salmonquest

I saw the same thing. It mentioned 42mi that seems like a long run unless the fishing is Fantastic.

i was out saturday with no luck on our maiden run. Did have a nice morning and the equipment worked well. Looking forward to next time. Thanks John for the advice just wasn't the right time for us.

first outing up to the U.P. Hopefully all the equipment is working

Could you switch to mono leaders. This might add some additional give, but not as much as the snubber.

Mike that's awesome. I can't wait until my son is old enough.

Yeah especially the "easy" part all of my fiberglass work ends up like my 6th grade sculptures. I must really be a big fan of that movie "the blob" I've been searching for a cheap alternative for rod holders.

Here's another advantage to the rubber bands. If I'm running something and I want to keep my spread the same configuration but want to change up the spoon/flasher-fly I bring the rigger up with the bands still attached. (fishing it up) and then release it from the band buster by hand . Then i reel the band in to the spoool (careful it doesn't catch the level wind). After I make my change I can set it back up with exactly the same distance from release to lure since the band has "held my place."

What if you wrapped the tree in fiberglass?

I use mostly rubber bands on big jon ban busters. It is frustrating when they break off and you have to reset. I have had good luck wrapping the band twice before cinching. Also make sure they aren't the orange color (natural rubber I think). I need to pick up some black's they sound great.

That's the type of thing I'm looking for in a few years. Kids looked like they had a blast.

Yeah. Thankfully the fishing now is good. WE all hope that will continue.

Dan, That's a very nice article. I always enjoy the historical photos. The shanty town looks like a place I can get used to. I found interesting in the articles I've read about this that almost all of the fish declines in the great lakes can be attributed to pollution and invasive species i.e. alewives, zebra mussels etc. I found an article that pointed out that commercial fishermand in other states and canad are able to undercut michigan commercial fisheries. If I understand correctly most of the whitefish, perch, and walleye for sale in our restaurants wouuld come from another country taking money from our economy. I guees if these fish are going to be commercially harvested anyway shouldn't that benefit our economy? i came acros this article it's really long but very interesting. http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/eh/9.1/szylvian.html These are the points I thought relevant to this discussion. The funds required to develop and maintaining the Great Lakes sport fishery paled in comparison to the larger economic, environmental, and social and cultural costs incurred. Commercial and subsistence fishermen paid a large portion of the price of the creation of the Great Lakes sport fishery. Howard Tanner, who returned to state government to head the Michigan DNR in 1975, acknowledged in an interview with historian Michael J. Chiarappa that the DNR's policy was so rigid it practically forced the lakeshore tribes to go to court to fight it Tourism related to sport fishing not only has brought traffic and congestion, but has contributed to rising real estate values that make it difficult if not impossible for wage earners and business owners of limited economic means to retain their land, especially if it is on or near the lakeshore. In an examination of the impact of sport fishing on local Native Americans, historian Robert Doherty concluded that tourism has "seldom helped long-term residents towards economic security. It merely hid them behind the façade of affluence. Northern Michigan may seem better off than it was thirty years ago, but only because newcomers moved in and pushed the former residents aside. This process, by which tourism reallocated resources, can be clearly seen in the development of the Great Lakes sport fishery

Dan, .."having rolls of Fifty dollar bills in every pocket" I thought you guys had at least Hundreds. I really don't feel that way about charter boats. In fact I would argue that, as you've shown, they have a more vested interest in conservation than many others. I guess I was also applying that logic to commercial fisherman. I could be way off on that. I understand that it might bring the populations down but do you think with proper regulations they coudln't co-exist? Couldn't the state regulate a catch limit and a open and closed season? I know that's putting a lot on the state's shoulders I see your point with the income from charters and I think that's awesome. I don't know much about the commercial fishing process but I assume they must be A.) profitable and hopefully some of that profit goes to the communities they live in. B.) They require some resources such as fuel, parts, etc. which can be purchased in teh communities. I appreciate talking about this because it's an education for me. It is certainly nice to know that people like you are looking out for our resources. I also appreciate the fact that you certainly seem to know your stuff about this. I kind of bristle at the general idea that all netting is bad. Just having the fish out there in abundance so it's convenient for the casual fisherman is a nice idea but also, I think, a waste of a "hopefully" sustainable resource that can provide food, and jobs. The saginaw bay area is certainly a different story due to it's only recent recovery and I agree whole heartedly that it needs to be carefully managed.

First I would like to say that I really enjoy this site and the great people on there. I am going to offer a different opinion that I hope can be respected and I admit it may be based on my ignorance. Here goes. I find it interesting that charter boat captains are some of the loudest opponents to netting. I would throw out that if there is a charter business in operation that this would be considered commercial fishing. If there is already commercial fishing allowed than it would seem reasonable that it could be opened to other comercial fishing methods. I'm just a lowly recreational fisherman who takes out maybe 30 or so fish a season for consumption. Charter boats remove exponentially larger takes compared to me and therefore limit my catches by depleting the population, Comercial nets take out more than charter boats and would probably reduce the population even further. I guess my point is if we are going to keep commercial fishing out of areas that would imo include charter boats. Having said that I don't think we should keep charter boats out, Heck I'd like to run one but I find it slightly odd that one commercial fisherman would keep out another. It doesn't really seem fair. They say it's about quality of fishing but I believe it's about their bottom line which is understandable since it's their livelihood but it's also the commercial netter's livelihood so how can one be more right??? It's like an axe murder complaing that a chainsaw massacre isn't fair.... Which brings us to the real question is will the population be sustainable when subjected to that kind of pressure. For that we must rely on the state...which is a scary thought. From the article it would appear that the cheif complaint is that the DNR has not studied this or even contemplated it. I also don't believe in the there is no going back argument. Of course comercial fishing can be reduced at anytime the state would deem worthy. My understanding from the article is that the idea is a three year trial period. I don't see the problem with that. Would it decrease populations?? probably. Would it limit the number of catches on charter boats maybe?? Could it mean a few less fish in the frying pan for the recreational angler?? I don't know but I don't think it would mean the extiction of the species. I guess my point in all of this is what's the real problem. If charter captains are worried aobut their livelihood that's understandable but they are doing it at the expense of other commercial fisherman who I would argue would have a reason to question the double standard. If you are worried about catching a few less fish I understand that also but that would seem secondary to economical factors. If you're worried about the extinction of the species that seems highly unlikely. Understand I have no horse in this race and there are probably a lot of factors I don't completely understand I just find it.....I guess slightly hypocritical for one commercial fisher to throw stones at another. The fact that it's possibly native americans involved smacks a little of racism.

I'm not big on this brand or that one but hands down Siggs flies are my most productive 2-1. I run howies and krw also and siggs beats them all.

I fish out of 17.5 grady white. THere isn't much room in back. Three guys are tight four and you need to put one out of the way. Preferrably on the front cooler but sometimes in the drink if a double springs I usually run 4 on the riggers (2 riggers with stackers) four dipseys and a planer board. THat seems to be about as much as my limited crew can handle, but I can see running more boards if you're set up right just watch the currents.

Second that with not freespooling I loosen the drag for both dipsies and setting downriggers. Keeps em tight.

Mike, I've checked out a lot of forums in different areas and some are similar to this format but none of them are as informative, friendly, and well organized. Thanks for the time and effort and thanks to everyone keeping it current.

I like my cannon but I would go DR or new fish hawk.

I've done best with a chartruese dipsy that matches the flasher and fly. I'll have to give the chrome a try.

I'm in I put where I fish though not where I live.

I usually take some snips and cut away fly material out of the package. Hasn't hurt.

FNG love it. Welcome aboard.

This is the type of work I need to find. I'm a teacher so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

I'm really curious to how well this works. I've contemplated it a lot lately. What about using an umbrella rig with these like they do for stripers. I was thinking if you could put it behind the ball on a downrigger and then run a line further back with the hook in it...