New guy from NH

[Tom Staples]

Hello everyone! I'm new here and a new boat owner as well. My Father gave me his 16ft deep-v Grumman with a Johnson 60hp. This past week we took it on a lake here in NH and tried to troll for salmon, rainbows and lakers. Using leadcore line and trolling live bait and Sutton spoons, we got my boat to troll around 2.1 to 2.7mph using two five gallon buckets attached to my rear cleats. I saw the thread on "trolling" and posted there first but seeing no hit becauise it's an old thread, I thought I'd start off fresh one.<br /> <br />quote:<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />The bags are the way to go. If you tie them off the cleats in the forward part of the boat<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />What are the bags you mentioned and what does putting them on forward part of the boat do? Are they the drift sock/sea anchors? Another question for ya, is running my motor at a idling speed for most of the day going to hurt my motor? Thanks for the help and hope to learn a lot for this forum

 

[txswinner]

Re: New guy from NH

NH, Not uncommon down here to troll for white bass and some salt water fish. Will not hurt engine, watch temp gauge and make sure oil mix is correct. Just for giggles, I occassionally rev engine out of gear up to about 2000 for 15-20 seconds. Down here to slow the troll we use Mother-in-Law. Actually tabs on my rig slow me down a bit.

 

[Tom Staples]

Re: New guy from NH

I'll have to try that mother-in-law thing and if it doesn't work I'll just add my wife on the otherside on the boat We would troll up a shore line and if nothing hit we might troll back the same shore. We did however bring in the buckets and our lines to run the motor full speed to another area on the lake at least twice during the day.

 

[peterc38]

Re: New guy from NH

NH Fisherman,<br /><br />I'm right next door in Maine. I don't know what lake you are fishing but I target the same species, namely landlocked salmom and lake trout ('cept in Maine we call lake trout "Togue"). I haven't tried buckets/bags to slow down my boat (Sea Hunt 202 w F150) but I troll with leadcore and downriggers at about between 2.2 and 2.7 MPH depending on conditions. Sometimes I take the boat out of gear and/or zigzag as well, which often entices a strike. I also have a smaller boat that I can troll a little slower in if need be. I have been real successful at that speed so I would suspect speed is not the only reason you didn't catch fish. What about lure selection and presentation? You say you are using leadcore line, how long is your leader? I used to use about 6-8 feet of mono, when someone told me to use 30 ft I did and it made a big difference because of the water clarity where I fish. I use mostly 1/6 oz flashkings and DB smelt. I like colors like nickel/blue on bright sunny days and gold/orange on overcast days or earlier and later in the day. Ask local guys what is working, you will run in to some that don't want to share info, just ignore those and seek out the more knowledgable, friendly types. If you ever trailer your boat, I could make suggestions on where to fish in Maine. Keep plugging away and you will learn a lot on your own too and before long you will be putting plenty of fish in the boat. Good luck.<br /><br />Peter

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: New guy from NH

Hey neighbor from right down the street!! I've pretty much given up on the lakers and salmon for the season, but we killed them this spring on blue/nickel sutton spoons and slow trolling a rigged live smelt. I usually fish Alton Bay out to Ames farm, across to Rattlesnake, over to Black Point and then back into the bay. Right after ice-out till late may, after that too much boat traffic on the big lakes. Right now I am targeting bass in the Hopkinton/Everett Resevoir and Clement Pond...kids have a game tonight at Maple Street or I'd be out.

 

[roscoe]

Re: New guy from NH

The drift socks work well.<br />You can attach them anywhere, but best to put them up front so they are out of the way of lines and fish.<br /><br />The best setup I've seen was to have a rope or strap attached to the boat on each side, about 3' from the bow. The drift sock was attached to the rope so it was under the center of the boat. Be careful not to make it too long or it may get into the motor.

 

[Tom Staples]

Re: New guy from NH

Hey neighbor from right down the street!!

OK neighbor, I'm right on off the Cedar St. where are you? and did I happened to run into this Spring turkey hunting? I was fishing off of Long Island all the way down to Winter Harbor. New to running the boat and the lake by myself to where I have to pay attention. Before I was on a friends boat and I never had to worry about these things, I just worried about getting the fish in the boat <br /><br />I really appreciate all the advice everyone been throwing out to me and for the invitation from Peter_in_Maine. I might just take you up on that offer but I first have to wait until my son gets a little older before my time is mine again. My wife just gave birth to our first child this past April so right now I'm still running on his time schedule. <br /><br />One of my salmon reels broke down so I might be switching my fishing gear over towards bass fishing (striper, large mouth and smallies) for this year. The drift socks are still not out of the question for my boat! It's better if I get them now so I'll have them next time I plan on hitting the trolling waters. Thanks again for all the help! I hope to learn a lot more from everyone and in time, be able to help other as well <br /><br />gaugeguy, maybe we can hook up sometime and hit the local waters. I'd really like to hit Sunapee for smallies this year. I was having my motor tuned up by the lake last Fall and right off the dock in Newbury, I slammed (and released) a 3.5+ smallie. That one fish got me hooked on wanting to catch more of them If you see a green blazer towing a tan/maroon 16'Grumman deep-v through "Tookie" flag me down.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: New guy from NH

Hey NH, I'm over on Galloping Hill, right off of Hatfield. I thought I was the only hunter in the whole town, as I do get some looks when I'm going home all dressed in cammies. I've never fished Sunapee, other than through the ice. I'm always into fishing though. If you see a blue F-150 with a guy with a goatee waving to you, you'll know it's me