Prior to getting underway I threaded the bird line from the reel through the guide at the top of the mast. Then furled the sail, securing with a light rubber band. Underway with the mast up.
Fishing with bait using chin weighted opelu as there was no wind at the start.
Eventually grew impatient. Took off bait rig and put on hootchie (squid).
Looked something like:
------ ++++------------------------------------XXXXX .........< 3 feet>...............******
... Rod Line
+++++ Swivel
-----------------------------------------60lb Leader
XXXXX Rubber Band & Trout Snap Hook
------- Leader
***** Hootchie
Tossed bird over side and let out bird line from reel.
First mistake. I can see loops I made earlier floating by over my head.
Reeled in homemade bird. Let out again letting line run through fingers. Loop came up for first squid. Attached above rig with snap hook to loop in bird line at 30 feet of line out (loop distance from bird previously measured). Let more line out
Had to also let out line from rod reel. Quickly became evident there was a problem ensuring both reels let out same amount of line. Possible to solve using dental floss markers?
Attached two dummy squids (no hooks) at next two loops. Looked like:
XXXXXXXX...............................................................................XXXXXXX
Trout snap hook with swivel 4# test Squid
Length of the above varied with loop location. 4-5 feet.
Without going into gory details i had problems with homemade bird.
One it sunk too much.
Two it didn't go sideway like face I slanted (directly behind you is a killer on the neck)
Peddled like hell. Got bird to surface throwing up small wave. Terrible time adjusting bird line and rod line to match. Squids OK, but trolling in water not dancing.
Simplify. Took weight off bird, Eliminated two dummies.
Carefully let lines back out. Some success with hootchie dancing in air. I was on the right track.
But difficult. Bird problems. Reeled in and did some more bird adjustments. Made another mistake.
Swivel on bird was eliminated in adjustment. Got some preliminary "dancing" before line twisted up.
Called it quits as the wind came up too late.
Why too late?
You really need way on to let the bird out an keep it's line taught. Difficult doing everything else and pedaling.
Another problem was the mast height. Too short. I have another solution to increase the stick height by five feet. That will provide a steeper angle for the bird line and improve dancing action. More on this later.
My homemade bird needs a lot of tinkering. I am looking at a cheap lure bird tomorrow. But I really need one that will ride 30-45 degrees off to the side so I can see the dancing action (and the hits!!). Anyone know of a model for sale.? I'm searching the web, but haven't found anything other than directly behind..
Those familiar with commercial rigs know there is a down-haul of the bird line that aids in making the squids dance. Pulling it down lets them just touch water, then you let it go and they jump up.
A down haul woud be a bit much for a yak. But previously for a skipping lure rig I tried hooking the line to the pedal dive mechanism. That provide ~14 inches of pull and release. I figure if I add that it's not too complicated.
Then the bird line will experience a shortening lifting the hootchies slightly, and then let them fall again. Probably only one or two inches. so I'd like to at least double this. Would some sort of pulley arrangement work doubling the line distance pulled during the Mirage Drive stroke? What do I use?
From experienced fisherman I also need some input on the use of Green Sticks and their success
without the benefit of fishing in a porpoise school.
Also what other species feeds big on cephalopods?
You guys fishing for Marlin will get a run for your money with a 100lb ahi exploding on this rig!! I think it's doable with just the small sail and Sidekick, but the Island should really make this system function.
BTW. With a good wind finally was able to try trolling some of the sailing lures mentioned elsewhere.If you forgot these try:
http://tinyurl.com/lr9qs