out of this world.

Give it a shot if you get the chance! They sold me.

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Reviews – give it a shot!

Pasta by the bucket – great stuff!

I ran into this place randomly as it’s on the way to my fiance’s house. Look it up online and it got rave reviews by folks so I gave it a shot. It’s outstanding and very reasonably priced. They make homemade garlic cheese sweet bread that’s out of this world.

Give it a shot if you get the chance! They sold me.

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Well my wife May or May not have notified the girls in chicago this past weekend about it.

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Faaaantastic! I think pretty much everybody and their mom knows about it by now. Good times.

Thank you all very much! And we ended up making the Top 50! That voting started today, so feel free to swing on by and give us a little boost!

And Beth told me that she got an email from somebody she knew that happened to be cruising the Mille Lacs page and saw her pictures in a fishing report. Classic! What a small world we fisherpeople live in!

Top 50 – we made it this far!

This would be awesome to win (although it’s a LONG shot) though. Can you imagine the fun you could have with a $1,000 Cabela’s gift card, a $500 Visa card, and a $500 Rapala gift package? I can!
Cheers!

Oh, I hear ya. We were the same way. The wind and/or the “current” shifted about 3 different times on us. It was interesting. And we caught some fish – no complaints there – but the boat just over from us was catching them hand over fist. It was ridiculous! It’s like the fish had a particular path they took to the reef … and the path was right under their boat!

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sunndogg, were you just south of Picard on the rocks, in the 12-13 fow ??? If you were, I think I was right next to the boat pullin’ em in, one after another…

big G

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Actually, we were not. We were around the Doe Island reef in 9-10 FOW. Sounds like lots of people are having some good eatin’ early this season!

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Nice Report and congrats to your fiance for her PB!

How deep were you guys bobbering? I will be up there all next week and am wondering what depth you are seeing for the evening bobber bite.

Thanks,
690reece

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We were fishing anywhere from 9-13 feet on heavy rock structure. There were lots of people getting action, but it was funny in that there were specific pockets that were just BLOWING everybody else away. Literally, this boat 30 yards away from us on Sunday night was catching one on every cast. It was amazing (and frustrating to watch!).

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If there’s anyone out there that would like to demo a set of the trolling bags, let me know. The only thing I ask in return is that you provide “before and after” trolling speeds along with your boat and motor combo. I’m located in South MPLS / Richfield…. all you have to do is pick them up and look reasonably trustworthy.

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I’m heading up this weekend and would LOVE to try this out if they’re available! This would be perfect as we have an 18.5 Starcraft with a 125. I’m either stuck a) drifting or b) using the bow-mount trolling motor as our 125 doesn’t run nearly slowly enough to use for trolling.

I work in Richfield/Bloomington, so that would be easy. Let me know with a PM if that’s a possibility.

Cheers!