GAMBLER

What does everyone use to store pre tied diver/ cheater leaders?  Here is what I use.  They are tackle buddy leader holders customized with Velcro.  I cut them down some, screw the caps on  and add a piece of rope to hang them in the cuddy.  

On 7/22/2022 at 12:48 PM, troutman10 said:

Thanks alot for your help guys

I’m pretty sure he is coming to the Watkins show next weekend.

I will be there!

On 3/14/2023 at 8:32 PM, Reel Doc said:

What is your definition of a QUALITY leader?  Another ? for all is when a flasher/fly is trailing, sometimes the leader is spinning up on itself.  Does not seem to be an issue in the water, but up on the boat it gets all kinked up.  I'm thinking the swivels at the Dipsey and the flasher are out of sync and twisting in opposite directions..... thoughts?

Quality leader = Seaguar Blue label.  Expensive but strong and very abrasion resistant.  How are you storing your flies when not in use?

1 hour ago, orangediablo said:

As I sit here bored at work stuck staring at Lake Erie, I start thinking how the 2023 season will pan out.  I plan on changing my standard spread this year to see what transpires, obviously hoping to catch more and larger salmon, steelies and 'hos.  Compared to last year's overall fishery and outcomes, how do y'all think this year will compare?

Warm winters (2012 & 2018) are usually phenomenal fishing.  Lack of Erie ice will get things started early and hopefully the weather will cooperate this season and allow the lake to be more stable.  

4 minutes ago, steelydan said:

The blue glo peanut rigs are the bomb!,,

The blue glow peanuts were the bomb.....  Yakima discontinued the best one the had!  

Black or clear and no snubbers are needed as long as you use QUALITY leader material and swivels.  

Stop down and check out the Fingerlakes Trollers association trollers flea market on March 26th!  I will be there with Gambler Rigs and my new for 2023 line up! 

Addaya 2X size 1 hooks.  Super sharp and they are very durable.  

I just purchased a hydraulic steering kit for my 245 Contender.  I also purchased the EVO 150 through Rick at Krenzers.   Give Rick a call and he will hook you up with what you need!  

Congrats Brian.  Good luck with your new adventure!  

Looking at the camera, it looks like the iceboom has been half removed already.  

Great video Bobby!  That one coho your wife caught was huge!  Good luck this season!

2 hours ago, sawbelliesam said:

Never saw the joy or purpose of killing animals for the fun of it.  I hunt and fish, but with a far different mentality. I find it to be both sad and pathetic.

If you do not regulate top end predators, it will disrupt the food chain.  I would much rather guys hunt them, than them die from disease or getting hit by a car.  

1 hour ago, Gill-T said:

Any of you that purchased these after my post and then tried them, quickly realized that with the swivels present on these units cause them to unwind the twists placed in the fishing line prior to placing the line in the release.   I think I solved the problem with a little cheap reengineering with binding wire. 

I have wire bending tools for the business and lots of heavy gauge wire.  Let me toy with this a little!  

19 hours ago, RWR1775 said:

I spoke to Jake Romanack at the Niagara Fishing Expo regarding Yakima Lures specifically.  He said they are getting things up and moving again.  Opened a factory in Mexico to supplement their Washington State factory around the time COVID hit and this created a lot of troubles as they were not even able to visit their plant.  He also mentioned that Washington raised their minimum wage to $20/hr and that created a situation where it was not economically feasible to produce many of their lower profit margin items with that labor cost.  The Washington factory is going to focus on more of their higher profit products and the other things will come primarily out of Mexico.  Demand has also been very high for their products and so they shut the website and focused on distributing largely to vendors on the west coast.  Jake believes this will be improving in Yakima's case in the coming months.

There already has been a huge improvement from Yakima.  During Covid, getting spin n glos was tough.  

My best are my 500,550 and 300.  

51 minutes ago, Gill-T said:

2012 was the last time I caught a fish over 30 lbs. 

We caught 3 fish over 30 that year.  2 kings and a laker!  hopefully we will see more 30+ lb kings in the future!

2 hours ago, Capt Vince Pierleoni said:

2012 was amazing. Not only the non winter but the 2 yr old yr class was the result of the largest wild hatch of Chinook the Lake has seen. 2018 was also very good due to strong survival of the 2yr old age class.

2012 and 2018 were my two best seasons on Lake Ontario.  Big fish and lots of them!  

2012 again? Wasn't the 2011 2012 winter warm like this?  That season was amazing!  

Robins and wood ducks made an appearance in my neighborhood this week.  

42 minutes ago, Earl28 said:

The lake currents can be different at various deeps when the lake flips. Please share your thoughts on how you adapt to this.

Troll and pay attention to your electronics.  If you are marking fish and not catching, change direction until you find which direction produces best for that day.  

I'm with Rob.  Do what it takes to get your speed right.  Direction of troll can be huge on some days.  

12 hours ago, Gill-T said:

It is a tough business!  What I am hearing……

 

-Bayrat lures are shutting down (maybe they will sell to another?). Can anyone confirm this?

-Northport Nailer. Best paint job in the business IMO. The owner says they are selling down the rest of their stock as they are heading towards retirement. 
-luhr Jensen J-plugs….forget about it. 
-Silver Horde plugs….good luck finding them in the color you want

-R&R …..has there been any Dave Wilczak sightings?

It's tough to make money selling tackle for many reasons.  Lots of competition, Supply chain issues (still), NY taxes and Federal Excise tax.  If I didn't enjoy making tackle, I wouldn't continue to do it.