Sk8man

The short rods sound like Seth Green rods ("boat rods"). The dodgers and squid sound like about 70's and 80's stuff and are still used on occasion by us dinosaurs The Sutton #71's were supposed to imitate Rainbow Smelt and are still used and work despite the fact that smelt are now in very short supply in most places where they once were found in abundance. The blade numbers were just proprietary numbers used by Luhr Jensen for ordering/manufacturing purposes they do not relate to the numbers you are talking about for Colorado and Willow leaf blades used for spinners etc. The Daiwa 27's were mainly used as downrigger reels in the early 80's. Some of the charter guys I used to fish with back then on Lake O felt that they were easier to use than the 47H's because they were smaller and lighter and didn't turn over in the rod holders like heavier reels but they didn't use the wire, copper and braid much back then so capacity wasn't as big as factor as it is now...and we mainly used 12-15 lb mono then so they held quite a bit. A lot of the stuff you are describing sounds very usable today especially when the usual stuff isn't working.

It could just be possible that none of it matters to the fish it is just the closest thing that looks vulnerable at the right time and nearby

You have some good points there.....Dodgers and squid have worked for decades here and in the northwest U.S as well for Pacific salmon. When you boil it all down it is much like the technology thing in general "the latest greatest new thing"...everyone has to have it but do they really NEED it? These things attract many more fishermen than fish (e.g. latest spoon colors and names for them...do they resemble anything in the fishes environment?). It is big business and all of us "bite" on it but many of the old standbys do still work (despite folks selling the older stuff off on here for next to nothing). It's all part of the excitement of the sport though.....but some of us dinosaurs still roam the seas and hold on to our antiques ...just in case....kinda like holding on to your old suit with the narrow or wide lapels with the thought that they will come back into style someday

The key to what Matt said is: ("gives us a starting point for future reference"). Always good to have reference points from which to do our own experimentation with our own boats and setups. Thanks again Matt for sharing the info. Les

As far as the line counter goes....Berkeley makes a cheap line counter (goes on the rod and line runs through it but a pull on line frees it) that could be used for something like that rather than spending money on a new reel. It is a little "bulky" but you could use it on whatever rod/reel combo you like. I think they are less than $10 or so. Might be worth a try you can take them on and off easily in seconds.

If it were me in a kayak I'd be thinking of JIGGING. You can access fairly deep water right out from Long Point State Park on the east shore. I'd go with some 1/2 oz to1 0z. white jigs and use some of the ZOOM baits (Swimmin Super Fluke, Salty Super Fluke White Pearl or Albino in about a 4-5 inch size). They are available in places like Walmart and Gander Mountain I believe. I'd look around right out from the launch ramp at the park in 80-120 ft. of water to start. Good luck with it either way. The other parks like Cayuga at the north end and Treman at the south end are too far to go to get to fishable trout water for a kayak I would think .... not sure about Dean's Cove as I've never launched there..no matter where you go wind (and direction of it) will be a major player in a kayak.