New toys for the 2008 Season
Even though the boat is put away and my time is being spent elsewhere, my mind is still on fishing and improving for next year. As a result of my never-ending obsession with catching more and more fish and with providing you with the best possible fishing experience, I recently added a couple of new toys that will make life on the Billy V II even better.
For 2008 we'll be finding our fish on what is arguably the best stand-alone fish finder on the market, the Furuno FCV-585. The FCV-585 is a high performance, dual-frequency color digital echo sounder (50 and 200kHz) with a high transmission output power of 600 watts through it's bronze thru-hull transducer. One of the main features of the FCV-585 is the revolutionary digital filter. The enhanced DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology helps adjust gain, STC and output power as well as suppresses main bang (echoes just below the transducer). The utilization of the DSP technology facilitates outstanding detection both in shallow and deep water. In short, we'll be fishin' in style with this addition!
I have a few more projects planned over the winter that will make our time on the water even more productive. As I begin working on them I'll be sure to post pictures and details.
Not sure if you saw this on the homepage on the main website or not, but it's pretty cool. One of our charter customers took some video of their fishing trip and sent it to me. We had just finished filleting some Kings when this rod fires. You'll see me spraying off the cleaning table, Jay working to keep the rods from getting all tangled, and Loren working the rod and landing the fish. We'll be sure to do more video work next year so that you can possibly see yourself fighting a fish!
Way to go guys! Thanks for sharing the video with us.
I guess that's about it for tonight. How many more months before we put the boat back in the water again???
Until next time, Fish On!
~Capt. Bill
Hello, I have just bought a Penn Yan 255, 1992 and I was wondering if you could direct me to where I might be able to find someone who makes or sale a rocket launcher for them and also I read you prefer cannon over scotty and how do you like your speed temp sensor I had a depthraider on the old boat and did not like it to much, do you use bags to slow you wile you are trolling I am not a charter guy just a family man with a wife and 2 kids who love to go out in the boat fishing, we will be going out of mexico and oswego this coming year, thank you for your time and if you are to busy to answer I will understand.
Dana Garis
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First of all, congratulations on the new Penn Yan! I'm on my third one and can't imagine fishing out of anything else (OK, maybe a Tiara 3300 open!!).
You can find rocket launchers at http://www.traxstech.com/product_tour4.html. They make awesome stuff and I'd definitely look at their offerings. I have their track mount holders on my boat and they're just increbible holders.
As far as downriggers go, yes I am DEFINITELY a fan of Cannon's. I didn't like the Scotty's that were on the boat much at all. In my opinion, Cannon makes the best downrigger on the market. Period. The new Mag 10 HS riggers are smokin' fast both up and down (faster than any Scotty). You'll definitely be happy with them if that's the direction you decide to go.
I love my Dapth Raider. I've owned a Fish Hawk that I replaced within 3 weeks of getting it, and I've also owned a Moor, which I really liked. I've never used the Cannon probe, but my friends that have them like them. I went with Depth Raider becasue I liked the coated cable, smaller probe, extended battery life, double seals on the probe, battery connection inside the probe, and the awesome display head. I'd buy another one in a minute.
No trolling bags are needed on my Penn Yan most of the time. I do like having them on board in 5+ footers...they make troilling in a following sea in bigger waves a lot easier. Amish Outfitters makes a great bag that a lot of they guys run. A lot will depend on the pitch of the prop you have on your boat. The right prop will allow you to troll down and keep the rpm's up high enough that you're not lugging your engine all day long.
Guess that's about it. Hope this helps with your questions. Enjoy that new boat of yours!
~Capt. Bill
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Capt Bill I am so sorry this has taken so long to respond I have been deer hunting and chasing the kids, I am on vacation from Northwest Airlines where I am a pilot, I am so excited to get the 255, it is in dry storage down in NC until march, we plan on fishing alot this coming summer, I will check out the site for the rocket launcher and any other advice you have and want to share will be more than appriciated, again thank you so much for your time and advice and I hope you have a great day,
Dana Garis
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Hey capt Bill , yes I think I will have to look at the pitch of the prop, not sure what it has right now, the engine is a 5liter, do you have a pump out head in your new boat or a porta potti? I am tryin to decide weather to install a pump out head or go with the porta potti that is in it allready??
Dana Garis-boat will be named Amber Lee
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Wouldn't suggest changing a lot. The stories are a good read,the info is helpfull and I like your style. Anyone who runs Cannon and Daiwa can't be all bad. lol.
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Hi.
I see you love the Furuno 585 units.
I can't seem to ge tmine to track bottom when underway. I have the large thru-hull 600W transducer underneath floor mounted in oil.
Can u advise on how I can track bottom underway?
Cam
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Cam,
I just got my 585 this fall and haven't run it on the water yet. But I can tell you that I could track bottom while underway with my Furuno 667. I had to put it on 50khz and fiddle with the sensitivity, but it could definitely mark bottom and even fish while on plane. The 667 has half of the power output that our 585's do, so I would definitely expect that it would pick up bottom for you. If you try putting it on the 200khz setting and still can't read bottom after playing with the sensitivity setting I'd guess that there's something going on with your transducer.
Hope this helps,
Bill
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It has been suggested elsewhere I increase the Gain - will this help?
When u say "fiddle with sensitivity" - which buttons do I actually fiddle with?
Cam
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Sorry Cam, "Sensitivity" is a Lowrance term...you'll want to fiddle with the "Gain" on your Furuno. You should be able to fine tune it to the point where it'll mark bottom as well as fish while you're up on plane.
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