Not my best day of fishing but I learned a few new things. Since it is a new year, I thought it was time to try other areas and other equipment. I mounted out-drive stabilizer fins on my 8hp extra-long shaft kicker motor for longer runs on the lake. Thought I would troll with this also. Previously without the fins, it was a joke with the bow way up in the air. The boat planed beautifully with the new fins but would not troll below 1.8mph. I was able to reduce the speed to 1.5-1.8mph by zigzagging the boat. I tried out a new/used Scotty 1060 manual downrigger for the first time. I found that 2’/revolution was recklessly fast deployment! This was complicated by the outboard motor abruptly turning the boat every time I took a hand off the tiller! Ok. Finally fishing… Last year I went straight to the weather buoy, circled it, then headed north. I always caught fish. Armed with home made wedding rings, gods tooth lures and worms for tipping. I decided to fish the south end near the creek, south cove and the sunken forest. Unfortunately, I rarely saw a fish on the finder. There were a few near the creek. None in south cove. Maybe I didn’t go in shallow enough…? Interesting group of buoys just out of the cove and a large group of birds there, but I did not dare troll through for risk of a snag. There appeared to be a few spots in the sunken forest with large schools in session. Would be fun to jig there another time. I finally made it to the weather buoy where seagulls and boats were plentiful. Saw some fish at 30 and 60’ but ran out of time to secure any. Happy Fishing!

Sideburns

1/30/2019 12:24:19 AM

Hopefully youve found the steering tension adjustment on your outboard. Usually a screw or bolt threaded into the steering pivot/hinge. Tighten it up to keep the motor from flopping around. The scotty downrigger brakes take a little getting used to. My dad likes to used the handle to force the spool around backwards to lower his gear more controllably. Just have to keep the brake a little loose. BTW... Make sure to check the brake tension, a snagged downrigger ball can damage or capsize a small boat easily. Under the cover, use the emergency handle/wrench to loosen the 9/16 nut until 20-30 lbs tension bareiy pulls cable out, either with a weight or fish scale. Good luck!

FishingTenor

1/30/2019 6:28:20 PM

Thanks Sideburns for the useful tips. I will make some adjustments before I head out again.

angry perch

1/30/2019 8:42:27 AM

1.8 is really slow for Sammamish.

angry perch

1/30/2019 10:18:09 AM

I generally shoot for 3mph

FishingTenor

1/30/2019 6:34:10 PM

Oh now come-on Angey perch. I have consistently caught cutthroat on Sammamish at 1.7mph and I read the reports. No wonder those perch are so angry! Ha ha. If you are serious about the 3mph, What fish and how often are you catching?

BentRod

1/30/2019 12:31:04 PM

Ha! I'm pretty sure I saw you out there near the weather buoy. The funny thing was that, even though we've never met, as I was paddling by you (if it was you) in my kayak I thought, "from the pics I've seen that guy reminds me of FishingTenor." Not too many guys wear full face protection. Were you in a 10' or 12' aluminum boat out at the weather station around 12-1pm? I was in a nondescript olive colored kayak (paddle powered). But, there were quite a few kayaks/boats out that day so wouldn't expect you to remember that one. I hooked one fish (lost it) trolling about 15' deep. That was my first time out at the weather station. It's a long paddle out and back from the park!

FishingTenor

1/30/2019 6:47:41 PM

Hi BentRod, I am sure we have seen each other a few times. I am always jealous of you guys in the kayak. So close to the water and being self propelled is really cool. I will give you a tow next time. That is a ways to the bouy by kayak. Until we meet again...

BentRod

1/31/2019 8:33:34 AM

Don't be too jealous! The kayak has it's perks, but also has it's limitations. I'd take you up on that tow! :)
Hope to run into you again sometime, I'll know to give a shout out.

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