Thread: Boat setup advise

Hello all, I'm looking for advise on setting up a deep V fising boat for this spring. A bit about me: I'm have been a very casual fishperson since moveing to the Jackson, MI area. I have been chasing mostly panfish with bobbers, and have had some success with Gills. Fortunately for me, the better half is discovering a love for fishing and prefers to eat crappie. The question for me is to improve the boat to help us put more fish in the livewell.

It is a Starcraft Procamp tiller steering. I have a 300 series HB on the back with an H2O portable GPS. I also have a 48lb hand controled trolling motor on the back. The procamp also has a good sized casting deck.

I'd like to be able to spider rig and slow troll for crappie and other species. I'd also like to be able to find structure and fish in the new lakes I'm exploring.

My thoughts are to move the Trolling motor to the front and add another fish finder up there.

Some of my other ideas would be to add a front mount trolling motor and a really nice graph/gps up front. (I'm lusting for a side scan unit, but it seems like putting chrome rims on a farm truck right now, but....)

Anyone else have any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Scott from Leslie

Scott,

You and I don't live to far away from one another. I live closer to Dansville but have a Leslie mailing address.

As for the boat: I could help you set it up for Salmon (as I have a boat setup for charter fishing on lake Michigan), I could help you set it up for walleyes but I feel I don't possess the proper knowledge for a good setup for specifically targeting crappies. I can however point you in the right direction.

I would consider posting the same question on the Mississippi site, or the Ohio site. I have talked to a few guys out of Ohio that fish the southern portion of the state and they seem to be very knowledgable of the setups they put on their boats. You can also checkout several other threads of people asking the exact same question.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction. There are some great setups from people in Michigan and I'm sure you will get a few replies in the coming days but I would post your question to the most sites possible in order to get the greatest amount of knowledge.

Good luck and happy fishing.

Post your question on the MS or the MO board. Lots of folks there willing to help.

I have a Tracker Grizzly 20' that has been modified with pedestal bases so that two of us can sit side by side on the front deck. There's also a center pedestal base so if you are going by yourself, you can be in the center of the deck. Have a really nice graph/gps at the console and one at the front. Trolling motor mounted on front as well. Fish for crappie and anything else that strikes our fancy. Have a removable spider rigging set up too that works really well. You have lots of options.

Good luck!

There's quite a few diff. methods for speck fishing, and the guys that catch them regularly employ them all. Spider rigging (pushing), long lining, straight jigging. float and jig, fly fishing and some I probably dont know.

Up here in the smaller inland lakes that I fish when the water temps start getting up in the 50's is when I pull out the flyrod and hit the shallows right before the lilly pads emerge.

After the spawn I switch over to pushing lines out the front of the boat and follow the fish out to deeper water.

When the water temps get high enough I'll try my hand at shootin the docks back in the shadows.

If the little lady is likin to fish then by all means get that boat ready for her. I attached a couple of pics of how my 02 tracker was set up. I have just installed (4) Hi-teck rod holder systems so the bar thingee across the front is history now. I have a 70# Motorguide troller bow mounted w/ a HB 727 sonar attached to the motor. I too lust for the SI, but that'll have to wait a bit. You should be able to set your boat up w/ double seats pretty much like I did. Swivel-eze seat bases are relatively cheap.

Ready To Double Team 'em

Good luck and be watchin for the Michigan C.com spring fishing outing info. Should start to surface in the next month or so.

Doodler

Originally Posted by smithsc1

I'd like to be able to spider rig and slow troll for crappie and other species. .

My thoughts are to move the Trolling motor to the front and add another fish finder up there.

i would have to say since there are may way to fish would be stick to how you want to fish for crappie and work on perfecting that pattern. I my self like to pull (trolling) when going to new lakes, this way i get to find structure and use 3 lines.

As far as setting up you boat really depends how your going to fish, everyone has there own comfort on what works best for them and there boat. I have a trolling motor up front and plan on getting another ff up front.

Now can we stop this kind of talk about open water fishing until its warmer :D

Tho't I'd attach some pics for you Smithsc1. This is the Tracker with the new Hi-Tec rod holders, just for reference. All holders have dovetail base plates for easy removal.


(3) rod holders up front


(2) rod holders in back


Double up

don,

nice setup i can tell your getting bored

Yankee: thanks, that just about what I've had in mind.

Thanks,

Scott

Originally Posted by ready2fish

don,

nice setup i can tell your getting bored

Yup..and I can only do so many "honey do's" before I gotta get out in the barn and recoup.

nice setup Y.D, those hitechs are nice i got em on my favorites list -hopefully soon installd on the boat