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Author Topic: Drag chains.  (Read 6153 times)

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RonS

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Drag chains.
« on: December 19, 2006, 08:40:36 AM »
Elaborate, demistify design, disapprove, approve, discuss.

Thanks.
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Yesterday, I was at the bottom. I was at the bottom of a valley, in the river. Then my eyes hiked up the mountains to the snow capped peaks. I thought, "When I am at this lowest place I can be, standing in a river, everything is looking up."

MikeA

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2006, 09:19:32 AM »
I like em alot but watch out getting them caught in the trolling motor leaving you without power under heavy flow. And NEVER make it longer then your boat or you might end up with it wrapped in your prop. The guys in the long Jon boats on the White have one that just reaches the back of the boat and they hardly ever pull them up. When they’re ready to run, the rope and chain just hug the bottom of the boat. Personally this seems a little dangerous to me. If I get into a situation I don’t want a 20’ rope and chain flailing around off the bow of my boat.

Also, some think they alarm all the fish in the area and I find it hard to argue that. But on the other hand I have caught a couple 3 to 5# while dragging one???  I'd be interested to hear others opinions on this.
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dleo6446

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2006, 09:48:46 AM »
I have mine rigged (on the Grumpsters advice which seems to be pretty good) to an eye hook mounted on the transom of the boat.  I did have about 10 feet of rope, tied to a strong rubber bungee that is about 18", then to a section of chain that was 8 feet long (3/8" bu 1 1/2" loggers chain.)  what we found out was that it slowed the boat too much when the water is dropping out and I have now shortened it to a 4' section of the chain.  Haven't tried that out yet but should be able to give some feedback on it after tomorrow, maybe.

The only problem we have encountered with the chain is that at the length it was first made, it would stop the boat in certain parts of the river and the drift was considerably less than the current flow.  What we want to do is to be slightly less than the current flow to give us more fishing time in the places that we really want to fish.

Excellent advice given on the chain, I would never fire up the motor with the chain in the water.  since the trolling motor is on the other side of the boat, that doesn't present a problem so far.  With the chain tied off on one side of the boat like I have it, it will give you a pretty neat drift almost sideways down the river  which makes for some pretty neat fishing.  As far as spooking the fish, I haven't really noticed that it does that as we caught quite a few fish very close to the boat while we were dragging the chain.
I would like to find some rubber coated chain but what I have found so far is $$$$$$$$$$ and Grumpster thinks that if we Duct tape the chain it will be just fine.  Guess we will find out about that on Wednesday too.

the only other advice I would offer, is to keep a rubber maid  bucket in the boat to hold the chain in when not in use,  helps to cut down on a lot of noise and keeps that crap up off the floor of the boat and out of the way of unspooled fly line.  Caneybuff is already complaining about the fire extinguisher so I guess i will move it up to the front of the boat... :-\
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RonS

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2006, 11:33:57 AM »
Very good, and interesting so far.

I just naturally assumed it would go on the bow eye, and the boat would drift down river stern first.

That's kind of wild about the Arkansas rig. My luck, it would get stuck in the only forked stump in the entire river while running wide open. Front of boat nose dives and sends Caneybuff knees over elbows and the stern comes up like a catapult putting Phartzen in Trees!!  :o
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Yesterday, I was at the bottom. I was at the bottom of a valley, in the river. Then my eyes hiked up the mountains to the snow capped peaks. I thought, "When I am at this lowest place I can be, standing in a river, everything is looking up."

MikeA

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2006, 12:18:41 PM »
Ron if your using it under generation you want it on the Bow eye for sure. No way I would use it on the transom with flow. That's a sure fire way to sink a boat should it hang up. And they will hang up.

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Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.

But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

dleo6446

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2006, 04:30:18 PM »
I am not so sure I would even use one under generation in the Caney...too many washers and dryers in the water!
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David L. Darnell

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2006, 08:03:57 PM »
if I was to use that arrangement on the Elk or the Caney, I'd have it mounted with rope and a quick release knot or better yet knot and a knife.
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RonS

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Re: Drag chains.
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2006, 10:30:42 PM »
I like the quick release/sharp machete combo you have in mind Woodsman.

I don't have the cajones to anchor or tie up to locks or those "caves" in the dam walls when they are running any generators. Period. I'm a chicken when it comes to stuff like that. Call me a chicken. With just a little luck, an old chicken some day.  ;D
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Yesterday, I was at the bottom. I was at the bottom of a valley, in the river. Then my eyes hiked up the mountains to the snow capped peaks. I thought, "When I am at this lowest place I can be, standing in a river, everything is looking up."
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