Sk8man

Yeah Mike I just love those fish....always fun and great on the grill.

Mike I'm not sure about the knobs but 50:1 is LEANER (oilwise) than 40:1

Was that your size 2 foot for reference Mike Good going..nice LL

Even though it is 50 lb test it can stretch a bit absorb the shock of a vicious strike from a king and is not as brittle as the fluoro in the cold weather either.

The Pirates work very well as do the Southport Slammers (similar to Northport Nailers) The purple Pirate (lower in pic) is the old dimpled finish version. The later ones had finish like the NK's

x2 on on the lams comment.

Great boat cuts through Lake O waves like butter....solid confidence inspiring platform to fish from.

scobar mentions a good idea that we used to do in years past the balloon rig works and I used to use an offshore clip type or one of my home made ones to clip it to the line and take off on the way in much as you might do with a jug rig with the Seth Greens. Minimal drag on the way in too as most of it is out of the water at that point.

I'm not a scientist or marine biologist but fish make adjustments all the time to temperature changes and although slow changes may be the best I'm pretty sure that just the rapid change in water temperature isn't the one critical factor in their death. Releasing without handling is a main reason why I use strong single hooks on nearly every one of my spoons. I merely grab the hook in the heavy duty needle nose pliers while the fish is still in the water and invert the hook in his mouth and quickly pull upward aand usually the hook releases and the fish takes off like a rocket. Occasionally the single hook will penetrate the eye area of a fish usually rainbow or landlock but it is not frequent.

Good detailed decription from Luke

Back off the drag so it it slowly goes out while it sets in the rod holder. Don't let it out by the rigger or by trying to thumb it with he drag released.

Given the time of the season I'd keep a sharp eye out for blue/green algae in either place if it were me. I've seen Honeoye this time of year look as though someone spilled pea soup or green paint in sections of the lake (where it pooled up).

Something probably worth mentioning is that what you do when retrieving and boating the fish plays a huge role in whether or not they make it afterward. If catch and release is intended it helps to get the fish in as soon as possible, don't bring them into the boat release them in the net if possible by using needle nose pliers to take the hook out not physically handling the fish. Try not to have the fish lie on a hot boat floor while retrieving the hook. Don't hold the fish vertically and avoid placing fingers or hands near or in the gills area keep the fish horizontal and supported underneath whenever possible. Many techniques are used to "revive" them at the side of the boat and to plunge them back toward the bottom but it is unknown what their actual fate really is with any of these methods.I believe that lactic acid builds up in the kings when they are fighting all the way in and you have to wonder if this dooms them as well when released. Also I have seen fish that were "belly up" actually swim away afterward but who knows their actual fate long term. Kinda like the bass guys releasing fish near the launch after weigh in

I use the Starbrite hull cleaner spray on hose off stuff which works Ok for most times but again I trailer my boat and it never stands in water so it is mostly dirt rathet than moss etc. that is being cleaned.

I'm always proud to be with ya bud no matter which boat or whether filthy or not. That is what old friends are for to accept ya with all your faults