Found pretty good deal on a pair of downriggers. Need some input!

[RHYBAK]

Chris

Buying from FISH USA is great for you but not so great for Canadians
Dollar Difference
Duties / Tarrifs
Shipping

That is why I will be sending stuff to your house if you ever come for a fishing lesson

[Hodgey1]

Chris

Buying from FISH USA is great for you but not so great for Canadians
Dollar Difference
Duties / Tarrifs
Shipping

That is why I will be sending stuff to your house if you ever come for a fishing lesson

I am more than willing to be a Fishing Goods Mule 

Border Agent: Sir do you have anything to declare
Hodgey1: Like what Sir?
Border Agent: Contraband!
Hodgey1: No, No Sir...... Just some fishing Tackle 

[GregL]

What's arnother few grand @RHYBAK ? @Greg told me Boat stands for Bring On Another Thousand  So, So, SOOOOOO True!

Go to FishUSA and buy your trolling pole reel setups, I use these Okuma combo's and so far work well for the $$$ They run around $90 USD each

https://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Great-Lakes-Trolling-Combos

I don't work for FishUSA    but they are great and always have decent pricing. I am on their email list and get discount offers occasionally. Today take $20 off a $175 or more purchase. Promo code "SAVE".  So Greg, that  takes the Fishawk from $799 USD to $779, hit the buy button! 

So that's 5G canadian LOL!

[GregL]

After putting these in my tracks, I think I need lower risers. I can easily flex the gunnels by pushing or pulling the rigger with 2 fingers. Very little pressure is required.

The tracks and brackets don't move at all it's the actual gunnels flexing!

You can see the gunnel flexing at least 3' up from the rigger and back to the gas cap.

I'm going to try lower risers and if that doesn't work, I may get some 1/8 aluminum stock and get it bent to match the inner gunnel wall so I can bolt to the gunnel and deck in a few places. It should look "ok"
if it's painted black to match the gunnel carpet.

Anybody want to buy a couple risers $100.

[RHYBAK]

That is a lot of stress on the gunnels.
Especially once you start dragging a cannon ball.
Can you not get a more solid bolting direct to the back floor?
that way you can use your risers

[GregL]

That is a lot of stress on the gunnels.
Especially once you start dragging a cannon ball.
Can you not get a more solid bolting direct to the back floor?
that way you can use your risers

Ya, I can do that to but either way I need to reinforce the deck because it's wood, so I might as well just reinforce the gunnel and use my tracks

Off the back corners will be a pain to work with especially in rough water.

BOAT = BREAT OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND! HAHA!

[GregL]

Another mounting option that would be easier to mount and reinforce , but not as convenient to fish with.

Back corner are that bad to get at but certain not as convenient but they are out of the way for other fishing so that's a plus!

I haven't decided yet, yup I like to over think things!

[Graphite]

Something else to consider is a pair of ball retrieval ropes.   They attach on your DR cable and run to the frame of the DR. This allows you to safely  connect and disconnect your ball close to the side of the boat. Really beneficial on rough days.

[GregL]

Something else to consider is a pair of ball retrieval ropes.   They attach on your DR cable and run to the frame of the DR. This allows you to safely  connect and disconnect your ball close to the side of the boat. Really beneficial on rough days.

GOOD IDEA! Added to the list!

[GregL]

OK,

Hardware is all on order.

400' Spool of canon downrigger cable
Power Plugs
Ball Retrievers
2 - 10lb canon balls
Terminator Kit

Any suggestions on baits?

I have a lot of minnow baits but no spoons, flashers etc.. If you were just starting out and gonna fish Hurons North Channel and Lakers in Kipawa.

What baits/colors would you start with?

[Graphite]

Hi GregL.
From our experience on Kipawa Northern King spoons in plane silver or gold work well.  They are the magnum size.  If you are going to use a stacker off of one of your DR'S, use a 3 inch spoon with a  watermelon or purple  color with a silver or gold back.   We usually don't fish below 45 feet just for the fact that if you catch a smaller fish it has a better chance of being successfully released.    If you are fishing for salmon on Huron I would think that an assortment of spoons would work as well.   I have had great success on Lake Ontario with them.  Happy fishing.  This style of fishing has a learning curve.   Just have to try different things!

[Graphite]

We have tried flashers and gang trolls for Lakers with limited results.   In my opinion I think what matters is the setback.    We usually start with around 40 to 50 feet of line behind the boat before the line goes into the bottom release.    First the top line that goes into the stacker release, the setback is around the distance between the ball and the height of the stacker.    Hope this helps. 

[penner]

Greg. When I first started going to Kipawa in the mid 90's I would stay at Corbeau and downrig for lakers day in and day out. Never fished walleye for years. Always ran a cheater line. At that time it was almost always Silver Fox spoons . Always had a blue on one of the lines , either double blue or the cracked ice. At that time I knew the owners of Silver Fox and got a lot of "gifts". I used the same on Huron and Georgian Bay for years as well. Haven't done much of it the last few years but hope to change that!

[reelpro]

A boat is a hole in the water you pour money into.
 

[plowjock]

GregL: Not Using a FishHawk is equivalent to going Ice Fishing without a Flasher, if you get what I mean.
I have been out with guides on Lake Ontario both for salmon and lakers.
The info that is there for you is very significant. Temps at depth, Ball speed as compared to surface speed.
There is a lot to be gleaned out of one of these units.
You won't be disappointed in spending the money, once you master the functionality of the FishHawk.
Check You Tube for Videos, my learning directory.
Lots and lots of good information there.