Sk8man

Here's the pro version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYqPWfOOWzk&feature=player_embedded

Nick - You're looking at things way too optimistically....get a grip man Let Theresa do all the voodoo dance stuff....and put bright yellow tape on the rods to replace the pink stuff that has offended the fish gods

I received mine (4 300 yd rolls) 30 lb. test yesterday and when I took out the first roll of it and pulled hard on a section of it I was very surprised at the amount of stretch in it for 30 lb test it almost doubled in length. The box was sitting in the sun on my front porch for a while after delivery so the heat may have been a factor but it makes me wonder what a large king at the back of a flasher/fly combo on a large dipsey might be like if the stretch is there like that....no snubber for me I only loaded up two of my reels with it until I test it out against the conventional Big Game stuff on a couple other reels. The finish on the line is very smooth though but after all my years with 12 lb test the 30 lb feels like rope Les

or wraps around the "other leg" even worse

Usually mid lake this time of year Sampson and Dresden to Kashong.

Great to hear Marty...best of luck out there.

John summed it up real well. Past that it boils down to personal preference...there is no right or wrong to it.

With a few months to go with them chowing down it looks as though this may just be the year of the 40 pound kings on Lake O. Beautiful fish!

Gaffs are still allowed in ice fishing though and if you've ever tried to grab a large northern though a hole you could understand why....

I haven't camped there for awhile but used to go there every summer for years. Suggestion: if the boat rental place at/near the store is still there they used to have a very nice free map there of the locality (DJ's Bait Shop put it out) and it shows depths etc. all around that area. They sell bait there too and may be ableto point you in the right direction. We used to do real well on the perch just out from the boat launch ramp at the camp grounds (pike and smallies as well) in the central area of the campground and even from the dock there on bass. Good luck.

The younger kings seem to do better when released if they are brought in fairly quickly and if possible not touched by hand or netted. I've always used single hooks on just about all my stuff and use needle nose pliers to grab the hook turn it upside down and give a small shake and they usually drop back in the water at the back of the boat unharmed. Large kings are a different matter. For one thing it isn't always the depths that gets to them it is the long fight and expended energy...they are pretty much exhausted after fighting their hearts out. They also build up lactic acid in their system during the fight....much like the stuff that gives runners muscle cramps etc. In short...they are usually shot...and go belly up when released. They also do a lot of thrashing around in the net (the previous release method not practical) and in the boat causing injury. It might be possible to release one that isn't badly injured by spending a lot of time re acclimating them slowly but I've never done it.

Congrats!

Does it have a "kill switch"? If so sometimes it can be in the Off position without someone realizing it.....

Sorry to hear it briggsy.....last year I had a $250 camera in a camera bag with a half dozen sd chips either dropped out of my jacket pocket or was taken from the boat while I got my vehicle at the launch ramp (had been fishing alone) and someone took it....it sucks... feels awful. I'm still pizzed off about it.