So I bought a bunch of snaps and swivels along with a spool of 100 lb mono.  I was going to make my own leaders this year.  I don't like the idea of using crimpers.  I was thinking about tying my braid directly to the mono with a double uni and then just tie a swivel on the end with a snap.  Then I could put 5' leaders on my trolling rods and short leaders on my casting rods.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet and it seems the weather is going to give me more time to think about it 
@#$%

I took Avid's advice on the trolling rods, I filled half my trolling spools with 10 lb mono and used a double uni to fill the rest of the spool with 150 yd of 65 lb PowerPro.

A couple months ago i went and made up a batch of flouro leaders. Bought some crimps too, but just to experiment, tried tying some differnt knots.. Man that sucks. Looked like hell to! lol. Glad i got the crimps for workin' with the heavy line.

I just crimped them nicely and as id seen it mentioned elsewhere previously, after crimping, i filled the very ends of the crimps with krazy glue. Dont think its necessary for holding power, the crimps should no doubt hold to the strenghth of the line anyway, but liked the idea of the line being held firmly where it enters and exits the crimps and not being free to move and rub the inside edges of the crimps.

I made up some leaders last week. Using 150#LB Co-Polymer sea line, Just used the old trilene knot with three wraps. This leader will Handle just about any fish. I tried to break the leader It was very tough!!! ((You have to use needle nose pliers and a screw drive to pull tight)) NOW IF WE CAN GET SO OPEN WATER I can find out LOL Dave

Managed to got out on the river tonight managed one looker mid 30's snapped at it boatside then was gone on a rattle bait. I like this high water just look for the current breaks

mmmmmmmmmm smell that... smells like skie to me...here fishy fishy fishy..think im hittin arthur sunday

Trolled Arthur yesterday for a few hours.  No fish, mostly worked out the kinks...  It was surprisingly warm and sunny late afternoon but got pretty chilly into the evening.  Nice first day on the water...

Anyone know where I can fish the allegheny river near pittsburgh?

Well another week of cold weather this weather is crappy where are the 70 degree days and 60 degree water temps can't come soon enough

buddy was at pym this past weekend and caught one about 37ins Another guy got 2 about the same size on sunday

ORIGINAL: MUSKYJUNKY

This rain is ridiculous I'm in dire need of putting a skie in the boat. Anybody else feeling the same way

Does Howdy Doody have wooden balls?

I hear that, musky maniac. I'm ready to get out on the river. I caught my two biggest musky in the early season last year, and I'm ready to do it again. This weather has been pretty nuts, but at least the snow has turned to rain. Now, if we could just get rid of all the precipitation for at least the better part of a week. Then we'd be making some progress.

Everyday I cross over the Allegheny, and it's still moving to quickly for my liking. Definitely too quick for my little boat. Hell, the creeks are even flowing too hard for trout fishing. I had to head to the Laural headwaters today just to the kinda fishing I wanted in clear water.

Lake fishing is a good idea. I should head up to my fam's cottage soon on Canadohta lake. I've been working 6 days a week though, and it's not really worth the trip to go up for one day. I've gone up for an evening before. 4 hours of driving for 4 hours of fishing is a little rough. haha. It's just so easy to hit the rivers from home. Hitch up, head out, and I'm on the water in 20mins.