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Thanks for the tips! I went last night and bought some 40# test line and tied up some new leaders with new swivels. My rods and reels are brand new. As I said, this is my first year trying this out so everything is a learning process. This website has helped TREMENDOUSLY! I have a mixture of rod and reel combos based on advice I have seen on here. 1 Okuma Dipsey pole (10ft) with a Daiwa SG47LC reel - 1 Cabelas Gold Depthmaster LC with Cabelas Downrigger Pole (8ft) - 1 Daiwa Accudepth LC with a 9 ft pole the brand of which escapes me - and lastly an Eagle Claw setup with the starfire rod. I have mono, pro line braid, Cabelas braid and a Mason leadcore line setup. I'm trying to figure out what I like and what works for me. I have had some success catching browns and steelies, but the Kings I believe are busting my chops. I will try using the 40# line, continue to resist the "set-the-hook" temptation, keep the snubber on there and see if I can't loosen the Dipsey release a bit without having it come unglued every time I put it in the water. At this point I'm hoping to get a King to the boat at least. In my mind I have already identified that I may have a bit of an issue netting it by myself, but I will figure that out more once the opportunity arises. At this point I can't keep one on my line. I'm just sacrificing lures to the depths of Lake O., a practice I hope to remedy in the next few days (if the weather cooperates).

I will fight the urge to "set" the hook...that may be part of my issue as I'm thinking about it. Being traditionally a shore fisherman, setting the hook is necessary. I am consciously trying to avoid the temptation, but that could be part of my technique issue here. I will try to allow the fish to just run for a bit and not pull back on the rod at all. Thanks for the advice!

The moment of excitement when something hits is a RUSH! The defeated feeling when I pull everythng up and see that something else has been whisked away in the jaws of some beast from the deep...well...I'm becoming a bit of a mumbling fool out there...I would do anything just to SEE one of these things at this point. I'm even willing to mess it all up by whacking the fish accidentally on the head with the net when trying to get him in the boat (I'm often going out on my own - so i wait till the weather is VERY calm) so long as I could SEE one! I'm starting to think I need to use steel chains.

A big box of Eagle Claw barrel swivels. I use the largest ones in the set.

I need some assistance. I have been trolling the area in front of Irondequoit Bay for the first time this season and I have had some success getting fish to hook up, but I'm consistently losing large (I imagine they must be large) fish to broken gear within the first 10 seconds. I'm not even really getting a hand on the pole before the fish seems to be gone. The first fish snapped the leader line on the fly itself - none of my handiwork/tackle. It honestly looks like a pair of vice grips smashed down on that line and then it split. It was a brand new fly - never been used - and there were no kinks in the line. The box says the line that I believe was bitten through was 50#. The next big hit I took snapped a knot (I typically have always used the "Improved Cinch Knot") I had made using 30# Big Game between the Dipsey and the Spinny. I've fished for years (just not on Lake O. like this) using that knot and I have never had it come apart. Do I need a new knot? I may have even had it doubled on that area (is that what is wrong?) I did not have a snubber on (I see many people say they have removed the snubber from their setup on here so I followed suit) and I'm running 50# braid to the Dipsey. My drag is JUST holding the line. I set it so loose I can hear a *click,click,click* every so often as I'm trolling due to the waves. I'm not hearing a Zip though when the fish hits - just a couple pole jerks and then nothing. I know I'm not hitting bottom - I'm WAY too deep and not NEARLY enough line out when this happens. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to boost the strength of the line? Should I run a snubber when using the braid? Is my Dipsey too tight? Is this just a fact of life I need to get used to? The second fish swam off trailing not only my fly, but the flasher as well...So I'm hoping to avoid that again (it gets expensive) until I at least get to SEE one of these fish up close. I appreciate the help! I'm starting to talk to myself constantly out there wondering what these fish are going to swim off with next. If you see a guy mumbling incoherently in a boat in front of I-Bay...well...it very well may be me... CONFUSED FOR SURE!

PM Sent

PM Sent

Hmmmm....I wish I had that advice a few months ago...

[/img][/img]Name: Brett Location:Irondequoit Bay Home Port:Irondequoit Bay Boat Name/Type: Currently in the market I fish for: Everything ================== I've lived in Rochester since 2004 and on Irondequoit Bay since 2007. I have fished the bay for many years but THIS year - for the first time (based on coming across this site and then a youtube video showing people catching salmon off Lake Ontario tribs in February) I worked my way out to the Webster Pier and Irondequoit Bay Pier early in the spring - A steelhead and coho later and I'm HOOKED. I've caught a lot of bass and pike on the Bay and recently heard of people catching large walleye here as well (to date I have never caught a walleye on the bay). I'm looking to expand my horizons. All of the tips- comments and help on here are GREATLY appreciated. Not sure if the photo will load - but I tried to attached my first ever Steelie! THRILLING!