LongLine

Anyone that is involved in the fishery and cares about facts, rather than promoting unsubstantiated personnal opinion, would know the answer, as well as how the survey is conducted & the science behind it. The link is posted so you can read it for yourself. The report does a pretty good job explaining it. Tom B. (LongLine)

According to the 2009 DEC Annual report for Lake Ontario (Boat Survey for Trout & salmon seekers): Sect 2 pg 32 (all boats) T&S Fishing boat trips: 62,599 Average # anglers per T&S trip: 3.06 Average length of T&S trip: 6.02 hours Ave # of NYS residents per boat trip: 60.8% Sect 2 pg 36 (all boats) # T&S caught: 222.8K % T&S harvested: 53.8% Sect 2 pg 37: Ave catch T&S per angler hour (all boats): 0.197 Sect 2 pg 38: % of boats with zero catch any T or S: 32.6% Charter-all anglers - % of boats harvesting bag limits T&S (aggregate): 3.1% Non Charter boats - % of boats harvesting bag limits T&S (aggregate): 1.6% (2009 was probably the best year for T&S fishermen of the last 10.) 1st grouping of data tells me there are a lot of non-resident fishermen out there. It also says that for every one boat (charter) that had 6 anglers there were at least 3 boats with 2 or less anglers. (average 6+2+2+1+1=2.4) 2nd data group tells me that there is a lot of C&R going on among the T&S fishermen. 3rd data group tells me that the average single angler spent 5.07 hours catching one T&S or (referring to group 1 data) basically his entire fishing trip and caught one fish. 4th group tells me that quite a few get skunked when they go fishing and that very few anglers harvested their bag limits. It also tells me that boats that generally run many rods outfished the smaller guys by a 2:1 ratio. However two times squat is still squat. If you do the math, you’d see that if every fisherman had caught his bag limit every time out, they’d have caught a hel[ of a lot more that the total given in the 2nd group of data. 3 rods would give the small guy more potential to catch fish by helping him locate the active fish a bit easier. Tom B. (LongLine) http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27068.html

If you free spool letting the rigger down, you'll be sorry. Thumb works for some guys but if a fish hits it on the way down, most guys will panic & you'll have a real mess. I always let it out with the drag light. (a little bend in the rod & tightening along the way) ditto Billy on the release above the weight. Tom B. (LongLine)

and more money being spent on tackle, lures & more people involved with selling/making them thus more money in tax revenue (some for the conservation fund) and more stories being spread about the great fishing we have; more return visits by fishermen hence again more revenues for local economies. I can't remember any legislation other than this that won't cost the taxpayer $$$ to implement. Tom B. (LongLine)

I carry a stainless steel boy scout whistle in the glove box. Works great, very low maintenance & never have to worry about a non-functioning horn if the CG stops me. You may want to pick one up & always have a spare "horn" onhand. Tom B. (LongLine)

Mine had a loop in it with the cinch. It's the same cinch that is used on the other end. i.e where you terminal swivel goes. Everywhere that carries downrigger stuff should carry them. Some hardware stores carry a real small copper tubing in 12" lengths, like 1/16" diameter for under $1. That's what I use. (bought it 5 yrs ago & forget where) If you want, you could just use a loop with an overhand knot. Tom B. (LongLine)

Hey Skipper...hope you had a happy B'day. Tom B. (LongLine)

One thing to remember about the mud-line...very often it does not extend all the way to the bottom. Often you have a dirty layer over clear water, especially at the Genny. I've seen the Stephen B. Roman come out and leave a blue water trail in it's wake. Tom B. (LongLine)

I have my sub-T display on the dash of my 18 ft'r &. I'd suggest putting the display where the person controlling the speed can easily see it. Tom B. (LongLine)

USF&WS confirmed a couple big heads years ago in Lake Erie but said they were probably releases from food stores/pet shops/owners. Subsequent elecroshocking efforts in tribs produced nothing in 2008. They were however found in the Ohio River but they couldn't catch further specimens. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/lowergreat ... rpMon.html Tom B. (LongLine)

Thanx guys. I know I only get one wish but I'm greedy... Here's my wishlist 1. That everyone fishing the Big-O has a great time catching fish this year. 2. That all freshwater Windmill projects go belly-up. 3. That the Asian Carp all go belly up. 4. That the 3-rod rule gets implemented. 5. That the PACKERS & Orangemen go all the way. Tom B. (LongLine)

In order to understand the USACofEng risk assessment, we have to remember how the Asian Carp got out of their original ponds. I.E. floods – The Miss. River overflowed its banks and established direct water pathways. Flood waters eventually went down & some pathways disappeared, however some carp took the pathway while it existed. When the original permits were issued, to allow the Carp into those farmer ponds, the USF&WS and state DNRs did not sufficiently consider the possibility of flood conditions. Focus Area #1 involves those areas that have already established direct permanent pathways such as the Chicago Canal, Calumet river, (sp) etc and we all know what’s going on there. Michigan has the only direct pathways. Focus area #2 involves identifying those areas where a flood or high water could establish a pathway between the Mississippi Basin and the Great Lakes Basin. The USACofEng has come up with a system of rating the risk for potential routes that carp could take and cause damage to areas. (Transfer Risk) They first looked at the topography and basically said what creeks/ rivers/ lakes feed one another, are really close together; have manmade connections that might be dry right now (such as culverts, ditches, etc) and also looked at flow and back flow conditions. Secondly, they looked at what damage the carp and other invasives (ANS = aquatic nuisance species) could do to a new area over a 50 yr period if there was a direct pathway. (IMO -This is the “somewhat subjective†part.) Thirdly, they took a statistical look at historical weather records and flood conditions to understand if the rivers/creeks/lakes ever had a pathway or could have a pathway; how long that pathway could exist; and how much of a pathway could exist.(I.E. depth, width etc) They take a 1.0% probably stance. I.E. if one flood event every 100 years could possibly create a significant surface water pathway that carp could use for migration. For instance – IMO- if a pathway is created every 100 years that is only ½†deep and lasts for 3 hours, it’s really not worth mentioning, however if it’s 3 ft deep and lasts for a week, it’s very important. What they found was that the original 9 potential routes grew to 36 potential routes. 18 routes have been assigned Medium, High or Acute Transfer Risk ratings. 13 were rated low risk with the remainder not rated. The greatest area of concern is Eagle Marsh in Ft Wayne, which is why Indiana put up that fence real quick. Long Lake, which could connect the Ohio River & Lk Erie is also given a high Transfer Risk. East Mud Lake in NY was given a medium Transfer Risk as there may be a potential link Lake Erie. (To get to Lake Ontario, they have to come thru Lake Erie) Bottom Line recommendation is that for 17 of the 18 routes, more study, evaluation and continued collaboration with local DNRs, gov’ts and stakeholders be conducted to identify measures to be undertaken to mitigate the risks. IE figure out what can be done to lower the risk. Tom B. (LongLine)

Here's the preliminary risk assestment from US Army Corps of Engineers on ways the Asian Carp can get into the Great lakes. There are ways they could get into Lk Erie without going thru Lks Michigan or Huron. http://glmris.anl.gov/documents/docs/Ot ... s_Risk.pdf Tom B. (LongLine)

Welcome to the site Kory. Make sure you send some picures. I think Stan's camera must be broken & we love to see someone trolling in January. (from a boat not a snowmobile) Tom B. (LongLine)

HB - They need to know that you, me and all of us feel that way! Tom B. (LongLine)

http://www.great-lakes.org/wklyfish_nz.html Tom B. (LongLine)

The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on stopping the Asian carp. (There is a shortcut from the Miss Riv into Lake Erie via Alleghany.) http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/other ... 306522.ece http://www.glu.org/en/asiancarp/take-action Go to this site & you can send in comments on how you feel about it: http://glmris.anl.gov/involve/comments/index.cfm All you have to enter is your name & zip code. All other info is optional. (I’m #65) Tom B. (LongLine)

I agree, that sucks. Kjell - Did you try ebay.com. They have quite a few cannon bases tonite. Didn't see any scotty tho'. Tom B. (LongLine)

Go Orange! Tom B. (LongLine)

Happy Birthday Larry Tom B. (LongLine)

Take a look at the current your engine/electrical system can put out. I don't know what kind of rig you're fishing out of, but make sure you can support the additional load. Past 70 ft & you'll need a 10 or 12 Lb weight. Tom B. (LongLine)

My 500 does the same thing with really large bait pods. Never had the weight issue though. (knock on wood) Tom B. (LongLine)

Happy New Year Steve. Tom B. (LongLine)

Happy New Year Hank Tom B. (LongLine)