Just Hook'n

I like my tripples.

Ande is the stuff. I put my rigger rods around my riggers and the stuff holds up (not on purpose mind you). The driver or net man typically take some crap when this happends. We typically use 20 or 25lb test.

NICE work Joe. thanks for the report

I used a similar 3M product to those suggested here. I applied it with a foam brush (like a stain brush), then hit it hard with a 10" milwakee buffer with a wool pad on it. LOTS of elbow grease. did this three times. Then hit it with Meguiars wax two to three times. MAN, I am not looking forward to this, but it's time to do it again.

Jim is right, they will pull in front of the boat if you want them too. If I were to run them, I'd suggest you run all Z boards (at least on the side you run them). I would not suggest running them with other boards. They pull a lot different (heavier) than other boards because the nose stays down so well.

Sorry Yankee, didn't mean to ruffle feathers. Just my experience with non metal eyes, they tend to wear OR chip out as Tony suggested. I know guys that run stainless on normal rods and hey, it works most of the time. I preffer roller rods for wire, metal eyelets for copper. Just me. Either way, it's hard to beat that okuma copper/leadcore 8'6" rod for about 30 bucks. You can pick them up for this price at most sports shows (typically 40 at a shop not on sale).

Eyelet size is important on copper, but something that it doesn't look like others have covered is the material. A lot of guys like to run the okuma copper/lead core rods because they have bigger eyes, but the eyes are also metal, which helps a TON. If you run graphite eyelets they can wear badly with copper and cause sharp spots which will eventually clip your line.

Nice shots Kenny. Thanks for sharing.

I've been a Port Sheldon guy for a few years now, but I gotta say that if you are towing and dropping, I would go to Holland. The fish cleaning station is just AWESOME, and the structure is no different in Holland vs Port Sheldon. Used to be the advantage of PS was a quick trip to the lake. Personally I'd take the cleaning station vs the quick trip now. Other advice is dead on. Lakers on the bottom slow. Steel out deep. I've even pulled stuff 4.5-4.7 on the gps and caught steel. Problem is you have to slow down each time you get a fish to get it to the boat. Sure is fun though.

NICE Jay, what no phone call????? I've not gone smelt fishing in a LONG time.

Glad I could help. You should use that in your marketing. Proposition Fishing Charters - come get your thrills - we have BJs.

19th works for me. Even if I do go to the boat show, I can go another time. Or, just go to skipper buds and walk on some big boats. Pretty much the same thing. Just nice to look. I will never be able to afford one (a big new one).

Has anyone heard the rumor about lake trout being open this year on January 1st, if so, LETS GO FISHIN.

Very interesting converation. I'm curous, a couple people said it was different on the Wisconson side. Can you summarize how tournaments are run there, or perhaps give us a web site to look at? I think this is good healthly conversation. I think Jim is hitting the nail on the head with the number of pro boats dwindling. That just makes it seem odd with the payouts. But I will say that the am boats have a equal shot at the big fish which, as someone pointed out typically pays pretty well. I fished small tournaments two years ago and big ones this past summer. Was pretty happy with both, but I will say the payout on the big tournaments was nice. I will also say this - BOTH pretty much equalled price to play. Now, I did not fishing first in a big tournament or get big fish, but we did pretty well (15th, 7th, 3rd). Small tourney - $25 entry - $100 expenses (gas and food) - payout for first $125ish. Big tourney - $400 entry fee, dock fees, gas for two days, food, etc etc - payout for first $3500ish. So I guess all in all it's like gambling. Bet big potentially win, but the odds typically favor the house.

I like my Big Jons, and who doesn't want a BJ, common.

Ok, now I don't feel so dumb. I too thought it was autopilot. Guess I just have autopilot on the brain.

I I I I I am starting to get the shakes. I think I may even try ice fishing this year again to get me through til spring. I don't think I will make it otherwise.

Merry Christmas everyone. Blessings to you and yours. Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

I had the same results with the new probe as Jim Bobber. Never changed batteries all year. Fished many trips. Maybe up to 30 this year. Run the probe every trip for 4-6 hours +

Well I've been meaning to work on mine too Jim. I may have to call Tuna. DId you figure out the upgrade (drags) via instructions on the web or did they come with instructions?

Welcome to the site. AWESOME tree. Is is bad (sickness) that I can name almost every lure on that pretty tree?

I actually find that my cores and backers are good for a few years (40-60 trips per year), so about 100 trips. Now, if you are not fishing that much and the rods and reels still get abuse from the sun, you may want to consider not going that long. I typically use the method of knowing how much backer was on (visual or mark the spool side wall). I'm with a few others on here, I fill UP the spools to the max. Helps with breakage mid year and also helps with line retrieval speeds. I use 25 lb mono typically for all backer and leaders. I did mess around with fluorocarbon leaders last year, but MAN that gets expensive fast and it didn't really produce any better so I quit that pretty quickly.

I just want to agree with and THANK Captain John of Daybreak Charters for sharing this information. Rarely do you see this detailed description of the "secrets" of fishing.

They have some for sale in Saugatuk at Lakeshore Outfitters with a 90degree bend in them (makes them easier to pull). I replaced all mine, but they are like $5-$7 each. Probably worth the project if you have the means.

Some pretty fishes guys. Nice work.