bosco

If the limits are coming too quick that's a pretty darn good problem to have. Trolling though? No thanks. Personally, I never have found enjoyment in dredging for fish, especially walleye and especially if the bite is hot.

Regulations for Walleye on Honeoye have changed twice since I've been fishing there and statewide limits were put on Perch not too long ago as well. They're reviewed regularly and in most cases changes are deemed unecessary. But regardless of that, if a person ponys up for a NYS anglilng license and they fish within the regulations then it's none of my business what they keep even if they're keeping limits of 10-14 lb Walleyes to bury in their garden for fertilizer. Again, one could lobby for a slot limit if it's a concern.

Thanks fellas but I think I'll allow the NYS DEC fishing regulations guide determine what fish I, or others, ought or ought not keep. Especially if a few hundred dollars are being dropped on a charter. Regulations are crafted based on results of very comprehensive studies with a keen eye on preserving future fisheries. Of course, I'm free to lobby for a slot limit if I'm concerned about what others are keeping.

I also will be heading north for ice. I'm looking at the St. Lawrence River between Ogdensburg and Massena February 20-24. Looking to ice some big Walleye in the evening hours. I'm hoping to be able to report back with some good news and some good photos.

http://www.mycampage.com/usercam_legacy ... igitalcomm Maybe, just maybe, we'll get some quality ice time in after all. An abbreviated ice-fishing season is better than NO ice fishing season.

The cheapest used one you can find that is in good working condition.

Keep that $2.99 propane bottle in good shape and when it's empty, refill it at home for a nickle. http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... rchID=4005

My contact out there said it's all about chest waders and rapalas at night. Trying to squeeze some time in to make the trip myself.

Also remember that walleye are a schooling fish. When you get one trolling, go back and try and get over the spot where it hit and then jig the spot to try and pick up some of his cousins.

Put some meat on a jig and send 'er down. I don't fish the canal very often. A couple summers ago I spent a week on the Mohawk River section of the canal near Schenctedy and fished at night at the base of one of the spillways so there was some structure, eddies, and a deep basin for fish to relate to. I did real well there on the eyes. I don't know about the Brockport area of the canal. I think the water is slack, the bottom flat, and the water dingy. Not much structure and no locks or spillways for miles and miles. You've got to find areas that the fish might be relating to. Personally, I'd get a larger, light colored jig that has a spinner or something that's going to give off some flash and vibration (as that water's pretty murky in the canal) and set it aside. Then I'd troll, troll, troll with my eye glued to the sonar while mentally mapping the area and looking for any kind of structure that fish may be holding to. Then, when I see some inconsistencies on the bottom and some hooks, I'd stop trolling, throw some meat on the jig and send it down. Keep it close to the bottom making regular contact with the bottom. I rarely jig for eyes more than a couple foot off bottom. They don't hit jigs hard. Usually they hit on the drop and it's a subtle "tick". They don't inhale it like a bass or slam it like a pike. There's a finesse to it that you have to pick up over time and with a good jigging rod. Occasionally you don't even feel it and it's just when you go to sweep your rod tip up that all of a sudden you realize you've got a fish on. And sometimes, early on when you're learning, you'll have had hits and never have known it. Keep track of the spots you're finding so you can go back and hit them again. Who knows....you might be pioneering an awesome new Walleye fishery and I'll book a charter with you in a couple years.

Well....if it'a a fight you want, you're on the wrong species. Really though, walleye is mostly all I fish for with the occassional outing for perch or crappie, and I must say that if I hook a fish and it's giving me a good fight I've usually inadvertantly hooked a pike or a largemouth. But I rarely troll for walleye for that very reason. Once in a great while maybe just to cover some water and watch the screen. Classic fishing line when out with my brother a few years ago. He exclaims "I got one....it's not fighting....it's definitely a walleye". Kinda sums it up.

Just rabble rousing. Seriously though, I've never seen a group of anglers more protective of their preferred species than you Musky anglers. Hats off for true sportsmanship. Question though, is it an unusually late spawn this year? Why wouldn't the DEC push the opener back a couple more weeks?

Darn, I was looking forward to just a couple more 40 plus inchers to bury in my yard again this year. Those monsters make such awesome garden fertilizer.

Got out for a few hours tonight. 10:30-2:00AM. Water was high, clarity low...but managed 1 eye....20". Hardly set the bay on fire but nice to get out on the opener and get one in the box anyway.

Actually, Hudson Bay is on my wish list. Obviously not hardwater fishing though.

Probably not far enough. I'm going to make a couple phone calls tomorrow and see what the status is on the larger ponds or smaller lakes but I know it's wishful thinking. I'm sure we're still quite a many days away from safe ice.

scratch...scratch....scratch. Sorry, I've got a bit of an itch. Might have to see if there's any hard water up north for this weekend.

Don't give up too soon. I did pretty well today at the channel markers.

Got out for a few hours last night. Same results. 2 nice eyes in about 3 hours of fishing. Now that I've got a few in the box I'm going to need to start experimenting with different presentations to get the numbers up. Great night to be on the water though. It's nice to fish after the jet skis and the drunken pleasure crafts have packed it in.

Finally got out for the Walleye night bite for the first time this year last night. I'm almost embarrassed to say that I haven't been out anywhere fishing for anything since May 1st at Honeoye. But such is life. Anyways....with clear skies directly above me and clouds and lightning threatening to the NW and SLOWLY moving my way, I managed to boat two very nice eyes about 22" and 24" in about 3 hours of fishing. Not great but I was happy to get a couple my first night out. I bounced around several spots but both fish came in about 9 FOW on a fire tiger shallow diving shad rap south east of the 104 bridge. Basically, I'm trying to position my boat just outside the weed line and pitch parallel to shore right up to the weed edge (and into the weeds from time to time without getting too gummed up). This has worked in many spots around the bay but just one spot produced any fish last night. Of course, I got cut short with the storm that blew through. Nice to be out though.

Except for the guys dredging on Erie, I've been perplexed by the lack of eye chatter myself. It's been an unusually busy Spring and Summer for me so except for opening night on Honeoye, I haven't been out to report anything. I'm hoping to get out on I Bay for the night bite soon.

Take it easy Phil. I really enjoyed your contributions to the forum here. An excellent member of the LOU community to say the least. I'm going to miss catching up on your latest yak adventures. Don't sell your newly acquired ice gear. Trust me, you've been stung and you'll be needing it again some day.....soon.

The state is broke. Sadly, I have to support any closings and any cuts in state expenditures....including my own sacred cows.

Dynamics35, I've private messaged you a link to the tipdowns that I use. I bought 2 last year to try them and after one day out I bought 3 more to make a complete set. EXCELLENT for perch, crappie, and walleye. The set up I use on these particular tipdowns is 4 lb. Berkley FireLine Micro Ice Crystal (a 50 yard spool fits on the reel just fine but may be overkill) with a 6lb fluorocarbon leader, #8 red trebles and a very small split shot. Admittedly, I don't have experience with other tip-downs but I do love these things. They're wicked sensitive and you can really see the fish work with them. And they pack up and travel/store real neat and tight.

They park at the launch and hoof it across to the other side mostly. It's not too bad of a hike. And I'm on Culver across from Pt. Pleasant.