2UNREEL

Top Fin Challenge

West Michigan Salmon Challenge

West Michigan Salmon Fishing Derby

Lake Michigan Monster Fish Challenge

I will try and make as many as possible.

West Michigan Fishing Derby

Sounds awsome... I'll have to read more about it but I'm in!!!

I think the leader is a personal preference. I have caught fish on 5 ft mono leaders, 30ft 50lb power pro leaders, 10-35ft fluorocarbon leaders. I think that if your running a stiffer line like copper you would want a little longer leader for more action where lead core you can get away with less....I am sure there is a sweet spot for the type of sinking line vs the leader type and length to get an optimal lure presentation.

Im sure Ill show up to spend some coin on a few things....Good deals at this one

looks neat, I am sure it will work.

The first time you catch a fish on a 10ft slide will be your last time at that length. You will have the rodsman in the cabin while your extreme netman is stabbing at it. Under 6ft is all you need. I use the scooter clips for my slides, some don't care for them but I am a believer. Many other methods work just as good.

looking good! Nice Rig

I hope he RIP and was on his boat and not a slow death in the hospital.

I have used 50# red power pro in the past. I would go more hi vis for visual purpose but I have had trouble with braid. I have lost big fish in tournaments for a couple reasons with braid. The line buried itself in the spool and would not allow it to pay out with the drag and wammo busted line. I have seen this happen on 2 other boats so I am not alone. Early on I had the wrong knot tied and lost some expensive tackle. I have switched to wire and had much greater success. IMO

Nah, took my birthday off a couple years ago and hit the Muskegon. It was -20 on the Jeep thermometer when we launched. We decided if the motor would turn over we'd head out.

Third pull. #@$@

That lasted about half an hour if that. We got a good breakfast, headed to the K-zoo. It was 6. If you lifted a lure out of the water, the hooks froze to it and it would not run right. The river froze while we were on it - it was like trolling through a slurpie.

And we went 1/1 with a big steelie. We had to quit when the boat had so much slush frozen to it that it would not handle any more. We netted our fish and laid it on the floor and it promtly froze there, which was kind of hard to work around.

Oddly enough, my crew that day doesn't fish with me much any more. Maybe the site of a boat on the trailer, with the tires squashed way down and the axle bending due to the ice all around the hull, net handle sticking out waiting to lance oncoming traffic had something to do with it.

great story

great picture

The only down side about add on weights is that you have to remove them before you can get the fish close enough to net.

Also keep in mind when letting drop weights out they sink faster then a full lead line.....If you let it out really fast and clip a board on there and send it out, you run risk or getting wrapped up in your riggers or divers depending on conditions. Just something to keep in mind.

Pull the outdrive, its easy enough and its lighter than you think it would be. You will need to pull it anyway if you got any use out the outdrive last year at all. The U-joints need greasing every year or 100hrs of use is what I was told. Inspect the rest of the the stuff like the other guys said and leave the big jobs to the pros or it could cost you in the long run.

Thanks for the help guys, I am burning to catch a winter steelhead. (something I have wanted to do for a few years)I just need get off my lazy bum this winter and give it a try. I have tried the Kalamazoo in the past but I was probably more part of the scenery than a fisherman enjoying being outside in the winter with a fishing rod in hand.

I have run my spin doctors on the slow hole(fin side) many times. I will often change it up depending on if they are hitting them or not....I also like running shorter leaders.....everyone does it different, its best to try what works for the speed you like to run.

Nice looking rig, looks like all you need is a couple rod trees and a rocket launcher and your ready for anything the big lake has to offer

Welcome aboard, you will be talking colors, coppers, wire, spinneys and monkey pukes on ho's and spring steel in no time!

great job...those are MONSTERS!!!!

THATS AWSOME!!!! What a blast that was I hope others were around to watch that battle go down!!

I was wanting to venture out tomorrow and try for some winter steelhead. Does anyone have any suggestions? Piers? Dams? Presentations? Tactics?If someone is wanting to go and knows there stuff I would love to tag along..

Awsome pics...looks like 1 of the 2 deer I ran over with my truck this morning on the way to work!

Nice looking rig! I would love to hear some of your techniques