I will miss that big smile and wave from the pontoon boat whenever we passed on the river. Ralph’s knowledge and ability on the river were and will always be legendary.
The river will not be the same with out him.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends.
Thanks for posting the picture BK. You got it pretty close. Bule jointed #5 rap was the bait of choice. Sucked completely down that huge throat but came out easily with no damage to the fish.
These do take a little time to land but well worth it in my eyes. Always fun to watch peoples faces when these things finally surface after a long battle.
As a much younger man I did pursue these fish with the same fire as I do now with walleyes. I still marvel at their power and on the right day would even go chase one intentionally.
I’ve included another accident from last Saturday although only half the fish of the first. 26#s Bucktail and a minnow this time.
Thanks for the posts guys. 
Tom-I have done the flip flop thing a time or two myself. That stuff is pretty pricey to throw out.
From one tight wad to another
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I use 6lb fireline on a Pflueger President 35 for vertical jigging and i’m having problems getting jigs that are quarter oz. and less to freespool to the bottom. Would it come off the reel better with more backing? How much backing do you fireline guys usually use?
Targaman,
I have been using Suffix 832 (6-2) and have been impressed with its manageability in cold temps. I have a 300 yd. spool that I have filled 4 spinning reels( Shimano Saros)with and still have enough left to fill one more. My point is, get that reel 3/4 full of backing at least and then finish it off with your hardline.
I have been filling my spools way out to the edge of the bevel which is WAY farther than I would go with mono. The hardlines have no memory so won’t come flying off the spools inadvertantly like abrasion resistant monos.
Like Joel mentioned, put a little pressure on the line while spooling to make it layer tightly on the spool.
Hope this helps
doonan,
I did fish with the medium action eyecon quite a little this fall. The rod I had was either 7 or 7’6″. It was a little light for the 1.5 to 2 ounce weights I was using at the time while three-waying but would be on the money for .5 to 1 oz. bouncers.
The rod had a great feel to it and priced right.
Dean help me out–was this 7′ Medium?
I too will be there with some odds and ends in tow. It should be a fun day, looking forward to it!
Didn’t know you could get any older!
Jeff,
I’m with Doc on this, if you have current and decent depth in these sloughs you should have walleyes. Closing dams in these sloughs can really be a magnet even in low summer flows.
Good luck!
I ran through on Tuesday. Brushed some sand on the way down but slid over just a bit a grit my teeth harder and was fine on the way up.
Be careful!
The first boat broke a path at Baypoint this am. Should be good to go.
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Justin, what papers do you need ? I’m planing on coming tomarrow to the Bluff’s for a quote .
If you you would like to compare coverages apples to apples, a copy of your current insurance declarations page that would be great. If not, all I really need to know in order to provide you an accurate quote is how much coverage you would like for your boat, motor, trailer, electronics, and additional fishing equipment.
I’ll be bringing my laptop along for anyone that would like a quote on site.
In regards to the claims handling process, I think Angler’s Advantage does an excellent job. I can think of one IDO member who had an unfortunate claim last year on Pool 4. Angler’s Advantage had his lower unit repaired and had him back on the water fishing in 4 days.
That unfortunate angler was me. I won’t bore you with the step by step process but believe me it was swift and hassle free. Just a few days and I was back in business.
Nice to meet you the other day Justin. Thanks for coming down.
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What was that website to get dam flow?
Here is the one I use
river guages www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/stationinfo2.cfm?sid=DD3&fid=&dt=S
Ditto on what Randy said. Thanks to all who attended. Great to put faces on some familiar names.
Jason,
Good to talk with you yesterday. I have to agree that the little green backed fluke of Dean’s has been the best producer this winter for my boat.
The bite was on the slow side for us yesterday, at least by pool 4 standards. We did manage a few quality saugers and at times had plenty of time between bites for a few laughs.
Dean, I must ask-Does the new bait come with a catalogue?
Brian was just curious. 
Randy- 2:20 A.M.? WTH Had to be some booze involved here. I could tell by the smile on your face. 
That is a dandy!
Congrats on your catch!
Marty
Hats off to you Lindy. 
That is a very large feather to put in your cap. You look very good in front of the gold pipes of Carver Hawkeye.
Who’s the guy in the suit?
Marty
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I have no problem with anything stated above.
My ONLY issue is that I would like to see this spread across the board evenly. If you buy a $150k boat and load it full of dunken (Or otherwise) passengers and run up and down the same navigable waters, YOU should be Coast Guard “Licensed” as well.
Amen Chris!
I have been fairly quiet through this whole process and not because I’m not right in the middle of it. I have just went through the OUPV renewal. Yes, I have had this license that some claim ignonrance of for five years. Do I agree with all the parts and pieces of this license, no way. I do know it’s the law and have tried to do everything to comply.
The question has been raised before “Did you learn anything valuable while going through the class that enabled me to pass the test”? Yes I did. You are responsible for your wake and any injuries caused by or because of it.
Obviously there are many uneducated people out there. I know that a knowledgable operator of a 30′ cruiser underway at full throttle, throwing a 4′ wake would not drive through an area full of fishing boats, some of which are very small and have little free board.
So yes, there should be a license required to operate these big cruisers. If for no other reason than to educate them on the rules of the road which most obviously don’t know.
They pose a far greater danger to people than Joe fisherman.
I just grit my teeth every time I get my world rocked by one of these giants. Knowing the time and money I have spent to comply and also knowing many of these folks have just thrown down the money for the big rig and hit the water.
Thanks Chris for bringing up this very good point.
Marty
Jason is right on. Heavier weights let you move quickly to find active fish. Usually this is done with the rods in the holders.
I have been out quite a bit in the last week and have used nothing heavier than 2.5 ozs. on any rod in my boat and only 1.5 on the one I hold. Keep in mind I am fishing specific spots and am doing more hovering and sliding versus trolling.
Two presentations that are very alike and very effective but used two different ways.
Jason is right on the money. Marcum 820. I have been very happy with this rig.
By the way Jason, Congrats to you and your wife on the new arrival!!!
Very observant BK. Actually I had that line tied to my foot.
Brian,
Thanks, I got the idea from a catfish guy over there at Everts. 
Glenn is right on. Early Feb. of this past winter. Not too far below the dam in pool 4. Just another area that will never look the same after the renovation project. 
Oh well, that’s progress.
Thanks for all the congrats guys. I felt pretty fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. This is no doubt a fish of a lifetime but for those of us who get to fish pool 4, we know we have a shot at fish like this every time we drop a bait in the water.
The entertainment value on this site is going to be off the charts in the next couple weeks if we get just a little heat to go along with the high water. I can’t wait!
As for the article, I have to give “Hutch” the nod on that one. He told me they were looking for people that used techniques that were “just a little different”. I think that is a good thing 
Jason, we’ll go sometime but I want a leadcore lesson. Not my strong suit.
Dean, I’ll deal with you tomorrow! 
Gary-Water temp-38,and vis-about 3 inches in most main river areas.
Brian-My dropper length to the sinker will usually start about 16 inches. I will tie on a new piece if I get shorter than a foot due to break offs. Shorter than 12 inches seems to be where I start seeing my catch rates decline.
When running one bait I will use about 50 inches of leader.
When using 2 baits on the same line I will go about 40 inches to the first and 18 to 24 inches to the second.
Any other questions, fire away. Too cold to float a boat so we just as well talk about it.
Marty
Erick,
I can add my experience with 3-ways and sticks.
I have experimented with larger trebles but instead settled on a good quality treble of the same size. I have used triple grip trebles by Mustad for years. I do feel larger trebles change the action on sticks, especially those made of balsa.
Hard lines, slow and steady on the way to the boat, a rod with a little forgiveness and the good trebles will get most fish into the boat after the hook up.
Just one man’s opinion.
Marty
I did have this exact same thing happen to me a few years back. I was on Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. It was a very muggy day, very clear except for a big cloud bank in the west. I noticed I was getting a slight shock when I would touch my leg against the side of the boat. As it got worse you could spool line of the spinning reels and it would go straight up in the air. I could have emptied the reel and it would have all went to the sky. At this phenoms worst, my buddy who has very straight thin hair looked like he stuck his finger in a light socket. It was standing on end. I wouldn’t have believed any of this had I not been there. Strangest thing I have ever witnessed on the water.
We didn’t feel any need to leave as the only storm clouds were far in the distance.
Before anyone asks, no booze involved. At least not until later.
I have had quite a little experience with the .243. This is the only gun I use to kill coyotes. About the time I was going to purchase one of the .22 calibers, Nosler came out with the 55 gr. ballistic tip bullets. This is really a good choice for coyotes. I don’t know exactly what’s available for factory ammo in this bullet size but if you handload or know someone that does this bullet is a dandy.
I use 55gr. of H380 and have chronographed this at 4069 FPS at the muzzle. Believe me this is a screamer. This one stays flat and bucks the wind pretty well.
Again, a good choice as the.243 is very versatile.
Good luck
Marty Hahn
I have had quite a little experience with the .243. This is the only gun I use to kill coyotes. About the time I was going to purchase one of the .22 calibers, Nosler came out with the 55 gr. ballistic tip bullets. This is really a good choice for coyotes. I don’t know exactly what’s available for factory ammo in this bullet size but if you handload or know someone that does this bullet is a dandy.
I use 55gr. of H380 and have chronographed this at 4069 FPS at the muzzle. Believe me this is a screamer. This one stays flat and bucks the wind pretty well.
Again, a good choice as the.243 is very versatile.
Good luck
Marty Hahn
