| Subject: |
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Re: Re: Re: A Question for all you Bucket Draggers |
| Name: |
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Tankdriver |
| Date Posted: |
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Jun 30, 08 - 8:45 PM |
| IP Address: |
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4.233.149.191 |
| Message: |
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OK. Now, BUCKETS. Buckets I know!
A hole in da bottom actually creates MORE drag than no hole! 2 1/4" dia. (or a bit more) in the center of the bottom is about right.
The biggest hassle of a drag bucket (or drift sock) is getting it in when landing a big fish, especially at a slow troll. Mr. Big can get tangled in the rope or bucket handle and get off (causing severe swearing & a day-long bad attitude.) Pulling on the rope gets the bucket near the transom but, it's often in the way of netting. Even if you lift the bucket up, you have to hold it over the transom until the water drains out the vent hole or tip it over & pour the water out. (Or, just leave it in the water & take your chances w/ Mr. Big.)
My solution: Take 2 pieces of 2" wide nylon strap each about 8-10 inches long & sew along each of the long sides, so it forms a flat "tube". (If you ask NICE your wife or girl might even sew it for you!?)
I used an old trailer winch strap. Use a cigarette lighter to melt the ends of the strap so they won't fray. Insert some FLAT pieces of closed cell foam about 6" long & 1 1/2" wide in the "tube"(pieces from an old life jacket work great.) Put the foam in the middle of the tube & fasten each end of the strap to the bucket, about an inch from the outside edge of the vent hole, on the OUTSIDE bottom of the bucket. This forms a "flexible handle". You want a good bulge of strap over the vent hole, so it isn't obstructed. Use machine screws w/ finishing washers on the outside & use 1" fender washers on the inside and self-locking nuts. Sounds like a lot of work (NOT) but, here's the deal. When you pull the bucket to the stern, let go of the rope at the last second, the metal handle pulls the open end of the bucket down and the foam strap lifts the bottom end up. Lean over & grab the nylon handle and lift. Air rushes thru the vent hole, the 5 gallons of lake, stays in the lake and the bucket "slips" right out of the water! On board you can set the bucket upright (the flat strap handle collapses under it.)
Attaching the bucket to the boat. The "Tank" has a piece of wood w/ tube style rod holders attached which runs the full width of the stern. I put a barn door pull hande in the center & clip the snap ring on the end of the bucket rope to it. Rope is a bit shy of 14 ft. long. I used 3/8 dia. nylon as it was easier to handle than thinner rope.
Keeping the bucket behind the boat. (AJ suggested a length of rope & a pulley on the bucket handle w/ one end attached to each rear rope cleat. The bucket pivots on turns. It works but getting the rig out of the way was a problem.)
I put Perko "ears" (rope cleats) on the top of the 70 hp engine cover. (OK, If I had a new and beautiful motor I wouldn't do this. Luckily, mine's old & ugly.) The rope stays on top of the big motor between the ears, out of the grease/oil on the big motor steering link and out of the way of the motor link arm to the kicker. I clip the snap ring to the handle, toss the bucket over the transom into the wake, place the rope between the "ears" & I'm ready to troll. The bucket stays right behind the boat.
Sorry for the long post hope this helps!
All the best,
Gary |
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