12 Volt Man

for a good travel rod (true travel) I use a 3 peice St. Croix premier that is 7 foot med. power and it comes in a nice codura covered PVC rod tube. I got mine at bass pro several years ago for $200 I think. I have taken it to mexico, the bahamas, cozumel etc. and caught snapper, baracuda, bonefish etc as it fits in a suitcase.. for a true travel rod, its a great option. but its a 3 piece. for a two piece rod, there will be more options.

based on your thread title, I thought this was going to be about Honey Boo Boo..

PVR is amazing. you will never have to sit through commercials again. just fast forward them as you watched your taped shows. warning: once you have it you can't get rid of it. my wife and I tape all kinds of stuff and watch it together, fast forwarding all the commericals. we also get WFN, I like it. I like the salt water shows it has too.

I was at Sail this afternoon and they did not have any Avid steelhead rods left. just a few triumph ones and thats it. lots of lures and reels at that store, but not the greatest rod selection, thats for sure.

<BR> <BR>$230 I think for the Avid version. very nice with the skeletal cork handle like the Loomis GL3s. thats the most comfy handle out there IMO <BR><BR>I was there a while ago so I would call them to make sure they still have some in stock if you are looking to buy one from there.

what, in your experience, is a more effective casting lure for browns/rainbows: small spoons like smaller cleo sizes or in line spinners like the mepps aglia and black fury? a friend of mine asked me the other day and I didn't really know. I have caught trout on both cleos and rapalas, but never spinners. but I know people catch lots? thanks for any suggestions.

although I don't fish the rivers, and use a 7 foot MH Loomis SJR843 GL3 rod for salmon, and a lighter GL3 for trout, I was in Sail the other day in Burlington and I was playing with a 8'6" St. Croix Avid Med. power steelhead rod, and man it is sweet! when I go to a longer rod this will probably be my pick. check it out I think you will like the feel of it.

first of all, I won't go near the river because of all the bad stories I hear. I just fish the pier/lake. secondly, this is a fishing message board. I asked an honest question about migration habits. I don't think it is inappropriate. that is the whole point of the board. having a fishing message board while not being able to ask questions like this about fishing with fellow anglers is like having a library without any books allowed. you won't learn much. and its a shame this board seems to have the attitude that information can't be shared amongst fellow anglers. being able to discuss experiences and info with fellow anglers SHOULD be one of the main values of this board. but it isn't. sad.

looks amazing. what blank is that built on?

amazing fish! congrats!

most things you do to your rod will make you go blind...

congrats on your first salmon! nice fish! looks to be 12-15 pounds of pure fight!

maybe you experts can answer a question for me: I have heard that after the salmon run is done up the river the rainbows and browns 'follow' them up. is this true? haven't seen any salmon around the piers in about a week, but I was hoping some trout might start to show up?

probably duckweed

great report. I also find that when the fish are jumping they are not hitting. when you can't see them, they are hitting. I would also add that I seem to do much better with a chop on the water. waves are good around the piers. calm days seem to be tough. I have landed 3 big ones so far this year, with my largest being this fish that was weighed at 24 pounds. I could hardly pick it up. super fat. I hope to get some more and some rainbows and browns in coming weeks.

very nice fish. if you compare to the legit 24 pounder I posted earlier, the fish looks to be a good 18-20 pounds I would say. great fish! congrats!

true, it is very easy to over estimate the weights on these fish. the fish I posted earlier with the huge girth was weighed at 24 pounds. I could hardly pick it up. its a benchmark for me now. if I don't have trouble picking up the fish without a fair bit of effort, its nowhere near 24 pounds. I would have thought it was more but you don't know until you actually weigh it. I have seen people land huge salmon and say its gotta be 30 pounds. then they pull out the scale and its 18.. easy to do, but it doesn't really matter in the end. who cares if the fish is 20 or 25 or 15? they are all amazing fish and they all fight hard! congrats to all those anglers lucky enough to land one. its easier said then done sometimes. there are a lot of people out on the piers that have never caught one yet.

still a thick fish! congrats!

nice! did you get any pics? would love to see a shot of this monster!

small world! thanks, I got another one the other day, but it was a bit smaller than the other two, but still a great fish. the fight these fish put up is addictive LOL

amazing! love the net cam LOL

what an amazing fish! love the cool hookmouth

thanks for all the kind words. I actually think I may have beaten that Personal Best with a new Personal best last night: this fish was weighed by friendly fellow fishermen on the pier at 24 pounds. it was super thick and fat. probably weighed more than the silver fish, I would think??. It felt heavier to me. one thing is for sure: I am sure giving my Loomis SJR843 GL3 spinning rod a work out this salmon season lol. just yesterday it begged me to use it for bass again hahaha but look at the colour: dark/golden. Has this fish been up the river and back out? I'm confused as to the colour change too. I was always told they darken when they have been up river. the ones out in the lake are more silver??

Just wanted to share a pic of my largest salmon ever, caught last week from a local pier. fought like a beast, released to be caught again (or to go up river and spawn lol) fish was taken on, surprise surpise, a spoon!

you were using a better rod. I notice this too with my Loomis GL3. I am casting just as far or farther with a 7 foot Loomis GL3 with a 2/5 or 2/3ds oz Little Cleo than people using the 9 or 10 foot cheaper rods. 7 feet of high quality rod/taper is going to cast better than 9 or 10 feet of wet noodle. nothing wrong with cheaper rods but they will not cast as well as the better quality rods like avids GL3s etc. you really don't know until you cast one. and easier too. you just flick your wrist. takes much less effort with a good quality rod. with the cheaper stuff it seems like you have to put your whole arm into it. people are probably going to flame me, but I have noticed this too and I think this is probably why.