09-05-2004, 02:51 PM
When trolling with the downrigger (only used one) we were trolling anywhere from about 1.5 to 2.5 mph. We had by far our best luck when we were headed back in with the kicker (unfortunately, a necessity, because the main outboard had decided it was time to quit -- at the time I thought the fuel tank had run dry, but determined at the gas station that wasn't the case) wide open and trolling between 3.0 and 3.1 mph. At that time, Dennis and Brandon were long-lining, and I was using leaded line (until I cut Haws Point too sharply and lost my dodger to the bottom). I threw the casting net a few times from the dock before we left in the morning, but the minnows weren't in, or if they were in they were too deep to reach before scattering. I tried some minnows that I had frozen last year (in some water and no salt) and with the exception of the head they were essentially mush). Brandon, in his modesty, failed to mention that he had, by far, the hottest rod. At first I was thinking it might have just been luck, but when he continued to get bites and reel in the fish, as we watched and helped with the net, I reluctantly had to admit that maybe something besides luck was taking place. A slower than planned day on the water, but we managed to boat a few, and it was a pleasure to fish with two fellow fishermen whom I hadn't fished with previously.
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