Sponsors
The following information on sponsors
products is my own opinion. If you want to increase your fish catching
abilities, add these sponsors products to your arsenal.
FISHING LINE
Berkley has sponsored me for the many
years that I have run charters in the Great Lakes.
My line of choice for trolling is Stren Duratuf, for casting and fishing I like
either Berkley XL or Stren Super Braid.
One tip I will pass on when selecting
line, is use the smallest diameter line your rod will allow. Longer, more
flexible rods let you select smaller diameter lines. Due to zebra mussels
cleaning the lakes, you need the smallest diameter line your rod will allow you
to run, to get more fish to hit.
I use 20—30lb Fireline with leaders of
17 lb Vanish fluorocarbon for perch fishing. Stren developed a line called
Duratuf. This line is the best I have ever used. This season I will be using 14lb
for walleye and trout, and 30lb for muskie. I use 50lb Super Braid for my
dipsey’s.
Pure Fishing also developed the Easy
Clip snap. I used this snap for the last three season for muskie and was very
impressed. These snaps do not come open losing tackle and fish. They worked
great with no problem all season. When handling toothy critters, the Berkley
Gripper works great saving my hands many cuts. They also come with built in
scales and a built in tape measure.
I also recommend the use of Fluorocarbon leaders, which the fish cannot
see. Berkley has 40-60 lb Vanish fluorocabon that works great. It is
worth trying if you use that size of line. Vanish fluorocarbon has had some
problems in the past, they have been corrected and Vanish is very good to use.
BODY BAITS
The bomber products we use are 9A, Deep
Diver, 14, 15, and 16 Shallow run diver, and
24, 25, and 26, which are Moderate deep divers. We help bomber with
color and product development.
Luhr Jensen makes a wide range of
quality products. The ones we use are the
powerdive, which is a moderate diver, 1/2 oz. And 3/4 oz. Hot Lips, and
the fingerlings, which are deep diving baits. Luhr Jensen has a wide range of
colors to tempt your wallet.
This is a fairly new product with three
body baits, the little ripper, The deep ripper, the ripstick,and the reef
runner. We have helped our sponsor with colors and product development. If you
do not have this product already, you are missing a great fish catcher!!!
From their large selection of baits, we
use only Junior Thundersticks, and Thundersticks. When fish are at the depths of a
Thunderstick, very few baits will do.
The Big M bait is going to be one very
effective muskie bait. If you watch the straight, short lip in the water it will
dance two to three feet side to side while trolling. This action will cause an
aggressive strike by an upset fish.
With all baits,
tuning is very important. One thing that we have found out is, the bigger the
lip, the more tuning is required. Check to see that the lure is running true
after each fish.
For Muskies I use a number of baits. The main three are Fingerlings by Luhr
Jenson, Loke and Ziggie.
Loke comes in many
sizes 7”, 8”,10” and 12” Jointed and straight. They are local made in
Fairhaven. They have a very vibrating action and come in many colors.
Ziggie Is a
fairly new bait to the market but very effective. They are made in Marine City
and also come in a wide assortment of colors. This is only bait I have not had
to tune it works from the package. Ziggies come in different sizes straight and
jointed and are a must to have if you fish Muskie.I use other baits that
include, Nils master,
Believer, Jakes, and Big M. One last very effective bait is the Mason bait made in
SPOONS
Over the years, I have used many different spoons with positive success. I
have settled on six spoons. The ones I use are Pro King, NK - 28,
Silver
Streaks, and Michigan Stinger and Fishlander.
An old spoon to make a new come back is the Northport
Nailer. They make a spoon called the Kaleidoscope this spoon has
a finish that stays on the spoon very well, even after many fish. One tip on spoons is to run ones together that work at
the same speed. Every spoon has a different shape and size causing different
action at different speeds. When fishing Lk. Erie for steelhead and walleye
don’t be afraid to try small spoons like the Scorpion and Stinger and Jr
Streaks and Mini Streaks.
RODS AND REELS
To help me return the bait back to where it was, I use Shimano Tekota 600 Linecounter Reels. For
different applications, I use a variety of Shimano Talora rods.This line of
equipment is very high quality. If you can afford it get this line. Okuma has a low cost but working line of rods
and reels.The Okuma reels have had some minor problems in the past. This does
not cause great problems and will function very well for you.
Ambassador reels, Berkley workhorse rods.Last season Abu brought out the 6500 in a
line counter. I tried this reel and was impressed with the performance. They
have this past season released the 7000 with a linecounter. This reel performed
very well, and very smooth, you might want to give this reel a try this season.
I have used the workhorse rods before they are very flexable and strong rods.
ROD HOLDERS
I am sponsored by Traxstech who make track and rod holders, as
well as other accessories. The track was custom made to wrap around the stern
of my boat, and is capable of holding all my rod holders and downriggers.
This type of set-up has a moderate initial cost, however upon examination
you will find the quality built into every piece.
SWIVELS
This may be the most important piece of equipment on your boat. I use Sampo
or Spro
welded ring swivels to ensure they do not open.
I recommend you use Sampo, Spro or Berkley
for your swivels.
These swivels cost more than others, but
when it's your trophy on the other end, cost is forgotten!!
SNAPS
A new snap has arrived on the market place and
long over do it was. Bernie at Spring Ease makes a snap with a safety catch, if
the main snap open up during the fight with your fish the safety ring will
catch the snap to stop you from losing your trophy. We used these snaps for
years and found them to be very effective. This snap has saved myself a large number of lost lures more important lost fish
from clips opening.
FLUOROCARBON LEADER LINE
This is a product you should not fish
without. I use Seaguar
and Vanish fluorocarbon leader material for all my leaders. I have one
exception and that is I use 50 lb. Stealth for leaders on my dipseys . I use 20
lb. for perch, trout, and walleye and 60 lb. for muskies. Make sure you check
for nicks in the line after every fish, especially something toothy like a
muskie. Fluorocarbon is a product you should not go fishing without. Make sure
you use fluorocarbon leader material and not fluorocarbon line for leader
material, there is a great difference between the two and not just cost.
Remember you get what you pay for.
Berkley also makes a great fluorocarbon
you might want to try.
RELEASES
There are all kinds of releases on the market today. We started years ago
using Offshore Tackle Releases, and found they were the easiest, simplest, and
the most reliable to use. Offshore Tackle
makes releases for every application.
PLANER BOARDS
Super Ski's are my planer board of choice, and I've made an adjustment to them.
Now they will pull five Hot Lips in eight foot seas without a problem. A
problem with these boards is I think they don’t make them any more.
DOWNRIGGERS
I use four Walker downriggers. These riggers are very
smooth, fast and reliable. I also have an Strike vision camera for my boat. If
used and under stood this camera will help increase your fish catch. Walker
also makes a full line of divers in many hot colors. These are going to be very
effective, you might want to check them out.
CLOTHING
Dickies Clothing you might want to check out this line of
clothing. I did and was very surprised at the quality built in every article.
They also have a line of Camo clothing that is also water proof in my line of
work this is very important. Warm and dry is something I like.
PHOTOS
For my photo enlargement I used Kwik Copy
in Sarnia. I was very pleased with the quality of their service and the work
they supplied. The price was also great. They made my buisness card for me I
was very impressed how it turned out. If you are looking for this type of
service I would recommend Kwik Copy.
FISH TAXIDERMY
I get asked many times which is better,
a full skin mount, or a reproduction. My answer is the same. Remember the
thrill you had when that big fish surfaced behind the boat? If you keep your
fish, no other person can ever have that thrill from that fish again. Released,
it will live to fight another day and make someone else just as happy as you.
On lake St. Clair a 50” muskie is about fifteen years old. How many 50” fish will survive if they are
not released.
If your are going to get a replica done
I suggest using Advanced Taxidermy. They are one of the best in
the business. Get a very good picture of the fish, a length and girth, and let
them do the rest.
REMEMBER, let them Go so they can Grow.
Get your trophy and let someone else get theirs.