Todd in NY

I was introduced to cowbells last August on a charter. It was late August and the salmon bite wasn't happening. So the captain pulled up the riggers and went to deeper water for lake trout. That was the first time I had ever seen or heard of cowbells and spin-n-glows, but it helped us catch a limit of lake trout, and those lakers were all we caught that day. I was happy as a paying customer because we went home with a cooler full of fish.

I have 3 sets of Hammerheads and some spin-n-glows now. But I still never hear of cowbells being used to catch other species of fish. So that is my question; what else have any of you caught with cowbells? what other lures do you attach to cowbells besides spin-n-glows?

I gave split rings a serious consideration, but I didn't want to hurt the action of the spoon, as I mentioned earlier in this thread.

Sounds good fellas. My first king was caught on a J Plug in the early 80's, it weighed 23 lbs, and got me hooked on king salmon fishing.

Todd those green ladder backs also glow so in early mornings I have caught Browns, Crome, and kings, with that red/gold tiger striped one I caught pike and all the others above, but who ever would of thought a pike!!!, all those lures are from 1988 my uncle did a job for a elderly lady and her husband used to fish LakeO. The #3 plugs really work better than the #4's but I have lures in that bag they no longer make, so I'm curious to see how they work nowadays!!!

I've been looking at some new J Plugs and also some "vintage" new ones that they don't make any more. It's been fun looking through pictures of the old lure colors to see how things have evolved in regard to color options.

I also added rings to all my spoons, great action and easy to snap onto

What size rings did you use?

I use Walmart batteries now but I am 95% sure that I will switch to Intersates next time I buy batteries. They cost more than the Walmart batteries but their storage capacity is much higher.

The intersate size 27 cranking battery has 1000 cranking amps and reserve capacity of 182, cost is $130 at Gander.

The Interstate size 29 deep cycle has 845 cranking amps and reserve capacity of 210, cost is $150 at Gander.

The Walmart size 29 deep cycle has 845 cranking amps and 122 reserve capacity, cost is around $100.

You can buy in bulk directly from Dreamweaver.

Thanks! I remember seeing bulk prices on a web site but I couldn't remember which one.

I will show this ad to a friend of mine if the boat is still available.

Where is the best place to buy dreamweaver or other high quality swivels in bulk, maybe 50 or 100?

I agree with using good quality swivels. All I use are the dream weavers, but that has more to do with local availability. They were the first ones I tried and I really like them, so I figured why change to another brand.

I know that flies usually have a loop tied in the end to attach to the flasher, so I didn't know if a leader needed a swivel on both ends or a swivel one end and a loop on the other. I want to avoid line twisting, losing fish, and degrading the action of the lure. I also got some great ideas on how to store the leaders. The feedback has been much appreciated.

There are two different types of swivels to use. When you say you are having a hard time getting the swivel through the hole in the spoon I have to guess you are using a coastlock type swivel similar to below ImageUploadedByLake Ontario United1456070826.112227.jpg

For spoons the best swivels to use are the type below

ImageUploadedByLake Ontario United1456070972.318277.jpg

Yep, I have the coastlock swivels from Dream Weaver. If I use the really big swivels they don't have a problem, but the size 4 are a little tight. What kind are those in the bottom picture?

Todd, J-Plugs still produce but a newer one on the scene that has been a good producer for us is the Captains Choice plug from Dreamweaver. Updated colors available that are relevant to the Great Lakes and the finish stays on. Our longest King last season, a 43" Salmon came on a Captains Choice plug.

Thanks for the info. I remember seeing them on a web site that sells 2 other brands of plugs but you are the first person that has mentioned using them.

Thanks for the ideas! I have found it very difficult at times to get a snap swivel through the hole on many spoons. That's why I thought about adding a split ring to the hole on the spoon to make it easier to attach a snap swivel to the spoon. But I don't want to hurt the action of the spoon by having too much "weight" between the spoon and the leader. I primarily use the dream weaver snap swivels. I also have pool noodles laying around the garage, and I use those Lindy type rigs for my worm harnesses. I also like the idea with the empty hand wipe canister. I'll try different methods to see which works best for me.

I'll check out the Lymans as well, thanks. Silver Horde offers many more color options than the others, with 2 different nose shapes (like their Ace Hi, for faster trolling speeds). I plan on adding some to my tackle box before fishing season, I just haven't settled on which ones yet.

I appreciate all the feedback!

Good information, and thanks for sharing.

Some of us have a limited number of flashers, flies, spoons, and other lures, and we all know how much time it can take to change lures on the go while fishing. It also wastes fishing line having to re-tie lures to flashers when our first choice of lures isn't working.

Here are my thoughts; I was thinking of a leader of fishing line 18" to 30" long with a loop tied in one end to attach to the flasher. The other end could have a DW or SPRO type snap swivel to attach to the lure. But many snap swivels don't attach easily to spoons, and snap swivels can hurt the action of a lure. Will a snap swivel be okay for a spoon if I attach a split ring to the spoon, and attach the snap swivel to the split ring? My goal is to be more organized and efficient when changing lures and flashers. I even thought about tying line to all of my spoons and leaving a loop at the other end for attaching to a flasher.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Pictures would help too, because I'm a visual kinda guy

Back in the 80's I outfitted my 12 foot row boat with a 2×10 screwed between the transom and sidewall at the stern. Had a cannon east troll mounted and it caught fish. Looking back I came close to swimming a few times trolling in a small shallow boat. Boat I was a dumb poor tenager..

I hear ya, and I don't take my 16ft row boat on Lake O. I use it on smaller inland lakes that are deep enough to hold various trout and salmon species. Most of the time we troll dipsy divers but I want to add the option of using a downrigger as well. My 16ft boat is wide and stable, and it's a huge improvement over my 13-6 rowboat.

Ok, no rush. My boat is snowed in for the next month or 2.

ImageUploadedByLake Ontario United1455976092.146980.jpg

I didn't have time to dig it out last night but I found a pic of it. Let me know if it's what your looking for.

That looks like the one I was considering. I'll take it off your hands for $20. If I don't have a business trip out your way in the next month or 2 I will pay for shipping.

Thanks again for the ideas. I have 2 of the Penn manual riggers for my boat but I want to rig one and use it before I rig the 2nd one, just in case I don't like the first method.

Ifishy, your boat is modified way beyond what Starcraft ever envisioned. She looks like a serious multi-species rig!

I'll try and find it and get a pic for you tonight

Ok, thanks!

Saratoga

I make it out to Saratoga a few times a year for work. I don't know when I'll be back there. Give me a price and maybe we can strike a deal.

Is there any difference between Luhr Jensen J Plugs and Silver Horde Plugs? They look the same, but that doesn't mean they perform the same.

Try now

Got it, thanks!

I think I have a cannon clamp mount. Don't know what it's worth or what shipping would be but I would be willing to make a deal if you are interested.

Where are you located? I'm about 80 miles north of Syracuse.