Charley Tuna

Kevin, You shouldn't feel you have to have dipsy's to catch fish, your rigger rods will serve you well. I fished last weekend and we still had a lot of spinny water fleas which clog up lines so you need to use large diameter line from your rod to the ball. I recommend you use 30 pound line (I like ANDE) for the vertical portion of your rigger lines then blood knot into lighter line for spoons or keep the heavy mono for the flashers and fly presentation. If your targeting browns try to use a long lead of 60 feet and no more than 12 pound test leader for spoons. Although folks have been catching browns on flashers and flies spoons, such a natural born killer, die hard and alewife patterns have been taking the lion's share of them lately. They have also been effective on kings. The flea situation may make using the 80 pound power-pro diffucult due to its's small diameter. You could run a heavy mono dipsy for steelhead which are often higher in the water column if you don't have time to set up for wire. As was mentioned above its good advice to use a rod with some backbone to handle the larger dipsy's size #1 and up.

Thanks Bill, Much Appreciated! I feel better already. I'm getting pumped-up for the better days ahead! Chuck

Hey Bill, We fished out of Fairhaven yesterday and after 10 straight great "catchin" trips on Lake O. Mr. Skunk was our passenger. Tried everything from 50 fow out to 600, flashers and flies and spoons. Had to happen sometime I guess. Sob Sob. Chuck

Bill, Thanks for the timely and useful report. You are a great help and valuable resource to all serious Big Lake fishermen. Let's hope conditions stay reasonable for a while Chuck

Hi Albig, Nice report. Sorry about the fleas. I use 30 pound ANDE for the vertical portion of my downrigger lines to combat them and 30 pound braided wire on my dipsy lines. This pretty much solves the problem for me. I also keep a can of bug spray with DEET for those times when the biting fleas are bad. They seem to really love ankle meat and can bite though socks.

Hi Bill, We were in the 20 foot gray Starcraft. We had a great morning too, all things considered. We didn't see too much on the screen but managed to pull in a few "Lone Rangers". This was our first fish of the morning at about 07:15, 70 down over 180 on an alewife spoon on a rigger. Appreciate the kind advice. I must admit I run LBB way too much since I have so many positive experiences with it seared into the memory bank of the old hair covered computer!! Mostly from last year. I'll try some flies more in line with your kind recommendations. Thanks Much, Charley

Bill, Thanks for another great report. Sunday morning we were out of Fairhaven and were just inshore of you. You really know how to find the fish! We fished in 130 to 200 fow. Didn't see much bait or fish on the fishfinder. but stayed the course and landed 3 out of 5 ... 15, 20 and 22 pounds. All 60 to 80 feet down on the riggers and all spoons. Lately we haven't been able to get our dipsies to fire. We have been fishing with 8 foot leads from the dipsy on #2 setting to white crush or green spin doctors with LLB and green flies. Do those black spots make that much difference? Appreciate any sage advice you might have. Thanks. Charley

Fished out of Oswego Yesterday. Heavy accumulation of fleas on the lighter lines and even some on the 30 pound dipsy wire just above the dipsy.

That was the State "Launch" is in on Skaneatles & the gates have been opened. Its been in and open for couple of weeks. Lets hope for some good weather. Special for Muskybob ... thanks for the help musky! It worked! !

Yes Indeed the State Launch is in on Skaneateles Lake, Visual Confirmation Made. Good Luck!