LongLine

Fish - For a family day trip out of Rochester, I would definitely recomend heading west. The trip to Sodus is really nice but always think of the weather. My reasoning is this: Assuming you'd be starting your trip in the morning - The prevailing winds are out of the west. They will be strongest in the mid/late afternoon. The trip home will be with the waves which is always a smoother ride. Family, especially the young ones may not enjoy a rough ride especially if they're tired. On the other hand if you were to drive to Sodus & launch, then by all means head toward Rochester. You might want to scout out some maps & find a nice beach on you trip. Kids always like pulling in and going for a swim. Tom B. (LongLine)

FT has some good advice. What I'd add is to remember what the conditions were and how you were fishing when you did catch something. Realize conditions are different so you need a new plan of attack. Sometimes speed, sometimes direction, sometimes depth in column, sometimes longer leads. Seems to me it's very easy to fish under the fish & that is frustrating! Tom B. (LongLine)

We all wish it were that simple. But that is a good start. You also have to remember that those temp maps are at least a few hours old. Look at the sites that give a history for the last 2 days or so and try to visualize the pattern of how the water is moving. It can change drastically in a hours time. Tom B. (LongLine)

WTG Cornelius. Currents get pretty interesting over there don't they? Tom B. (LongLine)

WTG Chris. Funny how Lakers are hitting right below the surface stuff this year. TLomb' - Play with speed. i.e try just a little bit faster. Tom B. (LongLine)

Mark - Maybe 1/2 trout, 1/2 bowfin? Tom B. (LongLine)

Water is clear except themal patches have some color. Couldn't see anyone hugging the shore...actually where I was, I could just see the shore. Tom B. (LongLine)

Well, launched solo at the river: Cleared the Pierheads at exactly 5 am & headed west. River temp 60.5F but went down fairly quickly. All kinds of small things swirling on the surface as I took off. (I’ve never seen so much activity) Put in at 85 off Russell & headed out. Real calm out there today. Weatherman said a SE wind but I didn’t see it. Now here’s a sunrise! Clean screen for most of the trip. A few jumping here & there. Crossed a couple thermal patches where temp dropped ½ degree. Surface generally ranged 49.5 to 48.2F. Temp down 50 was 45. This guy hit a NK Wonderbread down 55 at about 130FOW: I’m guessing in the 10 Lb range. (30â€) Basically worked out to 200 & back in a couple times. On one of the shore-ward legs spotted this. All my years on the lake & I’ve never seen that: It’s a rainbow off a front, but wasn’t raining. (Just crossed a thermal patch) Picked up 2 more kings but smaller. Same lure down 55 for all. Funny, deeper I went, smaller they got. Had one hook up on the planner board. Goofy-est looking Stlhd I’ve ever seen: Looked like he bashed his head on someone’s prop. All fish were caught 130-150FOW, going a little faster than usual. Generally 2 ¾ downspeed. Wind came up around 9:30 out of the NE so pulled them in shortly after & headed in. 4 out of 4, flying solo – Not bad in my book. Out by 11:30. Private dredge digging out some of the river in front of CG station. Sure seems strange with the turnbridge out of there. 8 trailers in the lot. Luck to all, Tom B. (LongLine)

Water used to flow down hill. Is your engine above the water line? Tom B. (LongLine)

One of the research buoys was cut loose & drifted into Oswego harbor: http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2013/05/lake_ontario_research_buoy_had.html I've written to USGS about buoys off Rochester & they said they weren't theirs. They checked on the sturgeon netting project but none were in the area. They suggested that they may belong to an ESF or SUNY Brockport project. Bottom line: There's going to be a few buoys out there this year. Stay well away from them! No one knows how they're anchored and it's definitely not worth losing gear over. Tom B. (LongLine)

Chris - You know about buoys, Better watch out for these guys! http://www.esf.edu/communications/view.asp?newsID=2262 YeeHaa! (Just playing) Tom B. (LongLine)

Happy B'day 'squirel Tom B. (LongLine)

Well, at least they're going to try to store a little more water in the lake.... http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130512/NEWS03/705129872 (could use a foot rather than 2 inches) Tom B. (LongLine)

Happy Birthday Chad. Tom B. (LongLine)

Chris – I did some research & this is the US Navy recommended way of anchoring a buoy. I’m sure USGS (being a gov’t agency) uses something like it. The buoy is attached to a vertical riser which only goes straight down a certain distance. A “fender†protects gear from rubbing on the riser. Riser has a link on the bottom of it. The link has slack spider-like legs going out in different directions. Number of legs and size depend on maximum potential weather/current conditions. They generally go out a long ways. Obviously if winds/current push buoy in a certain direction, a couple legs will come up while others settle to bottom. Depending on the length of the riser, angle of the legs and the lift due to the buoy being pushed around, I can see how easy it would be to snag on one of them. Little consolation but H.I.H. Tom B. (LongLine)

Chris - sorry to hear about the gear. At least you got out & got one nice one. That's a USGS buoy. The Guardian put them in a couple/few weeks ago. There's supposed to be 3 of them off Rochester according to state of Lake meeting this last March. I forgeot what depths. I'm thinking 40, 80, 150. They're real time monitoring the near-shore conditions of the lake. Temp, currents, chemicals, etc. These buoys are a first for the Great lakes. (i.e. 1st time ever used on any of the G.L.) Unfortunately, you're the 1st to lose gear on them....ouch... Tom B. (LongLine)

Check the NADA site: http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats/1991/Alumacraft-Boat-Co I don't see a 1990 trophy listed. I do however on the the '91's. Follow the links. Tom B. (LongLine)

Go to LOC site. Check out what the top deby finishers have used in the last couple years. Tom B. (LongLine)

Depth & speed of lures? On the south shore, I found Lakers right on the surface & fast/erratic. Tom B. (LongLine)

Genny launch isn't busy at all until the pleasure boaters show up late morning. PM Tom B. (LongLine)