Interesting that the graph shows a spike in ice on Ontario every 15-19 years. I guess we were due. If you draw a line at the peaks it is still a downward trend on ice coverage from 1979.
You will love the 6:1 ratio of a Saltist to eat up the slack after a downrigger release. Spend $200 on one great reel you will keep forever and use in Saltwater when you retire to Florida rather than spend $100 each on two reels that will leave you wishing you had a Saltist.
Huh.....I just ordered 4 packs of #2 that were in stock. Sorry I must have tapped them out. Disregard my first message and maybe check Bass Pro as Cabelas does not carry them.
VMC 4X Spark Point Trebles are on blow-out sale at FishUSA. For the purpose of full disclosure, I am not a representative for FishUSA and no animals were injured bringing you this message.
Its funny how certain areas of the lake prefer one type of color or one type of flasher and I think there is actually something to the discrepancies from the West end compared to the East end. For example, fishermen seem to prefer green protroll paddles and flies on the East end of the lake. Conversely, West-enders generally use more Spin Docs and have more of a variety of colors that work. My only take on the differences between the two areas is the water clarity. Come summer the water off Oswego is warm, and loaded with nutrients to an almost yellow/green color. Perhaps the protroll with its Echip clicking allows for the fish to find the bait in the more turbid water of the East end? So when purchasing your paddles, consider what port you are fishing out of.
Alfalfa is more like browse. Peel open a bud on any sapling....that is what they are eating. A little green...a little brown plant material. I would be leery of corn from everything I have read. Notice the bait piles shown on those big Saskatchewan deer hunting shows are bales of Alfalfa.
Illegal in NY. Now if you were to lets say.....put up a giant "bird feeder" that would be ok. Of course bales of Alfalfa is great for soil erosion too.
Can only help in stained water. Classics such as Storm Thunderstick Jr, Rattlin' Rogues, Bombers, Rapala Husky Jerks, and my favorite Renoskys all clobber fish in the spring..... then again so do spoons (no rattle). Fish are stupid in the spring.
Compare to last years chart. Differences I noticed. Last year the last bit of 40 degree water persisted longest off Rochester....and no surprise they had Kings and the West end had less than usual. This year, the 40 degree water was persistent longest in it's "usual" location offshore in Niagara County. So....hopefully we will have the usual overload of Kings waiting for us West-enders come May.
I believe Capt. Samia posted something on his blog last year about lead length off a downrigger ball and the effect on the flasher's rotation diameter as observed on underwater camera. I believe he said it was similar to what happens with a kite when you decrease the lead length you increase the whip action......I think.