Capt Vince Pierleoni

Absolutely love this show. I usually hate reality shows, and most aren't very real. This ones different, sure there are some staged scenes but when the cameras rolling for as many hours as they do with these guys most of it is authentic. When a "payday" is on the line after sitting hours, days, weeks they could care less about how they should act . Those of us who have had cameras rolling during tournaments would attest to this fact. I enjoy the camraderie these guys share despite the egos and competition. Like I've said before they love/hate each other and despite all the dockside and radio banter would cut a tuna loose and risk their own lives to save each other. Just like farming here in the U.S., it's a real valid lifestyle--they are feeding the world and in a tradition that has carried on for centuries. That being said, I don't care one bit for the harpooning. Not even the same game, and using airplanes to boot, the profits got to go out the window and its more hunting than fishing. I did not care for Tyler when he showed up, but I thought once he was humbled last season he would grow up. He's very important to that show as he plays the "villian" role easily. He talks smack like no other but adds a lot of drama to the cast. I think hes alot sharper than they make him out to be. I love Dave and Sandro as a team, and appreciate their approach--all business. Marciano is definitely the personality and "old salt" and if you could stand the cigarette smoke would be the best guy to have a beer with dockside. It was excruciating to watch footage of the Bounty hunter, he was just "shot". Those of us on here that have traveled around the lake here can see the similarites in their scene and the Lake O scene and thats what I get the biggest kick out of. The Tuna themselves are the ultimate pelagics and absolutely beautiful creatures. They have the same body shape as mature Summer Kings. I would love to carve out the time to fish for those beasts, but considering the amount of time it takes to get bit I feel very fortunate here on Lake O even in the more challenging seasons.

I can't speak on the waterfowl, but there isn't any on the mammals and the wild game is a treasured gift for local food banks when hunters choose to donate venison. Theres a reason wild game abounds all around in areas not ruined by concrete--its a gift to be used and managed properly. I will tell you one thing, there should be advisories on 90 percent of whats sold in the grocery stores.

We have used these for April fishing for many seasons. Great rod to run off the big boards.

Great point Tom!

"Poor planning on YOUR part does not constitute an emergency on MY part"

Sorry to break this to you Matt, but their preliminary findings fly directly in the face of what most ardent anglers observed last season. Last September they said there was still additional data to compile but they did not see excessive numbers using their collection methods. Lakewide, anglers shared that adult alewives spent more time high in the water column and perhaps the bottom trawls missed alot of whats out there. My concern all along has been if the alewife population is left excessively large in relation to the number of pelagic predators, that they could be in dire straits with another winter like what we are experiencing. I thought the plan was to control alewife with Chinook Salmon(last season there wasn't a whole lot of controlling going on) which helps the system in many ways, and of course brings a great economic shot in the arm to both NY and Ontario province. Instead, it appears the lakes Alewives will be dedicated to more and more Lake trout, a noble fish but not Chinook Salmon in any way, shape, or form.

LOLOLOL. I laughed at this when I read it, I was thinking the same thing. It's like oh so many things, you shouldn't look but ya keep coming back for more.

Wow, I did not know about this. Get well Bruce.

Yes Steve, "seriously." All I can share is my experience. My credibility in the fishing industry is highly regarded. I've fished professionally for 31 yrs and work with several of the highest regarded companies around. I moved over to Okuma in 2000, BECAUSE of drag issues with another big name reel co. Soon after, Okuma devoured market share in the Great Lakes market primarily due to complacency by some of the other companies. Now, if you enjoy some other brands upgrades in recent years its because they stepped up their game. Still, all of them have issues of some kind or another. My experience was never with the economy lines like Magda but the convectors were excellent in 2000, and several other lines were launched catering to the Great Lakes, Catalina, Clarion, and even the 55L Solterra answering the anglers requests for a powerful high capacity copper reel. My reels--all Okuma consist of 20D Convectors for lightline Spring shoreline fishing(many a King hooked along the way--excellent drags) 30 Catalinas of both vintages the early silver ones and the gold trimmed da models are used for most everything else, riggers, wire divers included. Leadcores are primarily fished on Clarion 553's--a high speed reel that also sports a great drag. This reel is also excellent for coppers up to 300' sections. 400' coppers and up go on Solterra 55Ls. I also have a set of rigger rods with Clarion 453's for when conditions dictate a high speed reel. From April through early October we will be on the lake nearly every day and will also fish 10 tournaments this year(some in Canada), I invite you stop down to the docks at anytime and ask for one of my outfits and give it the ole "pull check" if you'd like. None of my reels have ever been sent to Tuna Toms but I wouldnt hesitate to do so if needed. Many of my associates have sent their reels there, and many of them have been the brands you favor. Now, we practice 2 disciplines that prevent the vast majority of drag issues--1) Every single reel is stored with the drags fully relaxed at all times. I learned this in the 80's with the sealines--they would set up and chatter if you put them away tightened up. 2) we do not leave our rods/reels out in the weather. Everywhere we go we see outfits baking in the sun and getting soaked in the rain. Ours are only out when out fishing. Like I said I'm going to dig into the issues the OP had, but my experiences with drags in the above models have been the best I've ever experienced with Great Lakes reel. Good luck on the water.

Matt I'm going to dig around on this. The ONLY reel I've heard having drag issues when new was the first run Coldwaters. I can assure you, I have Catalinas that have landed THOUSANDS of fish and I often ask myself if they will ever need a set of drag washers. Mine are all 2 yrs old plus, so I'm going to look into this. That Catalina 30da is built like a watch. This said, I have heard that Tuna dude has bailed out reel owners of all manufacturers.

Rod, thanks for the craftsmanship and artwork you did for the events in the past. Great to hear you will be in more Tournys this year!

Rick he could be talking about Darren's or Danny's boats. If so those are 32's.

Great riggers. I believe the 5's have the same auto stops as the 10's and they are the best.

I bought one there as well. Paperwork all ready to go out the door. Since that time I have learned Krenzers in Sodus Pt and Collins marine near Grand Island are both also Venture dealers with similar prices.

There are wizzards on this site that could pull that off!

Ok, I will apologize in advance for these non-fishing/hunting items. I would rather price them cheap to fellow Sportsmen than deal with the general public. 1) Most flatscreen TVs have horrible sound. Much cheaper than a sound bar, I have a Sony home theatre 3 yrs old with a built in DVD player/receiver w/ remote. This has the front middle, 2 sides, and a woofer. Good stereo sound but no rear speakers. Was $300 new for sale here for $50. 2)Girls/Womens 15 speed bike, like new. Powder blue. Roadmaster brand, $20.

Thanks for the kind words, Chris. Whether you want to participate or not, as Rick said being around the "tourny scene" is a blast and you can feel the electricity in the air. My favorite story about the "Big Dangle" or the "Fast lane fishing team" was a June KOTL tourny held out of Whitby at the time. They were penalized and forced to start 30 mins later than everyone else on Sat morning because they were late to the Captains meeting. It was well known that the best concentration of Kings was around Toronto--a pretty fair run from Whitby. At the blast off 99% of the boats were screaming west, but despite being held back 30 mins they arrived at the fishing grounds at the same time as 99% of the boats in the event! Huge diesels in that bad boy!

You are not wrong, Chris! Great guys who definitely have the Tourny bug. Trust me, its a 52 fter but its a speed demon!

I figured that was the case. Well, start by telling the forum where you are located and how far you are willing to travel. If you dont hear from anyone, walk the docks and introduce yourself to as many operators as you can. No one will consider even a teaching gig without meeting you in person. Good luck!