Mortigan

I agree. Good luck.

The summer derby started Saturday, June 16th and the first day leader is already bigger than the Spring Grand Prize winner. This should be fun! Standings: http://www.loc.org/uploads/Summer2012.pdf Rule 16: "For the Summer and Fall Derbies, salmon must weigh twenty-five (25) pounds, trout ten (10) pounds." Looks like the posted fish start at 20lbs though - confusing.

Nice fish.

You're not fishing like Ray, are you? You're ten shades darker than the rest of the crew...

That's a pretty slow, small reel for leadcore.

Definitely fleas - greenish polka-dot eyeball fluff bad enough to lock up one of the poles. Must have run through a patch of them since the other poles weren't as bad. The weeds mats are pretty bad too; one half the size of our boat almost took out our starboard rigger.

I've seen guys fishing off Sandy Creek in similar weather when we've been headed in, giving up in our 18ft. I prefer to err on the side of caution, personally.

If you don't mind the drive, you've also got the LOTSA & ELOSTA organizations to the west and east.

Thanks, Jude - likewise. Definitely a gorgeous morning.

Next weekend, it's ghillie brogues and kilt hose.

Lorpen hunting socks. One of the buggers STILL got me!

Thanks. Sounded like a light catch for the group but was happy to head away from the crowd and still find a few. Kayak tomorrow - not sure where yet.

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: Forever Young ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):6/16/12 Time on Water:6:30am to noon Weather/Temp: 70 & perfect Wind Speed/Direction: light Waves: none Surface Temp: 64.4 Location: northeast of Sandy LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: 3 Total Boated: 1 Species Breakdown: king Hot Lure: Trolling Speed: surface 2.2 to 2.8 Down Speed: unknown Boat Depth: 250 to 285, 50 to 70 Lure Depth: surface & 25 ft over 56 ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS =================== I counted 10 boats 180 to 220 fow nw of port - so we went northeast and set up @ 250. Found nothing 250 - 290. Marked bait at 55 on way out so trolled back there, coming in NE of North Ave. Tagged fish trolling west btwn East & Cowsucker Creeks on flatlined white stick out 150, green dot spin doctor w green fly down 25 & wire diver w echip flasher & green fly out 60 ft on 3 setting. All bait and marks around 55 fow. The fleas are here, the flies were better.

Swivel or passed through surgeon's loop.

Glad I got to say hello this morning. Much easier at the dock rather than crossing paths in 300 feet of water. Bob

Nice work. You did better than we did out of Sandy Creek this morning.

Great Lakes Angler: http://www.glangler.com/

Those hangers Captain Pecci has look pretty solid. Something similar is available through Amishoutfitters as well: http://www.amishoutfitters.com/images/p ... npouch.jpg

Geezer for hire. Will work for fish.

In your stated price range, either the Diawa SG combos or the Okuma Convector combos will do you well. Many people like roller guides for wire but that can add quite a bit to the cost vs just adding a $8 twilly tip. You can search the threads - this topic is pretty common. I went the Okuma (30D for wire dipsy) route. These are the best prices I know of (and I'm compulsive that way...): reels here: http://www.northwoodsoutlet.com/oscomme ... 38_130_443 wire here (2012 wire prices jumped across the board): http://www.atommiktrollingflies.com/torpedo_wire.htm poles here: http://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Classic-Pr ... ods_p.html

I also figured it could do double duty when I'm fishing from my kayak. I think I just saw it listed for $135 a couple days ago so do a little online comparison shopping before you buy. I just refinanced my mortgage and had my house painted so I'm pretty broke.

I thought the go-to voodoo always involved bananas?

Cool - I will. There was some discussion this year about a class for observers that I'd be interested in taking as well.