Diver to flasher....#30 mono, you don't need fluorocarbon ahead of the flasher!!!!! Then #30 fluorocarbon leader from flasher to fly. The large size barrel swivels on the flashers and dipsys will not hold a knot like an improved cinch unless it is at least 20# test. You could use loop knots and lighter line I suppose, but you owe it to your quarry to use the strongest knot, line combo possible.
I am at work staring out the window to blue skies, light wind and wondering why I am not out in the lake. To make matters worse, you have Vince and Jeremy tweeting their week day fish kills. It is like listening to your roomate in college having relations with a girl in the bed next to you........pure torture. Damn you tweets!
The black face with orange diagonal tape/white cup, took as many kings in the 80's as anything. Allways did well with overcast skies with the white cup.
I busted off my otter boat during the niagara wave fest . I use the amish outfitters line and like it, however, in my instance the knot at the otter pulled out, breaking styrofoam around the retention holes. Very poorly engineered. I kind of knew one day it would happen, and as luck would have it, what ever might go wrong, usually goes wrong during a tournament. For a quick fix all I had to do was reverse the boards/keels/holes and use the holes on the other side. Seems like there should be a stainless backer plate behind the styrofoam and ahead of the knot. Something to do in the offseason.
I heard the rule change mentioned by Paul C. at last years Orleans Capt. meeting, but have not heard it mentioned at any other west end captain's meeting since.
I have two short segments for this time of year 110', 125', plus a 300', and a 400'. I usually run a spinnie/fly off them because they off on otter boards by themselves.
Does it matter if I use mono vs fluoro for leaders? I have been having zero luck pulling fish off copper, and I wonder if it is how the line is laying in the water. I am currently using mono for leader material. Mono floats, fluoro sinks......so I am wondering if the parabolic curve of my leader is wrong, with my bait riding above the terminal end of the copper? Need some help, I have zero confidence in my copper set-ups and the guys in the boat are riding me every time I pull it out (insert joke here) and then return it to the cuddy where it usually stays.
Was out this afternoon for 1.5 hr troll a little deeper. Found better temps, bait and hooks out past 240'. Lots of small Kings around 38'-60' down. Occasional big boy showed around 80-90' down, and some big hooks on the bottom past 180'. Small spinnies targeting smaller fish for my daughters to reel in did the trick. Nice green water off Wilson with a slick line heading straight out. North current today.
Braid will pull MORE hooks out because of no stretch. Mono has more give, and lighter mono has more than heavy mono. Set drags correct and pray. Think about all the herky jerky movements of your baits. You are going to hook fish in the snout, under the chin etc. etc. With big fish that run they are torqueing the hook in the opposite direction that it entered into their skin. There is a lot of luck involved with putting the net under a fish 20+ lb fish. Thats fishing!
For free sliders, use heavy mono, because it floats more and easier to untangle. Fluorcarbon sinks. Typically, I can see my cheater lure on the graph approx. 3-4' above the main line. I would be apprehensive about using 12lb for a main line with a cheater. A heavier main line bows out more to keep the cheater from getting into the bottom lure. Remember, once the cheater is deployed, you can adjust your downrigger down, but not up or you will have tangles. You can also pin the cheater with a OR-16 red offshore release on the cable and a rubber band to secure the cheater.
I have had the luxury to fish salmon from Alaska to Chile, and the one common denominator with runs across the world is time of year and rain are the main triggers. Around Lake O, a good NE blow after August 20th when the first lake roll-over occurs will often bring the first silver fish in close, but they don't start running the creeks until the first week in September. What I want to know is why they seemingly feed in 4 hour cycles, and how do all the fish know this and are on the same feeding cycle?