Sk8man

Go get em Andy. I'll be joining you soon but only part time

Nice going Al Leave a few big ones for next years derby will ya? Good thing you went yesterday that wind is really cranking this morning.

I think it should be noted that the whole idea is hypothetical and not a current reality so nobody should be getting bent out of shape about it at this point. If it were to ever happen I'm sure NYS would be the first to regulate it and require an expensive commercial license requirement making it unprofitable from point one. Discussions of various topics on here can be productive and informative but when the emotions get involved things can deteriorate quickly and can detract from the quality of the information and discussion. Maybe we should step back a bit and relax on this one.

Nice video John. A lot of good things happening in it.One thing really worth noting is the use of spinning rods and reels for tuna. They are easier to cast and use in a variety of ways in that situation (e.g. fast deployment jigging too ), but when have you seen folks using them on Lake O for trout/salmon lately from boats even as downrigger rods? (excluding pier fishing) I used to use them on my outriggers exclusively in the old days with 12 lb test and Spring fishing because you can cast them way out and snap them in the release much faster than letting line out from a casting type reel) You do need reels with good smooth drags for the kings though. The other thing is the emphasis on using the strength of the backbone of the rod and the transfer of power to it by gripping it in that manner rather than using the tip of the rod or the whole arc of it....very interesting video. Thanks.

For trout and salmon I've made a complete slit under the gills to the back bone and leave the fish in my large net in the water until I don't see any blood coming out of the fish and immediately put on ice in the cooler...seems to work OK

I hear ya. Those drags make a lot of difference in just what you are mentioning the initial hit (where the major stress is and where some drags are a problem in reacting quickly and without jerking). Although the Big Game is inexpensive line and I have even heard that the Berkeley reps favor their more expensive stuff ( gee I wonder why?) I've had very good luck with it in various test strengths without breakage and I used the forerunner of it (Hombre) and XT as well with good success for many years in both the fresh and saltwater environments. I think that faith in your equipment is important and especially line and drags. My particular system may not be for everyone in that sense and again I believe whatever works and you have experience with it and faith in it that is what is important. Everyone looks at it from different perspectives and hopefully we all learn by sharing our experiences with each other and I may switch back from this approach if I find there are unforseen problems or it isn't working but for now it seems to work for me.

Good report Ed and I guess I have to hand it to you after all because you were out there ....and I wasn't....stuck here with lawn stuff

Ed - I should be waiting out there in my tee shirt to snap your pic of you in a parka in this weather....I thought you PA boys were more hardy than that

Exactly.

It works but you have to have a little longer lead than usual with dodgers and flashers to get the most out of it because J plugs need some room to do their thing. If the lead is real short it restricts the darting action of it and that action seems to be the thing that ticks off salmon into striking out of aggression. which is what you are trying to do at this point in the season for matures.

For me the possible flea infestation outweighs even the weed concern and I look at it an an "opportunity" to change out lures and either lengthen or shorten up lines etc. A lot of times fish hit when I'm either bringing in lines, popping riggers and letting them drift a bit or letting stuff out. recently I checked and cleaned my lines and dropped the rigger and slider down to 40 ft.and as soon as I reached it a rainbow nailed it....(probably followed it down). I like to relax with some coffee like most folks but I also like to keep busy trying different things and trying to generate some action. It is always good to know you have clean lines and lures working for you. Much of the time I'm doing just what darkfisher described above.

Agreed.

Nice going Ted....persistence paid off I guess we at least know some of those guys are trout since I caught a rainbow there and then you got the lakers. For a while I thought they may have been smallies or something because a bunch of times they wouldn't hit no matter what I threw at them.

I hook my 125 mm Deeper Diver dipsey to the swivel at the end of the 30 lb 7 strand wire (no leader in between like some folks do) and then a 4 or 5 ft 30 lb Big Game mono leader, then the spin doc or flasher to that 30 lb leader wiith a 50 lb Big Game mono fly leader and fly at the end of it. If it were to break at the 30 lb test I'd be losing a flasher or spinney and fly. In doing so I'm assuming there are no weak spots in my wire (no kinks etc) and that the breaking strength of the wire will exceed that of the mono or the knot at the end of the mono (to my knowledge most of the 7 strand wire brands breaking strength has somewhat exceeded the 30 lb listing of it in tests of it). I also have used a crimp the right size for the wire that has been carefully crimped so that there will be no "wiggle" room at the ends and then hot glued that connection with clear hot glue so that the strands won't have the ability to move or fray. I use Blood Run wire on one rod and Accustrand wire on the other and they are both good wire.

That is why I went back to 50 lb Big Game on my flies and making my own because the fluro stuff broke it is too brittle and doesn't take "shock" like the mono

Yes Larry Japp grew up messing with OMC stuff at his marina x3