(10-29-2024, 01:48 PM)TubeDude Wrote: Nice work.  A fliggin' good time.  Tugs is drugs...even if they are only from those lowly catfish.  Tell Ira the price just went up on his "pinky pinks".  

Oh yeah, I also wanted to ask about leader lengths.  I had a discussion with Ira on that a few days ago and wondered if you guys had changed it up a bit.

(10-29-2024, 01:16 PM)Jmorfish Wrote: Nicely done Curt...your arm a little sore after all those cat fights?..tipping with chub meat pcs or crawler?

(10-29-2024, 12:17 PM)SkunkedAgain Wrote: Congrats Curt, that sounds like a fun day and lots of horsepower being drug in today... Are the cats still fighting hard, or are they slowing down into the rolling fight? Usually this time of year you lose the fun pull and get the half efforts, but as warm as it's been I guess they are still doing good.... Usually don't catch that kind of numbers of cats around Halloween, so glad you still got that kind of day in... I'm still watching for the perch numbers to come up and tempt me into leaving the construction and trying a day... It's getting closer and closer to me being able to get away and do some fishing.... Still got two big efforts on my plate, but timing might allow me to go before they are done... Later Jeff

(10-29-2024, 04:05 AM)BoatBallast Wrote: Sounds like a lot of fun.  I'm anxious for the perch to start.

(10-29-2024, 04:54 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(10-29-2024, 01:48 PM)TubeDude Wrote: Nice work.  A fliggin' good time.  Tugs is drugs...even if they are only from those lowly catfish.  Tell Ira the price just went up on his "pinky pinks".  

Oh yeah, I also wanted to ask about leader lengths.  I had a discussion with Ira on that a few days ago and wondered if you guys had changed it up a bit.

I might have to get another batch of 6, of pinky pinks myself, even with a new leader, one cat cut my line on the way in. On my next cat, with the three dot chartreuse, I checked my leader and it broke, it was amazing I got that cat in. On my next cat on that flig, it got it inside it's mouth and it really got torn up, trying to get it out and that was one of the samples you gave me, so I'll need 6 of those as well. Yes, we shortened our leader the ones we were using were 12 to 15"  in length. By the way, I got some intel, on some jigs, that are working well for one of the Willard regulars. I'll send you a PM about that and the fligs I'd like to order.

(10-29-2024, 07:56 PM)SkunkedAgain Wrote: Hey Curt, appreciate the update on those questions... like what you're thinking for next week as well... Hope it will get the perch on the chew.. I'll be watching to see what you find next week... Soon I hope to help out with some reports... Later J

(10-29-2024, 07:19 PM)Jig-fisher Wrote: What a stellar day. Fishing can be red hot pre-cold front, then just shuts down after it passes at Willard. Many of the worst days I've had at Willard  seem to come post cold front.

(10-29-2024, 05:25 PM)TubeDude Wrote: Amazing how pink has become such a good color...for so many species.  But there's almost something obscene about seeing an ugly ol' catfish wearing a pink lip ornament.  

I'm guessing shortening your leaders in the cooling water probably helped your catch rate.  But I think you need to find a new leader material.  At Willard I use 14# Silver Thread Excalibur and I have NEVER lost a fish to a broken leader or a failed knot. And I seldom retie during a day of fishing either.  It is very abrasion resistant.  Only problem is that they don't make it any more.  I still have a pretty good sized spool of it but their new "Super Silver Thread" is supposed to be a good replacement.  

Dunno if Ira told you but I sold off all my jig making stuff...including hooks.  However, I can still make some fligs by "recycling" the hooks on older models I haven't used and won't use.  Plus, I still have some of the heavier hooks for making either tailed or tailless.  And I can still make the wired ones.  Lemme know.

(10-31-2024, 01:24 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(10-29-2024, 07:19 PM)Jig-fisher Wrote: What a stellar day. Fishing can be red hot pre-cold front, then just shuts down after it passes at Willard. Many of the worst days I've had at Willard  seem to come post cold front.

It was indeed. When we were working, it was a lot harder to get out before the storms but having the option to get out any day of the weIek, sure makes it a lot easier to hit it on those days that you know should be good. Just don't get that option, when we are working.

(10-31-2024, 01:45 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(10-29-2024, 05:25 PM)TubeDude Wrote: Amazing how pink has become such a good color...for so many species.  But there's almost something obscene about seeing an ugly ol' catfish wearing a pink lip ornament.  

I'm guessing shortening your leaders in the cooling water probably helped your catch rate.  But I think you need to find a new leader material.  At Willard I use 14# Silver Thread Excalibur and I have NEVER lost a fish to a broken leader or a failed knot. And I seldom retie during a day of fishing either.  It is very abrasion resistant.  Only problem is that they don't make it any more.  I still have a pretty good sized spool of it but their new "Super Silver Thread" is supposed to be a good replacement.  

Dunno if Ira told you but I sold off all my jig making stuff...including hooks.  However, I can still make some fligs by "recycling" the hooks on older models I haven't used and won't use.  Plus, I still have some of the heavier hooks for making either tailed or tailless.  And I can still make the wired ones.  Lemme know.

I started off with an orange tiger but got no love but when I shortened my leader and put on a pinky pink, it was game on, within minutes. The leader I was using was 12# p-line and up until then, I've never had a problem with it, as I said, believe the way the cats roll is a major reason the line got cut but maybe two pound heavier leader would help. I should have been checking the leader after each cat I caught but I didn't and that was the result. Do you check your leader for nicks, after each cat you catch?

By the way, I have been doing some research "on line"...to see how others feel about the Excalibur and where it might still be available.  You can still find the odd spool in some sizes.  But most Excalibur fanciers seem to think the Yozuri is equal or better after trying it.  Just a thought.  I learned a long time ago that good line...per foot...was about the least costly part of your tackle setup over time.  If your leader choice is even as much as $5 more per hundred yards...3600 inches...the extra cost on even a 2 foot leader is only about 3.5 cents.  To me, being able to confidently catch more fish without having to constantly retie...or lose fish...is worth more than that.

(10-31-2024, 11:42 AM)TubeDude Wrote:

(10-31-2024, 01:45 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(10-29-2024, 05:25 PM)TubeDude Wrote: Amazing how pink has become such a good color...for so many species.  But there's almost something obscene about seeing an ugly ol' catfish wearing a pink lip ornament.  

I'm guessing shortening your leaders in the cooling water probably helped your catch rate.  But I think you need to find a new leader material.  At Willard I use 14# Silver Thread Excalibur and I have NEVER lost a fish to a broken leader or a failed knot. And I seldom retie during a day of fishing either.  It is very abrasion resistant.  Only problem is that they don't make it any more.  I still have a pretty good sized spool of it but their new "Super Silver Thread" is supposed to be a good replacement.  

Dunno if Ira told you but I sold off all my jig making stuff...including hooks.  However, I can still make some fligs by "recycling" the hooks on older models I haven't used and won't use.  Plus, I still have some of the heavier hooks for making either tailed or tailless.  And I can still make the wired ones.  Lemme know.

I started off with an orange tiger but got no love but when I shortened my leader and put on a pinky pink, it was game on, within minutes. The leader I was using was 12# p-line and up until then, I've never had a problem with it, as I said, believe the way the cats roll is a major reason the line got cut but maybe two pound heavier leader would help. I should have been checking the leader after each cat I caught but I didn't and that was the result. Do you check your leader for nicks, after each cat you catch?

After years of learning the hard way...by losing fish to line nicked by fish or underwater structure...I automatically run my fingers up the line from the hook to the swivel.  But these days it is more to remove the cat slime than to discover nicks.  Almost all cats do roll up in the line and slime the line.  And their pectoral spines have those sharp edges that DO damage softer lines.

That Excalibur line is amazingly abrasion resistant.  As I mentioned, I have never lost a fish to damaged line or bad knots with that stuff.  I have even landed tiger muskies over 36" on 6# line...when the jig was well inside the fish's mouth.  As promised, I will hand off a sample of that stuff in 14# for you to try the next time we meet.  

By the way, I have been doing some research "on line"...to see how others feel about the Excalibur and where it might still be available.  You can still find the odd spool in some sizes.  But most Excalibur fanciers seem to think the Yozuri is equal or better after trying it.  Just a thought.  I learned a long time ago that good line...per foot...was about the least costly part of your tackle setup over time.  If your leader choice is even as much as $5 more per hundred yards...3600 inches...the extra cost on even a 2 foot leader is only about 3.5 cents.  To me, being able to confidently catch more fish without having to constantly retie...or lose fish...is worth more than that.

(10-31-2024, 01:09 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(10-31-2024, 11:42 AM)TubeDude Wrote:

(10-31-2024, 01:45 AM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(10-29-2024, 05:25 PM)TubeDude Wrote: By the way, I have been doing some research "on line"...to see how others feel about the Excalibur and where it might still be available.  You can still find the odd spool in some sizes.  But most Excalibur fanciers seem to think the Yozuri is equal or better after trying it.  Just a thought.  I learned a long time ago that good line...per foot...was about the least costly part of your tackle setup over time.  If your leader choice is even as much as $5 more per hundred yards...3600 inches...the extra cost on even a 2 foot leader is only about 3.5 cents.  To me, being able to confidently catch more fish without having to constantly retie...or lose fish...is worth more than that.

That was why I upgraded to the P line, for leader but it sounds like I stopped short of the needed abrasion strength of the Excalibur, in 14#. Looking forward to giving it a try, the next time we meet up, thanks again Pat.