times two

Tom: You can try searching the boat trader... there are a couple there.. also lakeside marine or south shore marine in Oh. I think that had a couple listed. John

I've used the DR for 4 seasons (don't use torpedo's) and never had that happen. First thing that popped into my mind was that it somehow was rotating.....

Headed out with a friend of mine this morning...beautiful lake, sunny skies...3 hrs later, the wind kicks up, rain, etc.....man.... Anyway...got a nice 'eye, 70 ft rigger on a stinger chicken wing, did an 8lb steelie on a DW...not sure what its called...pink nose, blue butt, neon green cup...64 rigger.... Missed a couple on the blueberry muffin on the 185 diver.... PLUS...a half dozen sheep today.....not sure what was up there other than lots of bait as we were running 1.9-2.1 at the ball which usually clears those..... John

Daker...glad you got on some.... I generally pull my boat around Columbus Day..give or take depending on the weather. The last couple of years we have had some great September fishing, if mother nature lets us out. I'll keep posting as I go...probably Sunday due to iffy weather tomorrow....but hope to get a least another 6-10 shots at it. Plus if steelhead is something you like to fish for, that can be good in September too...I remember a day in late September where 2 of us did a dozen one morning.... John

FYI from Mike Steffes.....since FIshlander is currently out of business, he is able to service the Fishlander (and Big Jon) riggers.... John

After talking to a friend of mine that reps for Okuma, and then the regional sales guy, I made a complete change over to Okuma from Daiwa over the last 2 seasons. Love the rods...I have the 8'6" rigger rods, and dipsey rods. The only complaint I have is on one of the convectors the "clicker" occasional jumps out of click when letting line out....looks ok to me, so I'll have to work on that when the season is over. Otherwise great. I do have 4 7' one piece okumas for sale...new condition, used 1 season...I'll deal..... John

Ray.... Keep fishing out of Barcelona if you're going buff! John

FWIW.... didn't get out of work until late....7 yr old convinced me we should shoot out for some eyes.... Didn't get the first line in until 7, had to get him back by 8:15.... had a great rip on the 185 diver. LOADS of fish on the graph in 70-80 fow...nothing much outside of that.... John

Guy... I sure wish I was out....I've got auditors in this week...I hate when work gets in the way....but I'll nose around Wed and see if I can get a report... Let's see....I struggled a bit in August...well, most guys did...so I backed off on the speed just a touch...thinking new boat is slightly different...so instead of the 1.8-2.0 at the ball I ran on the one last year, we dropped to 1.6-1.8 and that seemed to make a difference, for me anyway. If you go out of Dunkirk, as long as it doesn't blow..I think I'd go back where we were all weekend....litterally straight out or just a touch east...start in 70 and do a north-south troll. There were definitely fish there. Sat and Mon I took my son (7) so we did not go early...but Sun we did with the guys had 3 fish go before we had all the rods in... THe DW's for me have been the glow frog and the muffin, and we had a few on a dolphin..super slim size. Plus thos silver/black chattersticks. Temp break was 11 degrees from 60 to 67 feet, buy the eye's seemed to be hanging right in there. Lots of bait, and lots of bait getting spit up in the box.... John

I know the MWC guys all ran west to barcelona..... But....we had fish all three days right out in front....and I only ran 4 rods Sat and Mon. Friend of mine did 16 just west of Dunkirk Sunday, and he had 7 last I spoke to him at noon yesterday. We dropped in all 3 days in 70 fow....worked out to 100 and back and forth. Good pic to 85 and outside 95. Fish moving between 55-65 each day. Did a couple on the 10 core with 3 oz too. We've been running rings on the divers of late, and some even the mag rings. I know if you want steelies....125-140 off Van Buren has been real good. 70-75 feet down. I know a guy that boated 12 yesterday, fishing for them. And we took a 14lb laker out there last week too. You guys mention harnesses....we did our 5/8 yesterday using sticks or spoons and never put out a worm. Also, our board bite has been bad, put the fish are deep and the little divers arent quite getting us down far enough..... John

Another beautiful flat lake....probably the first 3 days in a row that were calm since June! Took my son (7) with me today....fished a little over 2.5 hrs... did 5 eyes (dropped a couple others), 1 8lb steelie and few sheep. DW glow frog, 185 on the slide with a ring on 2.5; DW blueberry muffin on 2.5 slide at 190. 60/65 riggers on chattersticks. Lots of good hooks and bait. Straight out 70-90.... John

Headed back to the spot we fished yesterday with some friends of mine...did 7 eyes, dropped another 4 or 5 plus 1 steelie, 1 sheep, 1 silver bass and a perch! Early bite was good, died off quick.... chattersticks again on the 60ft rigger, DW glow frog on the slide, 185 back 2.5 with a ring.....put a DW Dolphin on the 10 color, 3 0z at the second/third color...that went twice. 85-100 straight out in front. John

Owed by 7 yr old a date with a walleye, so we waited until the lake settled after last nights t-storm. Headed out about 10:30.. did 3 'eyes before he had enough of the sun/heat at 12:30. Started in 70 fow straight out, marked lots of fish moving around between 50-65 feet down. Did 1 on a chatterstick 50 ft back on the 60 rigger; 1 on a wire slide, 180 back on 2.5 with a ring on a DW glow frog, and an 8lber on the 10 color/hatchet blade, 2 0z between the second and third color. Sounded like a pretty tough bite on the radio.... Back out in the morning..... John

Capt. Paul: I only had the pleasure of meeting Capt. John a couple of times... But I appreciate the efforts on the pen program, and the desire to keep his memory. I usually ask Reel Bob...but I assume you would take a donation to the pen project on behalf of Capt. John? Gotta run on Erie, but it sounds like it would be great to be there. John

Do you guys find that the chattersticks cannot take much abuse, though? I had a steelhead rip the wire right out yesterday,and the paint seems to not stay well. John

Well...got a shot in today between winds...man, its been windy this year!!!! Started in 75 fow straight out of dunkirk, hit an 'eye before I had all the rods in...165 slide, no ring, renosky chatterstick... Had another 4 eyes, 3 steelhead and 2 lakers plus easy 6-10 fish that hit that we missed. Best was a chatterstick at 160-170 back on 2.5 on the slides, a stinger purple parrot at 75 on the rigs. 120-130 fow. 1.7-1.9 at the ball. John

In the thinking stage for a kicker....what kind of dollars are you thinking? John

Welcome to our world! Forecast has been wrong more than right. I'm assuming you are hitting the road early, so the local marina will not be open yet. I can tell you its been rolling since last Thursday, so we're due for calm....

Capt. Paul: I appreciate your efforts on this. Just another great thing that the Oak does that other ports just don't seem to want to bother with. Here in Dunkirk, the powers that be decided to build an 8-10 shop "boardwalk" right at the pier and took about 15 parking places for the fisherman out, even though there are several other locations very near the pier that would have been suitable for the boardwalk. Go figure. And then they hear that the numbers using the public ramp are down....can't imagine why..... Anyway, we aren't coming up until the 17th so we miss this, but great job. Maybe we'll catch you guys at the BNI..... John

I would say they have been deeper than normal. Early last week there was a sizeable break around 70 ft. Some 8-10 degrees if you came up 5 feet. Ray...i normally figure 5 feet per color, so Im thinking with the 3 oz. its right in that 65 foot range, depending on speed. John

The winds and weather have it kind of messed up a bit....but the best water was 80-85 feet straight out. Fish are deep. 185-200 on divers with rings, 10 color with 3 ounces. John

ANyone have a good source for buying champion spark plugs? John

Don't worry Sluggo....taking a "break" and heading to the Oak in another week for 5 days of fun!

Ray...lake started to lay down about an hour after you called. We got on the best picture we had seen all weekend right at quitin time...wouldn't you know it....friend of mine fished today in the same general area and really whacked em! Hope they stay there for Fri-Sat-Sun this week.... John

Big water to start today!! What else is new? Did three nice eaters almost right off the bat, that had a big lull. Ended up taking our best fish as we started to clear rods to make weigh in. 185 slide diver with a ring was good again, as was the 60 and 70 riggers. Took several fish running the Dreamweaver DW's in Mojo, and dragginballs. Moved up the board a bit more, ending up in the middle of the pack in the 100 boat field. Our low weight on Friday really came back to hurt us. Oh well, it was fun and there is always next year! John