Shattered

I have 9” and 12” Aftco fillet knives that work well and hold an edge. I think they were $100-$120 when I bought them. I believe they have discontinued them so you may be able to find a deal on them.

I think you’ll find that most of us have caught salmon both in and out of the “preferred” temperature range. I’ve caught kings throughout the entire water column, so I try not to get too locked into a single number. Here’s a typical starting 6-rod spread for two people: Riggers- Usually spoons, stacked. I’ll run one rigger in the 50–54°F range and the other below, like Gary mentioned. Divers- Typically flasher/fly or flasher/meat. I’ll run one in the cold water (around 42°F, give or take) and the other in the 48–56°F range. The Smart Troll system makes it much easier to know exactly where those presentations are running. Planer Boards- Spoons, flasher/fly, or flasher/meat on lead core or copper. The length depends on where my target temperature is that day. From there, I let the fish dictate the program. I’ve caught salmon in water as warm as 65°F. Temperature is a great starting point, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Use your electronics. Pay attention to bait, marks, currents, your speed, and when/where you’re getting bites. The fish will tell you what they want, and just as importantly, what they don’t. If I have a third or fourth person on board, I’ll add a few more rods to complement the spread, divers or coppers. But honestly, most days I believe less is more. I’d rather run a clean, efficient spread than have a bunch of lines in the water that aren’t producing.

I use the stern planer with a 300 copper frequently. It is fantastic. No issues.

Not sure if this has been posted before but I found it interesting. Salmon Research Video Salmon Research Article

Blood Run Sea Flee or Tournament 25lb as backer. 30’-35’ long Seaguar Fluorocarbon leaders. Leaders are 15-25lb test. Similar to what Legacy said for flasher/fly cut bait, I run just the backer no leader. Spring rods are spooled with 15lb Big Game backer with 30’-35’ 12lb Seaguar leaders. Seems to work well for me.

The cooler! Absolute must have.

Welcome Nick! Your grandfather was a great man. He shared several of his tactics with me over the years. The Advocate still sits dry docked at Lake Ontario Marine. Brings back fond memories every time I see her.

I really liked the Blood Run 27lb lead core but it does not appear to be available anymore. I still have on several of my setups but have been replacing with the Fish USA Stealthcore as necessary. It seems to perform just as well.

Greg, here is what I have used in the past for attaching Mylar to bullet heads and meatheads. works great. Fastcap- Speedtape I can get you some locally if need be.

PayPal sent Greg. Thank you.