Fishtails

Thanks for the invite....I'll be in touch Glen. I promised the wife I'd get serious about work, as we are getting into our busy season, so I brought the boat home. That don't mean I can't steal away for a day or two..... Jeff (aka Empty Hook) already got me in trouble once. c.bonaffine, you got that right about it not being a fun job!! In fact, it sux! I'd be very tempted to pressure test it in the boat, but if I don't pull the tank and get all that foam out the smell and hazard will remain, at least to some degree. SO....I forge on but I don't see me getting it out for several days. It's a slow process and I can't stand it for more than an hour at a time. Thanks for the tip....I'm replacing it all, so I'll replace that too!!

Great.....when I get the tank out and inspected I'll let you know If I need it repaired and I'll get it up to you. This is something I only want to do once....

Thanks Hank....I'll do that. I think it's going to take some major effort to get the tank out. I'm sure glad this popped up at the end of the season! If it's the tank, are there any good sources for new gas tanks?

Hey guys, now that I've called it a wrap on the 09 trolling sesason , I'm starting to work on the boat for next year. After a 300+ hour season, we got a few things that need fixing before I can even start to think about upgrades. First task...a gas smell in the front of the boat that developed a couple trips ago. There has been no gas (or gas smell) in the bilge, rather it's towards the front of the tank. This past trip it got worse, and we actually got a small amount of standing gasoline on the floor where it steps down in the cuddy. We figured it was the fill or vent tube....not sure yet? The tank has foam packed around it, and the foam towards the front of the tank is gas logged. Do aluminium tanks ever develop pin holes? I guess I need to pull the tank to get all the foam out and clean under the tank. Then I need to find the source. Any suggestions on how to pressure test the tank? I've never done this before. Thanks!!

Welcome to the world of fatherhood my friend. Boy....is your life gonna get turned upside dowm It's the best though....and the Keysers would like to extend A HUGE congrats to you and Christie.

Rick....missed yas this time, see ya next spring in Wilson! For what it's worth, we made the run and it was still very hit or miss ( mostly miss ). Then again we only ran about 17 miles, so we might not have gone far enough. Good luck the rest of the season.

It was a true pleasure fishing with you and the rest of the crew Anthony! We did give it our all. I'm not sure I've ever been more tired after a fishing tournament. I really look forward to getting together with all of you again. Fishing was tough, but a few teams found the feeding salmon and they deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. I'm a tad bit discouraged that I couldn't get us on the fish, but It's just been that kind of up and down season for us. The fact that even Thrillseeker and other top teams put up a zero on one of the days tells you how hard it was if you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. On Friday we found fish in front of the nuke plant in 95 - 100 fow. Saturday most of them were gone....and the temp dropped by 20 deg. We took a laker and one king pretty early but our picture was gone. We noticed many teams running past us, and I was told they were heading to Sandy pond. We decidred to leave our few fish in hopes of finding bigger fish and bigger numbers. NOT.....we ran to Sandy Pond and set up...trolling with Cold Steel, Thrillseeker, Screamer, High Voltage and others. I'm thinking we made a good choice, but it turned out the fish shut down by the time we all got there and we, nor the other teams did hardly any fish. Cold Steel ended with 3, Sctreamer (going under Primetime name) had 2, Thrillseaker got zero and we did 1. So...I didn't feel so bad. Sunday was more of the same. We ran to North Sandy pond in a tough cross chop, so we didn't arrive until 7:15. We set up in 120 fow, planning on trolling in and out till we found the fish, but traffic made that hard to do. We were in the wrong place, but finally we got a tip fish were a couple miles from us so we picked up and ran. We found fish out over 145-150 fow. we picked up a king on a chrome paddle pulling a mirage fly and lost a burner on the 400 copper and had one more shot on a rigger before we were out of the fish. We should have turned and worked those fish, but it was 11:30 and we were out of it so we just continued pulling our 3 rigger, 3 copper & 2 wire rod spread south and had a blue screen untill we pulled lines at 1:15 Still had great fun and we are already making our plans for next season. One bright spot was the boat made the whole tourney season without one mechanical problem...

I had the pleasure to fish this past week with several LOU members in the Oswego Scotty. Rollie (final flight), Anthony (Pike Hunter) and Brad (Nemisis....but also goes by guy). As a group, we had a great few days, but as a fishing team we pretty much tanked. I gotta take the blame as captain. We just couldn't find the eating fish. We had a decent Pre fish Friday, landing several decent fish and "captian donkey" dropped one on the wire after an 850 foot run. It got us (me) wrapped around some buoys in front of the nuke plant. Fish took a white spinney pulling a Big Weenie green glow fly. Saturday and Sunday were tough for us! Took some risks and ran a few times only to have the fish shut off just as we arrived.Only managed one king and a laker Saturday and one king Sunday....niether was over 15 lbs Everyone worked their a$$ off...pulling our spread to run a few times and busting their tails to try & catch fish. It just wasn't meant to be We just never seemed to be in the right place @ the right time) We Fished in Mexico bay north beyond Sandy pond. It was tough for most...only one team boxed both days...congrats Striker on an impressive win!!! Thanks for everything guys....hope you had a good time I know I did !! It was great meeting you guys. Thanks for all the effort . I'm to tired to give a more complete reoport.....maybe tomorrow !

I think anywhere in Oswego harbor is fine. They just require us to be in Oswego. If they do the same as Wilson, they'll have us pille up outside the breakwall for the 6am shotgun start.

Yup...got mine too, but it did land in my spam folder so make sure you look there. LS...that is for Oswego, I guess he just forgot to change the name from the previous event.

Can't be there....doing the Scotty instead. Good luck to everyone fishing the FHC !!!

That's why I posted.....to get both positive AND negative feedback! I'm not going to try to sway anyone to vote as I would. Let it be that as it may. Just keep in mind that no one rule is perfect. It's more about finding the best balance and the fairest rule that serves all participants. I have never been disqualified by being in late....but a blown outdrive on the run in last year made it really close (seconds....not minutes)....and we were sitting in first place at the time I swear I aged about 5 years in those 20 minutes. Other teams have been less lucky. Wouldn't a simple call on the radio to end the day would be sufficient. That's how we start the day....do we not? If we can rely on the observer to make sure legal fish are not culled, then we too should be able to rely on them to watch that lines are out of the water by the time the call comes over the radio. Maybe that's asking to much of the observer...I don't know?

Dave, The first option would be the same as no change. Everyone certainly has a right to their opinion Dave. It just seems those objected to a rule change are always the most vocal I don't want to get into a negative discussion, nor do I understand your reasoning so I will just respectfully agree to disagree. This is about one topic, so as always....lets keep it to this one simple rule.....PLEASE

Next week the Pro Am committee will be holding a meeting to begin preparations for next year. I proposed a possible change (back to the way it used to be) in how we end our day of fishing. I have no idea if they will consider it or not, but it "may" be discussed. I'd like your input please. **I should add that this is not the committee's idea and is not currently being proposed by them.....rather this is my idea based on opinions I gathered while talking with other teams during the year. I'm just looking for more opinions from fellow participants to see if my idea sucks Current rule; • All Pro boats must be inside the pier heads by 2 PM (even if mechanical problems arise). Any fish boated after 2 PM must be immediately released. • All Am boats must be inside the pier heads by 1 PM (even if mechanical problems arise). Any fish boated after 1 PM must be immediately released. • Failure to meet the pier head deadline may result in disqualification for that day. Weigh-in: • Upon returning to port the cooler containing the day’s catch must be immediately transported to the Weigh-in site. All pro contestants must be in line for weigh-in no later than 3:30PM. Amateur contestants must be in the weigh-in line no later than 2:30 PM. All Open division contestants must be in the weigh-in line no later than noon. NEWLY PROPOSED RULE; All AM teams must stop fishing and have all lines out of the water no later than 1:30 PM. Any fish brought in the boat after 1:30 pm must be released and cannot be added to the team box. All PRO teams must stop fishing and have all lines out of the water no later than 2:00 PM. Any fish brought in the boat after 2:00 pm must be released and cannot be added to the team box. Open division stays as it was Weigh-in: • Upon returning to port the cooler containing the day’s catch must be immediately transported to the Weigh-in site. All pro contestants must be in line for weigh-in no later than 3:30 PM. Amateur contestants must be in the weigh-in line no later than 2:30 PM. All Open division contestants must be in the weigh-in line no later than noon. Failure to check in to weigh in on time will result in disqualification of that days catch. Some benefits of proposed rule change are: No longer will teams be required to be in the pier head at any given time and committee will no longer need to monitor this. Teams will gain extra fishing time. Teams experiencing mechanical problems will no longer be disqualified (if the were late getting through the pier head) as long as they make it to weigh in on time. This rule is easily enforced since we all have observers on board. Also, with only an hour between the time lines must be pulled and the time teams must be at weigh in, how much can teams bend the rule anyway ?? Opinions anyone ????????

Use a small spro swivel that will fit through your guides. Attach the wire to the swivel first with a simple overhand knot, then using a couple small wire crimps. Cover that end with heat shrink tubing to keep it clean and so it doesn't hang up on the guides on the way out. Tie the braid to the other end of the swivel and your good to go!

I have to agree with Matt. I have begged and pleaded with the committee to give us our time back through some lengthly and constructive conversations. Will we.....I don't know, but I hope so! Just some more run time in the am and a half hour on the back end would be acceptable by me. Fifteen minutes is not enough in the morning....it takes 5-10 min of that to get out of most ports. Where can you get in 5 minutes? Other than that I think they have it right Things like Oswego happen Mike....what can ya do? I know my team really wanted to get out and fish Sunday. Mother nature just said no

WTG Mike!! That's a pretty long one for up there...beautiful fish We have not fished the 1000 islands since I sold my camp last year and I do miss it. We may do a weekend once the kids go back to school. Keep in touch.

Thanks Glen and to all. That's the info I was lookin for I run copper off my otter all the time.....just lookin to make a good thing better. I'll report back after the scotty to give my update.

Jan, When you cleaned out the cuddy, did you happen to find my scalp ? I too will vouch that this is a very sound running fishing boat

Anyone running the second keel Big Jon offers for the otters? I'd like to hear opinions on how much stronger they pull? I have a spare keel and was told the weight on the optional (2nd) keel was about 1/3 the size. So...I can cut that down. Any other suggestions for mounting the second keel? I'm guessing you use the second hole at the aft end and drill a new front hole to match the angle of the original keel? Any other suggestions to pimp out one's otter boat?

Glad to be able to help Matt. Just the Scotty for us. We are not scheduled to arrive until the 17th. We'll be out all week Pre fishing so I'll see ya guys on the water. Good luck if you fish the FHC

I got mine within a couple hours...maybe less. It did go into my bulk/spam folder though. Here is what it contained Matt: The Email address it gets sent to is: [email protected] **************************************** Hey guys, Thanks for your application via Paypal and The King Of The Lake Promotions. At this time we require some information to complete your file. Please fill all the blanks. Team Captain Team Name Captain's Address Phone # Email Boat Type VHF HANDLE Cell Number Once we have tallied all information you will receive all information required to make your tournament a success. Thanks again and we look forward to serving you and your team. Sincerely Robyn Charrois Tournament Administrator

A little late, but happy birthday bud

Mark, I found that I do have one of the 3 fly green Tango rigs....must have bought it last year. On the Big Weenie rigs....LOVE them too!!! I find when using the BW with big whole alewives I clip a v slot on the top and bottom to allow the alwive to fit in the head better without cramming it in. Not sure BW would suggest this, but it does seem to work. Sort of a blend of the BW design and the Familiar Bite design. BW....just went through my stuff and I need to order a few big pig rigs pronto!

Thanks Mark! I did order 6 Familiar Bite bait heads w/ my case of bait...just not the tangos. I think I have one laying around from last year...plus some extra heads.