Fishing aboard 29-31' Ranger

[Haifisch]

Hi everyone, I am in the process of buying a Ranger and settled on a 29 or 31. I have a few questions for those who use theirs for fishing in the Pacific Northwest before I make a purchase. Primarily salmon and crabbing in the puget sound. And yes, I know that the Cutwaters are really better equipped for fishing, but that's not an option for other reasons. Wondering on the following:
-How important is a helm station in the cockpit? Sounds like it would make it much easier.
-Slow speed trolling valve. Without it, how slow can you go?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[captstu]

The ‘wing bridge’ or drivers side door is fairly essential. Available on 32 only now.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[NorCal]

Hi Haifisch, We have a 31CB with the cockpit steering station and trolling valve. For trolling for salmon, I think both are a must have. Trolling is way too fast for salmon without the trolling valve. We fish in the ocean outside the SF bay area but techniques are very similar to the northwest.

Having the ability to adjust your speed from the cockpit is very beneficial. I drop down the tv in the cabin and have the garmin screen displayed on the TV makes it fairly easy to see what is going on under the boat. Also the autopilot with remote is very helpful. Couple clicks to the right or left to move around the other boats is also very helpful.

I leave the dinghy off of the boat and netting from the swimstep works out very well.

John

 

[baz]

I'm not a fisherman at all. For crabbing you do not need cockpit steering or a trolling valve. For fishing with the boat at a standstill I would say the same. I've seen boats (power and sail) moving along with their rods out back and they seems to catch fish of some sort.

Not having a dinghy on the swim step is a plus for sure when fishing.

When I go crabbing I attach my pot hauler rig to the downrigger pads and haul the pots up easily for 70 to 100 feet down. Having an uncluttered cockpit is good when hauling up the crab pots.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

helm station is only much more useful if fishing solo. otherwise someone can fish and someone can drive
(i love my helm station but dont use it often)

the real questoin on the trolling valve is do you want to put trolling hours on the main engine (if fishing a lot)

many folks put a kicker on the stern to troll. save the money on the trolling valve and install a kicker instead. - could also minimize a sterm helm if setup to steer at the kicker from the cockpit...

 

[baz]

Gavin: Makes good points. 🙂 Always look for alternative solutions to an issue/problem, right ?

 

[mrrlc]

On my R25 Classic, when I solo troll for salmon, I monitor the Bite Buddy app on my phone. It's much easier to use than trying to look back at the fishing pole for a strike from the helm.

http://www.mybitebuddy.com/

 

[Cutwater28GG]

does that work when trawling? I would have thought engine and wave movement would confuse whether there is a fish on or not?

 

[mrrlc]

The Bite Buddy works great. You can set the sensitivity using your app. When you get a fish on, the fishing pole is jerking around causing the sensor to read past the limits you've set and the app sounds out a message.

When trolling for salmon, there is enough weight on the pole giving a constant tension which isn't affected by the engine or wave movement. If an occasional large wave comes by and triggers the Bite Buddy you'll know the cause wasn't a fish and you can continue on.

 

[Haifisch]

Thanks so much for the prompt and thorough responses! Gavin, you make a good point about using a kicker. I just need to find someone in Seattle to rig it. Any recommendations for this kind of project? There have been a couple for sale in BC that have had this done.

Mr.Ric: first I have heard about about the bitebuddy. Sounds really cool. I am the king of shakers, so I'd like to see how this works, Thanks for the tip as it may be the most economical solution.

I just signed up on tug nuts yesterday. I think I found my tribe!

 

[Hamster]

If your kicker has remote steering, you can fish while in the cockpit or in the cabin. The only thing extra that would be nice is a throttle control in the cockpit. Most times, your salmon fishing speed isn’t going to vary too much when you get it set. My R23 came with remote steering on the kicker and I have loved it so far. Especially great in the winter so you can sneak inside the heated cabin but still steer the boat and fish. Adding throttle would be nice, however. Someday....