Fishtails

That's right....all ya need to bring is beer, a credit card with at least a grand on it and your lawyers phone number Gary...need 5 cause I don't wanna be overdressed for the dance all by myself Guys...a little birdie told me what is in the works for this winter. If it happens...you will be really glad you have $200 to spend

Most excellent report Depends on the roller rod I suppose. The Taloras rock, and I fished with blue diamond roller rods a lot this season and while I don't love the rods, we never had a wire break off. Good luck this weekend....hope to be out there too!

Ok...how about a jacket then? Five Big Weenie Brand spring fleece jackets would be acceptable if I win Nothin you design either...Karen has to have it done Sure would help if I had my boat...Next year

I want beads...lmao! Nice idea & I hope to get me one

I use (2) 6mm beads between the hooks and (2 or 3) 8mm beads between the fly body amd the top hook. Like Nick said...however many it takes to put the hook at the bottom of the skirt. I am in that group Rick mentioned that use a UV chartruse bead more than any other color.

I feel as the majority does. I am fine with raising the entry, but given a choice I prefer a big three fish over the single "big fish" format on Friday. Kevin...I look forward to someone starting a grand slam tournament, that would be the ultimate IMO, and if that is what you guys decide to go with on Friday that would be fun, however since the WHI is a king salmon only tournament, I personally would prefer to spend my pre fishing time focused on Kings. That being said though, somewhere, somehow, we do need a grand slam event...hint, hint

You are talking about the Familiar Bite, and Jons little Salmon bait & tackle in Mexico has it in stock.

Happy birthday split!

Congrats Nick!

Nice job as always Mike

I agree with Cayuga. That is a great option if lake O is rough. Check out the fingerlake reports. Also, Henderson Harbor is just a little north of Mexico, and it's always fishable. The 1000 islands region is about an hour north, another great option. Lots of good choices...these are just a few.

Nice Report Chris

Helluva fish Todd! Congrats! Didn't realize you were fishing a derby when you sent the pic...way to go! Ever since I gave you a few of those Rockets you're like a wild man with them They are great paired up with Big Weenie meat rigs. I'm really liking the new chrome meat rigs Big Weenie came out with this year. When running MC Rockets in the whole bait heads.....I just stuff a little cotton in the head to fill the void...it helps keep the Rocket snug and in tune, plus you can scent the cotton. I will be introducing Jason to Rockets in a few weeks when we start LOC fishing. I know he already has plenty of BW meat Rigs. Maybe you can get out on the water with us one day when I'm up there. I have a few things I'd like to show you

Happy birthday Ray

You are consistent Nick You are starting a new trend...bite and release

Glad all is well Kevin

I agree with Brian...some people suck. This just happened to someone at the resort I was at on lake O last week....first time it happened there in 7 years!! Someone came in at night on a small boat, is what they figured? While I was driving to Cayuga, I pulled over to nap and three kids tried to get in my boat not knowing I was in the van, so I was able to chase them before they stole anything. It can be a cruel world for us nieve and trusting souls....thanks for the reminder and sorry about the theft.

Btw, you know how I learned to fight kings? From taking note over the years on my boat that the adults I fish with loose fish after fish, yet the children loose almost none I have a lot of kids on my boat....they rarely loose a fish until an adult gets involved....myself included! Think about it

Interesting point on the dot Paul. That's something to keep in mind. I know you like to muscle kings. We think a little different on that one. I agree with that theory on fun trips, charter trips, and with any fish you intend to release... but on tournament and derby days, I have seen so many fish swim away trying to horse, or muscle them to the boat. I think I dropped two fish the entire tournament season on actual tournament days, where on pre fish days I lost plenty because I play them harder since our intent is to catch and release. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do, and sometimes one guy on the boat just grabs the right rods and gets lucky, but it's not luck when one persons landing ratio is very high day after day, while others are having the drops....especially on negative days when the bite is lite. With kings, if I really want a fish to die, I like to let them burn up a lot of their energy on that first run. Let them run in a strait line away from you. Adjust the drag tight enough so they have to burn energy to pull line, but not so tight that the rod pulses and throbs violently. It's important to make them work for that line though. Get them tired and then you can tighten the drag a couple clicks to turn them and finish them off. From that point ...work them in to the boat at the fastest pace the fish will allow without getting the fish excited. A calm fish is a dead fish...keep the fish as relaxed as you can and in a strait line and most will die. It might take an extra 5 minutes...maybe 10 if it's a hog, but placing it in the white coffin is where it's at and as long as you are still at trolling speed that excitement will often pull more into the spread and many times you will double up, so keep your speed fast enough to keep your lures working.

Chinook, There are definitely things you can do, and dropping that many fish on average should not be the norm. It's hard to say what the problem is though without being on your boat because it could be so many things. I have seen many seasoned veterans drop fish that maybe could have been landed....myself included. It happens, and it happens even more during, or just after an east wind. Drags set correctly are really important. Let the fish tire before trying to turn him, especially with kings. If you feel a lot of head shakes early in the run, in my opinion your drags are probably a bit to tight. Someone mentioned beads between the fly and hook,...very important to have that hook at the bottom of the fly. Could be dull hooks, equipment, tight drags, hoarseing the fish, release tension, or a combination. Then again, you will hit days that the fish are in a negative mood and bite lite. I find this happens a lot when the wind is out of the east. These days can be frustrating, but even so, if you do everything right you should be far above 50%. Keep at it...you'll fiigure it out. You are already well on your way. The fine tuning will never end and that's half the fun

Awesome trip!! Congats !!!!!

What a great trip Mickey!! Thans for sharing your expierences with us You and the wife really did wel, congrats. I just returned from Henderson and though I did almost zero fishing, your post gets me pumped for next year, as we plan on keeping the RV and salmon boat at associasion island for one or two months.

Just found out there is NO tent camping....not sure why? [ Post made via Android ]

Thanks for putting that up nick...great shot! Yes totally protected harbor. And the docks are really nice...Radisson design. These folks have put a few million into this place. That photo shows the place when its full, but last week it was almost empty.....maybe 50 campsites were taken? The marina was pretty empty too. The economy, ya think? I am doing at least a month next year. Gonna talk it over with the wife on the drive home. [ Post made via Android ]