Pierless

I reckon someone has to represent Sodus Bay on this board, but someone who is a better fisherman should do it,... Saturday was rather slow with only a juvenile king taken on a Mt. Dew Spin Doc w/a green Abe's Custom (Atomik) fly. I started deep and went deeper. Wound up in over 600fow to the NE of the chute. Did that because I looked at my friend's computer Fri. night and saw upwelling out that direction from a Michigan Sea Grant IR image taken ~10pm Friday night. I never saw any colder surface temps out there, but my down temp at ~70' down were chilly at 46 - 47 deg. Note to self: Don't buy a computer and never bother looking at it if you do. - Self Sunday was a slightly better day out there. I learned my lesson to not go deep the day before, so targeted water less then 200'. Thinking the big kings are down deep I set the wire pretty far back, ~275. However, my favorite pattern to hate, red Fire Tiger (or, Fire Tiger of any sort for that matter), got slammed off my 'rigger down 56'. Hauled in a nice king. The boat was rocking too much to get an accurate weight, but it was somewhere between 21 and 25lbs. Several other things on Sunday, steelies and more small kings. Nothing really worth posting 'cept that one king. Sad to say it, but that NK28 red Fire Tiger/glow back got pretty torqued out of shape on that king. Probably got bent out of shape when it was trying to take my crew's eyeball out with it as it flopped on the floor. That guy has got eyeballs of steel apparently,... So, it looks like I'll have to wear a disguise and sneak in the back door of Abe's Tackle Box and get another Fire Tiger. I hate those things. Why do they catch so many fish,..... Pierless (Neil)

Looking for a 10 - 15 HP 2, or 4-stroke kicker (can ya tell I'm not fussy?). Price range dependent on make/model/year/features. Don't make me buy an new one,... Please! Thanks y'all, Pierless Neil

All, Please read the article below my sign-off. I know it's long, but it concerns YOU, YOUR BOAT and new legislation aimed at making it a LOT more difficult and expensive to own/operate your boat. If you begin reading, you'll have blood pressure problems by mid article. My biggest surprise? I actually agree w/Schumer on something!!! Supposedly, there are no "bad guys" here. However, if you go to the "www.boatblue.org" site it makes writing your congressmen/women very, very, easy. Bad guys, or not, writing makes the most sense of you want your voice to be heard. It is my personal belief that outdoorsmen, hunters, fishermen and the like are the TRUE conservationists. The environmentalist whackos on the other coast of this nation are taking your favorite pastime away from you, or at the very least, making it a lot more expensive. Boating (fishing) is expensive, but at least it's still pleasurable. Passing this legislation will make it yet more expensive and far less pleasurable. One of my favorite things to say is, "See you on the water!" Maybe this is our last year on the water,..... Keep your powder dry for the seemingly inevitable battle against our judicial system running amok and overturning/overruling the will of the people. Best Regards, Pierless Neil ****************** Advocates for recreational boat owners are urging anyone opposed to the new EPA rule to visit www.boatblue.org and urge members of Congress to support the Clean Boating Act of 2008, which would exempt small boats from water discharge permits. Schumer wants to drop boat permit New EPA regulation treats pleasure boats the same as large ocean liners. Tuesday, June 03, 2008 By Delen Goldberg Staff writer Unless Congress acts this summer, Central New York's 58,000 recreational boat owners will need to buy new federal permits to boat after September or face fines of up to $32,500 a day. Same with boaters in every other part of New York and the nation. A new Environmental Protection Agency rule, set to kick in Sept. 30, will force recreational boaters to obtain the same permits that oil tankers, freight ships and ocean liners are required to have. The permits regulate the amount of pollution the vessels give off and curb the discharge of ballast water, a major contributor to the spread of invasive species. A California courtdecided in 2006 that the EPA should be accountable for ballast water regulations. As a result, the EPA announced across-the-board rules for large commercial ships and pleasure craft alike. "That is the most ridiculous thing in the world," said Mike Bonus, a Brewerton captain and owner of Marine 2000, a local boat equipment and repair shop. "It makes no sense. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. The more legislation you throw out there, the less people are going to boat." Many lawmakers in Washington agree, including Sen. Charles Schumer. Schumer visited Brewerton on Monday to speak out about the new EPA rule and urge people to rally in favor of the Clean Boating Act of 2008, which would exempt recreational boat owners from having to obtain the federal permits. "Just as the boating season is starting, Washington, in its usual fashion, is throwing up a new storm cloud," Schumer said in front of a group of about 50 boaters and residents gathered in front of a boat launch on Oneida Lake. "This impending regulation defies every iota of reason." If the new rule takes hold, the EPA will regulate not only ballast water, but any other water discharges from vessels as well. That could include rainwater run-off, engine cooling water and any other water that might slosh over a boat's gunwales. Even a person hosing off a boat deck could face problems. Boaters caughtwithout discharge permits would face fines of up to $32,500 a day. "Are there going to be inspectors up and down the line, subjecting huge fines?" Schumer asked. "So where's the pleasure in pleasure boating?" Schumer said he supports pollution limits for big ships. But, he argued, small, private boats cause nowhere near the environmental damage that large tankers and ocean liners do. "If these new regulations go into effect, the vibrant recreational boating industry will collapse," Schumer said. And that's big business in Central New York. The boating industry pumps more than $133 million a year into the Central New York economy, Schumer said, and creates almost 870 jobs in the region. "Central New York boaters and anglers play a central role in the economy," said Maureen Doyle, vice president of the Boating Industries Association of Upstate New York. "It's not just about the boaters paying a fee or not. It's also about the trickle-down effect." Environmental committees in the House and Senate have already endorsed the Clean Boating Act. Schumer hopes to get all of Congress on board and pass final legislation with "unanimous consent," meaning it won't need to be debated on the floor. "Our goal is to pass the legislation by July 4," Schumer said. "We are making good progress, but you never know what will happen. The Senate works in mysterious ways." Delen Goldberg can be reached at [email protected] or 470-2274.

Y'all, Check my reply to "eastbay" on the Big Lake discussion board,... Pierless Neil

Eastbay, I wasn't going to insist that you were there Sunday, not Saturday, but from what you wrote and what I saw, they were one and the same, just on different days. Seemed too exactly the same to be different. Looking at your responses to others I'm completely sure it was you, as your technique of "not even reeling" was what was confusing the heck out of me when I was eyeballing you. I couldn't figure out if you were using a floating lure and letting it rest, or if you were fighting a fish in, or what. It all makes sense now,... Well anyway, you kept me out there looking for trout. Until I saw you reel one in, I was convinced that there weren't trout anywhere near where I was and I was getting rather upset at being frustrated seeing nothing. Don't get me wrong, I was still frustrated that I wasn't reeling one in and you were, but at least I knew I was just doing a bad job of fishing, which I ought to be able to do something about and not trolling in fishless water. To that end, when the wind came up shortly after our paths crossed, we went back to Sodus and my girlfriend reeled this dandy in. Not the "target species" I was looking for, but probably tastier! Regards and please do wave at the ugly boat next time you see it wobble on by. We wave back. Pierless Neil

Hey Eastbay, I was trolling right past the East Bay outlet on Sunday and saw a guy haul one in as I was trolling past. As you can imagine, I was rather envious. I got skunked. To see the guy on shore, who is usually wishing he was on a boat ('least that's me when I'm ashore) reel one in was frustrating. However, it did give me cause to continue. Judging by your sweatshirt, I thought you could have been riding on my boat! Well done. Good luck getting the boat in. Pierless Neil

fishdude4life, Thanks for the tip on Ch. 8. It always used to be 68, but I am adaptable,.... I think. Cheers, Whoever you are, please, PLEASE kill the skink! My compensation for your extermination is 101 proof. Happy Derby All! I'll be "off the air" (hangin' out on Ch. 8 instead) until Monday the 12th. See you then, Best Regards, Pierless Neil Out

fishdude4life, Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! Geez, you all sure were quiet out there! I found the warm water, but I never saw anything down there. I should have stayed out and set up more/deeper riggers. As I only had my brother out w/me and the program limited to 4 lines, I split it up, but never went down 70'. Again, Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou, for the report and the advice! I'll be out there all Derby long. If you see an ugly old Islander with a white Hardtop, give "Pierless" a call on 68. Cheers! Pierless Neil

Just thought I'd cap this thread with the news that I have bought, purchased, installed and enjoyed the Humminbird 785c2i NVB that Billy V. recommended for me (seeing as I was on a budget). I procured the unit from Anchor Express. I got it delivered via DHL Next Day Air for and extra $23 for a delivered total of $710. I've only used it once, but I think it's going to work out very well. I was concerned that the NVB (pre-loaded Navionics charts and Premium HotMaps option) was not going to be good enough for navigating Lake Ontario in places I have not gone before. My fears are permanently quieted. The charts are simply amazingly detailed. I live on Sodus Bay and my landlord's dock is on there (it's a big dock,...)! No matter where you go, there you are, but if I'm on the water, I'll now know exactly where I am. Heck, I can even call the nearest waterfront restaurant for reservations from the telephone numbers listed in the info screens of the charts! Maybe the "Uber NVB" package has wine lists? Thanks to Billy V and all who have tolerated this thread! Pierless Neil Out

Thought I'd see if I could start a discussion here,... With the amazingly clear (and cold) water we've had it has been quite easy to see the bottom. Yesterday (Apr. 27th) I started seeing dead fish on the bottom. They were about 6" - 8" long and belly up on the bottom. Some appeared to have their bellies ripped up/open. I suspected that they were Gobies, as they weren't very long and had rather fat heads/forward parts of their bodies. Finally, I saw one that was belly down and looked really like a Goby, except for it was grayish and not the typical brown color I have seen in living specimens. I saw these dead fish all the way from Hughes to the Sodus Point channel. In most cases they were one here and there, apparently stuck in the spaces between smaller rocks. In some places, like in about 6fow off of Boller Point they were a bit more numerous. When I got to the channel and went in there was a bunch of fish lying on the west pier. I asked one of the pier fishermen if the dead fish on the pier were Gobies. He shouted, "Yup." That fairly much answered the question about what kind of fish I'd been seeing scattered on the bottom for miles on end. I know very little about Gobies. As they are appearing dead all over the place and in coincidence with the poorest brown trout fishing I've had in the past 8 years, or so, have to wonder something about them. Has anyone else noticed these dead fish? I've heard that Goby patterns are working fairly well on browns etc. Are the browns just gorged full of them and eating them preferentially ignoring everything else that swims buy? (If so, is this the end of the "Goby problem?") Do Gobies have intolerance to temperature changes like some of the other fish in these waters? I know there's an armchair ichthyologist out there with all the answers! Thanks, Pierless Neil

Yeah, "feel-good," like it will make you feel good that you're not alone if you're getting SKUNKED! I thought that getting my brother off the floor Sunday morning was a challenge, but it turned out to not be nearly as big a challenge as putting a fish on a hook on Sunday. I can't understand it, he went to sleep at about 3am and I didn't wake him up until about 6:15 and he was nearly as slow as the fishing out there. I guess he's just not in Derby shape yet,... Doesn't matter much I suppose, neither is the fishing. Went west out of the chute and set up just east of Maxwell. The water there was not nearly as warm as I expected it to be. At about 7:30 it was only about 43 deg. F. Trolled to Boller Point (the point west of Maxwell Creek) and got pinched by another westward troller. No biggie and hey, now I'm looking north, isn't that a fleet of sport fishing boats out there? Yup. Let's go! The water did warm up a bit going out to about 200fow, but ch. 68 was deathly quiet virtually all day. None of those boats seemed to be busy. I'd say that the water was about 46 deg. F. in ~200fow, whereas it was 41-42 from 20' out to about 140fow, where it started to warm. Went back inside at Hughes and trolled west to Sodus. The water looked good and was quite warm in several spots where small creeks flow into the lake, but no takers. I tried running straight into Maxwell Creek from out in the lake and turned hard east just at the mouth of the creek. We had one release just as the lures were getting into the outflow. I grabbed it and started reeling away. Got some tension on the line, set the hook, had two headshakes and a fish jumped out of the water and then shook the hooks on a 11 size Rapala in black. I couldn't tell what it was, as it was still nearly 300'off the back of the boat. It wasn't big at any rate. Well, at least I know it was a fish that tripped the release and not the bottom. We went back three more times through the outflow, but no more action. The water was the warmest I've seen on the lake so far this year. I had about 52.4 deg. F. in the brown water and it cooled off fairly quickly if you got out of it. So there you have it; you are not alone (most of you, anyway) and if you caught fish in the Pultneyville to Port Bay vicinity you are a much better fisherman than I (not hard to be, but still a feat of some kind). Yeah, let's have a west wind and set things of for the Derby. Or, let's have a south wind and make it easy for all of us. Or, let's figure out if all the salmonids are just stuffed to the gills with Gobies (see my related post coming to a LOU topic soon!) Or,.... I dunno. I'm out of answers as to why this skunk keeps following me around. Regards to all, Pierless Neil

Get-A-Way, You have a pm. Thanks! Pierless Neil

I do not need a mast, just a pair of reels,... or a suggestion as to how to make a functional set. When I made the offer to buy this old boat it had reels bolted to the side of the hard top. When I picked it up, they were no longer there,... Dirt bag! I've checked the "notify me" box, so I should be able to get back to you quickly. I live in Sodus/work in Rottenchester,... Thanks! Pierless Neil

Billy V., The unit should be on my non-fishy smelling hands by Thursday! Had to laugh; I signed my brother up for the LOC this year and asked him if he'd received his card in the mail yet (because I haven't,...). He said, "No. Is it scented?" Ha! I searched only a little bit and could not find a better price. I have ordered the 785c2i w/NVB, as you suggested, from Anchor Express. Cost delivered (DHL Next Day) = $710.98. Thank you again for your advice. Hopefully we'll rub elbows at the LOC awards ceremonies and I'll be recouping my GPS purchase cost! All I need is a best in a class,... really, that's all I need,... and this lamp,... and this chair,... (Steve Martin - "The Jerk") Pierless Neil

Misery loves company,.... My condolences to you. Thanks for making me feel a little better fuzzyg! Pierless Neil

Billy V, You're awesome. Thanks for the look at the graphics, I'm sold! I guess most of what I know about chart plotting GPS's was based on the investigation I did about two years ago. At that time the "best" thing I saw was Garmin and their BlueCharts. The BlueCharts were sold on a disk with an "unlock code." They sent you the disk with one unlock code and you loaded whatever region you wanted. However, all the regions were on the disk; if you wanted to load a different region, you called them up, paid your $$ and they gave you another unlock code. Naturally, you had to have a computer to download the files. I should just go and buy this thing from AnchorExpress now. However, I'll probably still poke around to see if anyone's got any better pricing. I doubt they will. By the looks of it, you've already done the legwork for me and I'll just be wasting my time. Again, thanks and I owe you one! Pierless Neil Out

Billy V, Thanks for doing my shopping for me! I hope you get some sort of kickback. I think you've sold me on the 785c2i NVB. I felt naked out there on Saturday when I ran over the one and only fish of my weekend and couldn't drop a waypoint. It was at that moment that I wished I'd had my "poor man's GPS" units aboard, which were Clorox bottles with some gravel in them,.... I took those off the boat about 10 years ago when I got my first GPS,.... Besides your recommendation, the fact that the 785c2i NVB is pre-loaded w/charts is probably my deciding factor for the purchase of this unit. I don't have a computer at home and loading the charts would be problematic. Two more questions for you please? 1.) Does the 785c2i NVB have the same "steering directions" you like so much? 2.) Are the pre-loaded charts good enough to navigate Lake Ontario with, as far as details on lights/beacons/channel markers etc? I'm courting the idea of navigating the St. Lawrence, possibly to Montreal, but the thought of the river's notorious, lower unit eating, sub-surface topography has kept me from venturing that way,.... yet. I owe you one! Best Regards, Pierless Neil

Pierless did not hit them well this past weekend. Had some boat issues to tend to both mornings, but got out there by 8:30 on Saturday. Saturday we went east and didn't catch anything until I turned 'round just past Port Bay in about 30fow/~46 deg. Caught one small steelie, about 2lbs on a black Rapala off the boards. Sunday we got out by 1pm. Trolled west all the way to Pultneyville. Got skunked. Water was fairly decent color, but cold. Temps as low as 40 deg. in 6fow. Usually they were ~42. Warmest water I saw along the shoreline on Sunday was 46. Would have gone offshore, but the temp dropped off even more. Besides, my girlfriend was happy staying in-shore out of the wind. A happy crew counts for something, yes? Lets hope things develop better than they have been the past two weekends. It'll be a long, slow, Derby otherwise. I hope this post serves to let other unlucky anglers fell less alone,... Pierless Neil

J.D., Thanks. As the only replies I've gotten is from you and Billy V., I haven't got a lot to go on, as far as what other folks have had for experience with various units. If I went with what Billy V uses, I’d be broke, but if it guaranteed as much success as Billy has, I'd buy it right away. I know the truth though and there's more to this than GPS/electronics,... As I said, I think I'm headed for a chart plotter. It seems the way to go. I spend a lot of time on the water and even cruise a bit, so the charts loaded into the GPS makes sense too. Still, I'll miss that old Magellan. It delivered me to my destination for a loooong time. Again, thank you for your response. Regards, Pierless Neil

J.D. and Billy V, Thanks for the input! I'll wait until Monday and check back to see what others have to say. I don't have a computer at home,... I need to have a GPS before the Derby starts though! Billy V, I've read many of your posts and hear you from time to time when I'm east of Sodus. Thanks for chiming in, I'm flattered! One quick question please on plotter type units, do they offer "steering directions?" That was the most used feature on my old 310 and I found it very handy when putting the newbie aboard behind the helm and telling them to, "Just follow the arrow!" when running along and rigging while they drive. Best Regards to you both, Pierless Neil

Hookedup, I live at Sodus, so that's where I fish. I haven't been out since Sunday though, so whatever is the latest water condition report from the Sodus area is better than I can offer at this moment. As far as spring Browns go, I think Sodus is very good year on year. Some ups and downs of course, but always seems to be good fish there. Take last year's LOC Spring Derby results as an example; the top 12 Browns were caught on the east end of the Lake and a Brown from Rochester didn't make the board until 13th spot. Sodus had the 3rd place Brown in spring '07. Biggest Brown Spring '07 was from Fairhaven. Without any disrespect, coming from Horseheads, you might want a bit more "excitement" than Sodus has to offer and so I could see wanting to be in/around I-bay. Having lived in Rochester for too long, I'm more inclined to enjoy what Sodus has to offer. Most of the middle to east end of Lake Ontario is pretty light on bigger salmon in the spring. I'll catch little skippers in the spring, but the decent ones don't show up till a bit later when they seem to migrate eastward from the Niagara Bar area. Hope that helped, Pierless Neil

Sean, I'm sure I'll have better luck than last weekend,... perhaps you've read my post of last weekend? Eeesh! The weather tomorrow is looking far more conducive and the nice warming trend during the week should create some fishy water in close - just keep an eye on the temp and the color. I have two issues with the boat to tend to that I discovered last weekend, so I'll probably not be out at o'dark-early. I hope to be out by 9 though. In any case, give me a shout on 68. I answer to "Pierless." Regards, Pierless Neil

Hey, Y'all, My Magellan 310 finally bit the dust. It worked last year, but when I powered it up last weekend it started lying to me and then it ultimately stopped tracking satellites altogether. Boo. I can't figure it out; it was only like 14 years old! So, it looks like I will vault into the world of chart plotting GPS electronics. Probably a good thing, seeing as my eyes are getting fuzzy at short range and the 310's screen was tiny. The 310 was a plotting only, which worked fine for the most part fishing out of Sodus. The last name is Redden, not "Rockefeller," so I'm looking to go as inexpensively as possible without being a complete twit and winding up with an inflatable unit! If you wouldn't mind making suggestions as to what make/model you suggest with an eye to affordability I'd be grateful. I reckon I'll have to buy charts/software to load into it. I cruise Lake Ontario and fish pretty hard out of Sodus, but that's about it Thanks, Pierless Neil

Splash day was Saturday. Actually managed to rig up for a quick late afternoon/evening troll. Had a newbie to Great Lake trolling guy on board. He was a fast study, but the rapidly approaching sunset, it made for a very short troll. And a skunky smell,... Sunday morning was too sporty on the lake for one of the crew, so we thrashed the bay water up. There's that skunky smell again,... That the weather was at all acceptable was fantastic, considering what the weatherman said. Sunday afternoon the lake calmed down a bit and I hit the waves with the newbie again. Went west of Maxwell for an eastward troll with the wind, trying to keep the pandemonium to a dull roar. Lake was as cold as 38.7 a bit further out, maybe 50' deep. Very muddy water on the shoreline ~6fow. Water temp and the mud were at odds with each other. It was a bit warmer out of the mud. Warmest water I saw was 44.5 about in front of the trailer park, west of the channel and it was nice color. I guess I shouldn't have gone so far west? Had one knock off and let the newbie try it. After a short play it dropped off. Knock off came on blue Rapala stick (#14?). Glad the boat is in. Now just gotta get the skunk smell out of it and the fish smell back in! More soon, Pierless

fyrman67, I fished out of Sodus yesterday afternoon and there was no one out there. (perfect, just the way I like it!). I always take the day after Labor Day off, just to have the place to myself. Things will be, "back to normal" until Memorial Day '08. 'Till then, the fishing will be good, if not excellent and there will probably not a bad day of fishing due to the "Weekend Warriors" (I heard that over the weekend on Sunday Derby Fishing,... don't know if it's an actual name of a boat, or an apt description of the guy who ran over someone else's wire rig). The only thing you really gotta do is make sure that you are ready for anything, as far as not being able to call for help. Yeah, I fish alone and I fish from April to November. More than 1/2 the time I'm out there, there are few, if anybody out there to "save me." It's up to you to save yer own butt and that means making sure your boat is 100%. Don't be silly thinking, "It's a beautiful day, I'll just go in a T-shirt and these here shorts,.." because it can get pretty cold and lonely waiting for shore to come along and save you if you have a dead engine. That means bring some food too. It's all about time on the water and yesterday evening, after a nice afternoon, I managed a 21.5 king. It's a challenge to rig the boat, drive the boat, hook the fish, drive the boat, net the fish and drive the boat all at the same time, but whatta hoot! Get out there, be safe, don't expect a lot of radio chatter, but expect some of the best fishing experience the Great Lake Ontario has to offer, Fall Salmon Fishing!! Pierless