LongLine

Welcome to the board. I'm sure it'll help you. It's helped all of us. Tom B. (LongLine)

This is the average annual water level for Lake Ontario since way back in the 1800’s: Remember this is an average. High water is typically in June & low water in Dec/Jan. The variation during these periods can be 3 ft - VERTICAL. i.e 3 ft lower in Dec/Jan than it was back in June. The variation from yr to yr has definitely been reduced since they started controlling the outflow. Also remember that a good westerly gale can raise the east end a good 2 ft above the rest of the lake and lower the east end the same amount. (Which we typically have twice a year) I seriously doubt whether that "raise the lake 18in vertically" prediction is accurate as that would take it higher than it's ever been. The scale on the RHS is in feet. As I understand the DEC proposal, they want to allow a little greater natural variation than we've seen in the last 10-15 yrs to help "cleanse" the wetlands. Tom B. (LongLine)

Back in the 70's hurricane Agnes hit NY & Big-O. I remember it well as quite a few houses that were on the East side of Port Bay sandbar were lifted off their foundations by the first freeze from the spray of large waves & then came crashing down. Tom B. (LongLine)

HB - 18" is a big lamprey for this time of year. Tom B. (LongLine)

I've seen deer in the water but never that deep. Someone once suggested that they may get chased into the water...dogs...coyotes...etc. Good for you in getting him back. Tom B. (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)