Utah Lake tomorrow morning

[FlyFishingMoose]

I'm cristening the toon in the morning, but this trip without the trolling motor. I set it up today and it took 20 minutes to totally set up and about 10 minutes to break down. Fits nicely in the back seat of my little subuaru. We will be going to the Pelican Point area just south of Saratoga Springs. Looking for early kitties, but just really want to get out on the water for a test spin.
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[ocean]

Hey have fun with your new toy![sly] Be aware that its supposed to be a bit windy so be careful out there especially utah lake!Well the mudcats have been biting on worms nonstop.So good luck![]
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[FlyFishingMoose]

Well what a picture perfect day, no wind, water like glass, launched the toon without problems, some things worked and some did not! Well the fish were not hot until around noon, the bam! 3 in a row, 2 mudders the the "BIG JUAN" and nice channel about 1.5lbs and 19 inches long. Right after I had to cut the day off and head out to a birthday party. Got good and toasted even thru SPF 40 sunscreen.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Congrats on a successful "maiden voyage". I can't wait to see you out there with Dakota straddling one pontoon and UncleRay on the other.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]How was the water level at your "secret spot'?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When are we going to go check it out together?[/#0000ff]
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[FlyFishingMoose]

Water level was fine, 3-4 ft deep 100yds out 300yds out 5-6 ft deep. We can try and get back out as soon as I get the trolling motor mounted and it registered. I hated paddeling could'nt paddle straight if my life depended on it. I also need to configure a rod holder and prior to getting it rigged for the trolling motor and mount for it. The toon frame has 1/4 holes already drilled into the back for the trolling motor rack but the factory mount was as much as the the whle toon. So needles to say its up to me to figure out was I want to build it with. I was figuring 3/4" plywood. But building the mount will take some engineering to figure out especially since I've never had a boat before so don't know the slightest thing about motors and their mounting structures. But its aslo very fortunate that the trolling motor I have is a freebie, and very light. (Mincota 15) One other thing I noticed was that without the battery and trolling rig the toon tended to lean forward just slightly which means it is pre-designed to counter balance for a trolling rig already which I think is very neat. Things that didn't work, well my rig for the little ice chest, the stripping apron (I hated until I caught a fish) my incapability to paddle straight lines, and I didn't know how to use the anchor system,(until I quit for the day and really looked it over). Things that did work: Well first and formost it floated, it went together in 15 minutes, had big enough pouches for the stuff I needed, very light on the water, takes very little to propel it (in any direction, much to my disliking at times) and this is very good for the trolling motor. I just may need some help in getting a final configuration that will work. You up to the task Pat? All in all it was a fun day on the water, Yeah I know some of the BFT guys wanted to be there when I launched it the first time but I wanted to at least experience andy short comings before I joined the weekend flotillas. I kind a looked like I knew what I was doing out there, and other than getting roasted alive which I'm paying for today I had fun. Oh, one more thing, I don't think sunblock has a very long shelf life. I got burnt bad and used SPF 45 sunblock, but it was a couple years old. I will be tossing it out and buying new sunblock before the next trip out.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Bring your craft over anytime. We can set it up on a table in my garage and "stragetize". I have helped set up a few tubes and toons in my day, so we gotta be able to come up with something.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Bad decision to use "aged" sunscreen. False economy to try to get your moneys worth, rather than buying good stuff. SPF means nothing when the active ingredients are degraded. Believe me, living in Arizona, I also learned that the hard way.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once we get you properly setup and you get used to the new toy, you can focus on fishing and not on surviving. I think you will really enjoy it, once you get the hang of things.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The only potential negative I see is the motor. Most guys like the electrics in 30 or larger. Lighter is okay for short range and slow trolling, but may not give you the power you need to get back in against some wind.[/#0000ff]
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[Bloodhound]

Hey there FlyFishingMoose,

Cool ! Welcome to the toon world ! If you want some great ideas - get with TubeDude ! He's got a ton of them ! Or, if you want some info on Toon modifications or enhancements, I have some great information as well. I have a beautiful set up on my 12 foot pontoon boat now. I have also come up with a number of different methods of attaching a trolling motor so that it will work. I have successfully mounted a 15 lb gamefisher electric and a 30 lb minnkota(and I am still experimenting with improvements). BTW - you will have the same issue with trying to track in a straight line with a motor as you have had with rowing - it's a characteristic of all pontoons in almost any amount of wind. The problem can be mitigated somewhat by mounting the motor on the front and using it to pull you rather than push(this turns out a lot easier than it sounds). Depending on you toon, mounting the motor on the front may even give you a better layout for fishing overall. I don't have any photos of my rig to put up here yet, but if you wanted to drop by some time and check it out for ideas, let me know - or we could just hook up sometime for fishing and you could see it in action(the boat - not my fishing skills that never seem to work when anyone else is looking).
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]FFM knows the way to the "Tubeatorium". He has just not been ready for the graduate course yet.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hey anyone who is considering mounting an electric on the front of their toon, you might wanna PM JedBurton. He rigged his that way and it seems to work well for him. Here is a pic I shot of him down at Lincoln Beach.[/#0000ff]

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[FlyFishingMoose]

Thanks guys you've given me much to think about. Pat, I'll be getting with you soon to talk it over.
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[Lundman]

FFM, congrats on the virgin voyage - I was wondering if tubers name your crafts? If so - what might her christened name be???
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