I hear ya bud. I had the fishin' bug so bad I did both! Many nights coming home at 2-3am, hooking up to my bass boat, and heading for wherever the tourney was!
Rod thanks for your contribution to the fishery, and those great trophies! Looking forward to seeing you fishing more events. Hopefully, with the kids!
I made the video guys, but I'm headed out to dinner with my blow up doll. When i get back from feeding that gold digger I'll get it up on YouTube. The fly video! Not the blow up doll video you sick bast*rds! Hahahahahahaha
We always snell both hooks. Use larger beads like a 8mm. 3 of those should fit between your treble and your single with little to no room for movement if you're tying them right. This does two things:
1) Doesn't give the Salmon room to chomp down on the line and crack you off.
2) Doesn't allow your line to end up in the bottom of your treble.
Like Scott mentioned above the bottom of your Octopus hook should sit half way across the eye of your treble.
I just bought a new GoPro last week. Maybe, if I remember tonight, I'll do a little video tutorial. But please no one show that Silver Coyote guy who keeps posting above!
Since Scott opened his big mouth I'll concur......VMC Spark Point 4x #2 is what we've been running for about 4 seasons. You WONT ever bend one out.
Andy Bliss brought them on the boat at the Spring Tightlines to try out. That weekend we caught about 80 mean Canadian Salmon, and I don't remember losing more than a couple. I was very impressed.
That being said I know Tom Allen worked hard on developing his own hook for his flies just a couple years back. He's a tinkering fool, and I'm sure they are worth a try. I have a hard time leaving something once I build confidence in it, or else I'd be running them.
You don't give yourself enough credit! You've fished hard for the last few years, and I've seen all the fish you catch on Facebook. One thing I took from Mr. Felluca a long time ago was that fishing tournaments makes you a better fisherman. You will learn a lot more on the days you get your butt handed to you than the days you go out and smoke them. Fishing out of the same port, and doing the same thing, every weekend can put you in a comfort zone.
I'm running the 688 Ice machine. Never ran the 597. But you have noted the two major differences in your post for those units. One other is the 688 comes with the 3 pre-set buttons for your favorite screens.
Check out the new HELIX Units from Humminbird. Very reasonably priced units.
http://www.humminbird.com/Products/HELIX-5-SONAR-GPS/
http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-Helix-5-Fishfinder-and-Chartplotter/product/1409251012/