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Everything posted by Sk8man
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Yep but the so-called "live weigh-ins" aren't truly that. I have personally seen dozens of huge dead bass near a launch after tournaments. The live wells may not be the answer when the boat is pounding waves going 50 plus mph and carrying the fish to the scale in bags doesn't do much for their health either. I agree there are also some pluses regarding the environment, and as with the evening news we do tend to get focused on the negatives but they are important.
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HB2 is not alone in his concerns and they are valid in light of the current trends. There is going to be some threshold crossed where the brakes will have to be put on and it may have to come from big brother if people are unable to keep from totally ruining the entire fishery. The unfortunate fact is that too many people already ignore the existing limits (still snagging and lifting, taking multiple limits in a day etc.) and disrupting the spawning process (whether treading through rudds in streams, bothering bass on nests, hammering the perch while spawning etc.). There are a lot of things that require a closer look as well as sportsmen adhering to existing regs and need for ethics. "Self-policing" has always been a problem in our society whether relating to fishing or many other things. I'm all for personal choice, and freedom to select techniques, and equipment, but the reality is that our environment IS becoming more fragile and vulnerable and we need too carefully evaluate our own actions in pursuing our hobby (or obsession) so that we have a viable fishery for the next generations.
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A whole website could be devoted to this discussion of electronics. Much of it boils down to personal preferences as does much of fishing itself or many like sports. My hunch is that like the video games as things develop further some of the allure will wear off for those not as addicted to it as the current phone stuff has become. As Rick mentioned there is a real difference in the time consumed in learning curve and the time spent riveted to the screen can also relate to missed opportunities in learning fishing basics as well as nuances important to success, as video screens don't actually catch the fish. I remember an instance in 1979 when I first started using my new Heath Kit paper graph recorder I pulled up to the dock after fishing and a lady was standing there and she wondered what the "tv" screen was on my boat and I told it was a "fish finder" and she immediately became incensed and said "that is so unfair to the fish" and you must not be much of a fisherman to need that. I responded "Lady this thing is no guarantee... believe me". I was kinda glad she didn't ask me about my 2 manual Riviera downriggers
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Trolling with gas outboard motor question
Sk8man replied to jake8484's topic in Questions About Trout & Salmon Trolling?
I think you should be able to troll down to 1.8 with a 40-60 hp motor. I can troll down to 1.8 with my 135 Optimax 2 stroke (although if I were to do it for really long periods it would probable load up the plugs). If you do decide to get a 4 stroke kicker look carefully at the weight issue. Ones that have power tilt etc. are quite a bit heavier (e.g. 9.8 may vary from 85 or 90 without to 120 something with) and may upset the way your boat runs in the water if too extreme. The other thing is make sure the mounting bracket you use will support a 4 stroke engine. Most of the older two stroke brackets won't support the full HP requirements of the 4 stroke motors. -
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I didn't mean to go off on a tangent as far as the gaff use but I figured while we were on the topic of the requirements I'd underscore that they can be very important; especially with unexpected toothy critters. I have had folks ask why they are used on ice and not allowed in boats so I thought seeing a firsthand example would illustrate why they are needed rather than retrieving them with hands etc..
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My son had a lesson about having a gaff handy awhile back fishing on Keuka for perch. He caught a 42 inch northern on his 4 lb test jigging rod. I was beyond hearing range from him in the wind when he struggled to land a huge pike without a gaff. He paid for it too. Got all cut up on his hands and then got infected requiring antibiotics. He released the fish (which was probably thinking he got the best of the situation)
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"Use and possession of Gaff and Gaff hooks is explicitly prohibited on fresh water in New York State, in the general angling regulations. Maybe regs say you can use them with tip-ups/downs somewhere, but I'm not aware of it. Tip-ups/downs are not considered angling." It's in the regs but it only applies to ICE FISHING.
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Exact wording on the regs makes a huge difference too. As far as the Seth Green rigs go the old regs regarding the number of rods stated that a maximum of two rods per person could be run and a maximum of 15 hook points. It didn't specify the number of lines. We changed trebles out to singles and ran 15 lines per rod. If you had two people in the boat you could run 60 spoons that way (15 per rod). Not many folks ran all 60 but there were various combinations run e.g. 7 or 10 leader rigs. It was at a time at least on Seneca when the average trout caught per hour was in the 4-6 hr. range (per the angler diaries) so it wasn't a big deal. They then added the max of 5 lines per rod and 15 points per line and that ended that practice.
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One of the things I used to do as far as the bimini support being in the way is when just trolling (and not real windy) I hitched up the support that was in the way to the other support and just freed up the space. It usually is OK as long as you aren't frequently picking up and running. The existing support and the hooked straps in the front held the bimini in place when just trolling.
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Hank is right. This polarization is what is destroying us - bad enough the government is paralyzed by it. these issues such as politics, religion, the abortion issue are all inflamatory issues that bring out the worst in us. The name of the website has the word UNITED in it and that is what we should be regardless of our individual preferences or opinions. Respect is something that seems to be generally lacking these days whether for each other , law enforcement, or for individual rights. America is being destroyed by this polarization and our enemies love it.
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We are screwed either way the election goes because we no longer have competent, honest, or intelligent candidates. Pull the plug on NATO and China/Russia/Iran/North Korea will be clapping, bring in all the illegals including Chinese males between 20 and 35 who go to the firing ranges first thing, Kick out veterans from housing and install illegals in their place etc., etc. etc. This no longer resembles the America I once knew and spent four years of my life serving thinking it was a good thing. It makes me glad to be at the age I'm at. Each of the personalities are very flawed with self-interest at the heart of things while the issues aren't being looked at only the "reality show" content. We need to think more deeply not just about the party crap.
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Dragging a jig along bottom will work too
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Looks as though some folks are taking this discussion too seriously. I haven't done the balloon thing for more than 30 years. I only keep about 15 perch at most, and most of the time I give them either to friends I am fishing with or I fillet them for elderly folks that can't get out. My view that has been expressed to the DEC more than once is that the current limit of 50 (for the Finger Lakes) is absurd given the popularity of the species, which is also allowed for sale (which I don't support) and the current extreme fishing pressure on them in most places. In addition the advancement of stuff like Panoptics and the like has radically changed the equation as well as the fact that mild winters now allow more concentrated fishing for perch for much more of the season. More and more guys are winter fishing them (which I also do). I imagine my view on it isn't real popular and could generate some negative commentary but this is a forum for discussion so...... If the thread is carefully read it will be noted that the balloon thing was a reference to the past and was half in jest
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They gave up on us years ago when someone asked if we went to school with Fred Flintstone
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I don't keep any 13 inches plus so when I have done it I attached the balloon to a larger one hoping that it was part of a pack of good ones and they have a little more power to get away from the boat. Just take a length of mono with a size 2 hook on one end and and hook it to the cartilage part of the mouth so it won't easily pull out. Tie up a relatively small balloon and then tie the other end of the line to it. You can usually release the fish afterward as it is often in good shape. They often try to get back to the school so that's your cue
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You are welcome on my boat anytime Gill
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yep you got it Mike.