Gator

We didn't make it out, so no report.

Roger that! Nothing better than figuring it out for yourself, and it sounds like you know what you're about. Charters are great for newbies, but as you note, subject to M. Nature. Good luck! And a word of caution - if anyone on here asks you to go buffy fishing, just say no.

Lots will depend on the particular conditions that day - upwelling could change what the fish demand. In general, if you are used to running divers, then a high-low setup with two per side on wire line is an easy and effective setup, combined with two riggers. Heavy current may impact whether you really want to run that second set of divers though. There's always the possibility of stacking the riggers, and this time of year you can find fish throughout the water column, so it makes some sense. Running copper or leadcore off the boards together with divers can be challenging (the dreaded wire-copper tangle), but is undoubtedly effective - but if the temperature is deep, 400 and 500 coppers require some big boards. Reels for rigger rods - size 20 or 30 Daiwa or Convector 45 (which you seem to have), with 25 lb test line and a fluorocarbon leader attached via a high quality microswivel. There are many options that will work. The best way to learn is to go out with someone who knows what they are doing. If you are only going to fish one day later this month, why not charter? Just a suggestion. If you already have the setups and know what you're doing, then good luck and go get 'em!

Tommy and I are going to give it a go for the first few hours on Wednesday, too. We will be further West than you and staying on the inside as well.

We come up with inventive ways to swear at the fish. This is a family forum, so I won't go into detail. And for some reason, we started saying, "Jewel crank bobo shaft" twenty years ago when all seemed lost - it always worked, 70% of the time.

I prefer smoked with a bit of dill and horseradish.

Millennium Marine is a new division of Millennium Outdoors, and I can attest to the quality of their ladder stands. They are the best, bar none. I would anticipate that the same is true here - but a first hand account would be great.

I bet he's in Geneva, at the North end of Seneca Lake, based on his name lol

Brian, I agree that it is safer to have multiples on board, but with all due respect, we are talking about grown men and women. I guess as a derby organizer, you might have to worry about liability if you promoted lone wolfs (although there are plenty of kayak fishing derbies), but from the perspective of personal responsibility - you are only (directly) putting yourself in harm's way, and I think folks should be given credit for being able to make their own decisions. From the perspective of rule management, multiples simply means that everyone has to have their story straight. Cheaters are gonna cheat. End of the day though, the derby owner makes the rules, arbitrary or rational.

Well over a dozen hits in the first two hours, then three spread across the next six. Like a light switch.

You didn't mention which rods you were using currently, but I will tell you that taking a Dremel to the guide rings is only going to exacerbate your problem. If they are truly grooved, then they either need to be replaced or you need to ditch the rod. We use Shimano Talora rods with Twili Tips and have never broke off at the wire, except once at the knot near the Dipsy. We run four diver sets, using 8' Talora with a Mag diver on the inside, 9 1/2' with a Deeper Diver on the outside. IMHO, cheap roller rods are more of a PITA than they are worth. And good roller rods are beaucoup $$. Good luck.

We fished the evening last night and had six rips in 150', but only one king to the boat, and he was hooked in the eye lol. Crazy current, changing temperatures, a compressed comfort zone (28 degree break over eight feet, unreal), and some NW wind played us.

Actually, maybe if we keep him busy enough, he won't have time to beat us at the Sandy Creek Shootout. Turns out the guy knows how to fish for kings, too, unfortunately . I can just see it now - a Gambler version of an umbrella rig to fish king salmon. Can you imagine?