oldtimer

Thanks for the (as usual) great report, Chris. What goes around, comes around. It's a big lake, and there's plenty of room for all - the guys' reports (like yours) from the Rochester/I-Bay/Bear Creek/Hughes enable the "little guys" to have a day of fishing with their kids/dads/friends that makes for memories that are much more valuable than whatever the prize money might be for their "secret" location/lure combination. Thanks again for all you've contributed to this board.

Cornelis -

Thanks for the helpful report: "Glen do you remember the brown trout lure we used while pre-fishing the Pro-Am at Sodus Point? We bought every last one in the tackle store so nobody could get a hold of them. That one did all the damage,and as the paint got ripped off the lures, it only got better. I will have to buy a few more of those.

Guess I thought this board was meant to be helpful - glad that you and Glen get to keep your little secret. Although I doubt the browns can clearly identify the manufacturer and model of the "mystery lure" you were using, the rest of us appreciate your "candor." Thanks for being a true sportsman (when all of the paint is "ripped offf" the lures, maybe you can try goldfish?).

Benni - Welcome home! I am one of many Navy Subvets who work at Ginna and monitor (and contribute to) this site. Per previous responses to your email, there is some great OE (operational experience) and insightful tips from the regular contributors to this site - read them all and incorporate their experience/recommendations into your technique for daily fishing for salmon/trout. This site is a wealth of information relating to the Ontario fishing experience, and the guys share it willingly.

Welcome back, Jack! Dittos to what the other guys have said about the value of this forum - incredible honesty and timely, helpful reports, day in and day out. The only thing I can add that's made a (+) difference in my results this season is having purchased a temp/speed probe last fall. The experienced guys can tell what speed their lure is at from the angle of the rigger and the bend on the dipsy - I couldn't, and needed the technology to help me out. That information, along with the daily feedback from other members as they report on their locations and techniques, has made a huge difference in the experience this year. Best of luck as you get back into it - remember to "pay it forward" on this forum!

pat

Chris -

Sorry to hear of your accident: "life is what happens while you're busy planning." As the other guys have said, you're a frequent and valuable contributor to this board, and we'll miss your reports. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

pat

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name:pat/lund

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s):7/31

Time on Water:4.5 hrs

Weather/Temp: sunny/low 80's

Wind Speed/Direction: W, 8-10?

Waves: 1'

Surface Temp: 75

Location: N of Bear Creek

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits: 1

Total Boated: 1

Species Breakdown: Atlantic

Hot Lure: None (purple NBK)

Trolling Speed: 2.7-3.2

Down Speed: 2.2-2.5

Boat Depth: 130-330

Lure Depth: 70-160 (+ sliders)

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

Went out at 0530 this AM all charged up after reading Chris' report on I-Bay from yesterday! Tried numerous spoons (on the riggers) and F/F combos (green polka dot, white on white, chartreuse SD's and E-chips; hypnotist, hammer, mooneye flies) on the wire dipsies, but couldn't buy a hit. Caught (dragged) one small Atlantic on the purple NBK on the rigger down 160 (45F temp) over 190, but that was it. Marked several between 70-80, but water temp there was in the upper 50's - loe 60's. Swapped spoon colors several times. Saw a few other boats out in the vicinity - anyone have any luck or other recommendations when nothing seems to be working? Thanks!

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John -

Like Chris, I have a Subtroll, and usually you can watch the temp drop as the depth increases. The more experienced guys know more about this than I, but I've watched temps at 45-50 slowly rise as I trolled in a given direction at the same depth (I assume it was currents of a different temp), then return to the lower temp as I continued on. The only time my probe started acting strange was due to the need for a new battery. Good luck!

pat

Great job, Chris, and thanks for the detailed report.

pat

Great way to end the evening, Anthony! And you ended it even better by making that young boy's night in giving him the one you had to keep - paying it forward always reaps its own rewards.

pat

Thanks, Andy & Steve, appreciate the tips. That is me (and usually a co-worker or two) in the black Lund. Although I've been at this for about 4 seasons now, this is the first year that we've kept the skunk out of the boat almost every trip, and I attribute that to learning how to use the SubTroll in finding the 40's temps and keeping the speed at the lure right. That or the fish are feeling sorry for me after the first 3 years! Always great advice and feedback on this site, too! Good luck -

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: pat

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s): 7/19

Time on Water: 4 hrs

Weather/Temp: hazy, mid-80's

Wind Speed/Direction: NE

Waves: 1-2 ft initially

Surface Temp: 75

Location: N of Bear Creek - Ginna

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits: 6

Total Boated: 2

Species Breakdown: Lakers

Hot Lure: White/green polka dot SD + green atomic fly

Trolling Speed: 2.5-3.0

Down Speed: 2.2-2.4

Boat Depth: 85-230

Lure Depth: 40-50

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

Headed N and found 44F water at 90'. Only 1 hit/miss on our way to 230'. Turned back SW, hooked up with beautiful king in 135' on either rigger (purple clown) or slider (orange/yellow NK) who put on a show, then decided he'd had enough. With water temp at 42-44F, 50' down in 85' water, trolled E-W and got hits/lakers ONLY on the white/green SD and fly on the dipsy 120 out on 2 setting. Game called due to darkness - amazing what wind direction will do to temps on the lake from day to day.

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Way to go, Chris - great report. I credit the difference in my fishing success this year to the SubTroll (and the detailed feedback like yours on this website). Thanks!

pat

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: pat

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s): 7/14

Time on Water: 3.5 hrs

Weather/Temp: Beautiful!

Wind Speed/Direction: Light

Waves: 1 ft

Surface Temp: 74

Location: Bear Creek to Ginna

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits: 7

Total Boated: 7

Species Breakdown: Atlantic, King, Steelhead

Hot Lure: Chartreuse/Orange NK28 w/ charteuse backside, White/Green Polka-Dot Spinny w/ Green Atomic fly

Trolling Speed:

Down Speed: 2.2-2.4 in 45-49F

Boat Depth: 150 - 250

Lure Depth: 80-100 (on slider)

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

Nothing very large (kings 6-8#, steelhead 6#). Took 4 of the fish on the green/orange NK on the slider with ball at 135-170 in 45-49F. At one point, had small king on the slider along with small atlantic on purple/black NBK at the ball. Beautiful evening even without the fish!

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Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: pat

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s): 6/27

Time on Water: 3.5 hrs

Weather/Temp: Partly Cloudy, upper 70's

Wind Speed/Direction:10-15K, E

Waves: 1-3 ft

Surface Temp: 65

Location: Bear Creek - Ginna Nuclear Plant

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits: 18

Total Boated: 14

Species Breakdown: 12 lakers, 1 coho, 1 king

Hot Lure: Atomic flies, Yellow killer stinger

Trolling Speed: 2.2 - 3.1

Down Speed: 2.2 - 2.4

Boat Depth: 85-95'

Lure Depth: 50-75'

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

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Went out after work for a few hours, fished until 8PM. Started out with purple NBK and silver/pink/blue NBK on one rigger, blue dolphin on dipsey 210' out on one side, green/blue/yellow fly on hammer flasher on other rigger and white/green dotted flasher on other downrigger and chartreuse flasher with green/yellow fly on the other dipsy out 150. 6-8# lakers taking all of the flies from 75' up to 50'. At one point, sequential fish left us with none of the 4 rods in the water - all on an eastward troll in 95' against the wind. Shifted everything over to green/chartreuse fly & flasher combos, and continued to get one fish after another. Left one dipsy with the yellow stinger NBK, out ~150', and that took the small coho and ~8# king. Waves got increasingly "active" as the evening wore on, so we were happy to be busy catching lakers! Sure beat the "good day at work"! All fish were safely released.

As we try to get thru this dead of winter, just wanted to thank you guys for all of the help in the past: Chad (for the great website), REELJERKS, MuskyBob, Fish Hunter, Yankee Troller, BillyV, Landshark, BlueEye, 10thMTNDAVE, Finders Keepers, and the rest of you too numerous to mention for all of the great tips/advice last season. The one post that sticks in my mind is the one of the owner of a relatively new Lund (like myself) who was about to give it up because his season had been so frustrating. I could definitely relate to that, since I've been there myself - as I've said before on this site, it's a daunting challenge for those of us new to "the big lake." Thanks to your advice, I finally caught a few myself this season, and while my dear wife does occasionally ask me "so what's the price of a pound of fish down to now?!", my confidence level has definitely improved, and I no longer start the trip out to whatever depth with a sense that the day probably won't be productive. For most of you guys, those days are long in the past, but if you're still working your way up the learning curve, it's a mental struggle if you've tried everything you can think of and nothing worked. So here's to a productive 2011, and "thanks for the memories" (MuskyBob and Bob Hope!)

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: Pat/Lund 18

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TRIP OVERVIEW: Have never marked so many fish without a single hit!

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Date(s):9/11

Time on Water: 5 hrs

Weather/Temp: Sunny/60's

Wind Speed/Direction: W-NW ~8 knots?

Waves: 1-2

Surface Temp: 69

Location: N, E of Hughes

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

===============

FISHING RESULTS: Nada

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Total Hits: 0

Total Boated:0

Species Breakdown:

Hot Lure: Nothing worked!

Trolling Speed: 2.7-3.1

Down Speed: 2.1-2.3

Boat Depth: 75-150

Lure Depth: 25-125

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS: Finally a beautiful day on the lake, but no success. Marking fish continuously, but not a single hit. Tried flies of several colors, spoons, J-plug, Brad's, Rapalas - struck out completely. Water temp only a few degrees below surface temp, and fairly uniform. Anyone have any luck/recommendations? The good news - had some time to reflect on the significance of the date. Thanks to Chad for a great site and to all of you who contributed so much to this board (again) this year - I'm continuing the slow learning curve, and actually caught some (well, a few!) fish this season.

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GREAT report, Rick - congrats on a memorable trip for Justin!

Pat

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: pat (black 18' Lund)

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s): Sunday, 08/08

Time on Water: 4 hrs

Weather/Temp: Nothing like the forecast!

Wind Speed/Direction: S - 12-15

Waves: 1-2-3?

Surface Temp: 75

Location: Due N of Hughes marina

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits: 1

Total Boated:1

Species Breakdown: Brown

Hot Lure: Black/purple NK-28, NBK pattern

Trolling Speed: 2.3-2.7 SOG

Down Speed: ~2.2

Boat Depth: 115

Lure Depth: 105

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

Bit of a rough ride - no hits all morning, and only a few marks. Were actually heading back in when the 11.5 lb brown hit the rigger. Saw some of you pros on an E-W troll, hope you had better luck than we did!

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Beautiful fish, Tim, and thanks for the great report. Glad to hear it's picked up off of Hughes.

pat

Thanks, guys - I figured I was guessing with SOG, given the currents in that lake. What you've said makes perfect sense. Thanks to all for the quick feedback.

Pat

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: Lund 18

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s):

Time on Water:

Weather/Temp:

Wind Speed/Direction:

Waves:

Surface Temp:

Location:

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

===============

FISHING RESULTS

===============

Total Hits:

Total Boated:

Species Breakdown:

Hot Lure:

Trolling Speed:

Down Speed:

Boat Depth:

Lure Depth:

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

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How important would you experienced guys say that having a downrigger speed/temp probe is? From the posts, it looks like many of you use them to locate the ideal temps and accurately set speed at the ball (vs SOG, what I'm doing now). Recommendations for type/brand? Precautions to prevent losing such a pricey device? Thanks in advance for the advice!

Pat

Dave - Still going through the learning process myself, and like the guys say, we just need to put in our time and fair share of "washing lures" days. Reading the advice on this board and implementing the recommendations will get us there over time. Eventually the new tricks will become old habits - and besides, that Lund of yours is too pretty to let go so soon - have seen you at Bear Creek! Hang in there.

Pat

Fishing Report: Bear Creek

Your Name / Boat Name: pat

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s): 6/26

Time on Water: 5 hrs

Weather/Temp: Cloudy/upper 60's

Wind Speed/Direction: Breezy/SW

Waves: Choppy

Surface Temp: 66

Location: N of Ginna

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits: 1

Total Boated:1

Species Breakdown: Small steelhead

Hot Lure: Brad's Super Bait Cut Plug

Trolling Speed: 2.3-2.5 SOG

Down Speed: ?

Boat Depth: 230

Lure Depth: 100

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

Tried NKs and flies all morning without a hit, finally picked up the 5# on a green/yellow cut plug filled with tuna in oil. Felt good to justify the latest lure purchase with the wife Expensive trip, though: downrigger motor apparently shorted, and lost a complete dipsy/NK rig on a very large obstacle in ~70 feet of water - cut line so fast that the rod never dipped! On the FF, looked like a huge pod of baitfish, but extended from bottom up to 25' - possible wreck?

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Thanks - #639 here!

Fishing Report

Your Name / Boat Name: pat

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TRIP OVERVIEW

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Date(s):2009

Time on Water: Not Enough!

Weather/Temp:

Wind Speed/Direction:

Waves:

Surface Temp:

Location:

LAT/LONG (GPS Cords):

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FISHING RESULTS

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Total Hits:

Total Boated:

Species Breakdown: Browns, Rainbows, King

Hot Lure:

Trolling Speed:

Down Speed:

Boat Depth:

Lure Depth:

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SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS

As the season winds down, just wanted to say "thanks" to all of you guys for sharing your information/experience with those of us who are still trying to learn all there is to know about fishing Ontario. With your help, I tried inline planers for browns with some success, caught steelhead on dipsys (none in 2008), and boated the first king a couple of weeks ago. You might not realize how helpful your advice/tips are to those of us who might not know, for example, how far behind the ball to run a flasher/fly - or what a difference the right speed can make. It was pretty discouraging at times, but with each new post, you provided new information or encouragement to make us "newbies" go out and try it again. I'm still not much of an Ontario fisherman (yet), but you guys made me a better one than I was last year! Thanks again.

Pat (16' Crestliner Canadian)

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