Gator

Us catching up is about as likely as when my daughter told me she was going to be as old as I am some day Women just generally pay more attention to details, and they usually reap the rewards. Great story!!

Way to go, Scott. I was getting live updates while fishing Sandy with Keith about all the small bucks you were seeing...BBD!!

That's got to make you proud!!

I hear you, man. I can't imagine any better buck than that...perfect. And to have a friend's kid watch the whole thing? Just unreal. My good buddy the "other" Keith is bringing his son out with us tonight, he's ten, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we have a chance to get him into the game. In fact, I got to go shower and get ready to head out the door. I'll look for those pics.

Justin, If you get a chance, upload a few pictures. I'd love to check out your collection...who does your work? I went to school in Binghamton, but that was twenty-five years ago. I concur with you on your choice of decor, though my wife, who doesn't hunt or fish, has tastes that run more toward European mounts and oils of ducks rather than taxidermy. I may sneak a few goldeneye into the mix this year, though. gator

Sounds like some fantastic fishing! Not to be preachy, just a reminder that replica mounts based on a picture will last longer and look better than the real thing. Go get 'em!

"Results may vary"...never have truer words been spoken.

Awesome!

My wife purchased a balloon trip for me years ago for my birthday. We went from Rush to Victor. There were a bunch of times when the guys running the balloon would lower us to where we were just skimming over fields, barely a couple feet above the ground, then they'd lift us up over the tree line just in time. It seemed "exciting" to me, but they knew what they were doing. Could be that these guys were doing the same sort of thing? Although it seems a bit irresponsible if they're doing it so close to buildings...very cool pics, though.

You and me both, brother. I want to live

Hey Lineman- I'm not a secretive sort of guy myself, but Erie and Seneca are different beasts. Seneca is too deep to fish effectively except near shore, and that can be literally only a couple of yards of water before you hit the dropoff. Combine that limited fishing area with ultra-clear water and spooky fish. Believe me, if I told you "right where to go" (and I don't know where to go, just to be clear), you wouldn't want to fish there. When someone says they're "getting them" on the internet, suddenly there's an extra dozen boats running around the lake with binoculars checking out everybody who's fishing. It's one thing to share a school of perch, and another entirely to have a guy motor in on you to within casting distance, tangle your lines on his cast, and spook the school back to deep water (or lock-jaw). I can't imagine how bad it would be if you actually pinpointed a spot for the trolls. That's the truth of the matter. It's not paranoia, it's fact. Seneca can be a really, really tough lake to fish. I know some good perch fisherman who struggle there. Maybe that frustration breeds a lack of respect? I've had more guys ruin my day there than anywhere else I know. I'm happy to share general knowledge. Seneca can be excellent for perch in the fall, and I've heard of at least one good report. It's not the harvest that's going on at Erie right now, however. Good luck to anybody who gives it a shot! Gator

Who needs rod workouts when you have those Daiwa Saltist Linecounters to make a man out of you? You should have seen the bruise on my forearm the night I ran solo and fought five kings to the boat! Best two hours of fishing I've had this year, but it left a black and blue mark the size and exact shape of the linecounter on my left arm. Ten foot or seven foot rod, wouldn't have mattered...it would still suck Best reel I've ever owned John, I took your advice and contacted Roger regarding the lathe, and he's setting me up. You the man!

We never got into fish out West this Spring. Our experience at Sandy was that the "normal" July flurry never materialized and IMHO August was okay at best. Now it seems that the skunk has hit up and down the lake. I keep thinking (and reading) about weather patterns and staging and wind, but...what if there's just not as many fish? Does anyone have the stocking numbers from 4 years ago? Was there something strange going on that year, like higher water temperatures in the creek during the pen-rearing? I seem to recall that the salmon were only kept in the pens a very, very short time one year. I know that we had an exceptional year last year, but this seems more to me than merely a reversion to normal. I'm just throwing it out there for discussion.