Tough as Nails

[Oberst]

Drove down to Stockton Monday to fish out of Cedar Bluff for a few days.  I saw it was going to be hot as all get out but thought that focusing on pulling crawler harnesses and slow death rigs would result in some walleyes, if not a lot, then some at least.  Walleye with a pecan crust is a big hit with my bride, so how could I lose?  At the camp ground, with the Alumacraft loaded and ready:

That Bimini top is a real asset on a calm hot day,  which it definitely was.  Well, I ran those crawler rigs all over the place, two rods usually, and typically a foot to maybe 20" off the bottom.  From 15 to 25 fow.  Just about nothing after two and a half days.  Not a walleye.  No bass.  A few drum and catfish.  I could have caught crappie with crank baits but I was out for walleye.  Got a couple decent bluegills trolling and decided to focus on them for a while, fishing from 10 to 20 feet on broken structure with a drop shot, but that too wasn't great.  Brought maybe a dozen or so home, but not like some times where every drop yields a gill.  Hard to beat them done whole in the pan:

Was going to stay thru Thursday, today, but was worn out with the heat and quit.  I was fishing from the bridge to the state park, and did see a couple Lunds nearby bouncing what I guessed were  crawlers on the bottom.  Didn't see any fish landed but then I only glanced over occasionally.  95 degrees and calm isn't the best of conditions but I would have thought to score here and there anyway.  At least in the morning and evening.  Nope.

 

 

[nomolites]

Nice ride!  Last time I was on Stockton we had a meal of big gills caught while bouncing as well; delicious!  They are not far behind walleye in the table fare department...

Mike

[rps]

Had an Alumacraft tiller (Navigator 165) for six years. I had shoulder surgery and the wife insisted I get a different boat without tiller steer. I have a nice Lund, but I secretly wish I had never sold the Alumacraft.

[Old dog 417]

Your boat looks like my wish list...

Bimini top and...

Am I seeing a portion of a lever actuated bow release? If so, what has your experience been with it?  

Thanks,

OD

 

[Oberst]

Yup; I got a Drotto this year, back in July.  Heard about it on this site.  I usually launch by myself, and getting the boat on the trailer required me to look over the bow, see where I was at, climb down, hook the winch; well, you know the drill.  Now I just drive on the trailer until I hear the Drotto click and jump out of the boat and go.  If I'm with someone else I just wave when the boat clicks onto the Drotto and they drive me out.  The thing works just like I hoped it would.  It's expensive; I think around $275, but I wish I have bought it years earlier.  At 40 I wouldn't have thought of the inconvenience but at 70 I do!   Bolts right where the roller was so installation is easy.  Might be worth asking the question as a new thread on the forum to see what other owners say, but I haven't found anyone yet who wasn't glad they got one.  

[JCreek]

Wow.  Another venting opportunity!

I wanted an Alumacraft and tiller engine so bad!  Dealer kept putting me off and wouldn't get back to me with a price on what I wanted!  "Wait until the boat show", he said.

Well,  BPS announced the price on their 40 year anniversary boat just before Christmas in 2017 so I drove down there and put down a deposit.  Now I get to fight the steering wheel lining up on the trailer instead of just a quick nudge of a tiller, have to run around all over the thing to fish, bought 2 sounders, the wife hates the back casting platform.  Sheesh. 

But it's still fishing and, truth be told, the windshield ain't all that bad a deal when underway.

[Walleyedmike]

9 hours ago, Oberst said:

Yup; I got a Drotto this year, back in July.  Heard about it on this site.  I usually launch by myself, and getting the boat on the trailer required me to look over the bow, see where I was at, climb down, hook the winch; well, you know the drill.  Now I just drive on the trailer until I hear the Drotto click and jump out of the boat and go.  If I'm with someone else I just wave when the boat clicks onto the Drotto and they drive me out.  The thing works just like I hoped it would.  It's expensive; I think around $275, but I wish I have bought it years earlier.  At 40 I wouldn't have thought of the inconvenience but at 70 I do!   Bolts right where the roller was so installation is easy.  Might be worth asking the question as a new thread on the forum to see what other owners say, but I haven't found anyone yet who wasn't glad they got one.  

My current rig had a Drotto Latch on it when I bought it. I'll never have another boat without it now. Makes loading and unloading alone so much easier, and when the wife is with me she drives the boat onto the trailer after I back it in. We're loaded and out of the way in just a couple of minutes.

WM

[MrGiggles]

After the shower I got on Friday, I've been thinking more and more about getting rid of this low-slung bass rig and getting something like an Alumacraft Competitor with a 50-60 horse tiller, like I wanted in the first place.

I don't mind the side console, but with the low sides you get drenched in heavy chop or a cross wind. Heck my little 14' Alumacraft was a drier ride, if you could hang on.

Problem is those tiller boats are a rarity around here. Go up north and that's all there is.