Dance the Tides

Kerchner, I've done well the last several years catching browns and walleye off the same rigs working structure between Pillar Point and Black River Bay. You can usually find a temperature break in there, and when you do, mark it. We troll with spoons off the riggers and sometimes drift and jig. When its right, it can be real mixed bag fishing. I don't know of anywhere else that you can catch Walleye, Northerns and Browns on the same pass. Paul

NY State is trying to switch strains from the "Lake Clear" strain to the "Sebago" Strain. The Lake Cear strain has shown a tendency to run downstream and doesn't stop. In most NY lakes, including Lake O, that is a one-way trip to the Atlantic Ocean. Supposedly, the Sebago strain hits the lake and says there. The first stockings of Sebago strain Atlantics are going into Lake George this year, so a decision will be made in the next year or so. However, last year there was documented reproduction of Atlantics in the Salmon River for the first time in recent history. Interestingly, Lake Champlain in 2009 had the best Atlantic fishing in many years. Ironically, most of the fisherman felt is was because of the presence of Alewives. Spoonpullers Board had a discussion last year regarding the stocking of Atlantics vs. Kings and most of the board members voted for Kings. I believe that another issue is that Federal dollars are available to aid in the "restoration of native species". Since Atlantics and Lakers are historically native to Lake O, some (how much?) of the cost of stocking these fish is subsidized. Paul

A word on the self-inflatable belts and vests. They will inflate if they get a good soaking. I fish from a kayak frequently and that means getting a face full of water once in a while. Its a real PIA to have your PFD blow up on you from splash or just a good rain. I switched mine over to manual. However, when I am alone, I wear a regular PFD. Paul

I am going to Washington State to fish the Olympic Penninsula for Steelhead next month with my nephew(a transplant from Lake O tribs). While buying my out-of-state license, I came across this: http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/twopole/index.html. It is an option to buy the right to run an extra fishing rod. They currently only allow one. NY is not the only state to try and maximize fishing bucks.

Lemme get this right. DEC is authorized to require Marine Rec License or "Trout and Salmon Stamp" for Lakes Erie and Ontario. I fish the Hudson and the salt regularly, so I have a lifetime Marine Rec License already($150.00). The way I read that, I am good to go for Lakes E and O if they implement that rule. UNLESS you have to also have the stamp. I 'm still scratching my head on that one. Paul

I am sure a photo will turn up. Paul Man ties record for biggest largemouth bass Man credited with tying 77-year-old world record for catching the biggest largemouth bass Associated Press Last updated: 10:00 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2010 DANIA BEACH, Fla. -- A man was being credited with tying the 77-year-old world record for catching the biggest largemouth bass. The International Game Fish Association announced Friday that it had confirmed the 22-pound, 4-ounce fish caught by Manabu Kurita. The Florida-based group said Kurita caught the fish July 2 on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Restore The Cathedral Kurita's fish tied the record of George Perry, who caught his bass on Georgia's Montgomery Lake on June 2, 1932. Kurita used 25-pound test line and a live blue gill as bait. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Coated wire vs. “singing†DR cables. I, like many who troll the Great Lakes have come to accept that our traditional downrigger cables “sing†when we troll. But some recent experience has led me to question whether this is good, bad or neutral. This fall as in every other fall, I have done some trolling on Lake George and some of the other lakes in the eastern Adirondacks. When I am solo, I run one rigger with coated wire and when I have company I run one coated and one plain. The plain wire rigger is usually run with a black-package mojo generator. I definitely got more action off the rigger with the coated wire WITHOUT the SubTroll probe. The coated wire was also much quieter. I know this is purely anecdotal, or maybe I am not playing with a full deck. Anybody look onto this or have any thoughts? Paul

Ray, I don't know about spinnies etc., but I did catch a tarpon and some Cuda on a NK28 trolled from a kayak last spring. Most of the boats down there troll 4-6 mph or faster. Of course that doesn't mean that you have to. If you get tired of trolling or can pinpoint some fish, try casting Gulp baits on jig heads. 3" Shrimp in neutral or orange and 5"-9" minnow baits in white or silver worked well for me. The larger sized plastic shads trolled with weight worked on a charter I was on. Have fun! Paul

I heard a rumor that Fish307 just got the new rods in. Give them a call. Paul

Sunrise, There really isn't a place called "the Mountain". That is a Saiff Charter term for a place everyone else calls the Haystack. It is off of Calf Island Spit, and it represents the Northwestern entrance to the Trench. The Haystack and Calf Island Spit are warm water structures most of the year. If Saiff says they are catching salmon off "the Mountain", they are fishing south of Stoney Island. Just look for all the boats. Paul

I agree with Tom here on two points. I too am on the fence and laws are not meant to protect dumb people from themselves. Over 20 years ago, a buddy and I came across a 13 year old boy who had flipped his small boat in Chaumont Bay. He wasn't wearing a life jacket and had worn himself out in a very few minutes just trying to stay afloat. He couldn't help himself out so yours truly had to go into 50 degree water and help him. We got him out, but I believe that if he had been wearing a PFD, I wouldn't have had to take the risk of going into that very cold water. It was two days before my scrotum reappeared. I fish Lake O on bigger boats, but I am also an avid small boater and kayak fisherman. I fish right up till ice-up, but I wear the gear so that 1) I will survive and 2) If I do need help, someone else doesn't have take risks to help me. Paul

Nick, A few years ago there was a product around that was supposed to "visually attract" fish when you sprayed it on a lure. Sucker that I am, I bought some and it didn't seem to do anything. This past year, an aspiring materials engineer asked me for products through my business so that they could reverse engineer them and see what they are made of. I am in the glue business, so I gave him a few things and then threw in this bottle of spray. I just ran into him last week and I asked him about it. He said "Its Sunscreen!" The stuff didn't work at all, but it caught me. Paul

Ray, You might find a use for this. As far as fishing goes, I fish out there several times a year. I use a kayak, but a canoe can put you on some schoolie Stripahs if the water conditions allow on the Bay side. There are usually good numbers of bluefish around now, too. I troll with swimming plugs until I find fish, then I throw flies at them. There is a decent tackle store in Orleans just off the first Orleans exit of Rte. 6. If you want to try the Ocean side beaches, the best fishing is at night. Stop off at the National Seashore Office in Eastham and get a permit to park at the National Seashore beaches after dark. The permit is free and so is the parking if you go after 5:30 PM or early in the AM. Otherwise you have to pay. Yozuri Crystal Minnows have been my go-to swimming plug. A Stubby Needlefish can be fished as a topwater or subsurface plug and they can be cast a mile. Small poppers work well too. Hopkins spoons have moments too. The biggest shore-caught Stripahs are usually caught at night on live eels. If you want to fish the Canal, get some 2 oz. jigs and Gulp baits. This is also a low-light fishery and there are places to park along the east-side access road. I do well south of the Sagamore Bridge. I think you should go to P-town too, just to read your "report" after you stroll down Commercial street. Paul

Jack, I fish on multiple boats and use my handheld all of the time. Two things I strongly suggest are that you get one that will interface with your computer via a USB connection, and it should have a decent capacity memory card. This way you can back-up your data. I had one stolen a few years ago, but didn't lose any waypoints. After a while, the waypoints are worth more than the GPS unit. Paul

TTF, Atlantic City has some fishing from the beaches and jettys. The world record Striper was caught there, 78Lbs from a jetty during a storm on a Bomber. I have caught a few smallish stripers and some bluefish on fly tackle there. The best fishing for stripers is at night, but that can be a dangerous proposition(the two-legged wildlife is unpredictable). Brigantine inlet is just north of AC and it can be good, though I have only done it from a kayak. Paul

Team "Horsin' Around" will be there. Myself and DrLFC along with two sidekicks will be in the AM division. Paul

Tom, Thanks for that link. I lost it and then forgot all about it. Best knot reference going. Paul

Hey Guys, The fishing up river has been consistent. By up river I mean between Catskill and Albany. The big girls are hitting live herring fished on a circle hook rig while drifting on an outgoing tide. The spawn is getting close because each fish brought to the boat has two or three suitors following right to the side of the boat. We've been getting out 2 or three times a week since late April. Two-three fish per trip has been average. No great days, but no skunks either. Paul

Chaumont Bay 5/16 & 5/17 We fished Friday and Saturday out of Chaumont. We had to tuck in behind the points to stay out of the worst of the weather, but we found fish over deep structure in 40-60 feet of water. The take was a mixed bag of Walleye, Northerns and Browns with a few Sheepshead in there too. Everything came on spoons off the riggers 8-40 feet down. We didn’t get a touch on a stick bait or anything off the boards. It’s a great multi-species fishery. Only a few other boats on the water. Paul

I am with Fish Bandit on this one. I use my cell phone. I have the Weather.com radar site as a favorite on my browser. Here is the link. http://www.weather.com/weather/map/13142?from=LAPmaps This is the live radar from the weather channel. There are others. It shows all of New York State. Cell phone plans differ, but its included in the mine. Paul

How about instead of a culling rule, institute a 21" minimum? They did it at the Little Salmon River Challenge and it seemed to work.

Hey guys, I just fished the outer Cape for stripers and the big girls are on the move. I don't know what they will key on in Jersey, but this week they were all over the baby bunker. At least in Jersey you won't have to worry about seals stealing your catch. There were good numbers of fish 40+ inches, but I didn't catch or see any huge fish(50+). Then again, my striper boat is a kayak! Good luck. Paul

I use the lightest bands I can get and put them in a Black's release. Even so, I keep the Blacks loose so that it trips before the band breaks. Another option would be the new Chamberlain releases. Those could be the ticket for 15 inch LL's and small trout. You also must watch the rod tips and any bounce, release it from the boat. Paul

If this is true, then Bob Lee on the Perfect Day guided his client to a new State Record. Isn't the old record also the all-tackle world record too?

Kercher, I fished the area 8/22-25. We caught fish each day. Some fish are out of temperature, so you can get them from 70 feet on down. Tight to the drop off by the pillboxes was combat fishing. If conditions allow, stay out of the pack and you can throw the kitchen sink at them. If you fish the crowd, you pretty much have to stick with just downriggers. In addition to kings,we caught coho, browns and lakers. It wasn't fast fishing, but a decent pick.