BlueEye

One more question guys.... having never fished in that tournament before, can you explain how it was run? How do they get measurements (i.e., all on the honor system, via digital pictures, judges on the water, etc.). Thanks! Chad

WOWOW GUYS - AWESOME! Way to represent LOU out there! Those are some gorgeous fish! Sorry I couldn't join you as I was down in Rhode Island fishing Blue Fish and Stripers. I had a chance to talk with both Lisa and Brian (owners of Happy Hooker) this weekend and they said the Musky seminar they held was a huge success with a turn out of over 75 people! Shhhhhh..... don't tell anyone that I am working on their new website though. Its going to be my secret spot that I can go look at updated fishing reports from them anytime. Also a good spot to check for all the local fishing tournaments that will be going on. Give me a few weeks and it should be up. Thanks for the info on the next tournament up there. I will have to see if I can't make this one and add a little more firepower to the already stellar LOU fleet we got going on down there. Thanks for the report guys and CONGRATS! Chad

Lee - I did see several guys fishing downriggers at high speeds while I was out there. I have downriggers on the boat but didn't give it a try last weekend. I am sure it would work as long as you can tighten your releases enough to support the high troll speeds and huge lures typically associated with fishing Muskies. Be sure you are running heavy enough line so it don't snap at the release if/when you do get a hit Let me know if you give it a try and how it works for you. I am really pulling for LOU to give a showing at the tournament this weekend! Sorry I couldn't join you but do LOU proud out there fellas! Can't wait to hear the results. Chad

Hey Lee! My setup was pretty simple. I have two 8-foot shimano heavy rods that I run straight out on either side of the boat (getting them as far away from each other as possible) and one rod only back 10-20 feet in the propwash. Our out rods had on average between 100-135 foot of line out. Once we found the bait or a spot/hole we liked then we would go through the spot making sure to hit all sides (directly through the spot, outside the spot and inside the spot). Surprisingly, many times the holes and bait pods would look better on the graph just to the outside of them (as oppose to going directly through them). We would then go a quarter mile to half mile past and loop back. The weather really wasn't favorable for that weekend and so when I did find fish, I tried to stay tight on them. Our turns were sharp but not crazy to where we would tangle any lines. As long as both lines out were of similar distance (i.e., within 20-30 feet of each other) then your odds of tangling them were slim to none. When you get into trouble is when you let one side out 100+ more feet than the other and try making those sharp turns.... Or simply take Ray's advice Hope this helps Chad

Yes Bob - the north was very good on Sunday (not so much on Saturday) last week. We did mainly trolling with Legend baits. Firetiger and Natural Perch color were the hottest for us. Troll speeds were between 4 and 6 mph and we had our lures out 100-150 feet (down 22-30ft). Took the biggest one back only 10 feet in the prop wash though. Best depths for us were 35-45 feet. We keyed in on the bait and held tight on that once we found it (tight figure eight trolls). This worked really well and helped keep us from going into the "no-mans-land" trolls. Sometimes it takes several passes over the same spot to get them to go. Good luck out there guys! Wish I could join you this weekend - let me know how things turn out. Find that 50! Chad

Thanks for the info Sol! Those are some really great numbers - good to see. I would love to fish in the tournament this weekend but I will be visiting my buddy down in Rhode Island fishing for some Strippers. Hopefully they be on down there like the muskies were at Chautauqua last weekend. Good luck with the tournament and let me know how the turnout is as well as the results of course Chad

Board is not the same without you Bob - get well soon!

Hi LOU, Just got back from my weekend trip to Chautauqua Lake where I had the chance to do some esox angling between the rain/wind storms that were blowing through. This was my biggest of the trip. Of course I forgot my ruler that day so I can't tell you exactly how big she was so judge for yourself. One quick picture and back in the water she went to get even bigger! This one was 40" This one was 36" This was the 26" (6.5 lb) walleye that took one of our musky baits. Smile I also had the pleasure of meeting Brian & Lisa - the owners of the Happy Hooker Bait Shop. They run a first class business over there and couldn't have been more helpful with setting me up with the right lures to get the job done out there. They have the best selection for musky gear in the area along and also carry a wide selection of gear for just about every other fish that swims in that lake - I would highly recommend paying them a visit if you are ever in the area. Look for their new website coming soon... If anyone knows the results of the Musky Inc. tournament held last weekend, please post! I would love to know how I would have stacked up. The tournament proceeds went to benefit the musky hatchery there. Till next time

Welcome aboard FishDance! Glad to have you - hopefully you will get back in the game soon enough

Welcome Cast-Away, Glad to have you aboard! Enjoy the site

Dan - Thanks for the explanation and keep up the GREAT WORK! Chad

Welcome Phil - glad to have you aboard!

This is great news. Looks like this year there were only two muskies weighed in: http://www.reelingforrelief.com/ Way to go SOLO!

What amazes me here is how big the suckers are that the baby tigers are feeding on and how easily they make a quick meal of them.

Glad to have you aboard Steve! We got LOTS of guys from Rochester on here (including myself). Enjoy the site!

Welcome to LOU Corrie! Glad to have you aboard Stick around and I am sure you will have better luck on your next trip out and put some fish in the boat

Had a chance to get out fishing with the woman and my old college roommate Joe this past holiday weekend. We targeted some Muskies on Chautaqua with good results. We ended the day with 3 muskies boated, a couple more follows and one large mouth that hit our musky spin bait. It was a perfect day and we couldn't have been happier with the results. The largest fish was a cool 43 inches. All fish were released unharmed for another angler to hopefully enjoy some day Our biggest - 43" Me fighting the 43" Musky And there she goes for another day.... Musky on the top of the water crusin' Musky got hard bony mouths and we got the hooks to prove it! Joe with our second musky of the day Katie with our third musky of the day All released of course You need some muscles for this sport... The hottest new lure in bass fishing... musky baits? A special thanks to Captain Mike Sperry from Chautauqua Reel Outdoors for putting us on the fish all day and opening sharing his over 30 years of musky experience on Chautauqua Lake. He was a first class guide all the way. Can't wait to do it again! Next trip to Chautauqua will be July 16th - 19th. Should be fun!

Bob - Do you have any Legend Perch Baits (10") for sale? Thanks, Chad

Nice fish TroutMaster! Sounds like (and looks like) you guys had a good day out on the water - thanks for sharing. Chad

Scott - Great pics! Welcome aboard - glad to have you! Chad

Great report Lee! I am heading up there is coming weekend to try my luck. Will post how we do. Chad

Hey Chris - Welcome to LOU! Glad Lundy recommended the site to you - this should definetly help to cure the learning on salmon fishing Ontario. We got lots of great salmon guys on here that are willing to share just about everything they know. Chad

Hey Eric - Lots of Military guys and vets here - you should fit right in Glad to have you aboard! Chad

Hey Dee - Lots of finger lakes guys here. Make yourself at home and enjoy the site! Chad

Welcome to LOU Pat! Glad to have you aboard. Enjoy the site! Chad