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Post by dominodaves on Apr 4, 2016 16:16:01 GMT -6
I too am a fan of some good April Fools mischief! But, he did claim not to be playing that game. Perhaps, his thermometer needs to be calibrated. Being off only a few degrees, could give us a heart attack, wait, already did!
The local conditions website said the water temp on Park Point was 37.5872 degrees at some exact location. Not sure where on the Point, or how deep, but the location is listed. But that's not the point I'd like to make. So here goes....I've made this point in the past btw.... If it's a sunny day, and the winds are light, and waves minimal, water temps can skyrocket! Regardless of air temp, obviously if it's really cool that can minimize it. But never under estimate the power of the sun this time of the year! But once the that sun goes down, things cool off quickly. So during the early part of the run when you hear reports that go like this...."We got started at sundown and things were going pretty good, but at 10:30pm things just petered out...." This is a reflection of the water being warm enough initially, and cooling off fast after the sun went down. With Lake Superior not having much ice this year, the waters could be warming faster than usual. So we could see a prolonged period of this type of run. I hope we get some test pulls in soon, just to see if they have started with this type of pattern.
I know it's been much cooler in Duluth than the twin cities, and this time of the year when the weather begins it's transition up there it can cause a lot of foggy and cloudy days, and that won't help our cause. But we need to stay on top of the run. And getting some sampling done is the only way to be sure. I'm sure that we aren't missing much right now. But there are a few that have only a limited number of days to get their share. I'm sure they would be happy with a few gallons verses none.
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 4, 2016 16:28:54 GMT -6
Lookin at forcast and recent weather i now bet a beer to domino things wont get hoppin till weekend of the 22nd. What you think Domino wanna bet me a beer it will be the 15th it might bring good luck ask my wife im wrong quite often. When you say hoppin, does that mean catching any? or filling coolers? You are correct in thinking that things are likely going to be delayed some with the turn in the weather! But I would still be willing to put "my beer where my mouth is" and say that some action is still possible by the 15th. Nothing huge, but some fish to be had. Hoppin to me is the peak of the run, which is still likely to be around the traditional time frame of the 25th. Maybe a bit later now, who knows for sure....maybe a weatherman??? Oh wait, they are always wrong!!!!!! If I'm wrong, I will be happy to buy you that beer! I'll be on the beach more than a few times this year. And I will make it easy to find me!!! Because I'm always happy to meet the posters from this forum! Nobody nicer than smelters.... Especially when their coolers are full and fires are warm!
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Post by johnnyniceguy on Apr 4, 2016 16:51:49 GMT -6
I have been reading this forum for a few years now. Never have piped in much; but always great to read Domino Daves updates. Hoping to get in on this this year. The last time I was smelting was in 1974. I was in college and a bunch of us dipped 2000 pounds one night. One of the guys dad was a commercial fisherman from Grand Marais. He took all we had and later bought us a keg and fried some smelt. The smelt were so thick; you could walk on them. I never had the chance to go again. I have bought fresh? at the store over the years. But now that I am retired; I would love to try it again. I am in the Cities and would gladly join you guys for a trip up if anyone had room. Let me know.
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Post by NetMaster on Apr 4, 2016 17:58:41 GMT -6
Johnnyniceguy My son says any guy called Johny nice guy has got to be a nice guy. Once the smelt start moving we will be on our way up a few times. It might work to connect with us. Drop me a note or just post this again when things get moving. It's a great way to join in. If you don't already have them... pick up some WARM warders and have them ready.
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Post by johnnyniceguy on Apr 4, 2016 18:05:57 GMT -6
Thank you NetMaster! I will be in touch. Will be on the hunt for my waders.
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Post by yammaddogg on Apr 4, 2016 18:42:21 GMT -6
Sorry Domino i should have been more precise by hoppin i meant coolers. And i to will be up several weekends im going to be tryin my hand at catchin some steelhead this year and double up on the fun so planning on three weekends starting with the 15th. Pretty stoked my new Christiansen should be here wen.
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Post by fishingdude on Apr 4, 2016 19:06:10 GMT -6
as far as nets go does anybody have any thoughts on the whole treated vs non treated issue? Advantages disadvantages ect?
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Post by yammaddogg on Apr 4, 2016 19:14:15 GMT -6
I just ordered mine untreated after speaking to some very reiable experienced sources saying its not worth it to treat
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 4, 2016 19:58:59 GMT -6
Buying a net is expensive. So choose wisely. My net is not treated. But I'm getting older and i like pulling something that's easier to pull. Now they say that treating them helps them last longer when they get dried in the sun. But i would say, that most of us smelters use ours only a few times a year and they might get dried in the sun maybe 1 or 3 times a year. So we aren't abusing our nets a lot in the way that treating them is supposed to help protect them.
Then there is the issue of the pull. Now I'm not saying that a treated net will pull like a brick. But, even if they pull just a little harder than an untreated net, this will wear you and your buddies out faster.
So the choice is yours. Either way, if you're buying a Christiansen net, I'm sure you will be pleased!
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 4, 2016 20:12:41 GMT -6
Johnny Nice Guy, I'm sure you'll have a blast hanging out with any of the guys and gals that use this site to time their visits to smelty sands of Duluth! We are all working together for a common goal! Laying on a couch and doing the swelling thing!
Of course you are welcome to tag along anytime you can! Yes, I'm sure you will have some explaining to do when you tell someone you are going smelting in the dark 2 hours away from home with some dude you met online! And you have heard he enjoys a couple beverages too! But no worries! I have a few references available, i think!
Okay guys, this is where you should have my back! And besides, pretty much everyone up there would help a newby out, or someone get reacquainted with this obsessive thing called smelting!
No better sportsman than smelters!!!!!
Pick anyone you'd like to meetup with, drive with, or just get more info from and private message them when you're signed in. Good luck and welcome to the forum!
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Post by yammaddogg on Apr 4, 2016 20:22:10 GMT -6
Thats a 10.4
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Post by NetMaster on Apr 4, 2016 20:37:29 GMT -6
When Christiansen starts making a treated net to look like the open mouth of a shark ... The pocket in the center would be the open mouth of jaws. If this happens...End of debate go for the shark
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Post by johnnyniceguy on Apr 4, 2016 21:15:31 GMT -6
Thank You Dave & gang! I will keepp this site on my daily watch
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 5, 2016 14:02:41 GMT -6
Remember folks, dougger is using his 75 footer in WI, MN limit is 25 feet.
I also have thought about dying mine black. The only reason I came up for not doing it was that I can see if my white net is pulling properly in the dark. I'm not sure I could if it's black. We have a sock on ours. And sometimes it gets messed up little at the beginning of a pull. One glance with a headlamp tells me if it's pulling right. I hate doing a pull with it messed up....no fish everytime when it is tangled.
I have seen others with nets that are dyed black. Anybody care to share their opinion on whether or not it was a wise choice?
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Post by NetMaster on Apr 5, 2016 15:28:51 GMT -6
Almost forgot to ask this, got a reminder from the last post.... Last season one of they guys with a headlamp was able giving us just enough light from time to time, so that we could see what the smelt were doing as we made a pull. Any thoughts on if the headlamp spooks the smelt if you leave it on during a pull. (What I am wondering about is the small headlights that are legal, not at all about setting up bright lights on shore in order to draw them in.)
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