CaptLevi

I used the Okuma Convectors with no problems. Upgraded to the Shimano Tekota 600lc's and after upgrades by the manufacturer have to say they work just fine. The Convectors actually seem to be have a smoother drag overall, but the Tekota's just feel so good in my hands..... I'm sure that there are other quality reels that would work just fine out there. Just be sure they have a smooth drag and a linecounter.

I was gonna get in, but it looks like I'll have to pass. Have a great time!

I have to agree with Hitman, to the extent that using all the other indicators will help you determine the speed and direction of the current under most circumstances. However I have been using a Sub-troll and would feel a little disadvantaged without it. It just makes it a little easier to concentrate on other things for me. If I have my mate steer the boat for a bit, I just tell him what speed to run. Or if the waves are large or not consistant, you still know what speed you are running at the balls. Last year we had more than a few days when the watching the boards and dipseys alone may have sent us home empty handed. IMO Subtroll saved the day. And many days when it seems like the fish have all but disappeared or the ones you do see on the ff screen won't bite, just getting a certain speed or temp will save the day. I usually only use my fishfinder to find bottom depth, thermoclines, and look for the presence of baitfish schools. But that's just the way I do things. The more you fish, the more you'll develop your own techniques and strategies.

I want a 2 month trip to Russia for Bear, BC for moose, and S. America for stag. Oh yeah, and a couple cute little female elfs to accompany me so I don't get lonely and skeered!

I believe that we actually had the first "official" Weekly Wednesday night 8 PM chat. Others followed suit and even offered tackle manufacturers Q & A's to swing the number of participants in their favor. I just never figured how being a manufacturer made people expert fisherman! That's it! Check your favorite outdoor store this season for "Captain Levi's Smelly Sock Salmon Sauce"! Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Well that's a toughy. I am not paid nor do I recieve any freebies from rod manufacturers so I'll just give my opinion based on experience. I know a fellow Capt. that uses St. Croix and I've got to say "they are sweet". It's too bad that they discontinued some of their big lake products. Not to mention they are more costly than a lot of folks can afford. I really like and in fact use several Shimano Talora's. They seem to have made a quality rod while keeping it lightweight and fun for my customers. However I have had to return a few for replacement due to broken eyelets. Just as the Tekota reels, I think they are still working the bugs out. I, like many others jumped on the bandwagon due to the hype of my fellow anglers with the onset of the Tekota Reels and Talora Rods. It's kind of a status issue in the angling world. Just a little pricey though.(all that advertising can't be cheap) The handle grip on the Okumas is very easy for young and old, small or big to hang on to during the battle. The angler doesn't need to put the squeeze on it to keep the rod from rolling over in your hands. This definately reduces fatigue over the course of a battle allowing weaker folks to land their own fish rather than get tired and hand the rod off to others. Other manufacturers would be wise to follow up with this design. All in all for salmon trolling my hat goes off to the Shakespeare UglyStik. It is extremely durable and sensitive enough in a lighter weight to be fun at a very reasonable price. The lifetime guarantee can't be beat either. Some of the other companies have started copying both the toughness and the guarantee to gain the marketshare and now act like they invented something new in the world of angling. So Shakespeare must be doing something right! ( Best form of flattery, right? ) Time tested, angler approved!

My pond has ice (although not safe) already. On the lakes for fishing, I say Jan. 10, 2007 for the smaller lakes. Jan. 24 for the larger ones.

Where's Forrest Gump when ya need him?

And many Happy Returns to you (and all)!!!

Tried it. Wasn't convinced of any better fishing success. But then again, I guess I never really gave it enough of a chance to prove itself, nor did I ask my first mate to study the results when we did use it. So I guess I can't give you any solid input.

OK Caz. Sorry. I don't run Stinger attractors and flys so I don't know their colors. I would run a silver glow attractor and the fly would be something like a pickled sunshine. Hope this helps!

It sure would make a ccomfy warm pair of underbritches!

It would really depend on the port and time of year Caz. But generically I would use: stingray: blue dolphin magnum: NBK slasher: something silver, I don't use these so I don't know their colors. fly: same as slasher but can't go wrong with a white/green/glow pattern

Great thinking Dv8or!! A couple of inline boards wouldn't hurt either! Try to have her get you what you need for spring and then you can just add a couple lures here and there to get you through the season. For St. Joe: Some spoons in the colors already mentioned, jointed Rapalas in orange/gold, and small orange flashers with p-nut flies will get it done for lures. Then ask for a pair (or more:grin:) of in-line boards and a couple of clear dipseys will get you some spring fish. Come May you'll want to start running some rotator/fly combos too.(Maybe the Easter Bunny will hide some for you!) There's a ton more you can ask for if the stocking is big enough though!

Well for the times you mentioned I would ask for a generic bunch of stuff that will work under most instances. Some days you want small, some days mags so just go with regular sizes. While certain manufacturers stuff will shine sometimes, any will do. spoons - blue dolphin, green dolphin, wahoo, purple kevorkian, and double orange crush. flys - white, blue bubble, pickled monkey, seeweed, and some mirages. (make some small for spring cohos) plugs - j-plugs in greens,silvers, and blues. jointed rapalas size11 or 13 in orange/gold will catch a ton of fish. Some 8" rotators in white, green, and blue. (w/white glo crush) Some flashers in silver, and orange. There are tons more to choose from, but these will be a good start to build from.

I'm not sure who to go to for fish mounts, although years ago I used Mike Hiner in North Muskegon with no complaints. For any and all furred or feathered creatures Jay Wickerham in Sheridan, MI gets my endorsement. (unpaid of course). It is very hard to be sure of quality in a day that is seeing taxidermists springing up faster than Wal-marts. Jay has been at it for a very long time and to my knowledge doesn't even advertise anymore. He doesn't need to. His work is that good.

Congrats Lead Lover and everyone else on their hunting sucess! Caz, you need to were a hat with a recoil spring on the bill! Nice season! I am still hunting. I managed a 7 pt. with a bow on the 7th. 2 1/2 yr. old, not a monster but ok. I shot an 8 pt. on the 15th with my rifle, and a doe on the 25th. Have to fill a couple more doe tags and basically just hang out in the field with my buds that still have buck tags to fill. I don't have pics of the 7 pt. but I do have pics in the gallery of the 8 pt. Good Luck to those still hunting! Get out them muzzleloaders and pump some lead!

He found out all the does he bred were filling for alimony and future child support payments at the F.O.C.................so he took the least painfull and easy way out.

spoon - It's a toss up. But my three best were all Fishlanders. fly - Gotcha Fly Blue Bubbler flasher(attractor) - 8" Fishcatcher White or Green Blade; both with crush glo tape plug - Rapala Shad Rap in Blue / Silver

Awesome buck Mike! It looks like the same as the early year pic. Notice the brow tines. The right one is larger than the left, and has a different angle than the left too. Great Season!

Very Nice!

I don't use suet either. I package some for my family with just venison, the rest I mix with beef roast, pork roast, or pork loin that I grind. I use about 1/3 mix to 2/3 venison.

I'm in if you guys will teach me the ropes!

I utilized a wide variety of advertising options and then have narrowed down by "trial and error" to get what works best for me. It costs, but it's worth it. Operate a good business and word of mouth will indeed get you alot of business. Repeat business now accounts for roughly 60 percent of my charters, 20 percent are referals, and 20 per cent from advertising. Good Luck!

It's better to shoot mature does before the rut as it will cut down on the buck/doe ratio and make the mature bucks work a little harder to keep a wanting doe around when the rut does come round. I kill does and big bucks when I can. But I'll pass on any buck that doesn't look like a three and a half year old or more. (screw countin pts, look for mass in both rack and body).