kjackson

I really need a clone. He would do the work stuff, and I'd check out the reports...

I have samples of each but have yet to get them wet. I have hopes that early next week I'll get on the lake, but I said that last week, too. While the lures resemble similar baits by other companies, there are differences, and they will fish differently. My main thought is that they will run deeper and will have different uses. But like I said, I haven't used them yet. A report will follow. And when I start unloading the man cave and trolling boxes, you'll need even more room in your boat, Jason. My guess is that I'll be reducing the herd by 500 or more lures...at basement prices.

I have a couple of rods you could play with to see if that would help your decision. But in my very limited experience with swimbaits, something like a flipping stick is a good one to play with. For actual use with heavier baits, I'd want a rod with a longer handle than you'll find on a rod intended for flipping. I also like a slightly more moderate action with enough butt to launch a big bait.

With PRADCO purchasing Bandit, I'm guessing pre-PRADCO Bandits will now be premium priced! May have to look into getting a few before that happens. I'm hoping to get out this week, but with two trips to Rogers in the offing and some work that must be done (as well as some work that should be done), I don't know if that will happen. I'd like to get out with downriggers and give some of the baits like the Redfin a try. I do have more than I'll ever use, and again, it's a thinning-the-herd thing. I've played a bit with Rapala's BX Minnow, and think that could become a standard downrigger hardbait. That thing swims like a fish...Caught a ton of ladyfish on it when I fished out of Venice as well as a couple of jacks and one or two redfish. Thanks for the report LarryC...that looked like a good, short trip.

I have a few of the originals and more of the fat thin fins. Will give them a place.

I think the answer is: Bait for a really large fish.

I'm open to lures used with downriggers (also leadcore and snapweights), so I welcome suggestions. I'm surprised at the Wiggle Wart and Mag Wart, though. I will put the pre-Rapala Warts I have on the block as I'm also looking to pick up a kayak with the proceeds from that sale. Any other must-haves in the hardbait line?

Since this forum has been kind of slow lately, I thought I'd ask about something that I've been considering. The backstory is that I am in the process of thinning the herd, and now the focus is on crankbaits. One simply does not need four double-sided satchel boxes crammed to the gills with crankbaits--at least not in Beaver and Table Rock. So--what are the essentials? Here's what I'm keeping: Flicker Shads (and maybe Flicker Minnows if they prove themselves), Shad Raps, Storm Smash Shads (gotta have those because of the UV finishes), Tail Dancers and Hot N Tots. The Flatfish Mag Lip 3.5 is in as is the 3.0 if it proves itself. I'll probably run Strike King's new series as they appear to be different enough from their lookalikes to be useful. What am I missing? What other must-haves are out there? I am getting rid of all of my Cordell Grappler Shads and the latest (but discontinued) version of the Lindy Shadling. The Wally Divers are still possibly in the line up as might be the Deep Thunderstick.

Forgot about Bertand, and I stopped there, too; Old Timer's is a terrible thing! The water looked a bit froggy to me, so I stopped thinking of it as a driftboat stretch. Is the water below there shallow enough to warrant a drift boat? I'm not at all familiar with this stretch as I've been up to the 62 bridge, and that was as far upstream as I went.

Fly rod? I thought the regs said it was "artificial lure" with some restrictions. I know I did see some guys with spinning rods when I was checking the area out two days ago. The only place I saw to launch a drift boat without dragging it in the Parker Bend area was at the dam.

I've fished beads for trout in the Kenai, and it can be deadly. However, we were fishing below spawning salmon, so it was a no-brainer imitation. I've not fished them for trout in other situations, yet. As far as the pegging goes, the bead is pegged above the hook at something like three inches so that there was little gill damage. There was a regulation about how far the bead had to be pegged, but what the specifics were.... I'm bringing my fly stuff out of retirement with an eye to fishing the tailwater and will give beads a whack after Thanksgiving. I've not flyfished for maybe five years, so it's going to be fun.

It's so sad to see someone buy a new boat and then start parting it out... How much for your graphs?

Kinda wonder about tying a really large, articulated fly...

I'd check out northern Vancouver Island--I've fished at Nootka, and it was a good hit, but it was BYOB. Don't know if there is boat rentals or guides there, but I'm guessing there must be. I've fished Rivers Inlet and enjoyed it, but it too was bumper boats. I stopped tracking RI when there was a serious failure in the runs--this was some time ago. However, if the runs are back up to speed, it provides a better chance to land a really big king than the Kenai. My lodge had two or three 60-pound plus kings come in the week I was there. I blew one big fish but managed to land my largest king to date--44-9. I'd also look to SE Alaska. There are some less well-known fisheries that are good and worth checking.

Be careful; do that and you'll end up with a transom-mount trolling motor with the head reversed.

No doubt this will be an interesting thread. I'm not an expert in electronics, so you can take my advice and $5 and buy a cup of coffee at Mud Street. Having said that, I do know that the CHIRP technology is some of the best and provides very detailed imagery. Whether the units you're looking at are what you need, though, I can't say. I've not fished with Garmins at all (in my boat). I've been fairly loyal to Humminbird after serial disappointments with Lowrance units' longevity. I also have the 898 DI/S, but it isn't what I need. I would look very closely at the Garmin units and add that Raymarine is turning out some good electronics now. I've been on boats this year that were equipped with both brands, and I was impressed. Paper? Really? I trust that was a light-hearted comment...

Here's my take, but YMMV. I'm basing this on eight or so trips to this wonderful state. The Kenai River is the most popular spot in the state as the river is your likeliest chance to catch a king over 60 pounds. However, during the height of the season, it is bumper boats on the river, and it is my least favorite place to fish. While it offers the best chance to catch a really big king, the chance of your doing so are very, very low. Soldotna's population grows from something like 10,000 people to over 80,000 in the summer. The nearby Kasilof River is a driftboat show, and it is slightly better for traffic, but it still isn't the best fishing experience. The upper and middle Kenai offer really good fishing for big rainbows, though. My trips have been salmon and saltwater oriented mostly, so I'm limited in experience. I've also fished out of Sitka, Seward and Kodiak. Seward probably offers the best chance of the three to catch big fish, but the weather and ride can be tough. The skipper I fished with generally took us on a two-hour ride to get to where we'd fish, and seasickness can be a factor for some (those affected need to get scopalamine [?} patches from the doctor). On the flip side, he also offered overnight trips where we would run three hours fish and then overnight in the boat on anchor. These trips take you to areas not generally fished, and they can be good. However, of the three times we tried this, we actually got to stay out once. The other two times were limited by the weather. Hit the runs right, and you get outstanding fishing at Sitka (plus you don't fly to Anchorage first but fly from Seattle directly). My experience is that the salmon runs are cookie-cutter fish. You'll catch whatever the run size is time after time...one 30-pound king (or 25- or 40-pounder) after another until you get bored. Halibut fishing there is deep-water fishing but, generally, they're large--up to 200 pounds or so. However, it's worth noting that limits for charterboats have been changed. My one trip to Kodiak was late in the year, past the king runs. Also, the lodge we were out of was run by the owners to suit their own fishing needs (they were on the boat with us), so we didn't do any real hardcore fishing. This lodge has since closed. Fishing off Kodiak was a blast, and I'd do it again. However we didn't get into big runs of anything. The kings were over, and there were few juvenile feeder kings around. The coho run was still going on, but for whatever reason, we didn't do exceedingly well there, either. However, we did catch a lot of black rockfish on light gear, and Pacific cod and a few big lingcod. Saw tons of sea otters, bears, no moose, dolphins, eagles, foxes and some pretty cool cabins in remote areas. We caught no decent halibut. On the plus side, we ran out of Port Lions, and the water was pretty much flat by Alaskan standards.

Sweet.

Very nice...

Thanks, guys. Hoping to head out later this week. My gills are getting dry...

Nearly polished off an epic period of work, repair/fix-it projects and travel. We put Number Two Son on a plane tomorrow to start his new job, and then all I have to do is leaves, firewood and a couple of work things. It looks like I'll finally get to go fishing again...it's been a very long dry spell. So what is going on at the dam end of the lake? Anything? I can get out for short blocks of time this month with maybe a full day out a time or two. Whites? Stripers? Walleyes? Bass? Crappies?

Just checked weight on this, and it looks like it will be pushing maximum on the tow vehicle I'm about to buy. That is too bad; it looks like what could work...

I would check in the forums at bateau2.com. There is a wealth of information and help there. However, a simple crack is relatively easy to repair with epoxy. To do a good job you have to sand. What you're trying to do is clean off any loose material as well as get rid of paint, gelcoat, etc. The sanding should be rough--not super smooth. You want plenty of tooth for the epoxy to grab. Not having a good idea of how extensive a repair or the underlying damage, I still would suggest you lay a bit of fiberglass cloth or tape (saturated in epoxy) over the crack and then support that with some filler--perhaps wood flour mixed in epoxy. The tape will give you the strengh and if done properly will keep the crack from reappearing. However, a quick question with a photo of the crack will get you all the info and help you need from the bateau forum.

If it's still available when I return from the next trip, I'd like to see it. It's not quite what I'm looking for, but it would work...

Where is the boat located? What year is it? thx