Gator

9.5 for skippy...5 for all else. We had that phenomenal three day laker event off the Bar this spring, but otherwise almost every time since then that I got out, decent fish were few and far between. There were abundant 2-5 lb salmon to be had through June and July, so many that it became painful trying to keep them off, in fact. Most of the summer it looked like Canada was the place to be for the big guys, though. And I unfortunately missed out this past week on staging kings at Sandy, so overall it's kinda sucked. At least for me anyway.

If you want to figure out where the big fish WON'T be in the fall derby, send me a pm and I'll let you know where I'm fishing Gator

Hey Jim, We ought to hire you to organize our boat! Same model, just the 2003 version. Somebody will be very happy with this rig, especially with the trolling motor that you had mounted. Good luck! Gator

Sustained winds over 20 knots for an entire 12-hour period. Winds over 27 knots for four hours. Waves peaking at 9.8 ft. Anybody else remember a couple years ago when she flipped three times inside ten days and it was all over? History repeats itself. Gator

This is going to be a game of inches. Small windows to fish between lightning bolts, big waves if you venture offshore, lots of dead water...could be interesting. See you all in the morning! Gator

12.05? You've got to be kidding, Mark. What are you keeping minnows like that for? Doesn't compare to this spring at the Niagara, does it? Nice fish. We'll do our best to knock you off this weekend, but only if mud chickens eat Spin Doctors fished high in the water column I wonder where all the big lakers that hang off Braddocks have gotten to? I haven't heard of anyone (or specifically Gambell) doing much damage lately. Gator

I personally still have some faith in both the system and karma. It sounds like things have progressed appropriately and that these guys will get their day in court, for better or worse. As much as I despise the thought of some thugs getting away with BS, I'd hate even more to place blame on an innocent party based on what I'd read on an internet thread. It's easy to get worked up without knowing the facts. I'm not defending anyone or condoning their behavior, I'm just saying: I wasn't there and I'm not going to try to destroy some guy's business based on hear-say. In principle I think that they should throw the book at these guys IF THEY ARE FOUND GUILTY. But that's not my decision to make and I'm not going to participate in lynch mob mentality. The foundation of our legal system is "innocent until proven guilty"; that means it's better to let a guilty guy walk than to persecute an innocent man. I say let the courts decide, and just hope my faith isn't misplaced. Gator

I'm saving my load for the shootout on Sunday Somebody should be real happy with those reels...they are fantastic. Gator

Agreed. We added two to the arsenal this year and will likely box out our set over the next couple seasons.

Hi Bruce, I'll take them for $120 apiece if you want to move them. Just an offer. Gator

Okay, the guy's abusive and everyone wishes he would cut the crap. BUT...this board is not for posting threats, as innocuous or joke-like as they may be. Remember: #1. Family website, #2. Law enforcement is watching. 'Nuff said.

I assume you mean fill up on Ho-hos and take a drive down in the Mustang

You know, this is what makes derby fishing interesting...it's not just whether you can catch fish, but do you make the right decisions? Since it's a level playing field, everybody's in the same boat (npi). In the Pro-Am, how long do you chase poundage before trying to box out with skippy? For this event, do you bump a 20 lb salmon for a 16 lb brown? Give up four lbs for a shot at the big brown prize? Tough choice. One that I'd love to be making come the 22nd though I like it. Gator

I'd love to bring the smokepole and embarrass myself! Just post whether it's a go or no-go. Gator

Congratulations on a great morning! I may have to start fishing solo, cause "Team K-squared" (nod to Jerry here) struck out last nite. We started in shallow and worked slow out to over 400'. Sounds like we should have stuck it out inside. Gator

You mention pros and cons of several notable boats, but I think that one of the best aluminum boats out there is Lund. I own a Mr. Pike 17' for Finger Lakes fishing and if I were to purchase an aluminum boat for Lake Ontario I'd certainly consider a Lund such as the 24' Baron Magnum (not in production currently, I think) with an I/O and integrated kicker. While an outboard is more versatile, I like how clean the back of the boat is with an I/O. Good luck. Gator

Hey Jeff, That is some great stuff out West in the spring, isn't it? I think I saw more guys this year than in any past, and I think that the enthusiasm is building. The Finger Lakes are consistently good for vertical presentations...I grew up there and nobody fished vertical except with sawbellies back in the '70s and '80s...or I just wasn't in the loop If you happen to post any video online, throw us the link please, either salt or fresh. :Thanks. Gator

Nice! This seems to be building as we get closer. Good times! Gator

Another spoon that's great on Keuka is a Deadly Dick, but it's harder to keep jigging spoons vertical on windy days than it is plastic/jighead combos.

I like sliders, too, but at times we've had the "extra" lure on the line gravitate toward the wire dipsey, and of course you have to stop to unhook the slider if the fish is on the lower rig, so I think that it makes landing fish more difficult. That having been said, it's much easier to deploy sliders, and we haven't (until recently) run stackers in probably the last six years. Remember the old "down and out" trick with the small dipseys on a stacker rod? What's old could be new again...

Hey Zach, I grew up fishing Waneta and the musky can be tough there, but they get big. And by big I mean BIG...scary big. Saw several over 40 lbs caught by others during the '80s. What exactly is a "homemade double 10"? And how does it run in the top 5-10 feet with 6 oz of weight in front of it? Not being a d-bag, just curious...I'm not a real musky fisherman (I don't even play one on TV) and I don't know the lingo. You should set up a camcorder in the front of your boat to make a YouTube video. I'd love to see the waves and lightning with you fighting a twenty pound muskie amidst it all. Now that would be cool! Gator

Hey Tank, A real buddy would have let you leave the riggers down while he towed you in It's good to have folks like Jay and Jerry around. Gator

This is a great idea and it should be a blast, particularly the picnic! I hear that you tried hard to keep chicken off the menu, but with little success

You might want to check out the Sanders website for threads on this topic or look at some of my past posts for tips. Jigging lake trout in the Finger Lakes has been popularized recently by John Gaulke, a guide out of Ithaca, and you could try a half day with him to get some pointers. Jigging in L. Ontario is a different beast, though. In the Finger Lakes it's not unusual to jig at depths of 150' using a PowerPro/flourocarbon combo and a 1oz plastic or diamond-type spoon. In L. Ontario, on the other hand, the currents kill you. Even when there's no wind or if you use an electric to maintain position, you still have to deal with currents that make maintaining contact with bottom and feeling hits a real bear. Not saying it can't be done, just that the native conditions make it less amenable to the technique. Except of course the Bar in the Spring... and that's a whole 'nother story. Good luck! If you give it a try, post results. Gator