Well, the Alabama Rig is nothing if not controversial these days! Who knows how long it will be legal, but here’s a look at what the hype’s all about from the fish’s perspective. Watch for the bite towards the end!
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The X82MS is a sweet steelie catching tool...but it's also great for several other applications!
Ok, so Lamiglas’ new X82MS spinning stick, (8’2″, rated for 6-12 pound line) has quickly turned into one of my favorite all-around rods. It’s really a steelhead rod but I’ve found it does quite a few other things well too…
Now, in the interest of full-disclosure here, I’m going to come straight out with it and say that I helped design this rod (along with the slightly heavier X711 MTS), but I can also tell ya that I didn’t receive payment for the process — I simply asked them to build a couple rods that I needed that weren’t in their lineup.
Short Stick Side-Drifter
My main concept for the X82MS was for side-drifting steelhead. There’s been a trend, particularly in the Northwest, for many years towards very long, limber side-drift rods. Up north, a lot of folks like parabolic 9’2″ or even 9’6″ rods rated in the 4- to 8-pound class for this technique. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that thought process, but I just feel a shorter rod is easier to handle in a boat — especially in the confines of a drifter. [click to continue…]
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Here’s a little video I shot to kinda get you started understanding how float fishing for salmon & steelhead works…
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Ron's Stinky Pinkie takes top honors for 2011!
As the “lucky” angler who bested this year’s nastiest fish, Ron has of course won the Harrison Ibach perpetual crown, along with a lifetime supply of Cooter’s Chawspit Doughbait for carp, a subscription to Squawfish Enthusiast Magazine and a free guided sucker fishing trip. Way to go, Ron!
For those of you who missed it, here’s the story behind Ron’s trophy catch: [click to continue…]
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I’ll be showing some interesting footage of all the bites you miss but never know you had, an underwater view of the controversial Alabama Rig in action, what some of our favorite salmon lure look like underwater, what it looks like 100 feet down on the bottom of Lake Tahoe…and more. Here’s a sneak peek:
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Alabama Rig: Too deadly, says B.A.S.S.
The castable umbrella known as the “Alabama Rig,” which turned the bass fishing world on its ear just a few months back, has officially been banned in B.A.S.S. Elite Series tournaments and the Bassmaster Classic.
Elite Series Rules Committee members believe the rig eliminates some of the skill that should be required in tournament competition at the highest level. “It doesn’t matter how you work it,” said one of the anglers. “The fish can’t help themselves.”
Our resident bassin’ expert and professional angler, Big Fred Contaoi, is excited about the ruling.
“The rig can be hard on the fish…you may get one of the lures in the mouth but others can snag fish in vital areas like the belly,” he says. “Outlawing it levels the playing field again I wish other tournament series would follow suit.”
Read the entire story at BASSMASTER.com
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Welcome to the 20-pound club! Guide Tony Sepulveda (L) and John Sellers
It’s time to welcome the 20-Pound Steelhead Club’s newest member, John Sellers of Fortuna, CA, who fished on Tuesday with guide Tony Sepulveda of Greenwater Guide Service on a very low and clear Chetco River in Orgeon for this bruiser buck.
Let’s let Tony tell the rest of the story…
“John hooked the fish drifting roe and a Fish Pill along a shallow break,” he says. “When he swung on the bite, it erupted in 18″ of water and went burning off the flat with it’s back out of the water like a spooked bonefish!”
Congratulations are in order for John…fish like that don’t come every day. And to that end, he thoughtfully opted to release it, despite the ridiculous regulation in Oregon that allows for the retention of wild steelhead.
“John’s a relative newcomer to steelhead fishing, catching his first on the Eel with me last winter,” says Tony. “With his big fish resting in the net, we talked about the importance of keeping those genetics in the gene pool. John was immediately on board. We took a few pictures and sent him on his way. We ended the day by 1:00 pm with 6 landed out of 10 hooked, a 20 pounder and a double hookup. Not a bad day!”
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