Gill-T

In high school me and the boys would head down to Lime Lake (Machias) for a little "poor-man's salmon" fishing at night on the docks. Throw out a little corn to chum, rods go out with hooks loaded with Blue Boy or Delmonte (we would let the fish tell us what they preferred) sit back and enjoy the summer evening temps while enjoying an under-age Old Mill-swuaky can of beer. This evening in particular I decided to dispense with the usual light spinning gear and trade the drag burning run for a battle royal with my Diawa Sealine-rigger rod combo with 20 lb test. Well the bite was slow to start so perhaps a few to many beers dulled the senses a little. Upon resetting my line I must have forgot to keep the reel on free-spool because I hear a noise and turn to watch my rod go straight into the water at break neck speed. There was a slight pause where my brother and I just looked at each other before I actually reacted to my cherished new trolling combo (which I had earned cutting lawns) was speeding across the water. I sprung to my feet and launched myself full-out extension in the direction the rod was last seen. While over the water the full moon revealed the chrome reel parts moving just under the surface to me and I landed with a perfect catch of the rod handle as I splashed down with a perfect belly flop. The ruckus of the large splash and my brother laughing loudly brought a bunch of cottage owners out to see what was going on at 11:00 pm at night. The carp was landed ( only 8 lbs) and a legend was born ( in my own mind).

Diawa Accudepth line-counter reels are inexpensive and sized right for browns. I spool up with 15 lb mono and leader down to 12 lb mono. Fishermen east of Olcott usually run Fluorocarbon leaders because of clearer waters. The 7' one piece light-action ugly stick rod is a perfect match. You could always use spinning reels or bass baitcasters you may own if you don't want to buy anymore tackle. Your salmon reels spooled with 30 lb mono work good when you want to pound the shoreline with your boards. The heavy line keeps your baits running high so not to snag bottom (just add a leader of lighter line and set the drag lighter- for the leader material)

From our foray out deep Saturday morning, I would say the baby kings are doing ok. There appeared to be some surface bait to keep them growing over the winter.

I am pissed! I have a picture of the fish on my phone that Vince sent me. I was hoping to catch the first King in the lake tomorrow. Oh well. Beautiful specimen.

I use bobbers and worms mostly......will one of those work for that application?

Almost always a flasher and fly

From footage I have seen, big Kings in particular will follow and swipe at a rigger bait and turn and drift downward about 10'. I want to know where my rigs are because I want a second chance at those fish by having at least one dipsy below my deepest rigger if possible.

Count me in for one who wants to know how deep my gear is running for reproducibility. There are sometimes "hot zones" that fish are biting in that I want to match. For example, If I pop a fish on a rigger down 20'.......I will make sure I have a dipsy and/or a leadcore out to cover the same depth away from the boat.

:yes:

Some boats use outriggers to move dipsys out wider using Aftco roller releases. During roll-overs when the fish are up high or trolling J-plugs off piers in the fall they can come in handy. I have no use for them.

I think I have the wheels turning in the brains of a few people.

So I am sort of getting back into duck/goose hunting after a long hiatus (25 years). I have noticed ducks and more-so Geese will circle just out of range of a spread. Question....would it be legal to find a tree and use a climber to get up off the ground to close the gap?......might be fun.

Lots of geese around Iroquois refuge.