Jeez this is getting to be a habit, both getting out fishing and complaining about my motor. The good stuff first. I took Friday off and hauled the boat up to Lake Cavanaugh for a little testing. It just happened that I had all the kokanee gear onboard so in between moments of despair I fished for kokanee. A pretty standard kokanee drill, some form of dodger and a custom spinner type of lure tipped with scented corn. The kokanee bite seemed to be on one of my oldie but goodie brass and green spinners running 12” behind a gold/UV Arrow Flash dodger. Friday the kokanee liked plain shoepeg corn slathered in Kokanee Dipping Sauce. To be honest if I wasn’t out messing with motor problems I would have had a fish-a-palouza day. When I was fishing it was nonstop lights out fishing. On one side of the boat I was running a non-baited/unscented setup chasing the larger meter marks for cutthroat and on the other side of the boat I was fishing a minor thermocline for kokanee.

While fishing (and not messing with the motor) I had consistent action with occasional doubles. I was hooking the cuts while chasing meter marks found between 38' and 48’ and the kokanee were hooked at 18’. Although the motor is acting up it will run all day at 650 rpm or 1.4-1.7 mph, a good thing because that happens to be my target speed for kokanee. I did not really target a given location on the lake but it seemed that the better fishing was in 60’ of water along the southern shoreline. I did not keep track of the actual numbers but I kept the two kokanee that made their way into my net and one cutthroat that was bleeding. All other fish were returned to the lake unharmed. Of the many cutthroat released two were fatties and not the usual skinny cuts that Lake Cavanaugh is known for, I guestimate they were 16 or 17” full bodied fish. As a fishing day it was a 5, lots of sunshine, limited to no wind and good fishing. If you throw my continuing motor problems in it was a bad day.

As mentioned in a previous report I thought that I had a problem with water in the fuel. Where the water in the fuel sensor was kicking in and limiting the engine RPM but now it appears that I have a different problem. I did install a separate fuel water separator, drained the entire fuel system, dumped the fuel in the tank (actually put the suspect fuel in my truck), installed a new OEM onboard fuel filter, filled up with ethanol free fuel, added ½ can of Seafoam and basically started over but my problem continues. The motor starts the day out running normal, easily getting to 5,000-6,000 rpm on plane. Then idles and trolls to 1,200 RPM all day without a hitch. When I am ready to kick it in the pants and run it will not rev above 3,000 rpm under load. It acts like it is starved for fuel until I back the throttle off when it runs normal again. My research is pointing towards a problem with the VST (Vapor Separator Tank), the associated filter and/or high-speed fuel pump (all contained within the VST). I had never heard of the VST before and owner’s manual does not mention the VST or any routine service requirements. I plan to order a service manual to see if I want to tackle tearing the thing apart for inspection and cleaning. Oh well, the fishing was stellar so it was a good day in spite of the motor problems.

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