Field Notes & Rigging Tips

Marine Autopilot Selection Guide for Fishing Boats
Marine Autopilot Selection Guide for Fishing Boats
Our marine autopilot selection guide covers hydraulic vs mechanical systems, installation, calibration, and top Raymarine models for serious anglers. Read more...
VHF Radio Selection Guide: How to Choose the Right Marine Radio
VHF Radio Selection Guide: How to Choose the Right Marine Radio
Use this VHF radio selection guide to compare fixed-mount and handheld models, DSC features, antennas, and installation. Find the right radio. Read more...
Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing: How Deep to Troll
Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing: How Deep to Troll
Salmon trolling depth: Lake Michigan salmon fishing starts with trolling depth. Learn downrigger settings, water temperature for salmon fishing. Read more...
Marine Transducer Guide: Mounting, Frequency & CHIRP
Marine Transducer Guide: Mounting, Frequency & CHIRP
This marine transducer guide covers mounting styles, frequency selection, and CHIRP vs traditional sonar so you can pick the right setup for your boat. Read more...
How to Update Marine GPS Charts and Software
How to Update Marine GPS Charts and Software
Learn how to update marine GPS charts and software with step-by-step instructions, ActiveCaptain tips, and fixes for common update errors. Get started. Read more...
Best Sonar Settings for Shallow Water Fishing (2026)
Best Sonar Settings for Shallow Water Fishing (2026)
Dial in the best sonar settings for shallow water fishing. Set frequency, gain, and side imaging right, plus fixes for ghost signals. Start catching more. Read more...
Marine Compass Guide: Choosing and Mounting Your Compass
Marine Compass Guide: Choosing and Mounting Your Compass
A complete marine compass guide covering types, mounting, calibration, and integration. Find the right compass for your boat and navigate with confidence. Read more...
How to Calibrate Your Fish Finder for Accuracy
How to Calibrate Your Fish Finder for Accuracy
Learn how to calibrate your fish finder for accuracy with proven depth offset, sensitivity, and transducer setup steps. Get reliable sonar readings. Read more...
How to Read Underwater Structure for Walleye
How to Read Underwater Structure for Walleye
Learn how to read underwater structure for walleye using sonar, side-imaging, and mapping chips. Find points, humps, and drop-offs that hold fish. Start. Read more...
Best Durable Gear for Salmon Fishing: 2026 Guide
Best Durable Gear for Salmon Fishing: 2026 Guide
Discover the best durable gear for salmon fishing in 2026. Captain-curated rods, reels, downriggers, and maintenance tips built to last season after. Read more...
Scotty Depthpower Downrigger Review: 2026 Owner's Guide
Scotty Depthpower Downrigger Review: 2026 Owner's Guide
Scotty Depthpower downrigger review covering the 1101, 1106, and HP models. Compare specs, installation, and maintenance tips to find your match. Read more...
Touchscreen vs Keypad Marine GPS: Which Wins on the Water
Touchscreen vs Keypad Marine GPS: Which Wins on the Water
Touchscreen vs keypad marine GPS: Compare touchscreen and keypad marine GPS interfaces. Learn which performs better in rough seas, glove use, and. Read more...
Choosing the Right Transducer Frequency for Deep Water
Choosing the Right Transducer Frequency for Deep Water
Choosing the right transducer frequency for deep water is critical. Learn how low kHz and CHIRP sonar improve deep water fishing. Read more...
Integrating Marine GPS with Autopilot Systems: A Guide
Integrating Marine GPS with Autopilot Systems: A Guide
Learn how integrating marine GPS with autopilot systems works, from NMEA 2000 network setup to connecting your chartplotter. Get expert tips for your boat. Read more...
Is NMEA 2026 Worth the Upgrade? A Marine Electronics Review
Is NMEA 2026 Worth the Upgrade? A Marine Electronics Review
Is NMEA 2026 worth the upgrade for your fishing boat? We compare protocol specs, cable requirements, and real ROI for marine electronics. Find your answer. Read more...
Best Marine Cameras for Fishing Boats in 2026
Best Marine Cameras for Fishing Boats in 2026
Discover the best marine cameras for fishing boats in 2026. Compare day and night, thermal, and security options to boost situational awareness on the. Read more...
How to Rig Downrigger Lines for Salmon
How to Rig Downrigger Lines for Salmon
How to rig downrigger lines for salmon: Master downrigger rigging for salmon with step-by-step setup instructions, release clip selection, and stacking. Read more...
How to Read Sonar for Bass Fishing: A Complete Guide
How to Read Sonar for Bass Fishing: A Complete Guide
Read sonar bass fishing: Learn to read sonar for bass fishing with this complete guide. Master fish arches, bottom composition, and sonar settings to. Read more...
Best Marine Radar Selection Guide
Best Marine Radar Selection Guide
Marine radar selection: Choose the right marine radar for your boat. Compare solid-state vs. magnetron, dome vs. open array, and find the best system for. Read more...
How to Mount a Saltwater Fish Finder Transducer
How to Mount a Saltwater Fish Finder Transducer
Fish finder transducer mounting: Mount your saltwater fish finder transducer correctly. Learn transom placement, hull-specific techniques, and how to. Read more...
Benefits of Using Downrigger Depth Controllers
Benefits of Using Downrigger Depth Controllers
Learn how downrigger depth controllers improve trolling precision, prevent gear loss, and save time on the water. Discover setup tips and best practices. Read more...
Best Fishing Rod Holders for Saltwater Salmon
Best Fishing Rod Holders for Saltwater Salmon
Best Fishing Rod Holders for Saltwater Salmon: Find the best saltwater rod holders for salmon fishing. Compare Cisco and Scotty options with expert. Read more...
Why Use Live Sonar for Deep Water Salmon
Why Use Live Sonar for Deep Water Salmon
Why use live sonar for deep water salmon: Live sonar reveals real-time fish movement in deep water. Learn how forward-facing sonar improves salmon. Read more...
Buying Guide for Navigational Charts
Buying Guide for Navigational Charts
Choose the right navigational charts for your fishing vessel. Compare paper vs. electronic options, understand chart types, and learn what features matter. Read more...
Salt Kills Everything: A 5-Minute Post-Trip Routine
Salt Kills Everything: A 5-Minute Post-Trip Routine
If you're not doing this when you back into the driveway, you're buying new reels every two seasons. The fix takes a hose and 300 seconds. Read more...
5 Outrigger Mistakes That Cost Me Real Money
5 Outrigger Mistakes That Cost Me Real Money
Outriggers double your fishing spread but they're unforgiving. Here are five mistakes I made early on — and what each one cost me before I figured it out. Read more...
Cannon vs Scotty: A Captain's Honest Take
Cannon vs Scotty: A Captain's Honest Take
Both brands have earned their reputations. After running both on my boat for years, here's the honest breakdown — strengths, weaknesses, and which one fits your kind of fishing Read more...
Setting Up Your First Downrigger Guide
Setting Up Your First Downrigger Guide
A no-BS walkthrough of the seven things every new troller gets wrong on day one — and how to fix them before you blow $400 in cannonballs. Read more...
Spring Chinook in the Strait — A Gear List
Spring Chinook in the Strait — A Gear List
Spring kings in the Strait of Juan de Fuca are some of the best fishing in the Pacific Northwest — if you've got the right gear. Here's exactly what I... Read more...
Coho Speed: Why 2.8 Knots Is the Magic Number
Coho Speed: Why 2.8 Knots Is the Magic Number
Twenty seasons of GPS data, one stubborn lesson. Here's the trolling speed curve that turns a slow morning into a four-fish limit by 9am. Read more...
Tuna Trolling Setup: Rods, Reels, Line & Terminal Tackle
Tuna Trolling Setup: Rods, Reels, Line & Terminal Tackle
Build a complete tuna trolling setup with expert guidance on rods, reels, line capacity, leaders, and terminal tackle. Learn rigging techniques that work. Read more...
Is Custom Boat Rigging Worth the Cost?
Is Custom Boat Rigging Worth the Cost?
Is custom boat rigging worth the cost: Explore whether custom boat rigging justifies its expense. Learn ROI, durability gains, and cost breakdowns for. Read more...
Best Salmon Trolling Gear 2026: Complete Setup Guide
Best Salmon Trolling Gear 2026: Complete Setup Guide
Find the best salmon trolling gear for 2026. Expert downrigger setups, lures, and tackle for Great Lakes and saltwater fishing. Shop proven equipment. Read more...
Best Marine GPS Units for Deep Sea Fishing
Best Marine GPS Units for Deep Sea Fishing
Find the best marine GPS units for deep sea fishing. Compare chartplotters, sonar tech, and installation tips for offshore anglers. Read more...
Coho Fishing in the Pacific Northwest
Coho Fishing in the Pacific Northwest
Master coho fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Learn proven techniques, gear selection, seasonal timing, and tackle strategies for consistent catches. Read more...
Track Mount Rod Holder Systems for Saltwater Fishing
Track Mount Rod Holder Systems for Saltwater Fishing
Track mount rod holders: Track mount rod holder systems let you customize your trolling spread and reposition gear instantly. Learn installation. Read more...
Best Shallow Water Anchors for 2026
Best Shallow Water Anchors for 2026
Find the best shallow water anchors for your boat. Compare Minn Kota options by depth, control, and saltwater durability. Discover which anchor fits your. Read more...
A Cannon Optimum electric downrigger beside a Cannon Uni-Troll manual downrigger, showing the motor housing and control head against the hand crank and open spool.
Electric vs Manual Downriggers: A Buyer's Guide
Electric or manual downriggers? Compare Cannon and Scotty side by side — cable, weight capacity, amp draw and wiring — plus why the price gap is only about $60. Read more...
EPIRBs for Safety: A 2026 Guide for Anglers
EPIRBs for Safety: A 2026 Guide for Anglers
EPIRBs for safety: Learn how EPIRBs protect you on the water. Registration, maintenance, and how to choose the right beacon for your boat. Discover safety. Read more...
Saltwater Tackle for Pacific Northwest Fishing
Saltwater Tackle for Pacific Northwest Fishing
Essential saltwater tackle for Pacific Northwest salmon and halibut fishing. Downriggers, rods, reels, lures, and rigging gear curated by expert captains. Read more...
How to Choose Saltwater Fishing Gear: A Complete Guide
How to Choose Saltwater Fishing Gear: A Complete Guide
Learn how to choose saltwater fishing gear with expert guidance on rods, reels, line, and maintenance. Find durable equipment for serious anglers. Read more...
5 Best Salmon Fishing Reels for Puget Sound
5 Best Salmon Fishing Reels for Puget Sound
Find the best salmon fishing reels for Puget Sound. Compare drag systems, line capacity, and corrosion resistance. Discover which reel matches your. Read more...
Braided vs. Monofilament Fishing Line for Saltwater
Braided vs. Monofilament Fishing Line for Saltwater
Braided vs monofilament saltwater: Compare braided and monofilament fishing line for saltwater. Learn tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and which. Read more...
Live Sonar vs. 360 Imaging for Saltwater Fishing
Live Sonar vs. 360 Imaging for Saltwater Fishing
Live sonar vs 360 imaging: Compare live sonar and 360 imaging for saltwater fishing. Learn which technology works best for offshore, inshore, and. Read more...
How to Interpret Garmin LiveScope Images for Salmon
How to Interpret Garmin LiveScope Images for Salmon
How to interpret garmin livescope images for salmon: Learn to read Garmin LiveScope sonar for salmon. Master image interpretation, species identification. Read more...
Why Use a Downrigger for Pacific Northwest Fishing
Why Use a Downrigger for Pacific Northwest Fishing
Why use a downrigger for pacific northwest fishing: Learn why downriggers are essential for Pacific Northwest salmon fishing. Discover depth control. Read more...
Lake Michigan Salmon Trolling Setup: Complete Gear Guide
Lake Michigan Salmon Trolling Setup: Complete Gear Guide
Salmon trolling setup: Master Lake Michigan salmon trolling with downriggers, lures, and rigging techniques. Learn essential gear, depth control, and. Read more...
Saltwater Fishing Gear for 2026: Essential Equipment Guide
Saltwater Fishing Gear for 2026: Essential Equipment Guide
Discover essential saltwater fishing gear for 2026. Expert-curated equipment for Pacific Northwest anglers. Learn what works on the water. Shop now. Read more...
Best Marine Electronics for Salmon Fishing in 2026
Best Marine Electronics for Salmon Fishing in 2026
Find the best marine electronics for salmon fishing. Compare fishfinders, chartplotters, and transducers for Pacific Northwest waters. Shop Elliott's. Read more...
Marine Safety for Saltwater Fishing: A Complete Guide
Marine Safety for Saltwater Fishing: A Complete Guide
Master marine safety for saltwater fishing with essential gear, USCG requirements, and offshore protocols. Learn what equipment keeps you safe on the. Read more...