pmjasper

Thanks ErbyJoe, You're not ranting. I completely understand what you are talking about and will try to make the best decision I can on getting the right rods and reels. Info from those in the know is always appreciated. Thanks again. [email protected]

That's what I may do. You see, my big debate is do I go with a line counter reel or a straight baitcasting reel. Again, down here in NJ, my two Abu Garcia 6500 reels have taken everything from stripers and bluefish to musky and trout. I have a lot of confidence in those reels and under my budget they can fulfil a multitude of situations. Of coarse, they are not the best for Lake Ontario but I'm only heading up there initially this one time in May. I believe they could readily take spring salmon, but I also like the line counter feature for trolling, which I do a lot of here in NJ. I'll probably end up going with two Diawa Sealine reels but i'm still waiting on making the final decision. [email protected]

I looked at the Accudepth reels from Diawa and wasn't impressed at all. I then picked up two Quantum Indicator trolling reels but will be returning them today or tomorrow. The spool control knobs are cheap plastic and held onto the reel by plastic threads. Last night, after I got the reels home, the spool control knob could be popped on and off without screwing it onto the threads. Bad sign, so they are getting returned today. Too bad because they were smoother than the Diawa Accudepth reels. [email protected]

Oh, what pound test line are you guys using for the leader between the cowbells and the peanut? I am currently using 30lb clear High Impact line. Just curious what others use. Thanks. [email protected]

Ordered the I Finder H2O and 2007 HotMaps card today. Can't wait to get it and start learning the in's and out's of the sytem. Thanks again for the insight guys. [email protected]

Hi guys, I'm planning my first trip up to Lake Ontario during mid-May and have to pick up a few rods for the trip. Now down here in NJ, I use a fairly light action rod when trolling for trout or to be used for downrigger fishing. A combo similar to the Eagle Claw Starfire Series SF407 and an Abu Garcia 6500 seem to do the trick but I'm not sure if it's stout enough for Lake Ontario. Since I won't be making frequent trips up to the big lake, I don't want to buy gear that won't see use or is overmatched for the fish here in NJ....and of course price is always a consideration. I was looking at the Diawa Accudepth series reels and rods for about $75 a combo and Cabelas has a similar combo fro about the same price. Any thoughts? [email protected]

Thanks again for the info. How is the detail of the GPS without the additional map cartridges (if anyone uses the unit without them)? [email protected]

Thanks guys. The boat it would be used on is a tiller model 16ft so that is why I'm looking at the handheld. I liked the looks of the screen and thought it would be a good investment for fishing the lakes in NJ as well as Lake Ontario. [email protected]

Just curious if anyone has ever seen this unit in action or has purchased one. I need to pick up a GPS unit before making the trek to Lake Ontario and have been looking at the Lowrance I Finder H2O. It seems fairly straightforward, showing limited lake detail and having the option of purchasing an additional map card if need be. Since the size of my father-in-laws boat is small, we prefer a handheld unit. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks. [email protected]

Thanks Dan, For our first time up we opted to fish and stay in the Sodus Point area. Since I already booked our trip, we will most likely stay in that vacinity but with all the talk of the Niagara Bar, maybe next year we will head further west. [email protected]

Any size to the fish though? As I've said before, I'm not a catch and keep fisherman and I love lake trout fishing, but unfortunately Round Valley Reservoir here in NJ gives up lakers but a lot are the cookie cutter pound or two pound fish. The thing that always keeps us going back are the reports of 15, 20 and 30 pound fish being caught. One day we'll hook up on a better fish but to date it's only been the smaller variety. [email protected]

Interesting stuff. I normally run stickbaits for the browns here in NJ and run spoons for lakers throughout the year. This year i finally talked my girlfriend's father into adding downriggers to the boat which will allow us to work the water column more efficiently. Couple that with the addition of trolling flies, peanuts, another wire line rod my girlfriend's father got for Christmas, etc. and we'll have a lot to toy with this coming season. Can't wait for it to begin. Anyway, it's always interesting seeing what other people find important to their arsenal. One of my personal favorites is a Storm Baby Thunderstick or Deep Baby Thunderstick in metallic green. I really like trolling this lure and add it to the pattern in the beginning of the day. hopefully it will produce up in Lake Ontario as well. [email protected]

Thanks guys. I already ordered some supplies from Stamina Tackle and will make up the cowbells for the coming season. I'll let you know how it works out once I get a chance to get on the water. Thank again. [email protected]

Thanks L&M. I'm trying to get my gear together and add the little odds and ends that we are missing. I'm not sure how many times we'll get up to Lake Ontario, so I'm trying to get gear that will also work well down here in NJ. [email protected]

Are there many difference in lure/rig choice from locale to locale on Lake Ontario? I'll be fishing the Sodus Point area during mid-May. [email protected]

Thanks for the info. I would love to try a few finger lakes as well. I just fish for fun, not for food and it's not that I'm hell bent on lake trout, it's just that down in NJ that's the only somewhat large trout/char species I can pursue. As far as fishing for them up in Lake Ontario, I'll take anything that decides to hit our lures. If it's a slow day and lakers can save the day, than so be it. I'm just out to learn as much about the big lake and its species before I get up there in May. All I'm looking for is a safe, successful trip. [email protected]

Well I ordered some Wobble Trolls and components to make my cowbells that will hopefully produce. As far as lake trout are concerned in Lake Ontario, are they readily accessible in the spring and do people target them? It seems like more people go after salmon or browns than lakers, but I wouldn't mind dropping a thumper rod and cranking in a few during my trip in May. Just curious. Thanks [email protected]

Hi guys..getting ready for my first trip up to Lake Ontario in May and was wondering, if you had one rig (Rig, Lure, Bait, etc.) that you would not be without, for any particular species you target, what would it be? [email protected]

Thanks I picked up a pack and will give them a try. [email protected]

Any local shop carry wobble-n-glos? I have checked the Wordens website and they don't even list them. The Spin-n-Glos are popular in NJ but you can't go into any store and find Wobble-N-Glos or peanuts. [email protected]

Maybe we could trade tips sometime. I like camping there and trying for lakers and browns. The wire line has been fairly successful but we'll be trying new things this year as well. Hopefully we can get started soon but I still have some boat modifications to complete before being ready for the season. [email protected]

Emtystringer....you're in NJ? On RV I will use this rig off of a wire line thumper rod. Easy to fish near bottom and not hang up so frequently. I used Spin-N-Glos because peanuts are hard to find down here. Should work as well. Now i just need to make my cowbells. [email protected]

I was just wondering who uses them and how do you set them up....assuming you make your own. I fish for lakers down in NJ and this year was going to try Spin-N-Glo's on a 27", 30lb leader behind cowbells. My thought is to make the cowbells out of #5 or #7 Colorado blades strung on 60lb nylon coated wire. Since I fish uneven rocky bottom, I would be fishing this rig on wire line with a dropper and meatball weight. I have fished dodger and flies in similar fashion and caught some fish this way. The average lakers down here is a pount or so but the state record is 32lbs. Any insight to the rig or your own rigs would be appreciated. Thank you. [email protected]

Thanks Ray. Believe me, there is no reason to be scared. I'm 32 years old and been fishing for roughly 25 years. I have trolled a lot for browns, lakers, walleye and musky and owned canoes, kayaks, jon boats, aluminum boats and a center console for ocean fishing. At age 32, I have no desire to cut my life short by being stupid on Lake Ontario. If the weather is rough, we'll stay in the bay. If not, we'll venture out and try for browns and possibly a salmon. I've spent a lot of time out on the water and seen some bad decisions that have gotten people in trouble. I have always erred on the side of caution. In fact, that is the reason for all the questions about the Sodus Point area, to try and be as prepared as possible for when we get up there. I am no expert when it comes to fishing or boating on Lake Ontario and you can believe me my decisions will be made with safety in mind. [email protected]

Where is Wilson in relation to Sodus? Being our first time up fishing the lake, we decided to go out of Sodus Bay, staying at Sodus Point Lodge. My father-in-law has a 16 ft Starcraft aluminum boat with a small outboard motor. The reason we chose Sodus was that we figured if the weather was rough we could stay in the bay and fish for walleye or pike. While the boat is pretty good in somewhat rough conditions, and has two bilge pumps, I'm not so sure we wanted to brave some of the more choppy and crowded areas like the Niagara Bar. Believe me, we'll be happy with anything we catch, browns, rainbows, bass, whatever....but I really want my father-in-law to get the feel for a chinook cause we don't have anything that fights like them down in NJ. Heck I'd even be tickled pink with a coho, which neither of us have ever caught before. Truthfully, at first I thought trolling the shoreline out to a mile or two whould be realatively easy, but with only three days to fish, finding where the fish are and what works, along with getting suitable weather, is beginning to have me think it will be more of a challenge. It will definitely be a learning experience our first time up. [email protected]