TIPS & TAILOUTS
Easy , Effective Quick Change Lead
Prefer the crisp , distinctive ‘ tick ’ of pencil lead over the dull ‘ thump ’ of a slinky ? Many do ; however , pencil lead can be particularly grabby on rocky bottoms resulting in frequent cutting , crimping and re-rigging and less time on the water , a frustration that eventually leads to the use of slinky style weights .
Then there are particular styles of fishing , such as side drifting , that favor lighter weights and the easy to change aspects of small slinkies . Convinced slinkies are the best option ? Let us fill you lead fans in on a little secret .
Rigging pre-cut pieces of pencil lead with light weight monofilament line allows for quick weight changes , easier detection of subtle bites and greater sensitivity . Should you get hung up , only minimal pressure is required to snap the mono loop . Simply reel in , clip on a fresh weight into the snap of your swivel and you ’ re back in the water in seconds .
First , if you don ’ t already own a pair , pick up a pair of nail clippers for dogs at your local pet store . They slice through pencil lead like butter without crimping the hollow hole in the center . Next , start clipping off pieces of your favorite diameter hollow core spooled lead . Cut them as short or long as you may need , but be sure to vary each size by at least 1 / 8 of an inch . Double over a small piece of 8- to 10-pound monofilament line and slide it inside the hollow core of the lead , leaving approximately ¼ inch of loop exposed . Crimp the loop end of the lead one time with a pair of needle nose pliers , and you ’ re finished !
ERIC MARTIN
Coho salmon smolts in the ocean on the verge of losing their barred parr marks .
Physiological Changes : A Constant For Smolts
Ever wonder what happens to a salmon smolt when it leaves freshwater and enters its marine environment ? Quite a lot , actually .
As smolts migrate downstream , they undergo a physiological mechanism called smoltification . In preparation for the sea , smolts must compensate for their freshwater / seawater balance within their bodies so that the proper ionic balance is maintained . This is referred to as osmoregulation . During their freshwater residency , smolts maintain a higher concentration of salts in their bodies resulting in them using their kidneys to efficiently excrete excess salts . Once in they enter saltwater , the opposite occurs . Smolts drink vast amounts of water and urinate little to maintain their ionic balance .
Another common change pertains to the smolts ’ morphology . Pacific salmon contain barred parr marks with each color or patterns being specie specific . As smolts enter saltwater , a transition to increased silvering of the body is a noticeable external characteristic . Explanation for the silvery change is deposition of purines ( guanine and hypoxanthine ) under the scales , scale layer , and areas of the skin . Additional morphological changes include lighter , translucent fins , black fin margins , and thicker epidermis tissue .
As they become acclimated to the ocean they begin feeding eventually turning into adults where they will spend the next two to three years in the ocean .
Other ongoing physiological changes that occur inside smolts are listed as follows :
• Chloride ions located in gills allow for ion exchanges between freshwater and saltwater .
• Increased metabolic demands as a result of tissues being restructured for adaptation to seawater .
• Increased vascularization within the heart region .
• Intestines participate more in nutrient uptake .
• Increased Na + K + -ATPase activity , an enzyme that pumps out sodium out of and potassium into cells . brent barnes photo
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