Pete Collin

Hello All, This post is a week after the fact, but involves a good, successful trip. My buddy Steve has a new boat. Medical stuff has kept him from taking it out. But encouraging reports and good weather made us jump on an opportunity. Steve lives much closer to the small boat harbor than I do. So the day before he drove down there to scope it out (neither of us have seen it since it was redone). Windy that day, so few boats. But Steve met one crew that are from the same town as him. They had a 3 man limit. Being good at chatting up guys is useful. The crew gave Steve the whole rundown - 2 oz sinker on 3 way connection, worm harness, drifting with the wind. They even told him which buoy to look for, and where to be in relation to it. They said, "You want 39 feet depth. Not 40, not 38." Good to have a game plan, because neither of us have much walleye experience. The launch was predictably very busy, because the forecast was for perfect boating conditions. I have never been to such a bustling harbor. A little bit stressful getting launched, but I could appreciate the good layout of the ramps. Everyone seemed to get in and out efficiently, even with the few folks who were awkward or clueless getting themselves going. Once we were in 39 FOW, the search began for the buoy. Turns out there are more than one, so which had the "money" drift? The graph showed all kinds of marks, so we thought we'd try where we were and see what happens. It was so calm that we didn't really drift. So the new, modern graph clearly showed our rigs sinking and bouncing along the bottom. It also showed the fish NOT responding to them. Switched to a blade bait, same deal. We decided to put out the electric motor, set it to 1.5 mph. I showed Steve how you don't have to use the Minn Kota controller to steer, just let the main motor act as a rudder so you can steer offf the wheel. Before long we started catching walleye - but mostly shorts. Figuring that we weren't in the right spot, we went looking for another buoy. A little ways ahead we found another that was taller, more prominent. That must have been the right one. We saw guys around us (and there were boats EVERYWHERE) catching fish. So we once again put out the electric motor and started fishing. Rods held in hand because Steve hadn't yet bought rod holders. I got a nice strike and a strong fight, and eventually netted a sheepshead. For the next hour that's what we got, big, hard fighting sheepshead. Steve used a different S-word to name them. So when our troll took us out of the depth we were told, we cut the wheel and headed for the correct contour. The "aha" moment came when we marked a tight pile of fish and immediately hung a double - both walleye, good 2 and 3 pounders just right for the table. Action picked right up and we weren't bothered by tête-de-merdes anymore. From there it was just a matter of circling around this rather small area, with the help of the GPS, hooking up with each pass. I played with the speed when there was a lull, which often triggered a strike. By noon, the last fish was netted that filled our limits. Best day of walleye fishing I ever had, officially. If Steve had rod holders, we would have had faster action. But it was fun feeling each strike, and doing it with only 2 rods let us savor the morning. It was strange feeling excited when a strike WASN'T followed by a strong fight, because that meant we got the species we were after. No real big ones, but I just wanted fillets and I would have let go any too big to make good eaters. I found out later that the guys out deep were targetting suspenders that were likely to be trophy sized. But that was too close to the Canadian border for comfort. Back at the marina, I loved the cleaning station that's available, with the head and gut chute in the middle. I know how to fillet, but don't keep enough fish to be an expert. But I suck at sharpening ANYTHING, and the best filleters in the world can't do a good job with a dull knife. I gave up on taking the delectable cheek meat, resolve to try again next time. But it was nice spending a fair-weathered day out with the view of the Buffalo skyline behind us. I'm not used to having much interesting scenery on the Great Lakes!

I got boat checked this week. The DEC officer met me at the dock. I was actually glad to see him because it was windy, I was alone, and he grabbed my bowline for me. We ran through the checklist of things I was supposed to have on board. He asked if I had a horn. I said "Sure!", and pressed the middle of the steering wheel. Nothing, there was no horn button there. I realized that I never needed to hit the horn before, so never looked for it. I looked and felt around. "Geez, on my last boat the button was here!" I've got a fairly nice Lund, felt like there should have been a horn. But not knowing where it is is just as bad as not having one. I had to concede. Then he asked me for flares. I was sure I had them, but unsure of which of the many compartments they were stashed. Warden says, "Are they expired?" I said, "They expire?" The packet of 4 was factory sealed. I had to rip it open to read the expiration date on one of the flares. 2016. Whoops. I asked if I could light one to see if it worked, and if it did, would I be off the hook? He said he wouldn't ticket me, just buy some new flares. Fair enough. When asked if I took the safety course, I said yes, fumbled though my phone for the email of certification, and he just said, "I believe you." Fair enough. When asked for a license, I told him I bought it on my phone, how would I show that to him? I looked for the email from the DEC from last year. But I do a lot of dealings with the DEC, there were just too many to sort through! I asked if I could just give him my name, he looked it up, and found my license that way. So in the end I was fine but had to shop for flares, plus some kind of horn or whistle. In my garage, I played with the console a bit. Discovered that a tiny red button that looked like a circuit breaker triggered the horn. Son of a gun. Why wouldn't Lund put that in the middle of the steering wheel like god intended? Anyway, I found the officer to be professional and fair. He could have cited me if he wanted to be a stickler, but didn't. I never go in for bashing the DEC. They're just people trying to do their jobs like everyone else.

I let almost everything go, for a few reasons. Keeping fish cold and fresh, cleaning them, freezing them when I get home adds to an already long day. I live far away from the lake, so I only go when I can get a good long day in. I don't like lake trout no matter how you cook them. My wife eats salmon, but doesn't like trout. But there is something inside of me that loves reaping the bounty of the land. Last fall I went on a walleye trip (my first ever in Erie), and loved the meals Miranda and I got from the fillets. That might be where I draw the line. Any legal walleye I catch is a dead one!

I did the boatus course online. Was inexpensive and straightforward. Some of it was even interesting.

So I take it that the course is one-and-done, rather than like CPR classes that have to be re-upped every 3 years? I took the course back in 2009 and damn if I can find the certificate.

Nice job Bill!

where are you?

Hello All, I lost my landing net. Decided to make rather than buy a new one. It involved doing bent laminations over a wooden form. Had to spend some time on YouTube learning the ins and outs of how wooden nets are designed. You don't want it breaking when you finally scoop that 30 pound salmon! I may have made it beefier than it needs to be. It's a bit heavy, which will make solo landings more tricky. But that contrast of ash and walnut looks awesome.

Awesome Bill!

Well at least you got a couple good ones!

I caught a big TT in the Genesee river this spring near Wellsville. There have been documented cases of fish that made it all the way from the southern tier to Lake Ontario. I think the TT were put in there before the big derby they have every spring in Wellsville. They are raised by private trout farms.

No lube. If it's loose just squeeze it closed a little.

Those little C clips can be bought at any auto parts store.

This is so strange to see because most of the boaters I have fished with have been so particular about their boats, every little detail about maintaining it and running it. Add to that the price tag that rig must have!

Whoa.

Here is a shot showing its head better. Thought it funny it had no spots. Great trip Bill!