pmjasper

What temps were you finding at 200ft deep? I put up a post about preferred temps for salmonoids but am very interested if anyone targets kings in deep water below the "preferred" 42-44 degree temperature???

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I'm just begining tying my flies and leaders for next season and the questions pop into my head. Thanks a lot and good fishing.

Hey guys, So I'm tying up flies and getting leaders ready for both spring coho fishing and summer king fishing and was wondering the following: Does the rule of three basically hold true for all flasher sizes? I've always heard to start with leaders roughly three times the size of your flasher. Meaning if I have a 4 inch flasher my leader from the flasher to the fly would be 12 inches, a 6 inch flasher my leader to the fly would be 18 inches and so on? I know for normal size flashers (8") that 24" is usually just about right but just wanted to see if the rule held true for the smaller guys. I will be getting my spring coho leaders ready and want to make sure they are the correct length. Thanks again guys.

Hey guys, So just curious if anyone might be able to provide and answer to this question: So in researching colors for spring coho trolling, it seems that guys do well fishng bright orange and reddish ThinFin crankbaits but when reseaching Coho Candy type fly colors, I have not once come across anyone who fishes a bright orange or red fly? Now I realize that the small dodger or flasher is orange or red, but why are the preferred flies that are trolled usually blue, green or a darker color? Anyone out there ever pull a small orange or red fly for coho? Thank guys.

Hey guys, So I just started big lake trolling last summer and have done a little bit of flasher and fly fishing. Although I caught my first few salmon on a flasher and fly run off a dipsy, that bite seemed to slow fairly quickly for me throughout the summer, and I ended up running clean spoons most of the time. Now since my wife and I don't normally get out at the crack of dawn, I seemed to have more success running a less aggressive spread, with just the clean spoons runn off of leadcores, dipsys and riggers. When I did run flashers and flies, these were my two setups that I ran: -8" white, white crinkle/glow back tape ProChip flasher with 4" powder blue fly (seems to be pretty popular around here) -8" transparent green, white ice/glow back tape Prochip flasher with 4" crinkle green fly I started fishing those two rig off of dispys and then switched to running them off riggers. Most people have told me that blue, pearl and green flies are all they run and by matching them with a white or green flasher they have had success. Me, being your typical fisherman, want to have reliable options when the norm's don't work. There are lots of things running through my mind about why I didn't have more success with the flashers/flies but now I'm asking you guys if you could provide me with a few more effective color combinations I can run for kings. I hear that the chartreuse Spin Doctor is a good one to try but perhaps you guys will have more suggestions.

Good stuff. I just custom colored a few Berkeley frenzy cranks goby color but I think some stickbaits are definitely the way to go until the water warms up. I still have to stock up over the winter on some effective plug colors.

Hey guys,, This past year I finally purchased a 17ft boat and started my adventures in big lake trolling. Unfortunately, I didn't get the boat until mid-summer and therefore, missed the entire spring season. Now in trying to do a little research for the spring season, I'm trying my best to learn about spring brown trout trolling. I was thinking I need to pick up a few lures (spoons and stickbaits) that might be more appealing to springtime browns versus salmon. In asking around, some guys have told me that gold spoons seem to outproduce silver, chrome or white which leads me to this question... In the experience of the guys on this site, have you seen any preferred color patterns when you are targeting spring brown trout? I mean, any particular patterned spoon or patterned plug? My thought right now it to pick up a few of the smaller Michigan Stinger Scorpion spoons and some #7 straight and jointed rapalas and wanted to know if there was any real colors out there that seems to produce browns on a consistent basis? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

Thanks for the pics. Actually, I was looking for an 18ft Starcraft aluminum, dual console with an outboard, not an inboard. Your boat looks nice and I wish you good luck in selling it.

What is the make and model of the boat? Sounds just like what I was looking for but I'm looking in the $800 to $1200 range.

So are both lakes mentioned good for size and quantity? Basically, last year my father-in-law and I fished Sodus Bay (out of desperation I might add) and had a good time catching plenty of LM bass and a few stray pike. We didn't catch any large pike but my father-in-law got his first so he was happy. Seeing how well that trip ended up working out, I was looking into maybe heading upstate to try an find a good quality pike lake and giving it a shot. W would be heading up during mid May and fishing out of our 16ft aluminum with 9.9 motor. I'm really trying my best to plan a fun trip for my father-in-law. I must admit the I'm all over the board with different fishing options because we have discussed trying the Wilson/Olcott area for salmon, going back to Sodus Bay and trying the bass and pike again, fishing the Mexico area for browns or trying a totally different lake for big pike. My father-in-law doesn't really like trolling but he wants to catch a chinook at some point. The 16fter is great but it does limit what we can do on the big lake (always having to keep weather in mind). He is concerned about the trout and salmon fishing becuase last year we hit a massive cold fron during the same time period and were only able to get out on the big lake for a couple of hours and the fishing had completely died. Lastly, we were also thinking of possibly doing a charter one day but we are on a budget so money is a definite consideration as well. That is why any insight or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks to all. [email protected]

Thanks Rob I'll try to puruse that site as well. As I have mentioned, last year my father-in-law and I fished Sodus Bay (out of desperation) and had a good time catching plenty of LM bass and a few stray pike. We didn't catch any large pike but my father-in-law got his first so he was happy. Seeing how well that trip ended up working out, we have toyed with the idea of trying an find a good quality lake or bay that holds pike and giving that a shot. Again we would be heading up during mid May (19th-21st, leaving the 22nd) and fishing out of our 16ft aluminum with 9.9 motor. I'm really trying my best to plan a fun trip for my father-in-law. I will be the first to admit that I am all over the board with totally different fishing options because he and I have discussed trying the Wilson/Olcott area for salmon, going back to Sodus Bay and trying the bass and pike again, fishing the Mexico area for browns (chartered) or trying a totally different lake for big pike. The things I am considering are that my father-in-law really isn't a big time proponent of trolling but he has stated that he would love to catch a chinook at some point. He's been up there three or four times trying for them without success (boat and river). Secondly, the 16fter is great but it does limit what we can do on the big lake (always having to keep weather in mind) and having a backup plan nearby should the conditions not allow us to get out on the big lake. That is the reason that Sodus appeals to us, as although it doesn't seem to be a big spring-time chinook area, there always is the option to fish the bay for bass and pike. Fresh in my father-in-laws mind is the massive cold front and windy conditions that dropped temps 15-20 degrees during the same time period we went up last year, allowing us get out on the big lake for only a few hours one day and all but killing the good salmon fishng that was there days before we arrived. We have talked about possibly chartering a boat for one of the days we are up there but the cost is a factor as to what we can do. The best we found so far is a 6hr charter out for the Salmon River area for browns, with two nights of lodging for $425. It's not a bad deal but we were not really sure if we wanted to target browns, although we haven't tossed out the idea. I do apologize to all for basically throwing out many different ideas on what we should do and where we should head but I just want to do everything in my power to provide my father-in-law with a trip that he can enjoy. When you only fish upstate once a year, it is difficult to gather information and plan what's best for your party. That is why I truly appreciate all the insight and suggestions that those here on the board have given me. Thanks again. [email protected]

Ventured up to Sodus Bay last year and had a good time catching bass and pike in the bay. This got me thinking that if I were to make a return trip to the region, seeking out pike in numbers and size, what might be one of the better lakes in the region or bays on Lake Ontario to seek them out? any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. [email protected]

Just attempting to finalize plans out in the Wilson/Olcott region of Lk Ontario and was wondering a few things. First, does anyone have any recommendations or first hand experiences with charters out that way? We are still planning to trailer up my father-in-laws 16ft aluminum boat and if the weather didn't cooperate on the main lake, what would be my options in the general vacinity (bays, river, etc)? Lastly, if we were to fish the Niagara River, what species are available during the May 19-23 timeframe and what tactics are most commonly used in the river? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all. [email protected]

Thanks once again Ray. I'll check it out.

I was looking into the Lake Ontario Motel in the Wilson Olcott area. Anyone ever stayed there? Any other suggestions? Again, I would be trailering up a 16 foot boat and need a place to store the boat and trailer. Last year, it cost my father-in-law and I $25 a night, per person, to stay in Sodus Point. I was hoping to stay in that general price range. [email protected]

I have a few dipseys but last year the reports stated that the cohos and steelies were up high in the water column. When I used the dipseys, setting them high up in the water column based on the depth chart provided, they seemed way too close to the boat (most times I could see the dipsey) to have a fish come and take the lure. As I let more line out to get the dipsey away from the boat, the deeper the rig went in the water column. I didn't feel confident with the dipsey setup so I scraped it for the downriggers and in-line planer boards. The only steelie I took trolling last trip came on a small orange spoon set on 150' lead off the rigger 5 feet down and a tiny chinook caught on a stinger set on a 40' lead off the rigger 65' down. At least I felt the 150' lead gave a good enough distance away from the boat to get hit.

Thanks again guys. Last year I went up with my future father-in-law and I hoped we would get into some chinooks. Trolling really isn't his thing but when I told him how hard chinooks fight, he was all for giving it a shot. That's why this year I'd really like to do my best to put him in the best situation to catch a few salmon out of his own boat. Ray, I really appreciate your kind offer. If you remember the name of the hotel your speaking of and could let me know, that would be great. Thanks again for everything. [email protected]

Yeah Ray, I remember you mentioned going farther west but last year I already had the lodge booked before I got on this site. I wasn't sure if I was heading up there this year but thought I'd like to give it a shot again. Just trying to get my ducks in a row so to speak. Thanks again.

Thank you Bill. Any place to get out of the wind if it's blowing? Last year was up for three days and wind blew for 2 3/4 days. The great bass fishing saved the day but it wasn't really what we were looking for. Managed one tiny chinook and one steelhead when the weather allowed us to venture to the 120 foot mark. I guess that's the problem with the 16fter but it will have to do for now. Thanks again for the info.

Hi guys. Well last year was my first trip up from NJ to fish Lake Ontario and needless to say it didn't go as expected. A friend and I went during mid May out of Sodus Point and planned to troll for trout and salmon but a day before we arrived a cold front, dropping temps by 15-20 degrees, came in and ruined the trolling that had been fairly consistent the weeks before. We opted to fish the bay and salvaged the trip fishing for largemouth and pike. This year I have the week of May 19th through the 23rd off and was thinking of heading back up to give it another shot. The key thing here is that I am fishing out of a 16 ft aluminum (equipped with downriggers) so my range is fairly limited. I'd love to go out and hit a few salmon (chinooks or coho) and was wondering what my best plan of attack should be. Should I again go out of the Sodus Point area or should I look further west? I would love to troll for salmon but am willing to go for whatever species (walleye, pike, etc.) would provide a nice trip. I do feel that whatever port we end up staying at, that it is imperitive that a sheltered location such as a bay, river or some other protected water be available to fall back on should the weather not cooperate. Any insight or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hello guys. Well I'm giving it another shot to try and catch a chinook next weekend. We had planned to fish the river but I have been reading the reports that state the Salmon River is shockingly low which made me wonder whether we should bring up the boat again and try trolling near the mouth of the river. Any thoughts?

Thanks BlueEye. It is a definite possibility but if I had my choice I prefer aluminum over fiberglass. I have a smaller tow vehicle and with aluminum being lighter than fiberglass, that would be my first choice. The Starcraft 18 fter I was looking at would have been perfect but like I said, even with the deposit, things just didn't work out in my favor. Thanks again. [email protected]

I had an 18ft Starcraft all lined up and even sent the guy a deposit to hold until the weekend, when I could get down and take a look, but he ended up selling the boat anyway. Which means I'm still looking. I prefer an 18-20 dual console boat, preferably aluminum that is or has an outboard, not an I/O. I would also check out open boats or CC's of similar dimensions. I have a smaller tow vehicle so a real heavy boat is out. The big thing is, I need something that has fairly high sides, a good amount of workable space and would be appropriate for the places such as Raritan Bay or Lake Ontario. Anyone who has something like this can e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks a lot guys.

Still looking guys. I've been checking E-bay and Craigslist but haven't seen anything just right yet. I'm in NJ and wiling to travel for the right boat and trailer but of coarse the distance is somewhat limited. I figured there has to be some boats around Lake Ontario that fit what I'm looking for. If anyone has one or knows of someone who does, please contact me at [email protected]. Looked very seriously at purchasing an old 21ft Starcraft Islander in Ohio but the boat was an I/O which scared me a bit. Boat sold for $1500. That's basically what I'm looking for, a deep cuddy, dual console or open boat. Thank guys.