2010 is underway - Forums Archive

Salty

2010-01-23 03:05:40

Well folks, I challenged someone to initiate the season with a post about the first king of 2010. I know some of you readers already got some, but after four skunks, I finally initiated my new starboard bowpole with a nice 15 pounder on the top leader. Gave it quite a shaking.

Another beautiful day today on the ocean. Was able to pay for my donation to this site with that fish. Yahoo!! Donating probably kicked in the good Samaritan bite effect and broke that string of skunks.

Thanks Jon, keep up the good work.

SilverT

2010-01-26 08:00:40

Salty,

Congratulations on the 1st king and thanks for sharing. Please take a picture of the next one so those of us chained to a desk can live through your experience.

Salty

2010-01-26 18:34:50

I didn't take the camera last week but I did in December. I will dig up one of those.

Salty

2010-01-26 18:44:57

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There you go. Even shows you that it was caught on bait and the hook. Windy here the last few days.

Carol W

2010-01-26 23:02:14

Nice fish Eric

SilverT

2010-01-27 02:56:47

Thanks! It's nice to dream on the noon hour. I almost forgot what they look like.

davidtettleton

2010-02-09 21:34:03

Salty--you said new bowpole. Had you recently installed some? Or just a refit? I want to put some bowpoles on too--sometime. Any trouble with tangles? etc?----dave

Salty

2010-02-10 02:22:59

Dave,

I don't have any pictures here yet, some in the camera on the boat though.

First report, I love them.

But, like wooing a beautiful woman, there has been an amazing amount of attention to detail and some setbacks along the way. But, like that first sweet kiss, the thrill of watching the first king bounce the pole, with the vision of more to come was worth it all.

Figuring out the angles on the fore and back stays was interesting to say the least but I finally visualized the geometry one night as I was falling asleep and aha it worked the next day when I tried it. Working with my son Karl, as he was welding and installing his first set of bow poles, was part of the fun as he is a rare combination of patient with his father and gifted at fabricating. Nevertheless we have spent hours figuring out the right formula for my boat of block positioning haul ups, etc. One day Karl spent at least three hours up my mast.

Alan Anderson, John Polivka, Bill Paden and others have all given me helpful hints. The bow poles are basically working fine now but like that beautiful woman, the more involved you become, the more complicated life gets. This week we are rebuilding the main poles, which is a separate project but related in that it will help to move both the stabalizers and the tip out a ways. Kind of like just planning on a bit of kissing and ending up looking at engagement rings.

Yes, we have had a few tangles. I will list them for clarity.

1. The basic tangle of dropping the main onto the bow line. We have done that on both sides.

2. The basic tangle of the bow dragging back into the stabalizer. We have managed that on both sides. (We have figured out that if we leave the stabies on deck this is not so likely.)

3. We have managed to drop the starboard heavy into the port heavy while on a straight tack. An 80 pound halibut was involved.

4. Somehow we managed to tangle the starboard bow with the starboard main line when the main was on a float bag 15 fathoms back. King salmon were involved but after the mess they disappeared.

Kind of like dealing with the ex-boyfriend, the prospective in-laws, and the big brother. Not as much fun as the kissing.

I hope this answers your question.

davidtettleton

2010-02-10 14:01:21

Kissing or engagement at least you are beyond the fantasy stage. Which is where I am at I suppose. Analogies aside-- On your turns does it look like one or the other is headed for the prop? That could be bothersome. I guess one would not be in a turn when the leaders are coming up,,,. Although I could see a pile of kelp taking the wire back. Thanks for the rundown of possible tangles--i hadn't realized all the combos!

Salty

2010-02-10 22:32:03

The wires are under the boat but they are down quite a ways. I have not tangled the bow lines in the prop yet. Something else to look forward to?

Salty

2010-08-19 03:36:54

Three quarters of the way through the season I thought I might send an update on the bow poles. I use them all the time now and they are working wonderfully. Unfortunately I have resorted to using float bags on the tips for the chums both at Neets Bay and Eastern Channel. Also used float bags and bows for a recent king trip in the deep. That combination works great and except for the hassle with the floats works great for both production and thrills. Still get to watch the bows bounce which has turned into an even bigger treat than I imagined. Imagine 20 10 pound chums hitting your bow in a minute or less.

While I have tangled with the stabies a few times I have largely eliminated the tangles with the mains and have never experienced a line in the prop. The bows and mains worked great fishing shallow pot holes in May and June. I believe the ability to try extremely tight places with the added maneuverability added to the spring production. I did manage a 40 pounder on the starboard bow dragging 15 fathoms. Now that was a thrill.

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Salty

2010-10-06 17:29:55

The season is over(I consider winter kings a new season) and I love the bow poles. No prop tangles and I love running the bow wires without fairleads. John Polivka told me a great way to hook the bow tags to the wire and I will share here in response to the next request by a site donor. Would also work great for hand Trollers. :D