What's On Your Christmas List??

[Justin Gaudry]

Ok...so now that the soft water fishing season is pretty much over for most of us, what do we all want for next year when the ice melts??

Let's do a couple of categories here:

"If money was no object...I would ask for....."

"Baits, rods/reels, tackle boxes, etc."

"Other equipment"

What's on your list??

[Justin Gaudry]

If money was no object...I would ask for a couple of new hummingbird GPS/sonar combos. I am tired of fighting with my Lowrance transducers and have heard/seen a lot of good stuff from HB the last couple of years.

More realistically, I would like a couple of more 10 inch jakes because a box and a half full isn't enough. HA!

A little bigger ticket would be an Abu Revo Toro 60 HS for my jerkbait rod.

Anyone else have fishing gear on their christmas wish list?

[brianpete]

Merry Christmas Justin,
First time on a forum so you might have to be patient with me. I read your comment about your transducers . Mine will work for a while then I start to get vertical lines and it doesn't give the depth. I bought another transducer and the same thing happened after a while. Does this sound like the troubles you are having. Gps doesn' give me any problems, just the sonar. Brianpete

[Justin Gaudry]

Hey Bri,

Welcome to the board. It would be great to have you post some fishing reports after your trips...you guys have turned into one of the best walleye catching families around!!

Sounds like your Christmas list should include a new hummingbird unit too.

My problems with the transducers are all related to losing bottom reading. The rear units have crapped out twice in 4 seasons total...the first time it would flash and blink out at over 5 MPH. The second time it happened..and is still happening..it loses at about 7-10 MPH and then reads for a few seconds every couple of minutes at traveling speed.

Have had two bow mounted units do the same thing now. Cannot find any reason they would blink out..most of our casting is done in shallower water (15 feet and less) so should be able to good echo from the bottom in that depth.

Goofy thing is that a new one works perfectly for awhile for me as well..then inexplicably goes haywire. They show little to no damage. I have a skeg guard on the bowmount to keep that transducer off the rocks as well.

That is 4 transducers in 4 seasons with my boat. Very irritating.

Sent you an email with some more details.

Happy Holidays!

[Hinch]

Justin,

I would have to say a new reel to handle all the cowgirls would be at the top of my list. What kind of reel do you recommend for that kind of bait? Also, what would be your #1 color combo for a cowgirl type bait. Would it be a cowgirl, or what brand?

Jeff

[Justin Gaudry]

Hey Jeff,

I picked up an Abu Garcia 7000iC3 (silver) part way through the casting season in 2008 and like it a lot for big double 10's. I liked it so much I picked up another one (the same model in red) off one of the buy/sell web boards last winter for a spare.

I just don't like the Saltist (manually engaging the retrieve, height, weight, etc) after trying it a couple of times when other people have had it on a rod they had brought up to the lake.

I would be interested in trying the Revo Toro 60 model they are calling "the winch" (4.2: 1 or 4.3:1 gear ratio) to see if it holds up for any period of time. I really like the revo toro 60 LS that I put on my wife's rod last summer. I'm not a good person to speak to longevity of a reel because I don't get a lot of casting time, but have heard some good things from people that worked them hard this summer. I have heard a few people have hatched their 7000s as well, but I can't say I have had a problem other than wearing out the anti-reverse while I was getting used to the reel.

I've had action on both double cowgirl branded baits, as well as the big shumway giant flasher and multiple double 10's that Dick Moore has created for me. I had some good action on copper this summer, but probably would have to stick with black/silver if I could only throw one. From opener to trolling time, too many people tell me that is the action colour. I would be a fool to argue with that.

[brianpete]

Hi Justin,
I am getting the itch to fish so I'm sending you an update on my Lowrance LCX 27c. I was real dissapointed with Lowrances customer service website.It was tough to talk to anyone and when I got a rep. they wanted a lot of money just to look at it. I was in the Fargo Scheels store and told one of their specialists about my troubles and dissapointment with Lowrance. He told me to bring him the unit and he would send it in. He had other customers with the same problem. 2 weeks later I got notice that they fixed it for no charge. Really impressed with Fargo Scheels. I am anxious to see if it works. Hope to see you soon. Brian

[Justin Gaudry]

Hey BP,

Glad to hear you got somewhere with lowrance. There has been soooooo many instances in the last few months that have me almost pulling my hair out on the phone trying to find someone that cares enough about an customer service issue to say more than "there is nothing we can do" or "that's not our policy" or my favourite "it isn't our fault that....."

Kudos to the employee at Scheels that went the extra mile.

You gonna be up for Memorial Weekend?

Say hi to Jill and the boys for us.