BP Swing

30# flourocarbon? Where in the world do you get that? How bout for spoons off a dipsy? 20?

Are the brightly colored dipseys suppose to act as an attractor? I hear clear is good but there doesnt seem to be any rhyme or reason to dipsey colors. Anyone got that part figured out as far as a general rule of thumb for colors? (dark color on a dark day, etc. ? Thanks

Doesnt the snubber make it look more unnatural than it already does? What purpose does it serve? Thanks

Freeman,

Nice job! What size/color cowbells? I never tried them but would like to. How far back is the lure from the cowbells usually?

Is it true that you multiply the depth x 3 to determine how much line to let out to hit bottom on the #2 setting with wire?

What are good general colors to try for dipseys bright or dull?

Is it better with the ring or not?

Is a length of the rod leader with flourocarbon 20# ok?

Thanks in advance from a longtime bass fisherman but only a part time trout guy (when its calm enough for a 16 foot boat).

OK thanks for the advice. Point well taken. The mono is history.

I dont use snubbers. The only thing with wire is you have to change to the twilly tip right?

Gambler,

What # braid is good for dipseys? Ive got 65# PP on a Musky Rod I could use maybe.

Is 20# FF a good general all season line for riggers? Thanks again. BP

I think I have or am learning the hard way that mono sucks on a dipsey rod as its pretty tough to trip the dipsey with 180 feet out. What do the pros or others use for dipsy rods? braid? I have another dipsy rod with wire and it trips like a dream but its easier to lose fish as it doesnt give. So I gotta replace the mono with something. Any recommendations? Does anyone use mono on dipseys anymore?

Also what is a good pound test mono to use for riggers this time of year? Thanks in advance BP

Can anyone tell me if its too late for Niagara Bar lakers near the green can ish? I usually love to go there and drift 3 way rigs and jig but this year between the weather and my schedule, I couldnt do it. Is there anything left there? Thanks in advance. BP

Curt,

Nitro is 100% correct, you can not target Muskies out of season, even catch and release. They need all the help they can get right now there as they have not recovered from the big VHS kill from a few yrs back.

Steve are the long shank hooks you mention similar to an aberdeen? You dont like gold? You tieing the hook right to the line or using a small dropper ? Jimski are you fishing your weight rig like a jig or letting it bury in the mud? Thanks guys for the info. BP

Jimski,

Those jig rigs look nice for great lakes Perch (I call them dumb perch compared to Senecas) but Im not sure the Seneca Jacks will go for that. Whats up with the crimps on those? Why didnt they just tie em? Cool idea though, I will try em if I see em. Thanks

When do they start charging for the launch?

Im wondering what the best hook is for a drop shot rig for Perch fishing with minnows. Ive been using a #4 gold salmon egg hook but Im thinking of switching to an aberdeen style hook (gold) I know the gold is the bomb on I Bay but now Im starting to rethink the gold for seneca with the clear water. Have had mixed results there with the gold. What do you guys think?

Anyone know how the Perchmasters derby went and how the fishing was last Sat. on Seneca?

Also can anyone tell me how deep they've been lately? With the price of gas now, I cant get there as often as before and I gotta try to up my odds. (oh I know....Seneca is a big secret and no one is supposed to give out any info....blah blah blah). Thanks in advance. BP

Nitro,

Nice report on the tracking study. Thanks good info for 10 yrs ago. I wonder how accurate any of it is now? I found it interesting that the St Lawrence strain has its own genetic strain which is different than other great lakes strains. That doesnt surprise me as a Musky from the Larry is the finest looking specimen out there with the cool coloring and extra spots almost tiger like. There is almost no comparison of a fish caught from the Larry vs. one from Wisconsin or somewhere where they are just green or mottled. Im hoping if the DEC is as worried as they say they are that they make it mandatory C & R. Even though most guys release now, there are guides that keep fish for their clients to mount and oddly enough as the study said they are responsible for keeping the most fish (for their clients). Im hoping maybe some of that has changed in 10 yrs. Im sure weekend fishermen keep some too. Hope they can get a handle before its too late.

They did a tracking study on the St lawrence a few years back but not lately. I think a graduate student is doing it this yr on the upper Niagara R. No mention of Chautauqua.

Does Chautauqua show any natural spawning success for muskies or is it totally dependant on stocking?

I dont know but thats very doubtful that they would mix the great lakes strain with the Chautauqua strain.

I spoke to Steve LePan of the DEC last week at the lake Ontario symposium and asked him at the break how the St Lawrence fishery was doing and he flat out told me they are very worried about the fishery. They are not seeing the young of year and some of the spawning grounds have changed with new weed types. He thinks the big VHS kill a few yrs ago has hurt it too. Giants are still there but numbers are down. Still produces the biggest muskies in the world though in my opinion.

So then no one can use deadbait? Most bait shops dont have certified dead bait do they? You cant use frozen store bought bait and you cant catch your own bait. So how does anyone legally use deadbait which is a top producer of big pike?

If you bought it at Wegmans and had the receipt and package, that would still not show that it was certified. Wonder what the DEC does in a case like this.?

Can you use deadbait without a receipt from a bait store? IE: Frozen smelt at Wegmans ?

Can anyone tell me what the water visibility is in the lower Niagara river today Friday 12/10/10?? Thanks