I finally picked a scope for the Model 700. I chose a Nikon ProStaff 3×9, mainly because of the BDC reticle. I already have a Simmons AETEC 2.8×10 on my DPMS, so I figured something different for the bolt gun. When I get the Nikon mounted, I’ll do an on the range comparison and you’ll see it here.
I can’t blame it on the fish finder, but another empty run. About 4 hours of hanging both crawlers and minnows in front of what appeared to be schools of (small) Perch on the Fish Finder, brought a couple of nibbles and one 4 inch White Bass. The Bass half swallowed a minnow that was at least 3/4 his size, and didn’t even get hooked, he just couldn’t eject the minnow fast enough to get off.
Other fishing news: The Salmon are running in the AuGres River. Their still very healthy and a few nice ones have been taken. It’s not like the runs on the West side, but, it’s not nearly as crowded or crazy, and the meat should be much better considering the early season health of these fish.
I’m looking at a Standard Horizon CP-180 color GPS/Mapping unit to replace the ailing Lowrance Global Map 2000. That will likely be the one, unless I can get ahold of my neighbors unused Raymarine (green screen) unit, that includes C-Maps of the Great Lakes. The Standard Horizon unit, also has a powerful fish finder option, that is tempting.
Ok, so I pulled the SportCraft out of the water today so I could check out the transducer of the faulty Lowrance LMS-350 fish finder. Low and behold, once the thing was out of the murky water, I could see that the transducer wasn’t locked into it’s cradle. (allowing it to pivot up under any kind of current) A hard push down and forward, clicked it into the cradle and locked it into position. After relaunching the boat, a quick run out in the Bay, and the trip back to my dock, proved that the LMS-350 now works quite nicely. (HOORAY!) I still need to replace the Global Mapping unit though. 
On to the Music plug: Feeling the need to relax for a few, I loaded up a previously recorded 30 minute concert of Evanescence, featuring, Amy Lee. Again, I was awed by the performance. The band consists of awesome musicians, led by one of this era’s greatest vocal stars.
Took the new boat out for our first run at Walleye. The boat ran good, and easily trolled at the right speeds (1.8 mph).
It was a real nice day on the water, but a bad day for boat electronics, lastest issue, the Lowrance LMS-350 fishfinder, joins the Lowrance Global Mapper 2000, as a non-working device! In four hours of trolling we never saw one fish or one one clump of weeds on the fishfinder, and we saw depths from 0 feet, to 980 feet. (I’d estimate we were in 32 feet of water). Needless to say, fishing blind, with no indication of depth, we racked up another point for the “SKUNKED” side.
Guess I’m now in the market for a new Marine GPS, and a new Fishfinder. Add that to my shopping list that now consists of a new scope for my new Remingtion, and it looks like the old Visa card is going to take a big hit. Remember, that nice old SeaRay is still for sale and everything on it WORKS GREAT!!!!
The SportCraft is in the water at my dock. We haven’t had a good day to take it out yet.
But, so far, (speaking of the boat that was fully checked out before I bought it), I’ve replaced the forward bilge pump, the mounting bolts on the anchor pulpit, the pressure switch on the fresh water wash down pump, and discovered that the Lowrance Global Mapper does not work!
Fishing season is fading fast, I hope we get some calmer days soon!
The new gun is, a Remington 700 BDL, in .300 short Ultra Mag. with ammo at near $40 a box, it’s already starting to look like a “Safe Queen”. Sometime in the future, I’ll post about getting it scoped and sighted in.
Here’s a link to Dick Morris’s Election Map as of Sept 18th 2008.
Question: Are we going to let Californica, Illinois, and New York, dictate who our next President is???????
