Toad Machine Tales, episode 2
How Deep Can We Go?
Sea Trials Continue, With Depth Finder
June 8, 2020
David Hutton,
Palmetto Fly n' Fish
Location: Lake Murray, South Carolina
Conditions - high overcast, hot and humid
Temps - 85 to 90 degrees F,
Wind - 2 to 4 mph
Water temp, surface: 81.6° F
Another chance to get the, "Toad Machine," on the water came up today, so I took it.
If you don't know about the Toad Machine, you can fix that, here:
Toad Machine Tales, episode 1
SMALL BOAT STOWAGE AND STORAGE
Working out the "ready gear" is more of a challenge than I was expecting.
Part of boating is the all the fiddling with gear, and organizing of "stuff," in order to make departure.
This is something that annoys me, but it must be done for both safety and functionality on the water.
"Ready gear," is how it sounds - the important things you need on board, made ready to go on a moments notice.
The boat itself isn't outfitted with any sort of storage options, except the small, raised box upon which I've mounted the captains seat. In the picture below, you can see it, amidship...
The seat swings open to starboard for access to the storage box, but that space is mostly inaccessible, when one is seated.
For that reason, I consider it more of a storage bilge, and reserved for little used items.
The bailing tools are there (sponge and container), for example, as is the emergency paddle,... and currently not much else.
It could hold lunch, change of clothes, toilet paper, and other sundry items that dont stay with the boat, and which don't need to be immediately accessible.
Here again, a tote of some sort is needed for this, and a few ideas come to mind as I write this....
FISHING
The Toad Machine is easy to fish from - it's really a big kayak with elevated seating.
It's really all about handling the boat while fishing, anyway, and I have a paddle for that kind of in-close work.
Anyone in a yak or canoe knows what I mean: you fish a little, then you make course corrections.
Fish some more, reposition youself .... and so on.
Exception: The Toad Machine's seat has no cushion, and it is hard as hell.
I need to take care of that problem, and soon!
The area I chose today, I call, "Cedar Cove."
It has yielded fish over time, from specific sections all around; hit those, and you catch fish.
Aim wide, or miss your cast - and you don't.
Accuracy is key. Today was no exception.
Cedar Cove
Temps - 85 to 90 degrees F,
Wind - 2 to 4 mph
Water temp, surface: 81.6° F
If you don't know about the Toad Machine, you can fix that, here:
Toad Machine Tales, episode 1
SMALL BOAT STOWAGE AND STORAGE
This is something that annoys me, but it must be done for both safety and functionality on the water.
"Ready gear," is how it sounds - the important things you need on board, made ready to go on a moments notice.
The boat itself isn't outfitted with any sort of storage options, except the small, raised box upon which I've mounted the captains seat. In the picture below, you can see it, amidship...
The seat swings open to starboard for access to the storage box, but that space is mostly inaccessible, when one is seated.
For that reason, I consider it more of a storage bilge, and reserved for little used items.
The bailing tools are there (sponge and container), for example, as is the emergency paddle,... and currently not much else.
It could hold lunch, change of clothes, toilet paper, and other sundry items that dont stay with the boat, and which don't need to be immediately accessible.
Here again, a tote of some sort is needed for this, and a few ideas come to mind as I write this....
FISHING
The Toad Machine is easy to fish from - it's really a big kayak with elevated seating.
It's really all about handling the boat while fishing, anyway, and I have a paddle for that kind of in-close work.
Anyone in a yak or canoe knows what I mean: you fish a little, then you make course corrections.
Fish some more, reposition youself .... and so on.
Exception: The Toad Machine's seat has no cushion, and it is hard as hell.
I need to take care of that problem, and soon!
The area I chose today, I call, "Cedar Cove."
It has yielded fish over time, from specific sections all around; hit those, and you catch fish.
Aim wide, or miss your cast - and you don't.
Accuracy is key. Today was no exception.
Anyone for a bath?
My temp gauge probe is trailing 24" below the surface.
When they say, "warm water fishing," this is it.
Chunky Brim
One section about the size of a living room has never let me down - these fish are always there.
If you cast 3 feet to the left or right, though, you'll catch nothing.
But hit the "sweet spot," and half a dozen of these guys will be your reward before the action slows.
Bart Lombardo’s, “Creature” fly did the work.
Not Just Flies
This scrappy gill wanted that mini-crankbait! I found this little lure stuck on a branch a while back. The fish would either nail the thing upon hitting the water, or on the retrieve. However, same story: cast a few feet away and you get no takers.
This means you have to work the cover methodically, as you never just know where the spots are.
White Perch On the Troll
This guy busted the crankbait while I was moving to a new spot. I was about 25 yards from shore, in 6 feet of water, motoring at slow speed.
BATTERIES AND FISH FINDER
Main Batteries: Duracell Ultra, Deep Cycle, 12 vdc, 55 ah (x2)
The power cells are connected in parallel, yielding a total of 110 amp hours of current.They are tucked under the front swivel seat, and have a blue vinyl cover that folds down over them for protection.
I've mounted them on a plank for stability, and added a cinch strap affixed to handles on either side.
Fish Finder Battery: Duracell, 12 vdc, 8 ah
Behind the drink holder is a separate battery for the fish finder
I probably dont need to run the fish finder separately from the main batteries. But they can be sensitive to electrical noise, and trolling motors can be a little, "noisy,"
An in-line suppressor on the power lead is an option, and I have some.
I will try that in the future.
Fish Finder: Humminbird PiranhaMax 170
These little Humminbirds are solid units, if a little outdated.
It is greyscale, and compared to newer units, it's pretty basic.
But that isn't a condemnation - it's just what I like.
And I want it for depth readings, more than anything. The depth readings are pretty accurate, too, because these are dual frequency units.
The transducer is mouned on the trolling motor itself, and what I like is there is a low water alarm.
This all means I'm alerted when the water beneath the trolling motor is too shallow.
I call it insurance!
Of course, besides depth, it also shows bottom structure, weeds, fish,... all the usual stuff.
A bunch of adjustments are possible, although I don't really care all that much about such things.
The KISS Principle applies here.
Besides, it's main purpose, beyond keeping the motor out of trouble, is to find channels, humps, and drop-offs, as indicated on my Navionics contour maps.
Fish Finder Back Side
Hookup - easy peasey!
Transducer Mounting
Here the motor is seen in its transport cradle, with the transducer tucked just behind the skeg.I must say this: having a fish finder is a game-changer. It positively impacts the WAY one fishes, because it points the way to WHERE, and WHY.
If you dont think you need one - you probably don't.
If you get one, however, you may find yourself wondering why you waited.
Episode 3 in this series awaits here: Toad Machine Tales, Episode 3Thanks for reading and Tight Lines,
I hope you enjoyed this and learned something from it. I get nothing from this other than the satisfaction of a job well done, so if you enjoyed it, a like and share is appreciated.
And if you are inclined, feel free to join our no-drama, no-hype Facebook group:
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David
Palmetto Fly N Fish
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