Blue Knight

I've been using the #3 Hot Spot Rollerbaiter for close to thirty years. The good thing about the rollerbaiter is they come equipped with a rudder so there's no need to set it up at the side of the boat to make sure you have the right roll.

I was out of the Credit last weekend. On Saturday we never moved a rod and I fished from 50 to 180fow. Most of the guys getting fish were out in 250 to 350fow. On Sunday the two friends I took out were only interested in a big King so I stayed in tight. Moved from 30 to 50fow and concentrated on the trench that runs out at the back of the Ridgetown. Marked some stagers off there and hooked up with one but they lost it. I've been fishing Port Credit for 35 years and never seen it this slow!

Another piece of tackle I would invest in if you don't already have one is a VHF radio, not only for safety reasons but while out on the water there's usually a lot of info as to what the fish are hitting on.

There are a number of clubs that are engaged with Pen Projects and every fall request help getting eggs from the spawning salmon. I'm a member of the Port Credit club.

When I target Steelhead the first lure I'd put down is the 4.5 Apex Watermelon. Watermelon is one of the top colors for Steelhead!

I've been prostaff for Hot Spot for thirty years and to be quite honest I've never had to use any other type of flasher. They're the original and I believe the only ones that can change direction of rotation. Just about everyone's aware that a change of speed or direction can trigger a strike! My go to colors in 11" in the last few years are Bullfrog, Weasel, White Lightning, white Jelly crush UV glow and Blue Angel. As for 8" Bullfrog, Weasel, White Jelly Crush UV and Green Haze have been my top producers. I normally run cut bait on the 11" but I have had success running a Howie fly behind them. I always run a Howie fly behind the 8" Flashers. Any flasher that has a rudder attached can't change direction of rotation!

About 35 years ago I built my own downrigger rods using Fenwick 9wt fly rod blanks and they're just as good today. For a good number of years now I've had my Islander MR2 & MR3 mooching reels. Since using these reels I don't care if I ever use another level wind again! They're a fantastic reel!

Cabelas have them and thanks to "Big Dave" Fat Nancy's and All Seasons in Pulaski have them.

I'm not that familiar with tackle stores on the south side but Cabelas do carry them.

Hey Blue! Sully sold his boat so he's never had any Agitators. You must have misunderstood him because that's what he uses his Spin Doctors for LOL!

Hot Spot have the Agitator flasher. As I've said before my most productive set up for the past couple of season is running two 9 inch Agitators in tandem off the ball. The first one has a 30 inch leader attached to the ball and the trailer is 16 inches behind the first Agitator. I run an Apex 5.5 Rocket or Popcorn 5 feet above the ball and 5 feet behind the last Agitator. This set up has knocked the daylights out of the fish. My biggest fish for the last two season has been off a 9" Agitator trailing a 5.5 Glow Jelly UV Apex 5 feet behind the Agitator.

Years ago I bought two and used them twice until I got sick of them tangling up with the other riggers!

UV as stated can't be charged and doesn't need to be. UV is the only light that can penetrate water down 500ft and even works on a cloudy day.

I've been fishing Lake O for thirty odd years, mainly out of Port Credit where I had a charter service. Last year on the west end including Port Credit was not a good year. I started off in 1975 with a 16 foot with a 10 hp motor. In the Spring I suggest you travel west down to St Kitts and put in at Delhousie or Port Weller. Good Spring fishing for Steelhead, Browns and Chinook. Lots of Rubber Boots (Lakers) down there too and you don't have to go too far out to get fish. Body baits and spoons work great but before you buy any other tackle the first thing you need to buy is a VHF radio! That'll help you hear where the fish are hitting and mainly for safety!

I've been using meat for close to 30 years and it's still one of my top producers. First rod down and deepest is usually an 11" Hot Spot Bullfrog flasher trailing a Hot Spot #3 Rollerbaiter with meat. The Rollerbaiter comes equipped with a five foot leader. The one thing I like about the Rollerbaiter is I don't have to check the roll at the side of the boat. It's equipped with a rudder which gives it the right roll.

I ran Big Jon's for years and then changed over to Scotty's. I'll never go back!

One thing I haven't heard mention on this post is safety. When I worked on Peel Police I spent the odd days on the marine unit if they were short handed. I've had to pull a few bodies out of the lake. One thing I would never do is go out there solo in four footers even in the 26 foot Campion. There isn't a fish in this world worth risking your life for. I lost a good friend out there!

f.bishop as for charters on the south shore I can't advise since I'm on the north shore. Before you book with anyone I suggest you ask if they are agreeable to give out advice since you've decided to start fishing Lake O. I've run charters for 35 years and was always happy to give advice & suggestions. Once you get the boat out just make sure you have a VHF radio. One for safety & also getting info on where the fish are and what lure to use.

I've read every post on this topic and they are all very informative. This will be my 40th year on the lake. That's damn good since I'm only 39 LOL! Every day on the lake is different. As said start with a speed that has been productive for you and if that's not working start adjusting until you get some action. Another thing to keep in mind is don't rely on just a straight line of trolling. A little zig zag will do the trick also!

All the above are good advice but there are times when the fish will be more active to a faster or slower troll. If you're marking a lot of chasers try changing your speed slower then faster. Nothing in this game is concrete and a little variation now & then can be very productive!

One of the most consistent lures and colors I've had for steelies has been a 4.5 watermelon Apex. The biggest steelhead I got was a 22lber off that lure. Another color that has worked well is the 4.5 Apex Popcorn. The last couple of years I've run them from time to time behind a 7.5 Agitator. It doesn't affect the action of the lure but brings in the fish. Whatever spoon you use I'd suggest watermelon. As for lakers they've pretty well disappeared in the Port Credit area. Before they did I had one day landing twenty three on the pearl 4.5 Apex.

I run Slide Divers so I can run them at whatever length I want ahead of the flasher. What I also do is place a swivel about four feet ahead of the flasher so the diver can't slide down any further. As for tackle I run an 8" Hot Spot flasher, either a Bullfrog, white Lightning, Weasel or Green Haze ahead of a green or glow Howie Fly. All have produced very well over the years and for the last couple of years I've run a Hot Spot Agitator ahead of an Apex, other spoon or body bait depending on the time of year with good results.