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Bigger Boat

1099 Views 17 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  NA3VY, 
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Dearest wife wants me tobe safer on big waters while fishing at night. Have permission to get a 16 1/2 to 19 foot aluminum Deep V (Tracker, Alumacraft, Crestliner, etc). I'm looking for one with a 90 hp or smaller OUTBOARD engine, preferably 4 stroke. If you know of anyone with one sitting around please contact me via this board.
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Hey NA3VY: Just a thought but don't go too high on HP if you plan on using it to troll for walleye. My Alumacraft 17.5 with a 115 on the back will not get down to 1.5mph which is needed for walleye. My last boat before the Alumacraft was a 16.5 Smokercraft with a 60 4-stroke and that thing would tick along at 1.5 all day long and was great for trolling for walleye.

Course, there are all kinda other ways to get at the walleye. Bottom-bouncing with an electric which probably catches more walleye anyway - or hang a kicker on the back but those things are a pain if you hang up and have to back up to get your lure unhung. Jigging will also catch a lotta walleye.

As you know, Bull can be a nasty lake on a windy day so a bigger higher boat is a darned good idea. A bigger motor will getcha around the lake quicker but there is that trade-off for slow trolling. Whatever you do, best of luck on your next boat.


Cheers.....
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Sorry about the unavailability of my boat but between my age and cancer remission, who knows how long I am gonna stick around?? I'll tell Lynn to give you a call if I croak. But it sounds like you got the right idea with 50-60 horseys. Between Jimmy Creek and maybe Howard Creek, you will find more walleye than you will know what to do with. You don't need 200 horses to get 20 miles uplake. All you'll do is burn more gas that way.

Whatever you do, best of luck and post a pic of your new boat once you get it fixed up to you liking.

Cheers.....
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I am all for postponing. Just changed out the impeller on the 4-stroke and now the steering collar on the i-Pilot shaft has broke. A 2-dollar part that will take a half day to install. Fishing sure is fun. The whites are finally back in force on Norfork with some big ones looking like they came out of Bull. Looks like a good year of fishing coming up (if the lakes don't flood). Better get that boat and get ready.

Cheers.....
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Well now I am jealous, NA3VY. Sounds like a great rig. Problem now is you have no excuse to be eating hot dawgs when you should be eating walleye. Put that boat to use and wear them Bull fish out. Good luck.


Cheers.....
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I prefer the smaller hooks at #6 or maybe even #8 if I am fishing for smaller fish. But the #6 works fine for everything up to stripers. Also, the octopus hooks are just as good as circles and nearly the same. The reason for the smaller hooks is to keep the shad looking normal. My rig consists of the #6 tied to about 12lb test leader maybe 12 inches long tied to a small barrel swivel which is attached to a 18-20lb test leader 15 inches long with a Finesse Slider Sinker at maybe a 1/4oz and the leader terminated with a loop not. With this setup, the weight will get the shad down deep and the shad can swim around in circles easily because of the swivel. Also, if you hang up. you will break off the bottom and at least get the top have of your rig back. The Finesse Slider Sinkers look like this: finesse slider sinkers for sale | eBay. I also find eBay a great place to buy the circle hooks: #6 circle hooks for sale | eBay. Make sure you choose "free shipping" when you buy on eBay.


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On that netting, if you pull on it and it doesn't stretch, you are pulling on the side. If you have stretch, you are pulling on the length. Lowes or Home Depot have a nice 4-foot allthread rod that is great for hanging the net on. The nice thing about the allthread is the net will stay put instead of moving up and down the rod. Keep in mind that the nest stretches a lot so a little bit goes a long way.

Cheers......
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