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I am having a bear of a time getting lakers or ll's to bite this past week. According to my trusty sonar, it is a jam packed aquarium down below. I just can't get them to bite. I have put in about 9 hours without a nibble trolling flys, spoons, gulp minnows with spin doctors, flashers, and everything else that I have used successfully over the past 37 years that I have been on this lake. I am seeing tons of fish and huge schools of bait( maybe the problem) at 20', 40', and 60' over mostly deep water (160' to 500'+). I have been on both sides of the lake from Watkins to long point. I am getting a bit of a bad fisherman complex here. Is anyone having any techniques that are working in this warm water? Thanks in advance for any advice. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

I was a few miles north , just south of glenora today. No weeds, no fleas. There were some fish readings at 40', 80-90', and a few at 110'. I got two to nice lakers to bite around noon. One about 10lbs! Then nothing would bite for three hours. Both fish released and swam down quickly. white and yellow streamer fly behind a 9" green spin doctor. Sorry no pics

Wow! I never had such a day! I should look you up when I am back up there in Oct. I like the Parker too.

I fished with a victrola box when I was a kid. Some guys used flatfish ...others used single hook spoons. I used a big rig: three way swivel one way to a 1 lb sinker, the other way to copper flashers (about 6 of them) then some mono leader and a fresh dead or thawed sawbellie (make sure it spins) Let down the line on a troll till the sinker hits bottom then work the line so you know that you are right near the bottom (often around 80-90 ft) Wear a glove! I have been thinking of getting a victrola reel again ...maybe next year.

What a great guy you are! Your attitude, and people like you, is why this site is so great. In the spirit of sharing... I found lots of small (1-3lb) fish and bait on the west side of the lake last weekend. Between Starkey and Long Point. Same depths as you (60ft to 80ft) but close to shore at about 120ft bottom.

I have always believed that the bait needs to spin to get more bites. Some days I question my thinking!! Here is the way I do it, but eager to hear other thoughts as well. A good ball bearing swivel behind your flasher, then a 2 hook rig on the sawbellie or other bait. One hook in the lip that you can slide so that you can sinch it down to bend the bait a little bit. The other hook near the tail. I also cut the tail off in a diagonal so that it spins better.

AWESOME!!

Well, there are aluminum boats...and then there are heavy aluminum boats. I have a 16ft Crestliner which is light and gets blown around a bit when the wind picks up. It is also tough to steer when docking. I use it on Seneca and Cayuga, but I would not think that it is enough boat for Ontario on any but the nice days. However, it is a dry ride and a very well designed boat that I believe will last me a very long time. I also own this: This boat is a heavy plate alloy boat. It does not get blown around and maybe doesn't belong in this discussion because they are not very common on the East Coast used boat market. It can handle ANYTHING with confidence and safety, will last me the rest of my life, and is tougher than any fiberglass boat ever made. Drop an anchor on deck, slam the side with a 15lb weight, beach it on the rocks...no problem.

I like large single blade spinner baits. The ones with a yellow and red shirt seem to work best for me over the last couple of years.

Thanks guys. I will look into the track system. That is the way to go. I found a temp mounting system that works great for now. I took an old seat base and bolted the downrigger to it. The rigger telescopes over the side and it works fine. 3 lakers (all released) and one landlocked (eaten) on it's test run.

Hello gentlemen, Does anyone have an idea as to the best way to mount a Cannon Unitrol 10 on a Crestliner Sport Angler? If anyone has done it ...pictures would be greatly appreciated if you have any. Thank you in advance for any help! Dave

It seems that that fish was taken with a bow and arrow! http://www.aimlowproductions.com/products_DVD.shtml I have no judgement on bow fishing...but it does become less interesting for me than thinking that the giant gar was "shot" instead of "caught"

Sounds like quite the sting is in the works! You may tell the warden that I know where the big perch are hiding, but he will never catch me!!!!!!

I forgot to metion the awesome videos on www.toughboats.com

Wow. Great day! Thanks for the post and all the pics. Man...I remember when my son was that size...seems like yesterday. Dave

Lots has been written about these boats. Some great...and a few who have had some problems if the boat is not properly supported when stored. The best place to get info from owners is: http://www.triumphowners.net/ Here is a little video on the 170 http://www.boattest.com/VLibrary/vPlay.aspx?ID=384

Thanks Jason for releasing all the fish back into the lake. I have always been one to take very few fish from Seneca and am always grateful to those who do the same. I am glad to hear that the population seems so robust. Question: What is the best technique for releasing deep water lakers that are bloated and can't get back down? Dave

Far from Lake O and the Finger Lakes, but I thought I would share this for anyone interested. I took off from work yesterday and I was expecting to post a picture of a big pacific baracuda...or a nice halibut...or maybe even a white sea bass...but: I launched my boat around 9 AM and realized that I locked my keys in the car on the ramp. Fortunately, it was a very quiet day at the ramp and nobody was there to get pissed at me! My wife was still home and she drove down with the spare key. (we only live a couple of miles from the marina) The ocean was so calm you could water ski if you were so inclined. (That black thing in the water is a huge sea lion who was frolicking around...a small portion of LA Harbor is in the distance) I was out at large fishing area about 3 miles offshore called the Horseshoe...it was named for the shape of the kelp forest beneath the surface. I was trolling with a large Rapala without success as I watched my depth finder for bottom structure...no birds to be found. The wind started picking up and I had a fast drift. Rather than throw out the sea anchor to fish bottom with a jig, I attached a 2 oz Hopkins with some squid on the hook...fishing near the bottom. I caught several small sand bass and some mackrel. I kept these two fish. Not much to brag about...but a beautiful morning on the Pacific Ocean. Dave

The lamprey marks have been getting more common over the last couple of years, haven't they? I have yet to have one stay attached up to the boat in the last 2 decades. There seems to be much better fishing lately...more trout...TONS more pike...and more of those eels.

That's a ton of fish! How big were they?

Great, helpful, funny, active membership!!!! I live in California but have been fishing the Finger Lakes (mostly Seneca) for 34 years when ever I get the chance. I have been lurking for a couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone who makes this site so awesome.

Slider, Senecamarine.com has a maple box 2 spring for $325 and a cherry box 4 spring for $425 (I think). It was a bit tricky for me to find...go to Items for sale ->new fishing gear. I don't know the difference between 2 spring and 4 spring. I guess I need to do some research!!

Thanks. That is going above and beyond! I owe you one just for the thought...if you do get the chance to get up there, I owe you 2!! Dave

Thanks Splitshot...I wish I was going to be around Watkins at the end of the month. I live in LA and am only in the Finger Lakes a few weeks a year. I wish I could find the guy you mentioned on the net...been looking without success. I saw the ones at SenecaMarine. They look great, but a bit more than I was thinking of spending. I do like the gang at that store, and I have spent a lot of money there over the years!

Thanks Ray!