Sweet Caroline

Rich. What port are you fishing out of? Maybe some of us here can help you get on some fish

Looking to buy new cannon downrigger. Any recommendations on what and where to buy? Also, anybody know if the old swivel base and rod holders of a Old Mag 10 (12-15yrs old) will for the new models?

Correct YT. I should have added that this tactic is when the thermocline is established. Right now with the surface temps still cold you can apply Spring tactics. Probably still get browns in 15-30 FOW right now.

No need to make excuses. Lakers and browns can be a blast! For browns use your probe and start where you find 60 degree water near bottom and focus on areas where you have no colder than 50 degree water and no warmer than 65 degree water within 10ft of bottom. Set your rigs 5ft to 15ft off bottom. Same with lakers except focus on water in the 40s. Both are bottom oriented and can be found where their preferred temp intersects with bottom. All should be within 100 FOW too. In Summer for browns start looking in 30-40ft of water you may have to go out as far as 80 FOW or so. For lakers start in 70-80FOW and you may have to go as far out as 120FOW.

Logically speaking, highest catch rates in the past 10 years and declining weight of salmon does not indicate an overabundance of bait. In no way do I think we are as bad as Huron or Michigan but I can remember back as far as the late 80s and the bait was insane back then. You could forget catching a salmon from May –June when the bait was in. Maybe I’m just a better fisherman now but I never remember boating more than 2 or 3 salmon in a morning after April/early May until the fish came in mid August and then it was ON big time! I also remember the combat fishing labor day weekend at the Genny with huge 25-35Lb salmon the norm. It has been a long time since I have seen that sort of early mature bite at the river mouth. Seems counterintuitive that the Summer bite would be so slow and the fall bite so hot. Kind of the opposite of what we have today… a hot summer bite with minimal June doldrums and weak Fall river mouth fishing for matures. My thought is back in the 80s and 90s when we had so much bait it was difficult to compete when fishing offshore. When the mature salmon moved in shallow in the fall and most of the bait was still out deep your catch rate skyrocketed. Also, when was the last time there was a confirmed 40lb salmon entered in tourney? I’ve heard hatchery selection may be a factor but there have always been plenty of 25-35lb adults to choose from to keep a decent gene pool going. Also, I don’t think anybody would disagree that we had a lot of bait back then so why didn’t those fish mature early as well. It is possible I guess that after all these years of salmon being in the great lakes that they are just now growing to the size of a smaller great lakes environment compared to the ocean. A new generation of fresh eggs would be an interesting experiment but I’m not convinced that is the answer. I remember hearing stories of the Lake Michigan captains putting a lot of pressure of the fisheries crew to stock more and more salmon and they crashed that fishery. Due to the difference in biomass productivity in L.O I think it would take a lot for us to reach that same crisis but I’m just having a hard time believing that the predator to prey relationship is that much out of control. Again due to the aforementioned logic I just don’t see that being the case.

Go east 10-30 ft infront of webster park to hedges. Traditionally a good spot but since the goby invasion the smallmouth fishing has been tough.

Sounds like east wind killed the bite. Fish need a break from the blood bath this year anyway. BTW I'm only saying that being jealous because I haven't been able to get out in awhile Been painful reading these reports.

Reminder. Bring the kids

From 8am to 10am Sat June 6th. No entry form needed. Just show up and fish. Great way to get them started. There will be lots of trout to be caught.

Lots of good charters in and near Rochester. Many charter captains on this site so I will let them chime in. Probably would need to do two boats of 5 though. I'm sure you will get PMs

Nice job!

Not real familar with that area but I think the general consensus is that most Kings are caught in the southwestern half of the lake until early-mid summer. Sodus and east certainly have had years when the King fishing has been good before then but the west end is generally most consistent.

I can deal with a light NE. Generally pushes cold water in and warm water out. E winds suck all around and rarely have I done well even with light east winds. Not exactly sure why an east wind shuts the bite down but the fish definately turn negative. Even an SE can be bad. Would be interested to hear folks thoughts on why an east wind shuts the fishing down. Good example was this past weekend. Great fishing all week and then the winds start to change a bit from the east and the fishing slowed considerably.

Now

cool. thanks. I'm in then

Good luck to everybody! This will be the first time in over 25 years that we are staying in Rochester to fish the whole tourney. Looking forward to it. The 7-10 day forecast looks great as well which is even better!

Interested in the 1K derby. Would I have to be present at the awards ceremony to qualify or can the check be mailed in the event that I cannot attend?