YodaMage

In my hunt for a new boat I have found dealers Between Jamestown and Sodus/Finger Lake and find dealers for the following in play (Sticking to anyone who makes a glass fishing rig 22' or bigger) -Robalo -Sea Fox -Tidewater -Striper -Trophy -Key West -Whaler Am I missing any? In terms of build quality I see: Top Grade: Whaler High Mid Grade: Robalo, Key West Low Mid Grade: Striper, Trophy, Tidewater Low Grade: Sea Fox Unfortunately it seems non stock the bigger boats so buying sight unseen is a considerations...sigh. Am I the only person in NY looking to upgrade?

I switched to 215/75/14's. 1870 lbs per. You should do the same, as it is a minor change that effects nothing with the trailer and still keeps your fenders in play.

I would drop in in Olcott and head out to the radio tower and about 50 FOW, then zig zag NW/SW between 50FOW and 150FOW until I found something interesting. If I found nothing after getting west of Wilson, a good 3 hour troll using this method, I'd pull them up and motor to the Bar if weather permits (about 15/20 minutes) and drop them down there.

I had the opportunity to test my '08 F250 against a '09 Toyota with the 'Big Engine' a few times over the winter. At one point towing the Toyota out of the mud while it had about 4000 lbs of wood on a trailer behind it. It was not close...Toyota is a nice car, but no truck as I define them.

Really, it took 10 minutes for the guy with the camera to turn that boat around and get back to the guy in the water? Small wake for a tanker...

Remember, big brother says: -You will wear a seat belt -Your children will wear helmets on their bikes -You will not smoke -You will not bare arms if we can figure out any reason -You will not be fat (http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/consumer/a/aathinner.htm) -You will not eat salt (http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_n ... 100310-akd) -You will wear a helmet on your bike as well -You will have the health care we want you to Is anyone surprised about life vests? This 4th of July, wear black and mourn for a good idea which has met its' match...Uncle Sam kicked liberties butt...

OK, I'll bite. Why is everyone up in arms about this? As longs as the windmills are marked appropriately I don't see an issue. I know I use electricity and I'm sure a few other people do to. If this means less use of coal and less pollution I don't see an issue. It seems like a 'not in my backyard' argument where the needs of the many are put behind the preferences of the few. Help me out here, I'm just not getting it.

Hey all. I just picked up the boat the past weekend and cleaned her up to get ready for a new season of fishing and can't wait. That said, a few questions and thoughts for the LOU crowd. First, and most importantly...am I the only one who finds our local offerings of fishing boats in the western New York area weak at best? This is most likely the last season on my current boat as I'd like to upgrade and the wife would like a boat with a few additional creature comforts. I've spent hours looking at different boats online and find a bunch of reasonable options in the 24 to 28 foot WA and Express layouts viable, but every time I have bothered to try to locate a dealer I come back empty. Sure I could consider pulling a boat up from 800 miles out, but that would make dealer interaction and servicing impossible. I'm really getting frustrated. I'm figuring that a few here must have had the same situation over the years and am wondering what you have done... Anyone know of a boat that is still legally/reasonably towable, reasonable for fishing and had an enclosed head and small galley that can be found anywhere around here? Examples of some boats I've found interesting that you can't get here: Wellcraft 270, Century 2600, Pursuit 255, Cobia 256 The boats I found at least are a day drive away: Robalo r265, Campion 682 Secondly, as a kid we used to go up to Sodus and just kill em (Bass/Browns/Some Steelies, 60 to 100 in a day) in May, is it still alive up there? I'd like to take my dad out and do it up but I hate to disappoint if that area is now a goner...

I have a hallway and dining room that need some work. I have beer.

So where are we today? They have moved the bunks as the boat was way too far back. They are replacing the axle and the wheels/tires to upgrade the trailer to a 3400. They are also going to put the axle where it damn well belongs to keep tongue weight where it belongs. I expect to get it back by the end of the week... That said...I knew they floated the boat to move the bunks and I was curious, so I stopped up there this AM. I found about what I expected. A boat sitting nose down with the plug in it, no battery which I have taken out as part of winterizing two weeks ago, and about 5 inches of standing water in the cabin I mentioned to the service manager before grabbing a wrench and cranking up the nose. Of course he could care less. I'll have to dry it out before re-storing. I actually like the boat and was eye balling the 2502 as a possible next boat...but not without a different dealer and an EZ-Loader/Load Rite under it.

So I've had a ton of trailer issues with limited, to say the least, interest from the dealer I bought the boat from (New). I finally got them to accept the fact that the axle is bent after almost a year. Of course they call me this week after I took the boat to my dad's a week ago to store it and tell me I need to bring it in now. But then it gets interesting... If you check the documentation with the boat as well as the Trophy website you find something bizarre. 1802 (2006) Approx. Weight (w/Base Engine) 1,975 lbs (896 kg) Now the base engine was a 90 HP Merc. That motor is about 350 lbs. That puts an 18' fiberglass walk around at about 1600 lbs. Interesting...so I looked at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 numbers on the boat: Approx. Weight (w/Base Engine) 2,607 lbs (1,183 kg) How did an 18 foot boat gain 630 lbs??? Base engine changed to a 115, but other than that I am assured by two dealers that the boat did not change. So I looked at the 19 foot Trophy for giggles: 2006: Approx. Weight (w/Base Engine) 2,950 lbs (1,338 kg) 2007: Approx. Weight (w/Base Engine) 2,950 lbs (1,338 kg) hmm...something fishy here... So I look at a relatively comparable boats: Striper 1851: Weight without power - 2,750 lbs Trophy 1903 (CC): Approx. Weight (w/Base Engine) 2,347 lbs Trophy 1901 (A BAY BOAT!!!): Approx. Weight (w/Base Engine) 2,275 lbs (1,032 kg) So at this point I am sure the documentation is wrong...so I call the old man and have him verify something for me, trailer is a capacity 2800. So with my boat, which I'm now figuring at 2607 + the engine upgrade + 52 gallons of gas I figure I've got 3050 on it before a piece of gear. Add some gear and I'm about 400 over capacity. Even better if me and one of my guys are on it putting stuff away in the lot or getting it ready to launch. At that point I don't even want to comment...but any wonder why the axle is bent? The initial answer from the dealer you ask? "The book says 1975, so you're fine...bring it in for the axle or we're sending it back" These are the times I'm glad I happen to be affiliated with one of the largest law firms in New York. I'm going to get the boat Thursday night, dropping another $80 in gas round trip (Plus the $220 I dropped on a pair of new tires to get it out there as it tore off the first set in 1200 miles) and running it over there Saturday to raise holy hell. Stop by if you're bored and happen to be at a certain dealer on Grand Island that sells Trophy Next time I buy a quality boat...though I'm not sure there are any dealers not operating like a used car lot.... /End Venting

Daiwa 47 SH is a great reel. I have 6 and never had an issue with any of them. Thousands of fish, with very little upkeep.

So in my Salmon fishing history, I have trolled, jigged, snagged...but never tried this night time pier thing. I decided that today should be a day off if work and to give it a try. Of course I could find no co pilot...so I went it alone. I don't have any heavy spin casting rods and didn't expect much...so I figured grab what ya got and head out after a stop at Gander for some egg sacs. I got to Olcott and tracked down the East pier lot and entrance, packing a net, my Bass/Pike/Walleye tackle box and two medium casting rods spun with 8 and 10lb Fireline. I set up half way down the Pier in about the only spot available. It was about 9:30 when I rigged up an egg sac on a heavy worm harness hook (#3) I had in the box and started casting a glow 3/4 Cleo. After a couple of hours of watching nothing happen anywhere I began to really wonder why you guys bother...the beer probably By Midnight almost everyone had left. At Midnight I started to consider bailing out. I set an 'end point' mentally at 12:30 figuring I'd had enough. About 12:10 the group of guys at the base of the west pier got a hook up and landed what appeared to be a decent fish after about 20 minutes. This got me thinking...maybe a little longer...I'll make it to 1 AM. Fifteen minutes later, I'm counting down to my agreed upon end point when I see the line attached to the egg sac starting to migrate upstream...quickly I reel in the rod I am casting with and grab that rod. After taking up the slack, I give it a jerk and it starts feeding out line at an alarming rate. This mind you is a 25 year old Berkly 6 1/2 foot medium rod with a 20 year old Daiwa spinning reel holding about 200 yards of 8# Fireline. First he headed upstream, then he reversed course and I could barley get the reel to keep up with the slack as he decided to head back out to sea. I'm watching the spool and realizing that it is only about 150 yds to the end of the pier. Uh oh! Finally I realize I'm down to about 30 yds on the reel and apply the thumb drag. He is either going to wear himself out or break me off, but either way I'm not going to get spooled without a fight. After what seemed an hour but was more likely about five minutes of wrestling I started to slowly get some line back. The guy on the West pier directly across from me pulled his lines and seemed to be enjoying the show. In case he wasn't the fish now decided to visit him and put on an air show. Finally after a couple of more short runs I get him up top and realize...I'm 5 ft above him, no one is within ear shot, the net is behind me and with the handle not extended, my boat net only has a 5' handle. This is still going to be interesting. I glance at the line and realize he is ready to pop his head up and say hello and manage to reach the net and extend the handle while juggling the rod. I get a look at him and he is a good size fish. At this point, the choice became either to try a quick hunched over one handed sweep hoping I get the fish, don't drop the net or pole, and don't end up head first in the drink...or I hope he is as tired as I am and try to walk him like a beagle down to the base of the pier where I can see a few guys fishing. I chose B. We went for a walk. "Umm...hi guys, got a net?" "Nope, try the next guys down" We keep walking. "Umm, hi, care to help me with a problem?" "You got a fish?!?!?!?" "Yeah, mind bagging him for me?" Well, 40 minutes later I was the proud owner of one grade A tired 27# king. After a quick night pic which I'll post tomorrow, I thanked him for everything, climbed down a ladder with him and administered some fishy CPR. He went down, I went up so I'll call it win win. One other fish was caught on the East pier about 15 minutes later, then it got quiet. I packed it in at 3. So 3 fish all basically between 12:15 and 1:45, all on egg sacs seemed to be the activity down there, at least between 9:30 and 3. First thought driving home: "Hey, that night pier thing is kind of cool" Second thought: "Maybe I should get a heavier spinning setup" Third thought: "Grabbing a mature king on lighter gear is an absolute trip, no way I'm getting heavier gear...but I sure would like to see what a 35'er would feel like" I'll be back Friday night.

I own a Trophy W/A. A few thoughts... I miss the extra cabin space of a real cuddy more then I utilize the advantages of a W/A. If I had to do it again today, I might go this way http://www.campionboats.com/explorer/62 ... /specs.php Outboard is so much easier with our seasons then an I/O. Karavan trailers that come with Trophy's are complete junk. Dealers and Trophy dealers run the other way when issues with these trailers arise. Trophy build quality is better than it was...but compared to a Four Winns or Searay, the boat just does not instill confidence when you are 10 miles off shore and surface temp is 50 degrees. Eat the weight and get a 4-stroke.

I have also been known to play with the throttle after watching a video 15 years ago showing Kings in Alaska trailing lures for quite some time. I tend to 'bump down' .5 MPH every so often looking to make the lure act erratic and run the fish up into the lure and have on occasion had a big hit immediately upon the bump. Does it work? Who is to say...wonder if others do it at all?

It depends on time of year and what I happen to be pulling. I try to avoid lakers, but agree that slow wins that race. I tend to pull Spoons, Dodgers and Spinners at 2.6 to 3.0 depending on the day all summer for Bows and Salmon. Browns I tend to slow down to 2.2 to 2.6 for, especially if using planer boards and sticks. This time of year, I step it up to 2.8 to 3.2, lose all but the fastest running spoons (NK Mags) and most dodgers and sub in Plugs to run with Spinners for Kings.

My personal rules are that pending an encounter I will give up 45 degrees in the most obvious direction to avoid an issue and hope that the 'other guy' will give 45 as well therefore avoiding any conflict. I could care less if someone else is a 'professional' or for that matter on autopilot. I have as much right to fish as anyone and paid just as much, or more most likely then they did for the gear in the water. That said, if they refuse to give a few degrees then I'm crossing them and we'll work it out from there. Sorry Ray, I'm not buying the "always Give the charter guys room as they are "Working" to earn a living for their family" theory any more then I do when driving around a taxi or semi truck or standing in line at the Depot when a contractor walks in and feels he owns the place. Sometimes I think Copper and Autopilot are the worst two things to have ever happened to Big Lake fishing.

Chad, Thanks for answer. Was just trying to keep things clear before I went and got myself banned All clear now.

So I see this posted in the other sale/buy forums: "The sale and/or trade of any firearms on this website are strictly prohibited. " Then of course this forum lists Guns as one of the items in its' sub title? So which is it?

I tried those spoons and at one time they were so hot they were on fire...trouble is, the nose kept falling off.

If we are going to start writing laws to prevent dumb people from themselves, then I assume you agree with outlawing smoking and almost every gun law proposed. Heck, some people get drunk and drive cars...we should outlaw one or the other If three adults want to rent a boat and drown themselves I care why exactly?

Another idea would be to utilize that wonderful kill switch that I'm sure most of us ignore...

I ran 17lb last weekend and had almost no issue.

It is Wide Beach which is just outside of the mouth of Catt. Creek. Boats beached or flat out sunk all over the place. Cottage was fine. I'll post a bunch of other pics tomorrow.

Those aren't docks...that is a slate bottom and rocky beach...