chowder

Yo Skinnyskins Small business owners have to compete with huge chains stores in order to eke out a living. It's naive to think that on top of everything else they have to go through to serve the local customers that they should have to have a return policy that places even more responsibility on them than their competition has to bear. Grow up & face the music like the rest of the human race man! I truly hope you attain some perspective before you have to deal with some of life's truly serious issues. Good Luck! -Andy

Welcome back Bill, see you & the family on the water! -Andy

Gotta use super braid for jigging-let's you feel the "tick" that is a fish contacting the jig, baitcasting reels are the way to go-this is fishing by feel and by sonar. Search thru archives for info on jigging-lots there! Power Pro is the s-braid of choice by most. Can be used on rigger rods though few do (issues w/ fleas later in season,slipping in releases,etc). Power Pro can be used as an alternative to wire on diver combos, but again you will want to look at ameliorating flea issues (like using 60lb test PP, fat line = poor flea adherence, but don't use 60lb PP on a jigging setup) -Andy

The high quality,insulated,waterproof coverall mossy oak suit for 75% off was the best deal on anything in any store I have ever seen anywhere!!

Relatively inexpensive jigging combo= Rhino RBC300 or equivalent baitcaster spooled w/ 12lb superbraid & 12' FC leader and a 6'6" MH UgliStik- remember you gotta be able to really sock the hook set to em down in 60+FOW. Leave that combo for jigging & then go w/ the 47 LC spoled w/ mono and the BWD 1101 for riggers -not sure the BWD 1101 would be my 1st choice for a diver rod but heck, your diver combos are separate from your rigger combos anyway! Just keep asking questions- you'll get there! -Andy

IMHO yotes have a tremendous survival instinct which tends to make the 22lr a poor choice for anything other than head shots under 50 yds.( I have eviscerated several dogs w/ 80-120 yard .270 shots and have tracked them for 50-80 yards.) For short range I really think you are much further ahead w/ the 3" Hevishot /Carlson dead yote choke combo.My boys have taken dogs out to 54yds w/ this setup. I have started packing an auto loader which patterns nicely using a IC choke and 00 buck in addition to my long range predator rifle setup (22-250) for use in very short range situations(15-20 yds)-Andy

Flawless service from Verizon from Niagara to Port Ontario (except for that one phone I had that's at the bottom of Wright's Landing...)

This guy has it right! Train the lad to use a muzzle loader with open sights (I'd probably go w/ 100 grains of powder and the 245 grain power belt we use in everything else but that's academic) IMHO starting young hunters out with even a .243, although well intentioned, is absolutely the wrong path to go down. Inexperienced hunters are just flat out going to be the most likely candidates for the marginal shot. Marginal shots w/ a small caliber rifle typically leads to heartbreaking results. An inexpensive open sight inline muzzle loader teaches many different lessons about sight picture, follow thru,etc and has the energy essential to creating massive damage even on marginal shots. When you are tracking a kid's first deer is not the time or place to contemplate theoretical ballistic possibilities.

His 'better than original' parts have been a great help to me on several reels & responses to emails on technical issues have been nothing short of incredible! -Andy

Guys on here will have lots more info than you will probably get from one charter captain at a seminar. here's the basic game plan for salmonids on LO. April- Brown trout and Cohos in shallow water w/ flatlines off boards, + an occasional King May- West end of the lake (Wilson,Olcott,etc) depending on temps & wind (which moves around big masses of water) there may be some good early King fishing, Lakers & browns,cohos are often more dependable . On the East end (Sodus to Oswego), good King fishing is rare in May, most target browns that have moved deeper since April. June- West end usually getting very good for Kings (Pt. Breeze "The Oak"),East end variable depending on whether proper conditions and bait are in place. July-West end good (The Oak), East end usually getting predictable for Kings. Aug- typically good east & west leading up to the stage/spawning (biggest fish of the year) You might want to be planning to try & fish the Fingerlakes this winter thru March- then target browns on LO in April into May, then the Fingers again into June. Good Luck! -Andy

That's a slick looking ride, good luck!

I'd pop in on the 29th if you guys aren't too selective about the company you keep! -Andy

Good luck in the new job Scott- you don't need any w/ the fish (nice job w/ the pin rig)

Can't comment- Scott's got all my fixed hook Suttons now! -Andy

Uh.. I'm not getting anywhere near that one Pete but we finished the season up hitting the staged fish pretty hard w/ white paddles or spinnies & yellow flies

Hey Jim, good to see you had a good one, or 2 or 3! -Andy

Jeez, I'd just about given up on him! -Thanx dre!

I'm glad somebody has time to remove ,charge & replace batteries every year but I don't. Have had up to 15 different sets of batteries in different pieces of seasonal equipment at times & have come to the conclusion that there is no set rules on these dam things and that they are all getting cheaper every year. Best rule of thumb is to get a battery that has near to the most cold cranking amps that will fit in the space provided. I use a battery til it acts not right (anywhere from 2 to 7 years). I like to keep a booster box around too but these things don't have an unlimited life either. Charge your batteries b4 you go out if it's been a bit and occasionally check your charging system with an inexpensive multimeter.I do keep the booster box inside & charged cuz I have equip & I fish all winter. I need to spend more time studying bow mount battery issues& don't have any real good advice on that except to start w/ a good one then charge it b4 & after use.-Andy

Very happy for you Bob! Many who write never get to see their work reach an appreciable audience. -Andy

Way,way too cool! Gorgeous Paul. P.S. I feel sick that I didn't get our labor day monster out to you.

Great post Sean, good to see everybody having a good time! -Andy

Actually going to have some smoked salmon here in a couple hours along with some pickled herring,cukes, beets, head cheese, boiled eel, venison salami, kielbasa, Swedish meatballs + a little aquavit to clear the taste buds between courses, -SKOL!! & merry Christmas to all. -Andy

Mike, it's time to start hunting the waters of Seneca! -Andy

I've got a number of core & copper setups. I use the inexpensive 1 piece 7' MH Ugli Stiks and 7' Okuma Classic Pro rods.There's no need for a longer rod, just makes things difficult & gives the leverage to the fish.

Can't say I'd try & get mine thru there. I only use my 16' boat in the winter.