Fishing Forum

Well I got the minn kota endura 40 for 130 dollars. I took the deep cell off my camp trailer and gave it a try. It was a group 27 115 ah from costco but it is 6 years old.
I went to Salmon Dam for the first time this year. I turned on the motor and I was out of control! After some getting used to it I was ready to fish. I wanted to troll for walleyes. I took off dragging a Crawdad plug. Almost instantly I was hooked up with a 14" small mouth. After I got ready I took off and I was hooked up again with a 11" crappie. I was starting to think this is the TICKET!!!
I turned back to see my friend I took with me and I didn't get a single bite on the way back. I looked down at the GPS and my speed went from .9 to 1.1 to 1.5 MPH. that extra .4 MPH I think was the problem. The extra speed came from the wind. So I figured out that they wanted a speed of .9 to 1.1 and I slowed down. After that it was hard to keep the fish off the hook. I was soon getting BIG perch on a crawfish plug, and a crappie now and then and bass were nuts.
I didn't pay attention to the distance I was going. All I knew was I was into a PILE of fish. I got a faint call on the two way radio and I looked at the GPS. I was 3 miles away from the truck. I turned and trolled along the other bank and soon I was about a 1/4 of a mile fro the truck and the battery was starting to get low. I had been trolling for the better part of 7 hours and covered over 5.5 miles. I took off for the truck. I pulled the fish basket out of the water to help with drag and only put a foot in to turn. I made it back to the truck about the same time the wind got REAL bad. It was helping to push the boat to the truck. When the waves were white capping I was a little nervous.
The guy I took caught over 100 fish for the day just kicking. He kept about 15 perch 6 crappie and a 16" bass. He caught more fish than I did but I got a LOT bigger fish.
I got 16 bass over 14" long. I managed to find a couple of 14" walleyes and a couple of big crappie.
I loved the motor on the pontoon. I got to troll for the first time in about 3 years. I got to fish places I have not been to in years. In all it was FUN! But I do realize I got lucky that I got back with the battery. If the wind had switched I would have had to either rowed or rowed and called my friend on the two way to come get me. I will have to try to keep my self in check.
I can't wait to go do it again. Ron
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Awesome! You had a great day!
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Seven hours of trolling, wow, that is great on a 6 year old battery! Did you get any pictures? --- I think I have a fish porn addition!

About how much does the Minn Kota weigh?
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Wow, now that is a day that I would love to have![cool] Thanks for the report. Hope you have another like it soon![]
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[cool][#0000ff]Nice work.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Love that lake...for multi species and overall healthy fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe and I hit it a couple of years ago and got 7 species all within one small area...on the same lures. But...I don't think they got catfish in there. Wonder why not. Everything else does great.[/#0000ff]
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I don't know what that motor and a group 27 battery weighs, but it is a lot. I had to slide the seat several inches forward. I am playing with another new toy. It is called the oar cam. I put a bracket on the oar and I can take pictures with it. It took me a little bit to remember how to use the timer. I took a lot that were "bigfoot" pictures. Didn't come out to great. I took some pictures of the first few bass. These were in the 12" range but I was just testing the set up. I should have taken more. I didn't even get one of my ride or fish baskets. I am getting forgetful in my older years.
The F&G put bullheads in SFCR several years ago. I don't know anyone that ever got one. They claim that at 5000 feet elevation the lake is too high for cats. I don't believe it but what ever. I will have t work on the oar cam a bit. Ron
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Can you post a shot of the oar cam? Glad to hear that you're enjoying the motorized experience. I just tried motoring on my Fish Cat 10 IR pontoon and did not like the experience. It was interesting to note that I can row just as fast as the 36 pound thrust electric. I always troll with my fins so I don't need the motor for that. The weight of the battery is ridiculous (probably weighs as much as my pontoon) It's also too easy to oversteer and inconvenient to reach back with a fully extended arm. All in all with battery charging and maintenance it's just too much hassle when it doesn't add anything to my pontoon experience. I gave it a fair workout in an effort to enjoy the addition of the motor but it's just too much effort for too little reward.

God Bless,
Don
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What a great day !!!
thank you for sharing


Peter
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I will try to get a picture of the oar cam. All I did was use a mount for a roof top carrier that I no longer have. I put it on the oar and used my Leupold window mount for my spotting scope. It all goes together ok and is safe. My camera is water proof but it doesn't float. I teather it for good luck. Ron
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Ron your avitar is killing me[sly] The stocking hat and coat about makes me pass out with all this heat[]
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I am known as a joker.
It was 100 degrees today in the feed mill. I am thinking about round #2 at SFCR this Friday. Ron
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So do you have a 3 day weekend every weekend?
I was thinking of taking my canoe or floattube down to GI next time. Those rocks were hard on my trailer. But if I start at backwaters I'll pull the trailer.

Well I know a couple of people where you work.Dennis and Matt Bridges.
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I am thinking about going to the back waters area on Friday. Ron
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Great maybe we will meet. I hope to get down there around 6 pm. My son and I both get off at 4, but you'll have your limit and be headed home by 2 I'll bet.
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I have plenty of perch from last time I had a couple of things pop up and I had to freeze them. I won't be taking any more home until I get them finished. They are calling for so so weather on Friday. I am planning on being there before 7:00 am. If the wind picks up I will be off. Ron
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