Gill-T

Ray, I assume you were fishing the fingerlakes where the fish are smaller (generally). A Laker of the 2-7lb size does not have a big mouth compared to Kings on Ontario. Compounding hook-up problems is that the fly is whipping around behind the flasher (hard for the fish to track and hit accurately). Consider the problem may be the hook size... . try downsizing on the fingerlakes. We also had east winds this past weekend, which in my experience means more negative "nipping" fish. Just some thoughts. We have all had rubber hook days. I don't remember loosing as many fish when we all used mono/dipsys, so maybe it is the no-stretch braid and wire tearing the hooks out. I have seen video of some top tournament guys who back off the drag before pulling the rod out of the holder to help facilitate easier rod removal and ease the fish into the initial run.

Your Otters will function better with 9.5" and 11.5" settings on the tow string. Give your rod gently jingles (insert joke here) to help the releases slide down. Power Pro or weedwacker line is slicker and easier for the releases to slide if your tow mast is not very high. Silicone on the tow line helps as others have said.

It was only fair Rod gave you his lucky towel since he borrowed your shower drain plug last year

I thought about using the sebrile behind a slow-trolled flasher, but the cost has kept me away.

Could be. Could be Kings or Lakers also. Just be aware in May the sheepies school up, so if you are marking a ton of hooks that are not biting properly presented baits, you may be wasting time on trash fish. Better to find the bait and hooks out a little deeper.

This time of year the sheephead start to gather before going up the river to spawn. Some of the those hooks may have been schooling sheepies

Looks like an abacus fish counter, funny Ray. Remember to put nine up on the string for the Pro/Am.

The lighter line makes your baits run deeper. There may be a 4-5' differential in depth from your 17# test with a stickbait and the boats around you running 10#lb test. That alone could make a huge difference esp. with the browns keying in on bottom orientating gobies. Sometimes the difference between catching and not catching is a small split shot.

Stabil marine, or seafoam gas treatment.

Adam, my boat is in Youngstown as we speak......waiting for the crazies to leave. I will let you troll by me without any water ballon reprisals .

Been there done that. I did not get a spring Derby ticket because money seems to make A-holes out of normal people. I will wait until the LOC and Scotty is done.....and I will have the place to myself until the fall derby.

Nice report, looks like the Kings are still out a little deeper. I have been getting screwed by NOAA's wave forecasts the last two weekends......no suprise. The lake in the afternoons have been REALLY snotty with 4-6' waves. Sat. afternoon was one of those days where everything went wrong. GPS crapped out, NOAA was wrong again, cable got caught in trolling motor-lost a shark, caught a seagull, rod holder broke......got to get the kinks out before tournaments start I guess.

Then again, if 50% of the respondants have a problem with the current date I would say it is a problem overall.

It is all good. Kings are just showing up.

Ok, running 50/50.....apparently the Mother's Day weekend is not a problem for you guys. So, either you are not married, or have been married long enough that the wife wants you out of the house

How does the Scotty weigh-in work? Do you catch your boat limit and weigh the best five fish? Can you cull small fish or does everything have to be kept? Is this a six or eight-rod tournament? Sorry for the questions, but it looks like a fun event.

ESLO = LOC

Stan, try a double-deep six diver (Luhr Jenson) down the chute or off your new planer boards. Should be able to hit 150'.

Gambler, Gambler, Gambler......I know you are a newlywed....just wait. I like the May 15th start date, for fishing reasons, schedule reasons, Turkey opener reason etc. I could think of a million reasons.

I was wondering about what everyone thinks about the spring ESLO derby dates? Here is my beef... 1). They put one of the weekend dates on Mother's Day. I am sure many of you have had a few discussions about fishing on Mother's day with your spouse 2). Due to the early dates, the fishing is really from the Niagara to Wilson unless you are targeting Browns, so all the boats are condensed into a small area. A later start date, say May 15th, will bring more of the lake into play and spread out the boats lakewide. 3). The weather can be iffy with plenty of East winds. Many times I have noticed a SW or West wind one mile from the lake, only to find the cold air mass over Ontario turn the winds back to the West as an Easterly over the lake. 4). College is still in session with finals and graduations so the younger crowd can't always get out. So, I thought similar to the three-rod rule, maybe if enough people felt strongly enough to contact Derby officials to push back the date further into May. Just a thought.

Yes the river looks like the mississippi. I don't get it, we have had no rain in awhile? I hear there are icebergs along hamburg shoreline on erie, so maybe they are beating up the shoreline sending mud down the river. Too bad, I just moved the boat from Olcott to Youngstown tonight so I can fish Sunday at the bar . The sattelite shows mud going way out and east to Wilson. WTF!

Having seen the Scotch Bonnet on maps, I wondered what the currents are like in the area. I would think the feature would redirect some current towards Canada, and the rest would get a bumpy ride/upwelling towards the surface. I imagine the fishing is pretty good there given the structure. Care to elaborate on the subject Jerry?

I will be out, weather permitting.

Nice work Jax. PM sent.