LongLine

The general current on the southern shore is from west to east. However Big-O is know as a "two-gere" lake. i.e two currents. The west to east current on the northern shore doubles back then goes east again. However, regarding your question, there are many factors contributing to the jumbled mess of currents we see. Yes, winds do affect local currents that we fishermen experience. Upwellings due to temp changes also affect local currents. You'll sometimes find a current mid-way in the water column going in a different direction than the current in the lower section of the water column. If I were you, I'd study the bathymetric map of your area. I think you'll find some subtle structure that your sonar isn't picking up. Tom B. (LongLine)

ditto - Happy Birthday. Tom B. (LongLine)

Anybody notice: 1. The number of Kings going arial this year? I think we had at least five jumpers so far. Normally those guys dig for the bottom. 2. Where you're catching lakers? Ours have come off the surface this year. 3. Where the steelhead are? Very few reports this year. I've only seen two & they were little guys. 4. The number of Browns with Lamprey scars? ????????? Tom B. (LongLine)

WTG Tom. Tom B. (LongLine)

Welcome to the site. Tom B. (LongLine)

Happy B'day Chad, Tom B. (LongLine)

Photoshopped 6 yrs ago

They've been around a long time & are very dependable, if you know how to properly adjust tension for your spread. Tom B. (LongLine)

Fishing Report LongLine On the water at sunup. Had a scare in that dash light was left on since Wed. Luckily she started & charged right up. Anyways - Clear, calm, slight SWS wind. River temp 59F. So off we go, flying blind again. Seemed kind of strange having that big full moon last weekend then seeing this ½ one so high in the sky. Headed out to where we thought we left off the other day & put in. Had to wait a couple hours before anything happened. Actually what happened was my stacker brought up my bottom line & as I was straightening it out, a small laker (5#) hit the bottom line on the surface. A little while later, did the same again but this time a small steelhd (3#) hit it. Once is dumb-luck, twice is a pattern, so put an orange crush about 50 ft back of a board. We’d found a temp break of 51-47F on the surface and some lakers were hanging around near the surface on the warm side. Here’s bro’ with one: Interestingly, he had a lamprey attached to his top side. For anyone who doesn’t know, here’s the officially recognized method of releasing lamprey’s: Soon after, another laker (11#) hits the Crush right on the surface: This last one had a lamprey scar on it. Interesting that it looked like two of the lakers had clipped adipose fins. Temp break disappeared & wind came up a little out of the SW. So with sun burnt ears we called it a day a little after 12. No salmon today & nothing huge but with 1 stlhd & 3 Lakers & a boat that started right up…I’m not complaining. It was a fun derby. Sleeping in tomorrow & doing some chores for mama. Luck to all, Tom B. (LongLine)

Sounds like a cylinder is not firing. Maybe a blockage? Tom B. (LongLine)

WD-40 has no fish oil in it. But it is magical in the stuff it does. Tom B. (LongLine)

Chris - yep, tan Bluefin, 18 ft'r, black windshield frame. Next time you see me out on the water, please take a pic. I've never seen my boat out on the water. Skipper - yeah, haven't had him out in many years. We had a ball. Tom B. (LongLine)

I don't believe I just read this entire thread. Anyways thanks for the chuckle on this blow-off day. I just can't believe that anyone could seriously apply the typical stream fishing mentality to the Big-O. It's quite obvious that many have no idea what patterns the lake goes thru every year & what's going on with the fishery & baitfish situation. T&S fishing on Big-O has dramatically improved since 2003 and it would have to drop by nearly 30-40% to get back to those lower levels. As for trips on Big-O, Oswego County has as many resident T&S boat fishermen as both both Niagara & Orleans counties put together. Year after year, since 1985, the East Central & East end have accounted for twice as many T&S lake outings than the rest of the lake. Will it last? Yes, we have some tremendous fisheries people putting a lot of dedicated effort into maintaining it. (although 2014 may have some issues) Heck, we've been out a few times without a fish-finder and we're still catching fish! Tom B. (LongLine)

Finally figured out the spell-checker huh. Tom B. (LongLine) (what? no comment on spuinky?)

Carl - yes you're correct. One does have to be logged on to view the open lake reports. Tom B. (LongLine)

Fishing Report LongLine Launched at 6:15 with “big Bro†. Cloudy but sun trying to break thru. A little fog around the horizon. South wind. Weatherman was wrong on this one. 61F in the river. Headed toward Russell. Colder water on shore. Looked like the lake was working. Bluish water was way out but you couldn’t see it till you were right on top of it. Flying blind again. Had about a 3 deg surface drop. 52-48F (forgot the decimals) Anyways…I dropped two right off the bat. Then I managed a little King (7Lb’r, natural & clean) Then after a visit by the “Admiralâ€, Bro finally got his rod to pop and then again: As he’s retying his line, mine pops: Nothing huge, but they sure were spuinky. 2 did some jumping. These were all in the 10-14 Lb range. Only one of the four was fin clipped. All clean fish. Everything on the rigg’rs 50-80 ft down in the cold water. Not sure exactly where we were – guessing 150-180 FOW. Wind shifted to the west and was coming up so we got off about 1:30. Will be back at it tomorrow. Luck to all, Tom B. (LongLine)

If the intention is to get more report posters and fewer lurkers then how about this: Can only be viewed by logged on members and at the bottom of each thread is a list of those that have viewed it. I'd love to see 3,000 boats at a port, like the old days. Tom B. (LongLine)

OMG, I missed it. Happy birthday Zeke. Tom B. (LongLine)

Look at exhaust manifold. Don't know if your engine is set up the way my old one was but the exhaust manifold had an aluminum plate separating water jacket from exhaust. exhaust ate a hiole in it. 1 of the reasons I got rid of it. Tom B. (LongLine)

What's new is that they're going after Browns. For the last few years, more "resistant" Laker strains has been introduced into Big-O. Tom B. (LongLine)

Some of our Browns & Bows have had lamprey scars on them. Kings & Lakers have been clean. Kind of strange...seems like the reverse of other years. Tom B. (LongLine)

Fishing Report LongLine Hit the river at 5:45 this morning. (Slept in a little) Ran into Reel Drag at the launch. Nice to see ya again Joe – Like that boat you got. Anyways. River 61F. Slight North-NE wind. Clear sky. Had to retie everything going out so no pier picture. Here’s one looking back at the Moon. Headed straight out till the shoreline was about a thumb nail high (Looks like sonar crapped out) and fished blind. Went 6 out of 8. 4 rig’r, 1 wire dipsey & 1 off the board. 2 Rainbows, 2 Kings, 1 Brown & one Laker. I probably should have broke the fish finder years ago. Laker was just a hair under 10#. Darn – almost had an entry. 1 King natural, other stocked. 1 Bow had a lamprey wound & looked like he swam head first into a boat. Other Bow had no adipose fin. (?????) Everything else was clean. Bloody Blck/Slvr R&R took a couple, Orange spoon took another, Red dodger/squid took another, and Storm Frtgr took the Brown. Generally short leads, less than 45 down, except the Brown on the board which was way back. Have to work tomorrow, (and rest up) but will try to get back out Tuesday. Luck to all, Tom B. (LongLine)

Fishing Report LongLine Met my brother at the launch at 5:30 & headed out before the sun came up. I was a little worried about the weather as the north wind was blowing waves right up the river but after we cleared the channel, it wasn’t bad. Maybe 2 ft’rs with an occasional 3 ft swell. Worked west, back then out. Started out with scattered clouds, then went clear & bright, then overcast, clear and back to cloudy again within 6 hrs….strange weather pattern. Quite nippy in the wind, especially if you got wet. Winds died a little as the day progressed. River temp low 60â€s, surface while trolling in the 45-47F range. Had a board & wire diver out but only the rigg’rs worked today. Started out with this laker; Then I let Bro' catch this one: Then another king (13#) Not big enough to enter but nice fish none the less. (Both naturals) All on short leads, in the top 15-20 ft of water. DW Dolphin, R&R Bloody Blk/Slvr & my home made $19 Fly. (The one that cost me $19 in mylar, beads & tubing before I made a decent one) Where were we? Well as I said in other post, deeper than most but shallower than others…this guy was among the latter… No we didn't have to go that deep.. the scow was coming out the river. Actually, the Laker came in approx 35 FOW between river & Russell, Kings came approx 70-80 FOW off the river. Only 6 cars in the lot. Guess there was a little excitment there this morning and the police closed it for a while. Luck to all, Tom B. (LongLine)

Leads on the solenoid?, Bad spot on the starter? Tom B. (LongLine)