A-TOM-MIK

As a sponsor of many events through the years related to Lake Ontario a certain cautiousness presents itself from a sponsor when choosing which events to back. It seems the days of handing over dollars or product and having it received to the fullest are over. Some gets pocketed here some dispersed over there. I am certainly ignorant to the logistics and or politics involved when it comes to larger scale involvement like what it takes to create or maintain a coveted Pro/Am. However with a more serious involvement like what Kevin is throwing up for dibs I would protect my investment just as he is doing. To make it perfectly clear I have been happy with the promotion A-TOM-MIK has received from each of the 4 Pro/Ams, but I also took it upon myself to create a way to personally hand out the prizes I am offering. There is just too much trust involved to say, "Here is 10 Grand for the Niagara Pro/Am, do me justice". To add some flare of this intensity should be applauded, it's not as easy of a chore as noted to accrue a prize structure of 10 grand. You would be a fool not to hedge a bet like this, it's to the point of ingenious what Kevin is doing, it's sort of sad there is any negativity around at all. As a business owner looking for longevity, "creativeness can be key", it's a tough gig to maintain the interest needed to survive in many businesses. Threats towards this backfiring and such shouldn't be the case, be happy the interest has been taken !! We are all here to continually look forward to each season, competing and enjoying a "second to none fishery" should be the thought. Hopefully this will work itself out, its a great thing !! Tom

Start with a 30# Stainless 7 Strand wire, a 9 to 10' dipsy diver rod with Twilly, most anglers will attest its the hottest presentation available over the course of a season !! A great "High-End" reel choice would be a Tekota 600 LC, most manufacturers model dipsy rods in their line-up. Tom

lol :shock:

We have a couple choices if interested, Daiwa SG47LCA or the Tekota 600 LC, both are line counters and either can be rigged with 1000' of 30# AFW stainless 7 strand wire. 10' Eagle Claw Starfire diver rod we will also add a Twilly Tip. If you desire a different pound wire or color Camo or Brite can do that too. 1) Daiwa/10' Starfire wire combo Price: 199.99 2) Tekota/10' Starfire wire combo Price: 269.99

Rhys Cut Bait is still readily available in Canada, or at least it was last season

Yep sure has, I also talked with Ed the Sharkman about just this, lead prices across the board have taken a steep jump, we went from purchasing all the lead we needed in a season at prices under .50/lb., (60 to 75% yield) to not being able to get what we need for a season paying close to double or in some cases more, any good leads on bulk lead of any kind drop me an E Mail, may be worth us checking out: [email protected] [email protected] Ed's hands were pretty much tied, selling Sharks direct was a comfertable option unless you expected the consumer to take the hit and pay large percentages more for the product ! Tom

Used them off big boards on occasion but never actually had any great conditions when the Kings were up higher to run them faithfully, did manage a few Brownies after some half hearted attempts, Kings out of O town are usually deeper in the water column. Had thoughts on trying a few comparable rigs as SWR just never gave them an honest shake. Also wanted to see what we could actually get on the 47s due to the popularity of that reel through the years and the many that would often ask "Hey, can I just use my older 47H's and load them up with .037 copper?" Tom

With 45# .037 copper you can get 150' of copper and 400' of a 20# mono backer, pretty slim pickn's. Ernie L watched me rig this one morning as he laughed and asked what I was going to do with it, lol Tom

AMEN........ Hence: NO COMMUNICATION........... For 2 seasons now I honestly thought I was the only one who felt this way !!! The issue shouldn't be can a rule be enforced, I would think a rule should favor the majority vote. If NO COMMUNICATION is in place a majority of the players are going to follow suit. Why are we worried about a few bad apples who might not? Team A VS. Team B, not Team A and buddies VS. Team B and buddies!!! C'mon !!!!!!!!! State laws for drunk drivers or speeders aren't suppressed due to the fact people are still driving drunk or speeding, the laws are made stiffer for persuasion purposes. If you get caught there is a fine. Team Cold Steel would obied, would your team? (Generally speaking to the minority vote) Are you that unsure of your ability to follow a rule or that unsure of your ability to catch a fish without your buddies help that you would just as well open up communication to favor far less anglers? Tom

NO COMMUNICATION worked well for over 10 years in Oswego at the Pro/Am !! My buddies and I use to line up to be observers and make 50 bucks/day throughout the 90's, cell phones certainly weren't then what they are today but there was NO COMMUNICATION, so the competitors simply didn't communicate, period. During the 00's the observers did a great job by collecting the cell's and such, and there was still NO COMUNICATION, it worked well with the anglers in my opinion, there was no reason to open up communication, but like was stated it happened so we all will still compete, just do not like it, there is a majority who would rather not have it. Tom

I do not believe a sponsorship should dictate a class of competition!! Why should this be a rule? Should "Bush" cars not be allotted the right for a sponsorship just due to not running with the big dogs? There are sponsorships covering/helping the butts of many competitive types in many sports, events etc. Team Screamer Dave, Joe and crew are some serious players, they play for real !! They take it to the next level each season competing against many tough teams. I think they'd be crazy to make a move, some of the stiffest competition available on Lake Ontario resides within the LO AM teams !!! (: (: (: Tom

Hello Ray !! Not too sure, your prolly thinking of the Cold Steel boys while on a Charter, they do have tendencies of putting them Coho's in the boat that time of year!! From a couple PM's: A great rod to use for a copper combo is a 9' BWD 1101, 2 piece ugly stick, we sell them to many of the local to Oswego Captains like TK, Hat Trick and quite a few others who swear by them. We will stock that rod pretty heavy for next season due to its reviews in the past 2 seasons (We will match Cabelas or BP $$$) Any heavier sort of rod rated 12 to 20 or diver rods will work fine, no twilly or rollers needed. If you are going to use older rods you have kicking around due to the heavy expenditure when outfitting yourself with copper set-ups just be sure to check the guides are in good shape, older cracked, grooved or chipped guides will not use well with our soft copper. Thanks Rick (: Good Luck Tom

Heres some good info: http://spoonpullers.proboards42.com/ind ... 692&page=1 One option some of the more experienced copper guys have been satisfied with to get closer to that magic 600' set-up is to use a Tekota 800 to the max capacity with 500' of .037 copper (It's not 600' but eliminates the 345GTi's issues) I rigged a few of these as custom outfits upon request with minimal complaints, we beefed up the PP backing to 65# to crank down on the King if need-be. A Tekota 800 will hold about 400 feet of it (The albright knot will tick the frame) To answer the question is 900' of backer really necessary, I would say yes it is a very good bet, taking each variable into consideration just gives you a better piece of mind while your trolling around with $50+ worth of gear in the water: Copper/leader/lure/attractor/fly/ etc. "per rig" 1) In hopes to utilize the backer ($20 to $30) for an entire season, re-rigging on occasion and such, losing a bit of backer here and there each time you re-tie or untangle. 2) Most if not all of the experienced copper guys will use as many as 2 to 3 copper rigs in the water at all times come "King Season" having enough backing to run the copper rigs out to your big boards is starting you off with up to 60 to 100 ft of backer out before your King strikes. 900' of backer is definitely not required, just strongly recommended for best results. Think about your normal landing percentage when fishing Kings from wire, riggers etc., fishing copper is mush less to begin with, your only going to hurt your odds. The reason we rigged the heavier backing with the guys wanting to load the Tekotas to the max was to be able to apply the brakes if you had to and still have a good chance of not busting something, the 65# came with good reviews, but you still needed the experience to crank down on the fish, or to turn your boat in traffic at times with a shorter amount of "cushion". (The 65# idea came from Tim Dawidiuk: Howie Fly) With the experiences I have been confronted with fishing copper, from tourney time to pleasure or derby fishing, the biggest run from a King would be in the 5 to 600' category) Think about some of the more familiar explosive wire diver strikes, times when a super aggressive 23 to 26 King will take your wire out to 900 ft when you started at 300' of wire out, that's a good run. Something else comes to mind with that idea of dragging around a $50 bill, is that of hooking up to another boat like we did during a Pro/Am, if it wasn't for adequate backing we would have never been able to turn, then chase the boat down to unleash our goods connected to theirs (Right Bill !!! (: (: (: ) Tom

Depends on what size copper: 500 ft of 50# PP (and a tight fit) if you want to load the reel with 500' of .037 copper. To get 900' of 50# PP you will only get 400' of .037 copper ***Specs for a Tekota 800*** Tom

T023 is our Crinkle Green, TYVM !!!! Howies catch fish, can not deny !!! Tom

Glitter Green Crinkle (#04) Green (#03)

A 47LC will not do the job for Kings unless you are fishing them in the top 30 fow (and are a very lucky angler to boot). Your looking at about 150 ft. of our .037 copper with very minimal backing, maybe 100 yds. of something very thin like 30# PP or 20# Big Game mono. These are the only copper loaded 47's I have ever done up, actually had Ernie L. laugh at me one day a few years back as he watched me spooling up just this outfit. His comment: and I quote "What do you think your gonna do with that???? lol Tom

Jim from Abe's just happened to call after I read this post so I mentioned the situation to him, and he feels terrible. From my point of view dealing with some of the same distribution (where these products like probes come from) it gets quite tough to get straight answers, we do get promises each and everyday from our distribution that items will arrive that many times do not. Also trying to maintain a business like Jim has established and keeping the doors open for many, many hours it also is a tough chore to maintain the knowledgeable personele to do so. Just the other day I had a new helper ready to ship 2 (1 lb.) dropper balls to an angler who ordered 2 torpedo trolling weights. Just imagine the look on this poor anglers face if these would have shipped................Ouch !! I do not know the entire deal that went wrong between the parties, but Jim is an outstanding business man who always insists on purchasing whatever we feel the anglers are looking for, prices not always even mattering, he just wants to satisfy his shoppers. Very sorry for your trouble Tom, bum deal, drop me your mailing addy and I will send you some free lures for your trouble. Jim is a great guy. Tom

Few copper reel options: http://www.atommiktrollingflies.com/misc.htm Even if you do not care to purchase one done up, you can get an idea of how much each reel will hold, another cheaper option would be an Okuma 55L, you can get 500 ft of .037 copper on that reel also with adequate backing. Tom

You just keep concentrating on them Bass.............

Looks like the "Big Fin" vessel, 25 ft Penn Yan, but I am prolly wrong

Great Job to all, lots of tough teams, Lake O has some fierce competition, unreal caliber of opponents Am Winners Team Screamer/A-TOM-MIK Pro Winners Team Yankee Troller Score Board Am Score Board Pro

I apologize for not getting that photo, I will try again when we get back from the Pro/Am's