G
Green_Tackle
Hey all.
Panther Martin has a new line of spinners which are 100% lead free known as "Big Belly" spinners (most commercial spinners contain lead in the alloys used to cast the bodies and sometimes the blades, and they are often painted with lead-based paint). We'll be carrying the big belly spinners at Green Tackle, so I had to take 'em out for a "spin" (pun intended... my apologies).
Went out to the Wilson yesterday for about 2 hours and despite the rain and cold, it was very nice out there. The water was a beautiful green and the sun would come out in little pockets here and there. The two other people I talked to had both been catching steelies and sure enough, I hooked one at this little pool at the turnout just about 1 mile before the footbridge trail-head directly across from a small paved forest road.
The fish was putting up a pretty good fight and I had finally gotten it within a few feet when it occurred to me that my back was not carrying it's usual load--I had left my backpack with all my gear, including my net--the thing I needed at that precise moment--in my truck up at the turnout. I was about waste deep in 45 degree water next to a steep, rocky cliff wearing wool golves (the only pair I brought; if they get too soaked then I'm done for the day). It was a decent fish. Nothing to write home about but, large enough to make my arms pretty tired. I looked around for some shallow water to guide it to and let my guard down; the line went slack and the fish thrashed about, earning it's freedom.
I had a great time, and I gotta say, these spinners are pretty good. I was using a pink Panther Martin Lead-Free Salmon Spinner with the single siwash hook. They are pretty descent spinners as far as commercial spinners go and I'll surely be carrying a few with me when I go steelheading from now on. While I still prefer the home-made spinner and have never been a huge fan of the Panther Martin style blades, these have a decent feel (I can feel the blade spinning MUCH better than some of the other commercial spinners I've tried). I did have to give them a little jolt to get them going in some cases--or at least more so than with properly balanced home made spinners--but since I could feel whether or not it was spinning this was a minor issue at best.
If anyone is interested in giving these spinners a go (for those who fish commercial spinners), We'll be carrying them at Green Tackle within a week or two and I know they carry them at Fisherman's Marine & Outdoor and Cabela's too. I'm sure most places will have them soon (I haven't seen them at Joe's yet)--they just came out this year.
So, despite my better judgment after reading the weather forecast and water levels for the Wilson (over 6' now), I went up there again this morning just to see what it was looking like. I threw out a couple of casts just for kicks, but it was too windy, too fast, and too full of debris for me and I came home.
Ive attached photos of the pool where I hooked the fish yesterday and what it looks like today. What a difference a day makes. I've only recently started fishing the Wilson (I'm in Portland so I was fishing the Sandy... but I like the atmosphere of the Wilson and how much bank access there is) and it seems to me from my few trips that 4 - 5' is a pretty good level to spinner fish from the banks along highway 6.
Cheers,
Panther Martin has a new line of spinners which are 100% lead free known as "Big Belly" spinners (most commercial spinners contain lead in the alloys used to cast the bodies and sometimes the blades, and they are often painted with lead-based paint). We'll be carrying the big belly spinners at Green Tackle, so I had to take 'em out for a "spin" (pun intended... my apologies).
Went out to the Wilson yesterday for about 2 hours and despite the rain and cold, it was very nice out there. The water was a beautiful green and the sun would come out in little pockets here and there. The two other people I talked to had both been catching steelies and sure enough, I hooked one at this little pool at the turnout just about 1 mile before the footbridge trail-head directly across from a small paved forest road.
The fish was putting up a pretty good fight and I had finally gotten it within a few feet when it occurred to me that my back was not carrying it's usual load--I had left my backpack with all my gear, including my net--the thing I needed at that precise moment--in my truck up at the turnout. I was about waste deep in 45 degree water next to a steep, rocky cliff wearing wool golves (the only pair I brought; if they get too soaked then I'm done for the day). It was a decent fish. Nothing to write home about but, large enough to make my arms pretty tired. I looked around for some shallow water to guide it to and let my guard down; the line went slack and the fish thrashed about, earning it's freedom.
I had a great time, and I gotta say, these spinners are pretty good. I was using a pink Panther Martin Lead-Free Salmon Spinner with the single siwash hook. They are pretty descent spinners as far as commercial spinners go and I'll surely be carrying a few with me when I go steelheading from now on. While I still prefer the home-made spinner and have never been a huge fan of the Panther Martin style blades, these have a decent feel (I can feel the blade spinning MUCH better than some of the other commercial spinners I've tried). I did have to give them a little jolt to get them going in some cases--or at least more so than with properly balanced home made spinners--but since I could feel whether or not it was spinning this was a minor issue at best.
If anyone is interested in giving these spinners a go (for those who fish commercial spinners), We'll be carrying them at Green Tackle within a week or two and I know they carry them at Fisherman's Marine & Outdoor and Cabela's too. I'm sure most places will have them soon (I haven't seen them at Joe's yet)--they just came out this year.
So, despite my better judgment after reading the weather forecast and water levels for the Wilson (over 6' now), I went up there again this morning just to see what it was looking like. I threw out a couple of casts just for kicks, but it was too windy, too fast, and too full of debris for me and I came home.
Ive attached photos of the pool where I hooked the fish yesterday and what it looks like today. What a difference a day makes. I've only recently started fishing the Wilson (I'm in Portland so I was fishing the Sandy... but I like the atmosphere of the Wilson and how much bank access there is) and it seems to me from my few trips that 4 - 5' is a pretty good level to spinner fish from the banks along highway 6.
Cheers,
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... "Fish don't teleport between "holes" or disappear in not so favorable conditions. They just relocate, if anything."
