Perch Jerkin' on Starvation

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Weather report for Starvation was iffy today, but LloydE and I decided to hit Rabbit Gulch for the first time this year...weather or not. We got plenty of weather...of all kinds.

Water temp 64 at launch (7:30 AM) and 67 when we got flushed off the lake about 1:30. Air temp 60 at launch, with mostly cloudy skies. Had light breezes from all directions through the day, with occasional pesky zephyrs. Nothing major. Sun peeked in and out of the clouds, between little rain cells going through. No major soakers but nice little spritzers. But, it kept the fish off balance. No smallmouth bass and only one small walleye...a "wall-ette".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Thankfully, the perch have started to move into Bunny Gulch and they were plentiful and playful. We didn't find any large schools but caught onesies and twosies from 14 feet deep to over 30 feet deep. Could have easily kept a limit of 20, but threw back anything under about 9 - 10 inches. Didn't catch any perch under about 8 inches but none over 11.5 inches. I brought in about 18 and Lloyd kept a dozen plus or minus. All nice and fat. Good fillets.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We also got some humongous chubs. We each caught about 4 of those poor old Starvation dinosaurs...about 13" to 15" each. It seemed strange to treat them gently, pat them on the behind and send them back unharmed to contribute to the lake's ecology. Wouldn't happen in most other lakes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Amazingly, the power squadron started early, for a midweek day. Had a ski boat with a very poor and inexperienced skier plowing the water we wanted to fish starting about 7 AM. The skier kept falling off and the crew were all yelling loudly in some foreign language. We could hear them quite well. They didn't have to shout.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One other fishing boat. A couple of older gents who said this was their first trip on the lake this year. They were feeding a lot of worms to the perch and chubs with their bottom bouncer rigs too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just after noon, the sky got darker and there were lots of clouds with virga (rain that falls but evaporates before it hits the ground). To the south and west there were some that looked like they held some serious moisture. When they began to grumble at us, we took them serious and started toward shore. But, I reached shore first, just as a loud KEERACK sounded right overhead. A big blast of wind came up and started to take Lloyd toward the dam. But, fortunately he tucked in behind some trees and made it to shore...not too far from the vehicle. As you can see in the picture, we exited the lake in driving rain. We were wetter on top than on the bottom by the time we got our gear loaded for the trip home.[/#0000ff]
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50198"][#63626b]TUBERS LAUNCH RAMP.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (253 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50199"][#63626b]READY TO RUMBLE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (294 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50200"][#63626b]EARLY FISH WAKEUP CALL.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (205 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50201"][#63626b]ROADRUNNER PERCH.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (235 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50202"][#63626b]BASKET PERCH.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (209 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50203"][#212126]FLOATING JIG PERCH.jpg[/#212126][/url] (207 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50204"][#212126]ULTRA MINNOW MUNCHER.jpg[/#212126][/url] (231 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50205"][#212126]WALL-ETTE.jpg[/#212126][/url] (180 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50206"][#212126]CHUBBY CHUB.jpg[/#212126][/url] (217 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50207"][#212126]INCOMING.jpg[/#212126][/url] (187 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50208"][#212126]JUST FISHIN' IN THE RAIN.jpg[/#212126][/url] (230 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50209"][#212126]LLOYD IN THE RAIN.jpg[/#212126][/url] (320 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=50210"][#212126]TD'S TAKEHOME.jpg[/#212126][/url] (265 KB)

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[flygoddess]

I see that last two pictures were worth repeating yourself[laugh]
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[peter805]

That looks like a very nice place to fish at.
I love those pictures.Thank you for the report TD.

Peter
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry. The system did a hiccup as I was pushing the post button. The whole post disappeared and when I hit the refresh button a couple of times to get it back up it re-added the last two pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope it didn't ruin your whole day.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[quote peter805]That looks like a very nice place to fish at.
I love those pictures.Thank you for the report TD.

Peter[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. I appreciate your appreciation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Since we have members and readers from all over the country...and all over the world...I like to include some pictures of the "flavor" of the waters we fish. I know I always enjoy seeing pictures of different areas and the fishy habitat as well as dead fish.[/#0000ff]
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[peter805]

Hi Pat (TD)[]

I see your new FF on one of those pictures. How do u like
it? Can you see the fish hugging the bottom???
How did you mount it ? Just wondering.

Peter
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Yes, that is the Humminbird 565. I have used it on 4 trips now, in waters from 5 feet to 35 feet. I am really sold on it. Yesterday was the final test, on waters I know and wanted to see how the unit performed. EXCELLENT.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My fishing buddy Lloyd can attest to my "calling" several fish. Announcing that I saw a fish on the bottom, dropping down and finessing it into striking. There were about 4 in a row in 26 to 30 feet of water that I caught like that.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am going to take a few more pictures of the mounting setup and then post a review on this forum. Probably finish and post it over the weekend.[/#0000ff]
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[peter805]

That sounds very good TD. Cuda 300 DOES NOT
show fish on the bottom at all.
I cant wait for your full report.
Thank you big guy.

Peter
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]As I have stated in a couple of my previous reviews of the Cuda 300...it is a good "budget" unit or a good starter model for someone who is not too familiar with sonar. I have tried to be careful to not present it as a great value for a more sophisticated angler with more sonar experience and greater requirements.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I too was somewhat disappointed in the poor showing of "targets" on or near the bottom. That is where I do a lot of my fishing and I need more information. The Hummer really proved itself to me on this most recent trip.[/#0000ff]
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[flygoddess]

If it is not accurate at all, why would it be a good starter?
I don't care what the price, if it doesn't do what it is intended for.
That was the problem with the OLD fishing Buddy's before they were bought out.
It does boil down to you get what you pay for. But You still, don't need to break the bank.
Good thing Tube Dude is here to test these things. There is really no way of knowing some times.
I am partial to Hummingbird. Had one for many years. Even took it apart and replaced the screen when it broke....LOL
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[peter805]

Yes ,you are right.
Cuda 300 is my first sonar and does good job on showing how deep structure is.Temp and stuff like that.
Its ok sonar for now and im happy with it. However I think
soon Im going to be ready for something better.
Friend of mine is looking into getting a float tube so
maybe i just geve him my cuda in exchange for
two or three beers and I get something better.[]

Peter
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[peter805]

[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Sorry. The system did a hiccup as I was pushing the post button. The whole post disappeared and when I hit the refresh button a couple of times to get it back up it re-added the last two pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope it didn't ruin your whole day.[/#0000ff][/quote]

Hey, what happend to those double pictures ????
Now MY WHOLE DAY is ruined.

Peter
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[IrishFloatTube]

Great report TD.
Thx.
Almost like being there.
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[albinotrout]

have the fishing buddy III and it does a pretty good job. How do their newer units stand out?
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[flygoddess]

Well, Bottom Line started off making them. About all they were good for was bottom structure as you couldn't read fish. Plus they were in the $200. range.
Now Hummingbird makes them and has for a few years. Again, I say HUMMINGBIRD[] Big improvement. They even have a much bigger spread with a bigger transducer. Battery is much better than the old 3 "C"'s in the handle that keeps falling off.[pirate]
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