Topics

1

The Hawg Forum / Stay at Home Order

« on: March 28, 2020, 07:29:06 PM »

As of this afternoon, RI is now under a mandatory stay at home order, until April 13.

The order mentions that going outside for exercise is acceptable. So, I'm assuming that being on a lake, away from people is also acceptable. I guess we will find out 

2

The Hawg Forum / CT Opening Day Launched Early

« on: March 24, 2020, 09:48:50 PM »

CT announced today that they have opened all lakes, including trout lakes, as of this evening.

Opening day has been skipped so as to avoid large crowds that are usually experienced.

3

The Hawg Forum / Here Comes The Rollercoaster Again!

« on: March 16, 2020, 10:36:58 AM »

The weather for the next 10 days looks like another rollercoaster ride!
in the 40s today and then up and down, with rain, wind, snow and just about everything else thrown in there during the next 10 days. 

4

The Hawg Forum / Please Do This Right Away!

« on: March 11, 2020, 10:45:17 AM »

If you live in RI and you value your right to carry a firearm, please, please, please go to this page and submit the info immediately!

This literally takes only about 30 seconds to do and will go a long way toward helping to maintain our freedom to defend ourselves when the need arises.

http://rifol.org/house2020.php?fbclid=IwAR2eRb9Z-MR33O_unYP53NBy6utV_l4Qw6nqZaMica1FpvqhIDFfehfEs3I

5

Boating Forum / Another Boat Mod This Evening!

« on: March 10, 2020, 08:42:53 PM »

Tonight was cup holder installation night!

This was a bit of a hairy installation, since it required me to cut a large hole in my deck 

Step 1 - Mark the outline and drill a pilot hole.



Step 2 - drill a larger hole.



Step 3 was to cut the hole, and then file it to get it just right. Then I slid the cup holder down in, where it fit nice and snug.



And here's the view from a bit further back.



Glad this is done! I still might install one more back at the console, next to the other one that's already there. We'll see. 

6

Boating Forum / New Boat Mod Today

« on: March 09, 2020, 09:12:16 PM »

I installed a USB Charger/Voltmeter this evening.

I used 12 gauge wire, just to be on the safe side. Here are the ends I crimped on, with heat shrink tubing to make it nice and tight.



Here is the fuse panel with the wires attached for the USB Charger ports.



Here is the finished installation with the cover down, which protects the USB ports from rain and dirt.



And here it is with the cover lifted up, showing the 2 ports.



Now that this is done, the only thing left that I want to do is to add at least one more cup holder, possibly two.

7

General Non-Fishing Chatter / Hang On!

« on: February 07, 2020, 10:17:02 AM »

Looks like some nasty weather headed our way this afternoon!!

Between 1 PM and 8 PM today they're forecasting extremely high winds of 30-40MPH, with gusts up to 70MPH 

Better get the generators ready 

8

Special Announcements & Updates / Upcoming Server Migration

« on: January 23, 2020, 10:25:24 AM »

There will be a server migration taking place this Saturday evening, January 25, between 6 PM and 8 PM.

It is expected to take between 1 and 2 hours if everything goes well. The site may be down intermittently during that time.

9

Northeast US Lake Conditions / Ice Everywhere!

« on: January 23, 2020, 10:22:41 AM »

Chapman Pond is 100% frozen again, as are all the swampy areas and smaller bodies of water.

10

Fishing Tackle & Equipment Reviews / Lunker City Ned Head Review

« on: January 06, 2020, 11:42:40 AM »

I just finished writing another tackle review this weekend.
For this one I reviewed the Lunker City Ned Head. If you finesse fish at all, you enjoy this read!
http://www.tackletest.com/lunker-city-ned-head-jig-review/

11

Boating Forum / Cup Holder Installation Question

« on: January 04, 2020, 07:56:19 PM »

My boat only came with one cup holder at the console. There are ZERO other cup holders anywhere int he boat 


To remedy that, I bought 3 new cup holders a couple years back. But, because of the need to cut giant holes in various locations in my boat, I have held off on putting them in.


So, my question is regarding the actual cutting of the hole that the plastic cup holder will drop into. I'm guessing this is best done with a hole saw. And since my entire boat is aluminum, including the decks, it isn't extremely thick metal. Based on this fact, it should be pretty easy to cut these holes and drop the plastic cup holders into the holes.


I guess i'm just looking for a little moral support and feedback from someone who might have done this on their own boat, to let me know how hard or easy it was to do.


I don't own a hole saw (yet), so I need to go buy one that's good for metal. But I don't want to buy one until I know for sure that this is as easy as I think it will be to do.


Anyone have any feedback for me?

12

The Hawg Forum / Merry Christmas!

« on: December 25, 2019, 11:01:21 AM »

Here's wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!
I hope your day is a great one 

13

Fishing/Marine Electronics / New Helix 8

« on: December 23, 2019, 09:51:11 AM »

Well, after many years of using my Humminbird 788 on the front deck, it started acting up on me toward the last half of the 2019 season, so I decided it was time to replace it.
I did quite a bit of homework and ended up buying a new Humminbird Helix 8!
I'm looking forward to getting it on the boat and using it in the Spring. I know there will be a learning curve, so I will be doing lots of research and watching some how-to videos this winter.
Right now I'm doing research on the best type of mount to use for it. I will likely not be using a ball mount, but a Deck-It or something similar. And instead of mounting it to one side, as I have always had it in the past, it will be mounted front and center, directly in front of my TM foot pedal tray.
Because my bow trim switch is also mounted front and center at the bow panel, I will probably end up moving that to one side, so I will still be able to access it easily with my foot.
I will document all of this and post pics later, once I get everything done.

14

The Hawg Forum / And the Long Wait Begins...

« on: December 18, 2019, 06:03:35 PM »

Well, it looks like this is the beginning of the long wait for Winter to do its thing and then go away.

I only hope it's not too brutal and not too long 

15

Fishing Tackle Q & A / Understanding Fishing Reel Gear Ratios

« on: December 10, 2019, 09:33:22 AM »

Just finished a new article last night at TackleTest.com!

Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.tackletest.com/understanding-fishing-reel-gear-ratios/