Rascal Trophy Fishing

Nice video, esp. the barefoot mate, that must be cold in May boy......lol. Thanks for sharing.

In my opinion, riggers are the foundation you build the rest of the program around. Sometimes they go dead, so what, yank them and use another day. You'll always find days where the fish are deeper than normal, sometimes up to 250', nothing but a rigger can approach that depth so far to my knowledge. Six slide-divers is a good program for a change-up too.

Good job guys, thanks for the report.

Real nice report and catch guys, I esp. like the expression on the young man's face, all smiles. Good job and thanks for the pics..

Great looking spring kings, fiesty too I'll bet. Thanks for the pics. of action.

Happy Mother's Day, and thanks for the tip of the fishing cap on this special day. You guys don't forget Mom today and get her that special gift of love that makes her day. If, like me your mom is gone, say a prayer and have fond memories of the special person in your life.

Depends a lot on what time of year, the traffic conditions where you set up, and where the fish are biting down below. If the fish are all at 80'-100' naturally, you want as many rigger setups as possible to get deep. You certainly don't setup 6 planer boards on the bank of Big Pt. Sable when there is a hundred other boats all around you up close all dodging for position in and out.

Being a charter captain, sometimes you have to let the customer try to get the rod first, esp. if you're into them already, or if they plead with me to let them set it. After a couple of lost fish, or sleeping on the job, I usually take the job back and make it from the helm seat to the rod well before the customers even know there's a fish on. The worst experience I had was with Bass Pros that wanted to set the hook. They were setting the hook four times and yanking the hook out of the gills over and over, finally breaking a rod on the soft top rail, and yes, I made them buy me a new rod replacement while I cleaned their 20 some fish.

#5421-XT is a little giant 4' FB Shakespeare am/fm antenna for $54 @ marineboatsupplies.com. Personally, I prefer a separate antenna so as not to interfere with the VHF which could be your only lifeline in an emergency call for help. But I don't know your boat setup, this can be mounted to hard tops, t-tops, and windshields alike. Comes with 10' of cable too I believe. Or just google shakespeare am/fm antennas for a big selection.

Awesome fishing machine, thanks for posting the pics.. You fish down by Algoma, or strictly out of SB?

Very nice early silver spring catch, keep up the good work. Thanks.

Good greaser story, wonder how big they were. Thanks.

Thanks for the report, hope those lakers are bigger this season. I've been getting some pretty scrawny ones the last few years, but noted the pics. this season seem to be a lot bigger and fatter like the old days. The last one we mounted around my marina was a while back, but was a 35# monster over 80 fow, chartreuse spoon on rigger bouncing bottom. It was a master angler too if I remember correctly.

Shakespeare used to make a special am/fm antenna that was 3' long fiberglass and sold for about $35. I have one mounted on my windshield and it's worked fine for years now. Depending on how far out from land you go, the reception/gain will get weaker the farther out sometimes. When I'm out of Ludington real deep, I usually get the Cubs and/or Brewers games from Wisconsin. But, I'd rather be getting the Tigers. West Marine should have these yet, or Boat US, perhaps even Bass Pro. Go TIGERS!

Thanks for the great story and nice pics., good work.

It was always my understanding that XL is used mostly for casting, it's XL designation means extra limp. Contrary is Berkeleys XT designation, meaning extra tough. This is what I use, and many others for trolling/great lakes fishing. It's an extra tough line to break and gives alot under stress. Nowthen, there are knots galore to use, but keep in mind, any knot on a line that is old, worn, sun stressed, bleached, will not hold up. Make sure to retie all your rod lines about every third trip out or more often as needed. And make sure to store the rods inside where sunlight can't burn the line to weaken it, or put reel covers on them when not in usage. If the same line has been on the reel for over 2-3 seasons, it's time to change the entire reel. Al Sousin is a great believer in using the right knot for the right setup, check his website out. He's saltwater, but has alot of valuable tips, and even wrote a book on knots.

I think you're right Sherman, and so are the other guys. Too bad the tribes are "sovereign nations" unto themselves, and this kind of stuff will go on and on until the status of these tribes is reversed. Don't hold your breath though, it probably will never ever happen now. That's quite the reversal, from lifetime to one year suspension, 10 years or so might have been a lot better alternative, great judge.

Sorry to hear about the fire too, never a nice thing. I'd put every single lure and piece of tackle affected on the claim form and get all new. Heck, everything in lures changes so fast these days you could just be doing yourself a favor just shopping for new anyhow. I don't envy your spring cleaning, good luck.

Sounds like quite the shakedown, not much time to shake, just reel in the slammers.

Looks like you guys smoked those tiger fish pretty well, nice catch.

Should look nice on the wall for years to come, good job and pics., thanks.

Good luck Tom, and thanks for the nice gesture for GLF.

If you're going to stay in the channel and close to shore only, 19' is fine. But, when it comes to the Big Great Lakes, I highly recommend at least 24'-26' for safety and seaworthiness. Don't know your finances, but there are alot of boats out there for sale at ridiculously low prices right now, and the size difference for safety and security is priceless. I ran a 26' CC for years alone, it's not that difficult after you get used to it. Good luck and good fishing.

Thanks Sherman, and all you guys for your inspiration and love of the sport. I know I'll never forget that first big 26# salmon I caught right in the Ludington channel in 1982. And it's that screaming reel and fight on the deck that keeps me coming back. Now, like both Matts, I love to see the eyes of the angler when it's a novice or kid hooking up their biggest fish ever. Every season is different and challenging, and the fish are just too terrific an experience to miss out on. Here's wishing everyone a very exciting and safe 2011 fishing season.