Yankee Troller

I thought that was the case too. I wasnt sure so I didnt post it.

OK all here is what I found out last night: Rules - they are all unified! Everything is the same at all 4 tournaments. Communication - Open at all 4 events. Mike Waterhouse's explanation was as he quoted Dave Mull (GLA owner) "Why have a rule you can enforce?" I know we here dont like that but he has a valid point. Challenge Cup - Cost is $100 towards the West 2 tournaments prize structure and $100 towards the East 2 tournaments prize structure. $200 if your doing all 4. Challenge cup will go to a ponits system to even out the playing field. If you are looking to fish all four, at this time, they think they have a sponsor for that. If so that sponsor is going to donate 5k towards that prize structure. So in reality if you fish all 4 events you could win the West the East and the over all. I think this is a great move to increase competition in the cup series. Amature division - A few rule changes here. For one Amature teams can now consist of 2 people and an observer. Im not sure on how they are going to work the 6 rod rule, so Im gonna wait till they post these new rules on thier website. Amatures will be able to cull as long as the fish isnt netted. This means a release at the back of the boat. They are really trying to increase the amature side becasue of the lack of participation. Lets face it there are more amatures out there than there are Captains. I think thats it, and if I forgot something I appologize. I figured I would post this seeing how Steve is very busy. I hope I was also clear enough on the new changes. Please dont hammer me if I was wrong on interpreting these new rules!

Hey Capt. Ace - how about making that picture a little bit smaller? Better yet get rid of it. This is Steve's website, and he is a charter captain. Your pretty much trying to use his site for free advertising and I dont think that is appropriate. Im not trying to be a punk here, but I do feel it is disrespectful.

I have a feeling that the bar isnt going to be as good as it has been the last few years though. We had a fair share of East winds this Spring and that kept it good longer than it should have been. But with no ice on Erie, and this warm winter those fish are going to be on the move early. But I have no doubt that with the mild winter these fish are eating up some bait and we will see some more monster fish this up coming fall!

Mike is right. I ran 13# Ridgebacks all season and did very well on them. I thought they tracked great even in the rough stuff when your bouncin around pretty good. If your talking about attraction I had a coho come from 15' down to hit my spoon at 90' down.

Opti Tackle is where I am going to buy mine. They seem to know quite a bit about it.

Going down to Irodequoit tomarrow morning, will report when I get back. Tried the bass thing today, and this is what happened: That was Canadaigua as I was witing for the truck. My windshield was covered in sleet after the 3 mile run back to the launch. Anyway, no smallies today!

My GF said the same thing to me the other night!

Welcome TrimTab......Cool name too! Hey Tom........when you gonna post the new pictures on your site of your new flavors? I have been waiting since like September brother!

Before? Isnt that supposed to be coffee time?

I hear ya bro! Plus if I remember correctly arent you obligated to keep all devices that aid in navigation on as a captain? For example I know if you have a radar unit it has to be on. I know a vhf isnt going to aid in navigation, but it is an important tool. Anyway, I'll see you at the meeting this week. I have been playing soccer on Tuesdays and couldnt make it out. It will be nice to see some of the guys again.

Yeah, but dont you think that people would be more prone to turning the radios off if they arent getting used? Not to start a dumb bickering blog but if the radios are on then you could still get "reports" from a weekend angler. So where is the closed communication? I totaly would go to the no communication though!

I agree, although I have used the open communication thing in Niagara. Pesonally I would be all for no communication for the entire trail. I do have to say though this past year it was a good thing we could use communication becasue a fellow angler in the tourney was taking on water and the fact the radio was on and people could use it got him home safe! So on a side note......Who is fishing the Pro-Ams this year and which ones?

Aint that the truth!

Didnt do as good this weekend as we did last, but it was still a blast to be out. I will be out this weekend because Saturday looks mint! Look forward to seeing you out there then next year.

Keep it up Tom! I'll go Howie on ya! Just Joking, I dont think I would be able to. They dont make a Hammer .

If you were driving then you should be entitled to some of that prize money! On our boat whoevers on the boat at the time gets an equal share. And the boat doesnt count as one of those people!

We have been finding our fish 25-30. Nothing shallow for us but that doesnt mean they arent there.

Well, I got another pair of Crocs (http://shop.crocs.com/pc-15-4-beach.asp ... n=products) that match the new boat. These are so comfortable to wear and if they get wet on the boat the water drains out. I also got a Fish Hedz (http://www.fishhedz.net/thegear/mask-white.htm) for those 60+MPH runs in the new boat while its raining or cold. Other than that a few things for the new Laptop and a wallet. My GF got me the Chocolate phone and clothes. All in all pretty good!

Yeah, but only really when they spawn. The SM are ghosts there during the summer for some reason.

27-30' was what we stayed in. I think we should have went deeper.

Tried it again today. Only caugh 1 SM and 1 Pike. Both hit dropshot roboworms. SM was nothing to brag about, but it was better than sleeping in!

There isnt a great place there. The one I know about isnt friendly to fisherman. I had some friends try to stay there last spring. It is a big yacht place and you know how them blow boaters get.

The tournaments start when the season starts. Those are a blast, and I will probably be doing some more this summer since I have a boat now. As far as spots go we have a select few points that we found held fish. But Im sure since the Sm is a cruising fish that given the day those areas could change. You do see some bait on the screen down there, and 1 or 2 of the fish spit up tiny silver minnows.

Well, I hate to rub it in but Iam trying to get back down there tomarrow morning. I had some tips from a guy who has fished there as late as January and caught bass. Basically it is just like what you read in Bassmaster magazine. Winter bass = deep and Winter bass tactics = drop-shot, jigging spoons, and silver buddies. We caught these SM in 27-30 FOW all while drop shoting. When I drop shot I use: A med- med lt 7' rod 6lb test McCoy clear fishing line Gammy Octopus hook (forgot the size) 4" roboworms We basically flipped these 10 yards in front of the boat and slowly worked them back to us. Key with drop shotting is to work the bait and not the weight! You dont want that fish to eat the weight with no hook in it!