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Headed down to the lake and meet Super Dave at the north marina to make sure everything was working on the boat and calibrate the Garmin Reactor auto pilot that I installed this winter (replacing my old TR-1 that went down) and check out the live scope which I added. 1 boat trailer in the lot when we got there at 8:30, dropped in and headed out into the openness to do the calibration. Setup wizard came on when we started the unit so started the process, couldn’t get past the middle setup calibration where the auto pilot does a series of zigzags, we kept starting over and over to no avail. Finally after looking in 1 of the 3 manuals I see this “Dock Wizard setup” which is supposed to be done 1st, after going through it the calibration wizard worked fine and we were ready to do some trolling and check out the live scope. Headed down toward the light pole and dropped in, plenty of time to play with the live scope as the fish which were few and far between had lockjaw. Did notice a few marks quite high in the water column being down 6-10’. After 3 hrs of no action we headed in, saw and talked with Obi at the launch, hopefully he found something. Weather was great with a light breeze, water temp was 40 on the Garmin, was nice to see the water as clear as it was with all the water coming in. We ran fligs in different colors with both chub and crawlers for bait. 4 other boats besides Obi were launching when we went in. Hopefully with some warmer temps thing will start going.
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(04-07-2023, 10:59 PM)2knots Wrote: Headed down to the lake and meet Super Dave at the north marina to make sure everything was working on the boat and calibrate the Garmin Reactor auto pilot that I installed this winter (replacing my old TR-1 that went down) and check out the live scope which I added. 1 boat trailer in the lot when we got there at 8:30, dropped in and headed out into the openness to do the calibration. Setup wizard came on when we started the unit so started the process, couldn’t get past the middle setup calibration where the auto pilot does a series of zigzags, we kept starting over and over to no avail. Finally after looking in 1 of the 3 manuals I see this “Dock Wizard setup” which is supposed to be done 1st, after going through it the calibration wizard worked fine and we were ready to do some trolling and check out the live scope. Headed down toward the light pole and dropped in, plenty of time to play with the live scope as the fish which were few and far between had lockjaw. Did notice a few marks quite high in the water column being down 6-10’. After 3 hrs of no action we headed in, saw and talked with Obi at the launch, hopefully he found something. Weather was great with a light breeze, water temp was 40 on the Garmin, was nice to see the water as clear as it was with all the water coming in. We ran fligs in different colors with both chub and crawlers for bait. 4 other boats besides Obi were launching when we went in. Hopefully with some warmer temps thing will start going.
Good to hear you and Dave were able to get out there and get your new auto pilot set and working. Too bad the fish did not want to play, it's been a tough start to the open water fishing season. We were seeing the same high marks in the water column yesterday, we thought they might be crappie, so we put out a crappie jig and pulled it around for a while, with no luck.
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(04-07-2023, 11:24 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: (04-07-2023, 10:59 PM)2knots Wrote: Headed down to the lake and meet Super Dave at the north marina to make sure everything was working on the boat and calibrate the Garmin Reactor auto pilot that I installed this winter (replacing my old TR-1 that went down) and check out the live scope which I added. 1 boat trailer in the lot when we got there at 8:30, dropped in and headed out into the openness to do the calibration. Setup wizard came on when we started the unit so started the process, couldn’t get past the middle setup calibration where the auto pilot does a series of zigzags, we kept starting over and over to no avail. Finally after looking in 1 of the 3 manuals I see this “Dock Wizard setup” which is supposed to be done 1st, after going through it the calibration wizard worked fine and we were ready to do some trolling and check out the live scope. Headed down toward the light pole and dropped in, plenty of time to play with the live scope as the fish which were few and far between had lockjaw. Did notice a few marks quite high in the water column being down 6-10’. After 3 hrs of no action we headed in, saw and talked with Obi at the launch, hopefully he found something. Weather was great with a light breeze, water temp was 40 on the Garmin, was nice to see the water as clear as it was with all the water coming in. We ran fligs in different colors with both chub and crawlers for bait. 4 other boats besides Obi were launching when we went in. Hopefully with some warmer temps thing will start going.
Good to hear you and Dave were able to get out there and get your new auto pilot set and working. Too bad the fish did not want to play, it's been a tough start to the open water fishing season. We were seeing the same high marks in the water column yesterday, we thought they might be crappie, so we put out a crappie jig and pulled it around for a while, with no luck. On the live scope they looked like single fish to me
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(04-08-2023, 12:07 AM)2knots Wrote: (04-07-2023, 11:24 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: (04-07-2023, 10:59 PM)2knots Wrote: Headed down to the lake and meet Super Dave at the north marina to make sure everything was working on the boat and calibrate the Garmin Reactor auto pilot that I installed this winter (replacing my old TR-1 that went down) and check out the live scope which I added. 1 boat trailer in the lot when we got there at 8:30, dropped in and headed out into the openness to do the calibration. Setup wizard came on when we started the unit so started the process, couldn’t get past the middle setup calibration where the auto pilot does a series of zigzags, we kept starting over and over to no avail. Finally after looking in 1 of the 3 manuals I see this “Dock Wizard setup” which is supposed to be done 1st, after going through it the calibration wizard worked fine and we were ready to do some trolling and check out the live scope. Headed down toward the light pole and dropped in, plenty of time to play with the live scope as the fish which were few and far between had lockjaw. Did notice a few marks quite high in the water column being down 6-10’. After 3 hrs of no action we headed in, saw and talked with Obi at the launch, hopefully he found something. Weather was great with a light breeze, water temp was 40 on the Garmin, was nice to see the water as clear as it was with all the water coming in. We ran fligs in different colors with both chub and crawlers for bait. 4 other boats besides Obi were launching when we went in. Hopefully with some warmer temps thing will start going.
Good to hear you and Dave were able to get out there and get your new auto pilot set and working. Too bad the fish did not want to play, it's been a tough start to the open water fishing season. We were seeing the same high marks in the water column yesterday, we thought they might be crappie, so we put out a crappie jig and pulled it around for a while, with no luck. On the live scope they looked like single fish to me
The ones we saw were like that as well.
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Thanks for the post. I can't wait to see your new electronics.
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(04-08-2023, 01:26 AM)fast_randy Wrote: Thanks for the post. I can't wait to see your new electronics.
Looking forward to the bite starting and having you onboard
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Just a guess, but I suspect the "suspenders" are probably big shad. They can begin to spawn as early as late April but with the colder water I doubt they will get started until May.
I have been fooled by "false crappies" a few times...even hooking a shad on small crappie jigs a time or two.
The next upgrade in electronics needs to be "Species ID".
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I’ve always caught crappies at the north marina, have not try the south marina. Is one marina better than the other?
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The North marina is usually the best but I have caught them in the South marina too.
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In former times...when water levels tended to remain higher throughout the year...crappies would have a good spawn in several areas around the lake. During low water years about the only place they gather is inside the two marinas...and a select few spots where there is aquatic vegetation or brush.
The past few years have mostly been poor spawning years for crappies and numbers are way down from "the good ol' days". There are usually enough showing up in the marinas to get the happy harvesters lined up, but the "average" angler fishing outside the marinas has been finding poor pickings in recent years.
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