Bucks Bass and Bourbon

Ok folks, I need some help. The z519 I got this year is ready to get the dual graphs on the bow wired back to the battery compartment where the dedicated electronics battery will be once it arrives. I will be running a 126 ultra and a 106 ultra from the bow along with the GLS10. I have one 126 ultra flush mounted at the console, currently run to the cranking battery, which will be switched to the new battery when I get it so that one is already run. I am inexperienced and lack knowledge about wiring and can use some advice on how to do the job myself to avoid paying the shop hundreds of dollars to do it. How should I do this? Can I run the wiring for each graph through the conduit straight from the bow past the console to the battery compartment and hook each up with an inline fuse? SHOULD I do that? Should I use a bus bar or a fuse block? Garmin says to use 14 gauge wire for extending it the length I need to go. Do you recommend heavier wire to optimize my signsls and images? Thanks for your help! I would like to get this done right myself but need to borrow some knowledge!

Yeah I figured that. The more I think about it the more I think I’ll give it a go with the single graph for now and give me part of the season to see how I feel. That way I can plan how I want to do it if and when I want to make the change. I’ll have the wiring and battery already in place so if I do it will be a pretty quick plug and play. Thanks!

Thanks for the tip! I picked up a Bosch hole saw bit today that should work but I need to swing by the marina in a day or two so I'm going to talk to the guys in the shop and ask what they use.

Here's another in what will likely be a long list of questions as I get to know my first fiberglass boat. As the subject line says I'm wondering if any of you guys have gone from two graphs up at the bow to one. I previously ran a 126 ultra on the bottom and a 106 on top of a dual graph mount from Tiny Boat Nation (excellent mount by the way). The 106 usually ran maps and the 126 was either side and down imaging if I was moving on the TM or livescope if I was using it. Now I'm setting up my Z519 and I'm looking at the bow and I'm not sure I want to put a dual graph mount up there. I am considering flush mounting the 126 at the bow and leaving the extra room. Honestly a big part of it is putting that dual mount up there and taking away from the space I have, which may sound stupid but it's a consideration. I'm the type who hates clutter and I love how clean and open the bow of the 519 is with that flush mount space. I could always decide I want to run both again later and make the change. Anyway just wondering if anyone has done that and if you missed having the second graph. Thanks!

Thanks guys. Standard hole saw works fine?

Hi folks, Got my new boat yesterday. I need to swap the raptors from my other boat into this one. I know where I need to drill the holes for the pumps but was wondering if there are any considerations I should be aware of such as a type of hole saw blade or anything like that to prevent splintering or chipping in the fiberglass. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Very helpful, thank you. What boat is your battery powering? My previous boat is a much lighter aluminum so the only times I went above 10 or 15% on the trolling motor was either moving quickly to a nearby spot and didn’t want to use the outboard or when I was moving against strong wind or current. Even at that I almost never went to much less above 50%. Except the time I forgot to raise my raptors and couldn’t figure out why my motor was having such a hard time getting anywhere 🙄

I guess the draw from graphs is more consistent than what you figure from a trolling motor since they’re generally always on unless you put them in sleep mode whereas a trolling motor the draw can vary minute to minute based on the weather and current.

Hey guys, Thinking about switching from one dedicated lithium battery for each unit to one larger capacity battery to power all three units. I run two Garmin 126 Ultras and one 106 Ultra and my normal day on the water is usually 8 hours at the most. I do like the ability to go two full days in a row without having to charge but that isn’t a deal breaker. Livescope will remain on a separate dedicated battery so that isn’t a factor. I’m sure some of you guys are running a single battery like that so if you have experience with what works or what you tried and didn’t work please share. Thanks!

I’m actually thinking about going to a single high ah 12v for my electronics and accessories as well. Right now I have one dedicated battery for each of two of my graphs and one dedicated 48ah NMC from Amped to power my livescope and graph combo. No complaints on any of that as the worst case scenario is I would have to charge them overnight after a very long day. Plus the batteries are still relatively new and have a lot of life left in them so it doesn’t make much sense to get a new one just for that reason. As for the trolling motor battery, I’m going to see how it plays out. I do fish some rivers up here but nothing in too strong of current so I might just put in a full day with it and see how it does. From the responses and talking with some more guys it seems like the 24 will do but it might be borderline in some situations. It’s a 50ah so in a day of windy conditions or current I might find I need more battery life. If I do have to switch I would just go up to a 36v and be done with it. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks everyone. I’ll give it a good test in various conditions to see how it holds up and if the 24 isn’t quite doing it I’ll switch. My main concern was the 24 would definitely not be enough but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Much appreciated!

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Question for you guys about TM batteries on a 19 footer. This Memorial Day instead of a barbecue I bought a Ranger Z519. Logical trade off right? I will be moving my graphs, electronics and raptors over from my current boat along with my Garmin trolling motor. Right now I have a 50 amp hour Dakota Lithium 24v that powers that thing for days but of course it's a 16 foot aluminum. Definitely not an apples to apples comparison. Should I start looking at a 36v or will the 24 work out? I don't necessarily need it go multiple days on end without charging but I need it to at least make a full day (8 hours) on the water without having to worry about it. The way I fish on the water I fish I usually don't push it hard at all and almost never even use 50% power unless I'm moving to another spot close enough that I don't bother using the outboard. Mostly slowly cruising the back or spot locking on open water. Anyone with experience please share your thoughts. Thanks!

Keep them coming (the stories, not the bird nests). This is a really entertaining thread to read.

These are some great examples hahahaha

In honor of me absolutely destroying a brand new spool of FC sniper on the first cast yesterday I figured it might be funny to hear the worst birds nests some of you have had. After spooling up a brand new reel I stopped at the local pond to try out a new rod and made a cast that immediately blew up the reel beyond saving. Tried for an hour to work it out but it was hopeless. Still not sure how or why I did it but upon inspection I had the brakes at 0 and the spool tension was backed way off. Don’t even remember doing it. The sound off the reel when I made the cast sounded like a car with a flat tire followed by the worst raspy sound I’ve ever heard. I smashed my thumb down immediately but it was already too late. What makes it worse is it happened on the most backlash-proof reel I own… a Zillion. So you know I screwed that up in every possible way. Anyone else??

Thanks again for all the responses!

Thanks for all the great responses. I think I’ll give the Surflon a try and if nothing else just swing away with a 20 or 30 pound fluoro leader. There’s no guarantee so I maybe I’ll give some cheaper swim baits a try before I toss the brand new Bacca Burrito that just got delivered out there. Thanks again guys!

Thanks! Can that be tied to 65 pound braid with an FG knot?

Hello everyone I just got a dedicated high quality umbrella rig rod and since it’s rated for heavier lures I figured I’d finally add some larger swimbaits to the rotation. I’m in Michigan where you can definitely find 5 and 6 pound largemouths if you’re willing to work for them, but you find a lot more pike and there are musky in my local lakes and rivers too. I have intentionally avoided large baits for fear of losing them to those teeth until now. I figure my best bet is to throw them at isolated offshore cover where the larger bass will hangout and are less likely to also hold many pike but I assume that’s just hope. Anyone have a recommendation that doesn’t involve saving up money to replace the lures? Steel leaders are about the only thing I know of. Thanks!

I have two zillions - a 6.3 for shallow and medium cranks and a 7.1 for spinnerbaits - and I just added a tatula sv70. Hard to argue against a zillion so if the price difference doesn’t push you away get it. They’re so smooth and fun to cast. I will say this though - I just got the tatula (my first one) and took it out the other day just to make sure I have it set up properly. I was extremely impressed and just wanted to keep casting it. I don’t have much time on it yet but I really look forward to putting it to use. Now enjoy the zillion you’re about to buy haha!

*Sorry the blank quote guys. I started to post and my screen froze up. Anyway, thanks for all the input. Interesting responses. To the above, yes initially I’m was asking what’s the style and performance type reel you always kids wanted or would get. Not a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, not the responses were great and fun to see what you guys came up with.

Really fun following these answers.

Here I go looking up all these reels…

That is gorgeous. I absolutely love my zillions. I had one on a topwater last year but felt like it was not living up to that reels abilities. It’s on my spinnerbait rod now which should be great. That thing is a joy to cast. I’d like to give a Bantam a try since that seems to be right in line with the Zillion. Maybe my answer would be an Antares or a Steez.

I re-allocated a couple reels this winter and after adding a spinnerbait-specific rod and moving a reel over to that I am in need of a topwater reel. I’ve been considering which reel to pick up and I’ve been looking at a lot of different options. In doing so started to notice the higher end options, which led me to the question. What’s your “Cadillac” reel? The one that when you can afford it you get that one. I have a couple Daiwa Zillions and they really are nice but looking at the high end options I wonder how much nicer they really are. Anyway, just curious. Interested to hear your s sweee and why.