Liquid Shore Dinner (TM)

The last couple of times Art and I head out to the French - it was dark or nearly dark when we arrived at the public access.  During past outings as well as hitting the local fishing shops, we were able to put together an idea of what we were doing wrong with our setups and techniques and what we could do differently.

We determined that egg sinkers and split shot do not work well in the often heavy surf of the Gitch.  Eggs and split shots end up twist your line and getting snagged on sharp rocks or causing the line to get snagged.  What is needed and is used by anyone in the know - is a slinky weight (to the right).  Using a triple swivel - tying one end to the line from the spool, another end to a leader, and then tie the slinking to the third swivel so it hangs down.

It seems all the old-timers who hit the French and other rivers use slinky weights.  If you are using an egg sac you need to use a slinky weight.

Yesterday, due to an early arrive at work, an early departure was in store.  It did not cross my mind until nearly it was time to leave at 3:00 PM that being early to leave it left it open to go fishing and have a small piece of light by which to fish.  We arrived at the French a short time after a quick dinner.  The sun had not set yet, and there were a handful of fishermen on the shore.  This was Art's first throw from his new gear.  Specifics, I cannot remember, but it is a near setup.  Using the slinky weights and an egg sac, Art whipped the setup out into the lake. 

While on the shore, a fisherman was standing around.  He was drinking beer; the general ambient temperature of the air outside was just above 32 degrees.  I will call the fisherman "Dan" - this is not the name he told us.  "Dan" was quickly becoming rather intoxicated.  He was generally jovial and pleasant to be near.  Art mentioned that he had lived in Ely, Mn, for a couple years.  "Dan" picked up on this and ran with it.  He was a licensed guide in the BWCA and had spent a number of years in the Ely area. 

"Dan" had another beer.   "You guys...*BURP*...want a beer?"

We both declined his high quality beer.  "Dan" sucked his beer down and continued on with the stories.  Around his fourth or fifth beer, his stories began to get "weaker" or "lamer" and his math skills completely left him. 

It was getting to be close to 7:00 PM, so Art and I reeled in and head back to my house.

Aside from having a few laughs at the expense of "Dan" on the trip back, we were both pleased that our lines did not snag at all with the slinky setups.  No fish were caught, but not having to redo our line was fantastic in its own right.