Just read your post and the good replys Hawk. I will add some things that I like to do. I prefer to use 30# Spiderwire superbraid mainline because it is about the diameter of 6# mono, so cuts more easily thru the current to get your plug deeper per given distance out. I use about a 50" Maxima mono leader joined by a small black barrelswivel. I use 6 to 15# leader for steelies & 15 to 25# for Kings, depending on water color and current strength. Be sure to use a small wiresnap on the end of the leader, instead of a snapswivel, for slightly better action. Take all the stock snaps off your plugs for quick change over. The braids don't stretch/give so you should have a flexable rodtip, in addition to the mono leader and lightly set drag, to absorb shock. When a fish hits & pulls the tip down set it with a brisk tip raise, not a hard set with the stretchless braid. Another thing I prefer that many don't is to hold & work the plugrod instead of stick it in a rodholder (which would be OK if you have the perfect distance out in uniform depth holding water- of course the fish will come up aways off bottom to strike a plug however). As Andy mentioned, the oarsman/kicker motor is doing most of the fishing here and should start the backtrolling well above in shallow water. The distance you let out depends on depth, line thickness, plug divability (ALWAYS tune them to dive straight), and current speed in relation to the boat. Backtroll slowly, especially for Kings, and work the water with a mild zigzag pattern where appropriate. 30 to 40 ft. is good to start with, and up to 60+ ft. for deeper slots. I used to have my clients hold the rods high up (& outward to spread the plugs apart & cover more water) in the shallower upper end & again approaching the tailout so the plugs would stay just above the bottom instead of dredging. In between in the deepest parts I would have them hold the rods low to the water to get the plugs deeper. A good rule of thumb for line distance is that you are out too far if the plug action keeps stopping by hitting bottom; and when your backtroll & rodtip are steady, occasionally pull the plug upstream about 3 to 4 ft. to see if it hits bottom- if not either very slowly let out a little more line or hold the tip lower to the water. - I like the above suggestions for hook setups. I encourage barbless siwash for nates. All hooks sticky sharp as with driftfishing. - There are so many good stock colors now. For some, like the light gold or copper for clear water, I will add a small arrow shaped piece of lure tape on the underneath side near the tail; in either flame red or chartuse. In fact I do this on most of my plugs because I think it will either further excite or anger a territorial Steelhead or King. For gin clear water I recommend the dark green metalic Hot Shots. In size 5/50 for small rivers (I call this the "Green Machine" because it's so deadly when fished correctly from a stealthy approach) and size 30 for medium rivers, as well as the steelie sized Tadpolys; standard Wiggle Warts for large rivers. I have a couple of custom plug colors I paint up that do out perform the stock colors. One is the Green Butt Skunk- paint the nose of a chrome plug with gloss black enamel, then put med. green colored arrow shaped lure tape near the tail. Another is a "pattern", done in optional colors, that I believe to be the most effective there is- having one half the plug chrome (or white) lengthwise, on the right or left half. Paint the other half, after masking the stock color half, with Metalic Saphire Blue (Testors spray enamel #1639), Green Metal Flake (#1630), or Red Metal Flake (#1629) on the chrome (and gloss black on the white plugs). Don't be concerned with painting imperfections because that probably looks more natural to the fish anyway. Add the tail arrow as above and ONE tape fisheye under the bill on the colored half. Use trans. red colored hooks. These patterns look like injured baitfish struggling on their side to the steelies/salmon. It's a deadly combo with a good baitfish oil scent applied. These custom baitfish color patterns are also outstanding for Kwikfish (wrap with eggjuice cured reddish sardine filets). Good luck Hawk. Let me know they work for you. - Steve Hanson

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 04-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 04-10-2000).]