Shane, Keith here, right now Terrie and I are on a mission in Costa Rica. But I just noticed your post. If you want to catch BIG macks pay attention to what they say about Captain Steves fishing. He is my fishing partner and when they call him a fish killer it is wrong. He guides and if the person wants to keep "their fish" that "they" catch "legally"it is their fish to do what the law allows. I have released more fish while fishing with Steve than I could ever count. And since I hate to eat fish I turn everything that isn't bleeding back. I have caught so many "BIG" macks with Steve that when we take some one else with us,we let our friends, children and grandchildren catch them all, I caught a 43 inch 42 lb mack while with Steve and turned it lose. He does not encourage anyone to keep a fish. And if they are not going to keep it he takes all precautions to not harm them and get them back in the water as quick as possible. I know this because I've spent many many days fishing with him. But if you want to catch big macks Steve makes it happen. I do not think he is guiding on the Gorge now. He moved to St George where is is still catch plenty of fish. Say Hi to your mom and that crazy mailman of a father for me.[sly] [fishon]
[signature]
Question for all you Mac fishermen....when you catch fish that deep and then release, are there any negative effects on the fish? Any issues with swim bladders or decompression?
Just curious about the prevailing opinion and/or methods for proper Mac release.
Thanks
[signature]
[quote Beautiful-Fish][font "Calibri"]Drag the bottom in Swim Beach or Lucerne Bay with a F-7 or F-5 all white Flat fish . If you can not find all white Flat fish go to Home Depot and get a spray can of Plastic coat in white and paint any F-7 or F-5 Flat Fish all white. Let dry for 24 hr. Then put your new Mack killer to the test. I promise you will catch Lake trout ! [/font][/quote]
well i just bought and painted 2 of each, going to be there trying this out this weekend.
how deep of water should i be dragging bottom in? or riggers only have i think 100' of cable, minus the 5' they stick up above the water
[signature]
[font "Calibri"] Find the fish first in Swim Beach or Lucerne Bay. Look for the other boats, then on your GPS put a mark every time you see fish on the bottom and make a coarse from one spot to the next. Make a note how deep the bottom is at each spot. Try to set up a run were the bottom stays at at 90 to 100 ft or a run were the bottom stays 80 to 90 or 70 to 80 so when you make your real run you don't have to adjust your down rigger all the time. Then put the Flatfish back 50 ft and send them down 2 or 3 ft from the bottom. F-7 & 7-5 flatfish will dive about 2 or 3 ft so this should get them in the sweet spot 1 to 6 in. from the bottom. I forgot to tell you that flatfish will snag the bottom so this is like a game of chicken, Do you get a big Mac first or a snag ? Troll at 1.5 mph . I have used this method many times and if you don,t snag the bottom, it can work fast, like in the first 5 minuets.
[/font]
[signature]