What Works For You....What Doesn't

HOGTIDE · 03-28-2001, 09:56 PM

After years in the outdoors,you have heard all the brand name gear hype by advertisers and all the things the bragger and guide wanna-be's say are important. But, when it comes down to your own real life experiences, what can you count on and....

What Works:
Hot Coffee at Daylight
Warm Insulated Socks
A Friend with Maple Bars
Cheap Lamiglas Rods
Maxima Line
EagleClaw Hooks
ABU Baitcasters
Boats that are welded
Rainbow and Gold Blades
WD-40
Homemade Spreaders
Mercury Motors
HotDogs on the Propane Heater
A Daughter & Luck in the Boat

What Doesn't:
Store-Bought Spinners
SportingGoods Salesmen
Any Line that's Blue
Cigars in my boat..or yours
Fishin' Liars
2 Stroke Exhaust
Cheap Brand Rods with lotsa Decals
Sandwiches that taste like Herring
Trollers that don't Look Up

What Works:What Doesn't:

Salmonator · 03-28-2001, 10:03 PM

whats wrong with sandwiches that taste like herring? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

ZaQ · 03-29-2001, 04:56 AM

YOu forgot one to the doesnt work list.....

Cell phones. I tell the people that come in my boat, no cell phones. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Eddie L · 03-29-2001, 05:25 AM

And bananas [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

WaterDog · 03-29-2001, 05:33 AM

My sandwiches always taste like smelly jelly! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Also add to what works:
2 pairs of pliers
hook file

What doesn't:
the guy that likes to stab at your fish when attempting to net it!

hound · 03-29-2001, 06:29 AM

what works??

fresh herring.
needle sharp hooks.
rookies women and kids..they always catch fish..
and make sure you have your net in a real hard to get to place.don't ever have it ready!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
think springers!!!!!!!!

Jellyhead · 03-29-2001, 07:04 AM

I'll add a couple to the what works list:

WOOL
FILE SAVERS (I wish I woulda thought of that idea)
GORETEX (when it's new) [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
DANNER BOOTS
OWNER HOOKS
HAND POURED PLASTIC BAITS

What doesn't:

ANY LURE OR BAIT I DONT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
ULTRA GREEN ON SPINNING REELS [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
A HONDA FOUR STROKE W/O AN IMPELLER (don't ask)
CHEAP TROLLING MOTOR BATTERIES
HUMMINGBIRD ELECTRONICS
ANYTHING THAT'S LOANED TO YOU

It's funny how my what doesn't list is longer than my what does. I tend to learn the hard way.

Aaron

hound · 03-29-2001, 07:20 AM

hey hog tide!!
hows the water clarity looking up yonder??

03-29-2001, 12:36 PM

Definitely keep the banana's away
from my boat!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

WheresMyBobber · 03-29-2001, 12:46 PM

What works:
Anything as long as I keep it simple.

What doesn't work:
When I take fishing too seriously and out think myself and the fish.

blacktail · 03-29-2001, 05:59 PM

Here's a few I just rattled off, I'm sure I can think of lots more:

1. CONFIDENCE

New Shimano spinning reels
Old Cardinal spinning reels
Ambassadeur levelwinds
Old Shimano Bantams, i.e - 201SG
Maxima line
Gamakatsu hooks
Pink pearl corkies
Sand shrimp
BORAXED egg clusters
Loomis rods
Thill floats
Pink prawns
1/2 oz. old red/white spoons
Blue Fox spinners
Bullfrog sunblock
Chapstick
Aspirin

Mike

Wog · 03-29-2001, 06:26 PM

What works: Lots of Patience [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

What doesn't work: Shimano Corsair Reels [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

OneLastCast · 03-29-2001, 06:28 PM

What works:

Fishin partners that:
Go crazy when they hook a fish
Can back a trailer
Know how to set the emergency brake
A wife who automatically assumes you will be fishin this weekend
A wife that want's to go
A wife that can rig her own herring
A wife who has no problem with the Thundermug
A wife who once she is out there realizes that she is out there for 12 hours

What doesn't

A time schedule
A partner that can't back a trailer or bait his hook
A woman who says "Dont' worry I can hold it."
A woman who says "You want me to pee in that????"
A partner that says I have to be back by 11:00 and doesn't tell you until 10:30
A partner that says "lets keep it no one will check us"

There is a lot more but this should start the summer thoughts

OneLastCast

HOGTIDE · 03-29-2001, 06:37 PM

Hound, The water remains Good! Fish are stackin' on the corners!!!

OLC, On the "What Doesnt" list I strongly agree with the "partner who has to be back by 11:00" Watches should be illegal in a boat!

happybrew · 03-29-2001, 06:45 PM

What works:

Life jackets!
Small children trout fishing.
lots of coffee
Heavy rubber chest waders.
pink pearl corkies
frog pattern triple teasers
metallic red wiggle warts and side planers

What doesn't work:

My wife calling on the cell phone when I have a fish on. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I only have it so she can contact me in an EMERGENCY. But she has fish radar, and has the uncanny ability to call whenever I hook up with a salmon or steelhead! Better than 50%! No joke! I always answer, expecting an EMERGENCY! But it's never an EMERGENCY! It's always something unimportant, like "Your boss called and wanted to know blah, blah, blah, blah." My boss has no good reason to contact me on my day off unless the place has burned down or there are riots in the parking lot. That's why I go where they can't find me. And if I ever ditched the cell phone, there would definitely be an EMERGENCY and my wife would be unable to get ahold of me. I can't win.

happybrew

HOGTIDE · 03-29-2001, 07:21 PM

O.K... Both Watches and Cell Phones should be illegal in the boat. Focus on the rodtip,;shutup and troll!

BellBuoy · 03-29-2001, 08:38 PM

What works today seems to be$30,000 boats, $500 fishfinders, $300 rods and reels. I learned from my dad all you need is a stalk of bamboo with guides taped on and a Pfluger Rocket hose clamped to it. SpinGlo or Cherry Bobber a sinker and most important PATIENCE.

Bait O' Eggs · 03-29-2001, 09:02 PM

what works
1. A wife that understands !!!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

What doesnt work
1. My buddy checking the stock market at 6:30AM (when it opens), 6:35, 6:37, 6:41, 6:42, 6:44, 6:50, 6:54 etc etc... via cell phone. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]
2. OC Hoglines

Killertraylor · 03-29-2001, 09:06 PM

Works:
North River
Yamaha Outboards
Bikinis on the boat
Swisher Sweet Cigars
Gamakatsu Hooks
Fresh killed bait on ice for summer sturgeon
Lamiglass and G. Loomis one piece rods
Clown Kwikfish
Coors Light
Taking someone sturgeon fishing who has never cought a fish bigger than a trout
Warm August evenings when the Upriver brights are biting
Good Knots

Doesn't work:
Grandma hook sets on sturgeon
My old Weldcraft
Crossing the Columbia River Bar in the Dark
Northwest Wind and an Ebb tide at the mouth of the Columbia
Coastguard boat swamping you at buoy 10
Rude Guides at Buoy 10
Forgetting to put the plug in the boat
Guys who catch fish right next to you using the same thing you are

smilesforu · 03-30-2001, 02:36 AM

works
sharp hooks
ande line
good bait
persistance
raincoat longer than the top of your boots
old shimanos
supremes
lamiglas
custom rods
custom paints
disposable heat packs
reusable catalytic heat packs
pips
felt soled boots
penn 109's
bantam 1000p
glogos
cheaters
flatfish
castmasters
elk hair caddis
nickel swivels
solid knots
underspin reels
fishmaster pliers
maui jims
action optics
puma
tadpolly
hotshot
hookfile
buzz bomb
phish jigs
sharp knives
parachute cord
filson
galvanized trailers
toyota
classic rock
pretzel & coke lunch
double hooks
metzlar sinkers
long handled nets
file saver
solid tie hooks
buddy bearings
mustad
moving when fishing slows
changing colors
20 mule team

Don't works
most bass plugs
dry flies in winter
thin boots
heat stick hand warmers
cheap hooks
sun faded line
light line used with big spinglows
tying hooks on the river
Heavy line and light jigs
garbage bag raingear
faulty gas lines on trolling motors
missing trailer hitch pins
two day old herring
unbalanced spey rods
crappy jig hooks
twisted brass swivels
under wrapped knots
coffee
dropping pips in fast stream
cheap plastic sunglasses
short oars
sticky full skein eggs
stinky shrimp
gammies
vmc siwash
yellow steelhead rods
slippery fillet boards and dull knives
fish chains
mesh hats
rusty trailers
lowriders
rap music
soggy sandwiches
butterfly nets
staying put expecting different results
blue/green bobbers
loose eggs
untuned plugs

HOGTIDE · 03-30-2001, 05:04 PM

C R Y - K E E S !!!

Roeboat · 03-30-2001, 06:19 PM

What works:
Shimano spinning reels,calcuttas, curados
Lamiglass rods...or Loomis
Tadpolies, Hot n' tots
Great eggs
custom weights for drift fishing (cigar shaped pencil lead...doesn't snag up as much)
Hot Shot flashers
army tank, green splatter, copcar hoochies
Scotty downriggers
Eagle/Lowrance fish finders 600 watt minimum
red, pearl,clown corkies
good raingear
propane heaters
Dart style jigs for saltchuck salmon
jigs for steelhead
a cold one on a hot day
polaroids
Racor gas filters
home made spinners
atomic plugs
fresh Mikes shrimp oil
Izorline or Mean green
Gamakatsu hooks
stainless thermos
floats, dinks
fresh cut plug herring
good company

What doesn't work:
Whiners
cheap rods, reels
backing eggs down into a king hole with the clicker off on a spinning reel while turning the handle backwards...Ouch!
arriving at the boat ramp late
standing/sitting way off center in a drift boat
old Mikes shrimp oil scent
trying to net green fish
short leaders
dull hooks
store bought spinners
store bought eggs
stereos, cell phones in the boat
short anchor lines
casting over your line
the furry herring someone forgot about
Man those old shrimp reek...
forgetting the net, raingear, etc.

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

fishchaser · 03-30-2001, 06:33 PM

What works:
A shot a biter fluid (Whiskey) & a cereal bar (Breakfast for champions)
A fishing partner who knows your next move
without saying a word
A fishing partner who baits YOUR hook and straightens up YOUR boat while YOU are trolling (And it isn't your wife)

What don't work
Tequila and a breakfast bar
Cantalope on the ocean (bitter coming back up)
Having to bait everyones elses hook and drive @ the same time
On the river County boat inspections (cuts into fishing time)

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

rags · 03-31-2001, 04:02 AM

What works?
Crest toothpaste on your plugs!

boater · 03-31-2001, 08:55 PM

what works, the roar of a V-8 engine in a sled.
what doesnt, a rooty pooty lawnmower soundin sportjet.

03-31-2001, 09:26 PM

What Works:
Old ABU Ambassadeur reels
Old Shimanos
Shimano Curados,Stradics and Calcuttas
Vintage birdys,okies
Marie's Shrimp Scent
Round cork floats
Good rain gear
LA Dodgers
Loomis rods
Fishing with any of the following people
RT
Jennie
Mark A.
Jeff W.
Bill Hedlund
Marty Peterson
Jerry Shipe
Kim Katsion
My son Troy
Pink Powerbait worms
Maxima Chameleon line
Gracious land owners
releasing wild fish
My understanding wife
Disappearing bobbers
Gammie hooks
Hohner harps
THE BLUES

What doesn't work
Dead native fish
Bragging with no proof
Cheap line
Lifeless shrimp
Having a scent bottle spill all over you
Cold feet
SF Giants
Leaky waders
Trash on the river bank
Discarded mono
Straightened out cheap hooks
Someone beating you to the good stuff at a garage sale [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
RT behind you going down a steep,wet river bank [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
C&W music
Lee Oskar harps

Stew

[ 04-01-2001: Message edited by: bigstew ]

Hookset · 03-31-2001, 10:37 PM

works...........

Friends who chip in for gas
Waterproof hat with large brim
Quality polarized sunglasses
Rubber rain gear
Rubber boots
delta divers and fish flash flasher
red/white glo go's
summer steelhead and eggs
tuff line for bottom fish
GPS with map feature
two hook files &
two pliers
Beckman rubberized nets
duo-lock snaps
bead chain swivels
Stren magnathin
maxima leaders
coast floats
daily fishing reports
glass plug rods
ez marine pulley and float
fresh carmel cinnamon rolls
Pastrammi sandwhiches
stainless hardware
Forsman knives
zip-loc bags

does not work.......

not going fishing
floods & brown water
sliding mooching rigs
light weight anchors
short oars & no spare
cheap PFD's
fish-on rod holders
painted trailers

Lots more, just getting late, nice idea. No secrets yet. Good try Hogtide.

hook

RW · 04-01-2001, 12:14 AM

Hey bigstew, would falling in the river be included in the "What Doesn't Work"?
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] RW [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

04-01-2001, 12:31 AM

It works!!!! Here is the result.

HOGTIDE · 04-01-2001, 07:29 AM

WHAT REALLY WORKS:
OK, I'll tell ya may ace in the hole. I try not to let boats nearby see this, but we're all friends here.

For springers- I plug cut large carrots. They work just like the old Lucky Louies and J-Plugs. Soak 'em in anise over night; use a bait threader to get the treble toward the rear ( the narrow end) The combination of orange color, scent and wobbling action is more than any salmon can resist!

..hey, what's the date today?

Hookset · 04-01-2001, 09:38 AM

Just got back from all the local stores.......completely sold out of the large whole carrots. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] They won't have anymore in till next Thursday or so.

Hogtide....can you use the baby carrots? That's the only size that's left. What diameter and lenght works the best? Also, have tried injecting scent? I'm going to experiment with some light basting, maybe a little onion, potatoes and sardine jerky.

Thanks for the excellent tip.......really looks like the secrets out though. Just goes to show the power of IFish.

hook

Snagly · 04-01-2001, 04:08 PM

Great lists. I only have a couple of additions:

What works:

Face masks
Patagonia half-fingered gray gloves
Glacier Glove neoprenes w/ fold back thumbs and index fingers
Sunblock lip balm
Miner's headlamps
Fresh AA and AAA batteries
Leader trees made of backer foam
Fresh line, pre-stretched on all reels
Sunglasses on leashes
Cut-to-measure fabric "Elastoplast" bandages
Superglue for closing line cuts
De-fogging kits for sunglasses
Thermometer for taking water temp
Low profile CO2 life vests
Small Swiss Army knives
Gore-tex insulated socks
Barbless Gamakatsu hooks
Water Gremlin split shot
Mr Ed's Dink floats
Offshore Angler (Bass Pro) #7 black barrel swivels
Extra rod tips plus glue plus lighter
Dive whistle and Space Blanket
Wading belts (worn two at a time)

What doesn't work:

Non-waterproof cameras
Urgent calls of nature in rain and windstorms
Waterproof (sic) Band-Aids
Nu-skin for cuts
No backup rod in boat
No backup reel in boat
Not bringing extra clothes in a waterproof bag
Running out of hooks and sinkers in the "right" sizes
Having to tie more than one knot to re-rig on the river
Forgetting lunches and/ or drinks
Wading in water over your armpits

* * * * *

Hey Marty, what's a "Meltzer" sinker? And why are you anti-Gammi (other than cost)?

rcl187 · 04-01-2001, 05:31 PM

don't take these produce section secrets to lightly. One of the halibut I caught in Alaska this past summer had half an orange in it (along with a 5lb sockeye). I don't know what this means but next time the bite is slow I'm raiding the lunchbox. As for the radishs why not? they float, are red and white and come in a variety of sizes. Not much cheaper than corkies but worth a shot and if you don't catch a fish you can always eat them. Taste a whole lot better than plastic.

DF · 04-01-2001, 05:32 PM

Well what works for me is..
A boat that runs.. ( the whole time )
FOOD!!
Hot Dogs on on a Mr. Heater.. ( good idea hog )
Coffe ( a must )
And a social studies teacher that can crack jokes :P
Oh and I guess this all means that I cant bring my Ham Radio in your boat eh Jhon ? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[ 04-01-2001: Message edited by: Dustin ]

OneLastCast · 04-01-2001, 07:03 PM

SNAGLY!!!!

Tell me more about super glue and line cuts.
Does it work? Does your head twitch??
Enquiring Minds.

OneLastCast

HOGTIDE · 04-01-2001, 11:13 PM

Well,I figured it was just plain 'w r o n g' to keep such a hot tip to myself all of these years.

I'm not sure if I want to let go all the details about driftfishing 'radishes' for steelhead, yet.

Snagly · 04-01-2001, 11:49 PM

Super Glue in line cuts sounds like macho BS, but after Hawk (active on Bob's board) mentioned it I checked with my ER-active doc sister-in-law. Turns out that for several years Emergency Room doctors have been using Super Glue instead of stitches on all manner of cuts. Besides, that "Nu-Skin" or "Liquid Skin" (whatever)I was using stung like hell and didn't close them up.

So last year I brought a couple of tubes of glue to AK and BC. Washed the hands well in the a.m., squeezed in a couple of drops (which sting a wee bit) and held the cuts shut. Usually held together for at least half a day -- not bad for constantly wet hands. Some of the time, the glue held for the whole day. End of the day, a hot shower 'melted' the remaining glue and I squeezed in antibiotic ointment and let them breath overnight. If they were really bad (generally steelhead teeth rather than line cuts), I covered them with fabric 'Band-Aids' under the Elastoplast brand name. I've tried every brand of bandage, and these are the stickiest by far.

This year, I'm going to try something different and not cut my hands to pieces on the line. If so it will be a first.

PS I don't think my head twitches, but I'm not certain as it's hard to see. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Ocean · 04-02-2001, 09:03 AM

I really like this thread. Thanks for the useful ideas. Everyone has some special product or technique that really works well or solves a problem. Here are mine:

What works:
fishing partner you can trust
self inflating life jackets
Stainless steel pliers
Bunge achor lines for beaching your boat
Lowa boots and shoes
old style paper clips for heering
two fully charged batteries
extra five gallon bucket on swim board
Healy Hanson bib overalls
Warm gloves, warm boots and hot chocolate for the kids
Fresh line every year
disposable camera in the glove compartment
Clip on crab line weights for pots
Stabil and gas drier
�� pvc tube with cap to cover the end of the grease gun
Custom sized cutting boards from TAP plastics
Cheep white towels they sell at Costco, great for wipe down.
Hot dogs in a thermos of boiling water.
Cooking crabs on the beach

What doesn't:
Overly complicated marine electronics with 500 page �quick reference guide�
People that swing the rod and weight around while you are removing the hook
long crab pot lines without line weights
People that show up late. People that want to leave early
People dinging your hull while pulling the anchor.
null

[ 04-02-2001: Message edited by: Ocean ]

[ 04-02-2001: Message edited by: Ocean ]

TH · 04-02-2001, 09:52 AM

This is great, I think I'llplay!

First of all Things that work!

Custom Rods
shimano reels
Stren high impact line in hi-vis green
Maxima leaders
Gammy hooks
handmade spreaders
rosco swivels,bead chains
hand poured lead balls
My new 22ft Willie Predator
Merc. outboards
Bently seats
good bait
Mrs. Stewart's
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
My wife and kids in the boat
Salmon derbys!!! Right Major Brown
a nice high flood tide
calm mornings and warm afternoons
cold diet pepsi
eggs/hashbrowns made in the boaton the water
the sound of my son's gameboy or cd player
guide wear bibs and jacket (green) my wife says I look like gumby at 6'6" 280#
waterproof boots
BECKMAN NETS
wind stopper fleece!

Thanks for leting me play!

Jennie@ifish · 04-02-2001, 10:24 AM

This is fun!
What Works
<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Everyone shows up at the put in on time<LI>Someone brings doughnuts
<LI>You remember everything on your list, including a camera and having it doesnt jinx your day!
<LI>The first cast lands a big one!
<LI>The sight of a deer crossing the river before you, or an eagle flying overhead.
<LI>Cold, crisp weather, hands just a touch cold... refreshing air, a bit of mist hanging in the trees and the sunlight streaking through the alders and sparkling the trees that have a bit a dew on them.
<LI>Calm water on the ride out to Tillamook Bay
<LI>Fresh herring, not day old bait in August!<LI>Being the first one out to the beach to fish for silvers in the fall.
<LI>Being the first one anywhere fishing! The calm, the quiet, the aniticccccc--- ipation!<LI>The night before, tying up leaders, etc, talking, having a drink, relaxing, aniticccc----ipation!
<LI>Fishing!
What doesn't work

<LI>When the kids get in the boat and ask, "So how long are we going to be out here?"
<LI>When you launch your boat, get 100 feet down and say, "Do you have the bait?"
<LI>When ice gathers on your line and even sticking your hands in your armpits doesn't warm you up!
<LI>When you are female, wearing three pairs of long underwear and neos and then hear natures call. Don't drink too much coffee, I have learned!
<LI>When you realize you have worn the WRONG color nail polish and lipstick and there is no way the fish are going to stand for this, and refuse to bite accordingly.
<LI>When everyone posts pics of beautiful Springers on the board and you are home sick or working. This is not good for me at all! Actually, I love the pictures, but don't tell anyone!

I'm all done, I think!
Jen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]