Walleyes Inc. Action packed adventures in walleye fishing on the internet.

A boat is a fisherman's tool chest. You can't grab the right tool at the 
right time if things are in the wrong place. "The user has to control the systems of the boat. The systems can't  control the user."That wisdom comes from rigging expert, Jim Wentworth. His Minnesota-based company, Fish Lectronics, has rigged boats for the likes of Ron and Al Lindner and "Mr. Walleye", Gary Roach, for 30 years.
Wentworth is a physics professor. He brings that same scientific  approach to boat rigging. Like physics, the goal of proper rigging is to  make sense from chaos. "Rigging is the most critical phase of any boat,"  Wentworth said. "That's the time when things can get screwed up. This is  a very complicated subject."
Unfortunately, it's also often the phase of boat assembly that gets the least attention. For one thing, many anglers fail to realize that  accessories and good rigging (trolling motors, kicker motors and fishing  electronics and batteries) can add $4,000 to $6,000 to the cost of a  quality boat. It pays big premiums to get it right the first time when  that kind of money is invested. "It costs twice as much to do it the  second time around," Wentworth said. Worse yet, fishermen leave critical decisions to salesmen who don't  fish. Their intentions may be good, but salesmen cannot know what type  of fishing the boat will be expected to do. That's why Wentworth starts the rigging process simply. He interviews the boat owner.
How much do they want to spend? Are they a tournament angler or a guide 
who is going need top-of-the-line gear to gain an edge? Are they weekend 
anglers who can get satisfactory results without all the costly bells and whistles?

Do they need boat control from the bow for precise jigging and casting? If so, don't under-power the boat. Get the biggest electric trolling  motor you can afford. Make sure the shaft is long enough to stay in the water even in rough conditions. 
 

Minnkota 101

MinnKota's Maxxum trolling is a perfect example of a motor that is quiet, powerful, and has a wide range of shafts lengths for different sizes and types of boats.Do they need boat control from the stern for rigging and back-trolling? Will the boat's configuration allow it? Most tiller boats permit  placement of an electric trolling motor on the transom. Some of the larger console-steered fiberglass boats do not. Will they be trolling? Consider the size of the boat and the size of the  water to be fished when choosing between a 9.9 or a 15 HP outboard kicker motor.

When Wentworth is done, every wire is labeled, every switch is located in a convenient place and every owner knows what each operates. "The systems have to be put in where a guy can control them," Wentworth said.Questions are similar when buying fishing electronics, said Ted Thibault, spokesman for BottomLine Electronics.

* What kind of fishing will you be doing?
* How much do you want to spend?
* How much do you fish?

"If a guy is only going fishing a couple of times a year, then keep it simple," Thibault said. "He is not going to want something complex. He doesn't want to have to consult the owner's manual every time." But if he fishes more often, he may want a more complex unit that provides more data, such as side finding and additional resolution/pixels.
If he is only going to troll the Great Lakes for suspended salmon, then he doesn't need a unit that will "see" fish lying tight to the bottom as walleyes will often do. A salmon fisherman could do very well with a wider cone angle and lowerfrequency to cover more water. True, walleye fishermen troll, also. But, there are times when they need that precise separation to tell a fish from the bottom. Only a narrow cone angle and higher frequency transducers can do that. High-end units can give multiple options for optimum performance in a wide range of uses.

Do they need two sonar units or will one unit with a large screen mounted on the front deck suffice on a small boat? If two, consider getting a pair of the same model, Thibault said. That way, you can switch one with the other if one malfunctions at a critical time.Install transducers according to manufacturer specifications. When in doubt, phone them. They have the experience with every make and model of boat to know what positions are best.
Do they need a GPS? That answer is a no-brainer if you fish big water. GPS gives the ability to return to spots far from shore precisely and quickly. A GPS can increase fishing success and save time even on small waters by taking you back to a honey hole time and time again. A GPS can be used for mapping structure. A GPS also increases safety in bad weather when fog or rain decreases visibility and you need to find the launch ramp fast.

Whatever fishing electronics you choose, be sure to run power cords and test the units near the point of installation before you drill holes. Make sure they do not block other things you need.The same goes for placing rod holders, said Mark Lozelle, owner of Tempress Products, which makes Fish On rod holders. Decide how many rod holders you want depending on the states and the waters to be fished. Minnesota only allows one rod apiece. Wisconsin allows three per person 
when trolling on specific lakes.
Once you know how many, decide how you want them mounted. Should they be bolted to the railings or drilled and secured to the gunnels? Don't drill any holes until you make certain the rod holder and the rod butt will not interfere with other things like the throttle lever or the side of the boat.
Contact Wentworth via e-mail at jw@brainerd.net or phone 218-963-4375. 
He'll be glad to answer your rigging questions.
Take the time to rig your boat properly. Control the systems so they 
don't control you. Only then will you stop your dream boat from becoming 
a nightmare!

Now you can Join all of Walleyes Inc. mailing lists from one spot.  Sign up  to receive notice of updates in the Walleye fishing world and be eligible for great Members only discounts on  and Church Products. Only  from your one stop resource Walleyes Inc. Enter your email address below, then click the 'Sign Up' button