Sk8man

Mark - You might be able to find some at the Watkins show if you are going. If memory serves me correctly we used .018- 024 thousandths single strand soft copper and when I couldn't find it elsewhere in tackle shops I bought it at electric supply places (not automotive). Might be worth checking out.

Holy cow! Thanks guys I wasn't expecting that Most of us try to do our part and it is a great bunch of people on here. I've never been a real "groupie" or "joiner" but this website is "special".

I basically agree with your point about not having to share everything and I also can relate to your comment about not "spoon feeding' people and it is something that some folks try to be the recipient of without doing any homework or searching themselves or even fully reading things posted and it can be annoying. I agree with your comment about the advantages of taking a charter and have mentioned it in many posts along the way. I guess some youtube videos may have the primary purpose to "entertain" rather than to inform too. I didn't even see the video you were referring to earlier so that wasn't my focus

I guess what I was having a problem with was this part of what you wrote: "Not everyone is on these forums to help others out or to accelerate others learning curves. I fully understand not divulging every aspect of what you do out there, or how and what you used to do it such as particular set-ups or fishing spots or as that relates to competitive fishing, but for most forums the major purpose is to SHARE and inform for the common good. This forum is usually a very good example of that premise. Many of the very experienced and knowledgeable charter people and veteran sportsfisher persons gladly share and contribute ideas and information with the purpose of furthering understanding and enjoyment of the sport; not necessarily to make money off it or to brag about what they are doing (as some youtube videos seem to do). This website is a home to many levels of skill and experience and different types of participants from "lurkers" to the seasoned charter captains.who offer great information for novices and experienced folks alike. I have a great deal of respect for those people as it relates to their making money too but they SHARE nonetheless for the benefit of all. It is a valuable learning tool. During much of my earlier fishing life much of what is viewed on here these days was treated as "Top Secret" among the old timers and even some of my fishing acquaintances. Thankfully, much of that era has passed where it took years to figure out some of the stuff that is freely given here. Many of us had to learn the stuff through old school trial and error and it took vast amounts of time. Time is a precious commodity and being able to willingly shorten the "learning curve" for other people is a valuable gift and a service to others. Just my own way of looking at it but it may be worthy of some thought

"Not everyone is on these forums to help others out or to accelerate others learning curves. It's a big lake - but if I have a hot rig I'm keeping it to myself for the most part (maybe share with a select few) but certainly not showing it in videos." What a selfish way to look at things.........unreal.

Yes take a look at Pete's videos as good examples

In the Spring almost anywhere along the south shore is good. The area between Fairhaven to Pulteneyville including Sodus Point has always treated me well.

The thrill connected with ice fishing is powerfully 'infectious" and it certainly influences judgement.. After about 65 years of it I still get excited about it every year and go as much as possible in a given season. Despite having a lot of experience out there on all sorts of ice conditions and having a pretty good understanding of ice quality factors (thickness, composition, hardness, viability etc. I have been through twice during these years. Once up to my lips in 5 plus feet of water (I am 6 ft tall luckily) and another in about three feet near shore. It is somewhat embarrassing to admit it but it is important to illustrate that despite the amount and quality of experience anyone can go through if in the wrong spot at the wrong time, and it may have nothing to do with anything you have control over that brings it about. Ignoring the use of caution and paying attention to your own intuition can lead to disaster much more quickly than you may realize. Both situations were unforeseen. During war time often the number of nineteen year olds killed or wounded is very high and perhaps largely because they have the feeling of "invinceability" and may feel that "the other guy" may be affected; but you won't be hit or killed. This type of thinking also may be going on in ice fishing as well by people of various ages. Remember we are walking on water. Any "overconfidence" in this activity is unwarranted just by the very nature of the activity itself. Things that people don't sometimes think about : Ice conditions can change in minutes or hours and often overnight or unseen. Pressure cracks can appear at any place at any time creating very dangerous conditions and/or potentially stranding people unable to get back in to shore. The ice near the shoreline shore is often the most severely affected and you don't have to be fully submerged to become hypothermic. Its condition can change while you are out and then create problems when you leave. Nearby streams emptying into the lake may create unseen hazardous conditions underneath the ice by the movement of water underneath which may stretch out into the lake for football field size areas. Even brief warming of ambient temperatures can greatly influence these often unseen effects When there are open spots of any size in a lake wind velocity and direction can interact to create movement and current unseen under the ice for long distances away from the open area and erode the ice quality and thickness. The addition and presence of snow and especially rain or sleet on top of existing ice surfaces (even hard ones) may severely degrade or weaken them because of melting, and weight as liquid water is heavier than snow. Nowadays many lake homeowners and marinas etc. employ bubblers along the shore near docks and entrances to potential fishing spots to prevent damage to their property. These bubblers create strong underwater currents that travel along the shoreline for hundreds of years away from the oriiginating visable site. This can severely erode the ice without it being visibly apparent. In nutrient rich ponds and lakes (Honeoye for example) there can be unseen gas pockets of gases such as methane that create weak spots or even open holes covered with snow that are difficult or even impossible to detect. Some lakes such as Canandaigua may have outlets with running water that may or may not be near fishing areas that water volume changes may occur overnight and can influence the thickness and/or quality of the ice for hundreds of yards away from the source. There are numerous other things to consider and take into account as well but with the current weather situation of up and down temperatures folks need to weigh the "risk to benefit ratio" before going. Hopefully the things mentioned will at least be considered. There have been times when my son and I have travelled considerable distances to fish at a certain location only to scrap the idea after assessing the current conditions. It just isn't worth taking any more chances than necessary out there.

I keep a few of different lengths coiled up on narrow line spools with a #8 barrel swivel at the end. a fluoro leader at the other end with ball bearing swivel and when I want to employ them I just take off the existing ball bearing swivel from the mono and tie it on. I have them set up in 1,2,3,4 color lengths.

Our illustrious Governor and the legislature created the situation by allowing illegal aliens to get drivers licenses as identification which from a Homeland Security standpoint is a nightmare. The political correctness is fine but not when it jeopardizes the security of legal citizens and creates problems for them.

Many thanks to the Emperor and his band of idiots