Willy Dino Meet Up? Sat Dec 10

In wake of last Saturday's Sturgeon fest. I thought I would post up another invite for a new date on Sat. Dec 10. Anyone interested in another Willy Dino meet up near George Rogers Park? Say 8-12noon or there abouts.
I was also toying with the idea of putting together a small $10 per yak "tournament amongst friends" for biggest fish caught before 12noon to win the $.  Eitherway, lets catch some Dino's!
Anyone up for it?

Sounds great Jammer. I am planning on being there.

Only if you promise to provide the background Christmas carol again for those lucky enough to take a dino sleigh ride. 

Only if you promise to provide the background Christmas carol again for those lucky enough to take a dino sleigh ride.

You got it! I'll sing my heart out!

            Count me in on this party.I'm really looking forward to meet some of our PDX members.I'll bring 2 Ultimate 12's in case I can talk my son into coming out with us.If he is busy--I'd love to try out Jammer's "spare" outback.
             Come on the 10th.I'm ready to dance..............
              Jammer--I'll even help with the Xmas carols............

Might be able to make this one.  Need to finish my anchor system and will gladly listen to any coaching on how to drop the anchor.  Have 3# claw anchor w/ 3' of 1/4" chain and 175' of rode.  Quick release set up to anchor from the stern.  Might have to leave early, but would be great to meet everyone.

            Count me in on this party.I'm really looking forward to meet some of our PDX members.I'll bring 2 Ultimate 12 in case I can talk my son into coming out with us.If he is busy--I;d love to try out Jammer's "spare" outback.
             Come on the 10th.I'm ready to dance..............

You can definitely use my outback.
Anyone else interested?

Wish I could make it but I have work that day.  The 9th would be good! 

Wish I could make it but my wife is running a race that I'm required to be at on the 10th

I wish i could make it but I'm on the wrong side of the state again

Have fun guys!

Put me down for 2  A friend of mine also will be there.

Jammer... would you mind giving us a little bit of help with the setups. We are both greanhorns at the sturgeon fishing. Couldn't make the last one was out of town. Looking forward to this. Dale

Put me down for 2  A friend of mine also will be there.

Jammer... would you mind giving us a little bit of help with the setups. We are both greanhorns at the sturgeon fishing. Couldn't make the last one was out of town. Looking forward to this. Dale

Here's the "Rig" I'm currently running with on the Willy. I think we all run very similar in respect to braided line, Dacron leader's, sinker's and such. I'm sure some of the other guys will chim in with whats working for them.

Rod - 7' Ugly Stick Tiger rod with medium action tip

Reel - Penn 321lh GT2 which is left handed. Pelagic Paddler made a comment earlier that I believe completely. The left handed retrieve of the 321 vs. the regular 320 is being able to reel with the same hand you're controlling your rudder with. It makes the "Sleigh Ride" in a Hobie that much easier to reach from reel to rudder real quick with the left hand.

Line - Braided line is 65#

Lead or sinkers - I'm using the 6-12z pyramids as they seem to hold bottom much better

Slidder - I like the large brass Super Sliders from Oregon Tackle Co.

Leader - Dacron is 72# or stronger

Hooks - I really like the Gamakatsu barbless Octopus hooks in size 5-8

That's how I'm rigged for now.. Below I've including some pictures..

I hope this helps!

Jammer

Jammer Outstanding info that is exactly the info I was looking for. I do better with pictures also. One last question and I think I am all set. There has been some discussion about a topshot for a weak link. What's your idea or comments about that.  Dale

I am fishing very similar to jammer. The only differences are the following.

I use 30lb braid since the thinner line has less current drag and lets me use less weight and is easier to break if I get hung. The downside is that it is not as strong for really big fish - especially if they roll up the line and nick it with their scutes. However, I am willing to live with that tradeoff, but it is definitely a tradeoff.

I use a right-handed reel since I have been using right handed baitcasters for 40 years and left handed feels wrong (oddly a right handed spinning reel also feels wrong). I am too old to change

I prefer the gamakatsu circle octopus hooks (7/0 seems like a good size) since I think it takes less skill to hook up. I am not sure if this is true or not but since I believe it, it is true for me

I tie my dacron leader directly to the swivel between my braid and leader rather than having the extra snap swivel that jammer shows in his rig. I am a firm believer in using as little terminal tackle as possible since each piece is a potential point of failure.

The only thing I would add is that I have always used stretchy thread to help hold my bait onto the hook and leader. I usually have about 12-18" that I tie into the eye of my hook (to start the wrapping point). I then thread a hook shank's worth of my bait onto the hook and then hold what is overhanging against my leader. I then wrap up the leader until I get to where the end of the bait is on my leader and then wrap my way back down to the bend. If I have enough slack I go back up to the top again. I then use a single half hitch to secure the thread. In this way I can re-use the stretchy thread for many fish without needing to take the time to re-tie the thread.

I am fishing very similar to jammer. The only differences are the following.

I use 30lb braid since the thinner line has less current drag and lets me use less weight and is easier to break if I get hung. The downside is that it is not as strong for really big fish - especially if they roll up the line and nick it with their scutes. However, I am willing to live with that tradeoff, but it is definitely a tradeoff.

I tie my Dacron leader directly to the swivel between my braid and leader rather than having the extra snap swivel that jammer shows in his rig. I am a firm believer in using as little terminal tackle as possible since each piece is a potential point of failure.

PDX brought up some excellent points. I personally started with a lighter braid but was loosing a lot more fish that way as they were cutting the line with the scutes. Sturgeon definitely like to roll up on the line. I started experimenting with breaking off a heavier line and found that if turn my Outback down river with my rod pointing backwards over my head with rod tip pointing off the back and over my rudder and gave it some gas I could still snap my 65# braid. Most of the time it would break on my top knot, however if I had any scuffs in my line it might break there. Now pointing down river to break it isn't always easy either. You need to be very careful. As things are tightening up ready to break, I usually reach up now with both hands and both thumbs on the spool and hang on until it breaks. If it wouldn't break, I would quickly open the spool and accelerate downriver until my rudder is working and then quickly turn back up river so I can reassess. I also weigh 205lbs though. When picking what braid works best for you, I would start with something lighter until you feel comfortable breaking off when snagged and move up in strength from there.
Also PDX had mentioned keeping it simple. He's exactly right. I wouldn't have added the extra snap swivel, but only added last Saturday because the was a lot of grass and leaves in the water that kept pushing to the bottom of my main line which was causing my Dacron leader to get all tangled up. Try and keep it as effective, but simple as possible.