chowder

Happy Berfday Rae! -Andy

I got some of these Salmon slayers last year, and they look like the Shiznit but I think the Shiznit might be a 'glow tip' version of it? Strange thing that the Shiznit is not listed in DW's own online store! What's up w/ that?

Nice fish, they aren't easy to come by right now- good job!

I went out to 600' the last time I was up & worked it pretty good, nothing on the screen & nuttin' in the box! -Andy

Just thought I'd mention I have a track system in my little 16' Alumacraft. I can run 4 riggers, 4 dipsies and up to 6 planer rods off big boards using this setup. I don't typically run this many rods on my little boat, but my point is that the tracks give you that kind of flexibility.Remember; think twice, measure twice, drill once!

I'm not familiar w/ these particular units but, I do have a word of advice to you & anybody else out there who is getting into trolling; - Although it seems difficult, it is highly advisable to try to look at all the things you may want to ask your boat to do in terms of downriggers,dipsy rod holders, planer rod holders, etc. Then look at the track systems available like http://www.teclausa.com/bert/ or http://www.traxstech.com/ there are others too but, these two are interchangeable. If you start out w/ enough track on either side of the boat, you will be able to make many changes over time that will allow you to accommodate different configurations of equipment as you change what you want. -Andy

Well, as it turned out I had to let the kid steer, when I was setting /resetting lines cuz the kid's dad spent the whole time 'chumming'(and I mean the whole time). Found a lot of weeds/fleas from Ross point to AES in 350-400, some of the weeds were in very large mats. We found some bands of weed free water here & there & managed some lakers and some 15-19" salmon. The kid was thrilled whenever we hooked up but he had a tough time working the dipsy rods by himself, so I had to keep stepping over the kid's dad, who alternately threw up over the port & starboard sides, to steer & then keep the kid from dropping the rod overboard. It was another gorgeous and relaxing day on Cayuga's sparkling waters...

Thanks for the report, I might be out Mon. too.-Andy

If you are going to run super braid instead of wire, I'd go with the 65lb power pro b/c it will help w/ reducing flea buildup (the fleas are subsiding now but they will be back next year). I think I would use a snubber on the Fingers as well as Ontario. Ditto what Ray & Tim said about 'not setting the hook' and just as important; when you want to trip the diver intentionally in order to change flashers or quit for the day it is very important to NOT give the rod a hook setting or snappy jerk! (ask Ray about this ) To trip the diver use a firm upwards sweeping motion w/ thumb on the spool - you will 'feel' the diver release, let the diver & flasher float up towards the surface for a little bit and then point the rod right at the back of the boat and reel it straight in.

I'll be out again on Cayuga tomorrow in the 16' w/ a 'non fisherman' buddy and his fish crazy kid. Should be interesting... I'll be on 68.

I get an occasional landlock when targeting lakers on Cayuga w/ my jigging setup. To get browns on Cayuga you really need to work specific stretchs of structured bottom in 50+-FOW. They are not as easy to nail down as the lakers and sometimes I use a casting approach to target suspended fish. For those of you who are just trying this technique out I have a couple words of advice; You really need a decent bait casting reel spooled w/ superbraid +12lb FC leader, and a rod w/ some backbone. Biggest mistake is to jig repeatedly! Don't do this. You need to make a drop, jig a couple times w/ out losing contact w/ the jig and then retrieve at a decent pace. Then repeat and repeat. A bow mount motor helps a great deal to keep your line vertical. -Andy

I realize it may seem a bit extravagant but I do have separate spoon rod/reel combos for FLX and Ontario. For flashers I use the same combo. On the FLX I use 7'6" ML Okuma Blue Diamond rods w/ the Daiwa 47 lc spooled w/ 30lb Ande (good flea line) and a 15' 12lb FC leader for spoons which I usually run at 60 down or less. I've never had a break off and I really like the feel of the Okuma ML rod for FLX fish! -Andy

20lbs+-, nice fish!

I would certainly not go w/ light action for Kings! These fish are brutal!

I use the 6'6" MH, Ugly Stik one piece rods for spoons & flashers on riggers on Ontario. Great rod w/ ex backbone (kind of like a tuna rod for kings). these rods are very easy to weave around other rods & very affordable. We tossed a rambunctious salmon into the cooler one time and slammed the lid on the fish and one of these rods at the same time, but just crazy glued a replacement tip on it right then and there and kept fishing w/ it , now it's a 6'4" rod and I like it even better! -Andy

That's a dandy, must have given you a run for the $ -Andy

Should be able to get a Jiffy kit for that carb, just check to see what's included-been a long time since I've gotten one (I'm surrounded by fuel injected diesels). If your gonna go up to Fairhaven, I'd let Hank at L&M have a look at it.

One big + for the SD that is not tossed around much is that you don't have a long leader between your net and the fish. When you get up on LO, you'll see just how much of an advantage that is- depending on the size of your boat's 'dance floor' and how far your partner can back up.

I have all boys too.... but I do have a wife!

Oh come on... http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/ ... sku6020840

I only use the Mag size Walkers for my wire rigs ( However I also have a set of super braid reg size slide diver setups for running spoons).Still, if I were you at this point, I'd go w/ the Walker super Mags b/c they dive steeper (=less line out = easier to release 'live' fish) & you will have less diver line in the fish fighting zone when bring in a rigger fish. If you are only running 2 riggers, I'd set the Mag divers on 1.5. If you are fishing in at least 140 FOW (and hopefully deeper) I'd run 1 @160-180 and one @ 200 to start. The depths you spoke of targeting above (30-50) are best worked w/ spoons w/ long leads on riggers (which you all ready have) and with slide diver, and lead core setups (which you should stay away from for the time being). Don't get into skinny water w/ the Mags at these settings or you will bump bottom. It wouldn't be a bad idea to do this in a 'planned' setting though, so that you know, for sure, where your divers run. Run your flsher/flies behind these mag divers w/ a 6-8' 30lb (not 20lb) leader. -Andy

There are 'issues' w/ the 19 strand, check the archives. I use the 30lb camo AFW from Atomik . Also, keep the dipsy on the rod at all times (much less accidental kinking) - Use a velcro strap to secure diver to the rod handle & wind the leader around the reel & secure the leader w/ a hair zingie. Kills two birds w/ 1 stone (no kinks & less time getting the dipsies in/out of the water. Actually, I don't use my reg dipsy rigs much any more. Most of the time I use my wire slide divers w/ 20' 30# FC leader. Wire is all on the reel spool (I still secure the diver the same way). Just watch when you spool out the wire slide diver rig- sometimes she catches at the little swivel, so you gotta watch for that snafu! -Andy

I'll give you my program from yesterday.We started at 8:20 am & quit at noon (bite was steady through out). We did a North troll past AES/Atwaters 250-400 FOW and North troll past Sheldrake 140-370 and turned to cut across lake back towards the plant thru 400. Riggers at 40-50' and 60-80' running spoons w/ cheater spoons. Mag wire dipsies out 180-275 on 1.5. running Mtn Dew spinnies & Echips, w/ matching pattern flies. Gps speed from 2.6-3.2. We went 10/12 on keepers w/ mostly lakers ( also probably 5 salmon (most were just legal and released using a C&R style net). I have a couple observations about what you are doing; 1- I think you want to get an accurate assessment of exactly where you are running the dipsies (tell us what size they are and what kind of line,etc.) 2- If you are gonna run flashers off the riggers, you want to shorten up the leads and run at least one of them deeper. BUT, I would suggest running spoons on your riggers, figure 40 down and 60' back, 60' down and 40' back,etc. I was only using 8lb weights yesterday & they were fine for working down 60-70 (You are not on Ontario w/ a wicked current & trying to get down 120+). 3- A 6' dipsy leader is the bare minimum & often w/ lakers they like it longer (but I was only running 6' yesterday, so...) 4- I think your fly leaders are a tad short, try 21" as a standard length. Your boat is fine and it sounds like you got the right stuff, but the devil with this kind of fishing is in the details. Get back to us on what you have for dipsies,line ,etc and just keep asking questions and keeping track of what you have tried and what you haven't, you will get there! -Andy P.S. Spoon color; play the law of averages & let the fish do the talking; lately I've been running mostly 'naturals' as my main spoons. That is to say spoons like glow frogs,gator,green alewife,etc and then I run small colored spoons up on the cheaters, like boy/girl,chicken wing,nascar,etc. Also you should be able to catch fish ALL DAY ON CAYUGA, (I rarely get over there till 8 or later-sometimes I do best at high noon!)

Hats off to Ken,Vic, and Joe and it was good to see all the rest of you guys and gals at the weigh in. We had agreat time on the water! What more can you ask for other than a round of applause for Split who once again organized a fun, fish filled day . Thanks again Scott! -Andy

Mike, no such luck on the Zs! I'll be up at 3:00am, but it's the day off for my guy who usually feeds the cows.