GoodenTight

Ive been on the pin for the last half dozen years now and I have just recently joined the dark side. I spun up a box full of caddis, mayfly and price nymphs, some hendrickson spinners, and a buggers and hopped in my car with a buddy and pointed it straight to Lake Placid. We stayed at the Hungry Trout resort and had the head guide booked for the first day.

What an experience.

First off. The water was unreal. tones of white water, tones of boulders. Rocks everywhere.  AFter two full days I was 10 for about 20 and of that, 5 were on the dry and 5 were on the nymph. 7 browns and 3 rainbows. Nothing "epic", fish around 16 inches. I did lose one that was 24" it was a BEAST and I was simply unprepared for the strike. Ill get him next time.

This is my first year of ice fishing. Been out a total of 3 times now. Lots of medium walleyes not worth posting but this.... this is worth the photo. Medium light 24" on the pin. This guy picks me up off bottom and just kept running. Crazy we got it though the 8" hole... it justtttttttt fit. My first carp ever.

Just got back from a trip... to ugh... BC... totes legitz.

I took a couple minutes here to go over 2 essential changes I make for steelheading in negative temperatures.

1. Keeping your line off the water. If you have winter steelheaded before, you know that if it's negative out, your line is going to get wet/ice. And you know that if your line is going to get wet/ice, your eyes are going to get wet/ice. And you know that if your eyes are going to get wet/ice... you're going to have a bad time. There are a couple ways to avoid this. One is to Vaseline (or some other type of lube) up your eyes. This definitely helps, but doesn't always avoid the problem in it's entirety. Here is what else you can do. I started this last year and it really does make a difference if you can pull it off. Pick yourself up some stem-through floats. Basically, a two part float. The wood/cork, and a stem. These are great because they aren't "fixed". You get to make the shape of a float you want.

See my diagram below. the green indicates where I have tubing. Instead of a traditional 2 tubes per float rig, all you need is a third piece of tube. One piece on both ends of the float (securing the float in place where you want it) and I have a third at the opposing end (if you have tube at the end of the stems you eliminate a ton of "birds nests" with false hook sets and retrieves - simply, you take away a nook between line and stem that the line can get stuck in).

Essentially what you are doing is increasing the height of the break point of the top of the float to the water. Now when you cast, if you keep your line tight, the line has to work a lot harder to bow and touch the water. Maximizing the straightest line from your rod tip to your float can eliminate any line from touching the water at all.  Obviously by changing the shape of a float, you are making a compromise. The float is not going to be as responsive as a traditional shape, but in my eyes the payoff is worth it. Adjust your shot pattern to compensate the new float shape and you will be in business.

2. Shot pattern to Crush the Slush. We are all aware of the traditional shot patterns that the majority of us use when we don't have slush to work with. Scrap those because they are probably not going to get you through the slush, and if your presentation isn't getting through the slush, the steel aren't going to see it. And if the steel aren't going to see your presentation, well... you know. Here is what I do. Size up your float, and don't be scared. If you traditionally run a 4g float, try an 8g. If you traditionally run a 6g float, try a 10g etc.. You are going to need extra buoyancy to make up for the additional weight you are about to add. Go pick yourself up either some Buck Shot or a pencil shot and stack up your line right above your swivel. This way when you cast, this mass amount of weight in one spot is going to shoot through the slush. From your swivel down, apply shot as you would for any other normal presentation. Of course, vary this style to fit your style however it is.

If you accommodate either of these rig alterations (let alone both)... you're gunna have a good time

(I hope you like my paint drawings and these help)

October Steel

there are alot of factors. And the primary factor is, how mature are the eggs you are getting. If your salmon is off a boat or just entering a trib, chances are the eggs are not as mature as one holding in a pool. Simply put, more mature eggs are far stronger.

That could be first problem. Roe tight in skiens is not mature. The scraping that occurs to remove the skien, wears away the membrane of the eggs to become loose. When this happens, the egg doesn't have the same retention and will mush/pop easier.  Simply put, the easier eggs scrape off a skien, the more mature they are. If you find your eggs are tight in the skien, I would reccommend using a cure to harden them,

So, due to nature alone, you can blame the fish if your eggs are mature or not, lol.  I have some eggs I recently milked that are almost as strong as bouncy balls (ok not quite, but I have NO goop after tying and in my canister).   Just try to keep a fish with stronger more mature eggs and you will have a hand up on the results you wish to obtain.

It is October. Finally.

S. Show is pretty much over now.

Steelhead 14/15 commence. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

one does not simply hold large get togethers on the ditches... silly bi tches LOL

know when to walk away, know when to run

Salmon rely on hours of sunlight first, before temps and water levels. Facts are facts.

I don't believe a wave ran yet. Pics or it didn't happen.

Hey guys, just a thought before killing a king for roe...

I found out last year, that if you go to any fish cleaning station or weigh station (for the derby), there is an extremely good chance there will multiple fresh fish skiens there for the taking. When we went, there were close to a dozen (6 hens) worth of fresh, clean, loose eggs in skien. Lots of deep-lake charters / derby etc. guys will bring fish in and weigh their fish (dead) and/or salvage the fish for the meat and leave the eggs for river anglers.

Please exhaust these options before pulling out the knife.

Cheers!

I remember I went to ... that place ... early august last season and there was one lone king sitting in one of the rapids, gin water scorching hot day. The odd 1% take off early.

God darn. Im all frazzled now.  I have to fish tonight.

find a drop off. drop a bucktail to the bottom tipped with something. drift and jig slowly.

smashed some pigs with this method, pictures talk. MSG me for more details if you want:

and my partner in crime on the water got this 27" 11lb on it too