ac holmes

You make it look easy Nick, I saw you at the 4th street bridge this PM and guessed you guys had done well because we had a good day on Sat. I remember when I was a little kid in Watkins Glen that the lake was always colder for swimming when the South wind was strong and warmer when it was out of the north. I guess that the water moving south pulls deeper, colder water toward the surface and visa versa. Anyway, the salmonoids that we fish for are active feeders in the 48-55 degree range and when the bait is there, so will be the fish and they will be on the feed. We hit 2 nice Lakers at 60 feet on Sunday as well as 2 rainbows and 4 LLs. All fish were healthy, no eels or marks and they were all puking up sawbellies. Seneca is hard to fish but when you get it right the fish cooperate very well. I am forming an opinion about fishing Seneca. When people say the fish are not biting and say it is the barometer, the moon or some other condition, Or the fisherfolk speculate whether green and yellow is better than silver and gold, etc., etc. I suspect that the "no bite" has more to do with water temperature and finding the temp layer where the fish are active (feeding). On Seneca, that temp layer can change radically in a day or so, I have discovered (as much as 70-80 feet) depending on north or south wind. I have also discovered that the "bait" may or may not be at the temp level where the salmonoids are actively feeding. The bait can be anywhere in relation to temp. So then, my idea is to find the temp layer at around 50 degrees and look for bait there...the fish will be there also and they will be feeding. They feed all the time. That is all they do is feed and swim around the lake looking for more food. What do you think? Best, Andrew

I have been catching fish (Lakers, LLs and a few Rainbows) quite regularly on smallish (2-3 inches) green, silver and brass colored spoons, mostly at 60 feet...some at 70 and some at 50 on both sides of the lake 10-12 miles from Watkins Glen. Both downriggers and dipseys seem to produce about the same. Speed over ground 2.5 to 2.7. The weeds are terrible however but I am starting to learn how to avoid the worst of them. I first find bait and then fish. I think the fish will always be where the bait is, generally. I am hooking up my speed-temp today to see what is going on. I remember the Lakers being much deeper this time last year, but we boated 2, 5 pounders yesterday fishing at 60 feet over 120 FOW. Go figure!

There were a few fleas on Seneca last Friday...just getting started... the little buggers

Hi Nick, We have not fished together yet, but I am looking forward to the possibility sometime soon. I have been out a few times in the last 10 days and am wondering where the fish went. I have been running farther and farther north out of Watkins Glen and mostly striking out. I cannot find the fish! Where the hell did they go? Today I resorted to drifting with live bait and still struck out. Any ideas or suggestions. As I mentioned before I grew up on Seneca and in the old days we had different ways of scoring with the lakers in the summer including night fishing with propane lights and I thought I understood a little bit of the lake and the fish, but I do not know a thing about what is going on now. Best, Andrew (Billy Bob's, Bayliner, Honda 90s)

Hi Nick, We have not fished together yet, but I am looking forward to the possibility sometime soon. I have been out a few times in the last 10 days and am wondering where the fish went. I have been running farther and farther north out of Watkins Glen and mostly striking out. I cannot find the fish! Where the hell did they go? Today I resorted to drifting with live bait and still struck out. Any ideas or suggestions. As I mentioned before I grew up on Seneca and in the old days we had different ways of scoring with the lakers in the summer including night fishing with propane lights and I thought I understood a little bit of the lake and the fish, but I do not know a thing about what is going on now. Best, Andrew (Billy Bob's, Bayliner, Honda 90s)

I am new to some of the planer/otter board techniques, but the way I have fished lead core is as follows: Four colors backed up with mono or braid...let the colors out and however much backing you need, usually 100 feet is plenty and hookup your release to the backing. I usually use 12 or 15 feet of 15 lb. leader and a small swivel that will go through the guides and level wind so that you do not have to hand line the fish into the net. Works for me usually...but not so good lately AC Holmes

Hi Ray, I am sorry I did not know what you were talking about with 5/8 to 2.5 keel, I thought you were just bumping the post along. I just Talked to Jason about fishing this AM and his dad's passing and he explained to me that you were talking about keel sinkers. I will buy some this PM and give them a try. thanks, AC

Hi Ray, I was actually using 15/16 keel with an offset of between 05 and 12 degrees...still no luck. Thanks for the report. Best wishes, AC Holmes

I finally got my planer board (BIG JON otter boats) situation together so that everything works great. I can now control everything from the cockpit easily. I am running the BIG JON mast and motor driven spools way forward on the hull of the Bayliner 2302 Trophy and high up. I am able to fish three rods on each side with the boats way out to the end of the tether all at different depths and with stick baits and spoons. I fished this set up for 6 hours yesterday without a bite at the south end of Seneca. The surface temp was around 50 degrees mostly and I fished in close and over 100-200 FOW also. I trolled at 1.8 MPH and moved up to 2.7 MPH as the day went on. Nothing! No fish...no bites and no understanding of why this top line fishing is not working with these surface water temps. I finally let the rigger down to 125 with a flasher fly setup and soon boated an 8 pound laker. I do not understand what is going on. Are the fish all deep with 50 degrees on top? Good luck to all this weekend, AC Holmes

Yes indeed...it will make a great trolling vessel but I have an arrangement with some local folks here in Watkins Glen to develop some private "sunset" trips for tourists. I would rather go fishing by myself or with a buddy or two, as it is hard work to take a fishing charter out, and if you don't get on the fish, it's also hard to charge the full fee. The Bayliner is a great fishing platform and has all the bells and whistles so if I don't sell it, I don't really care, I will continue fishing it myself. It is so set up for fishing I really cannot take folks out for sightseeing, and I hate to start drilling holes in the new boat for fishing gear. Good luck with your paperwork, Andrew

I bought a brand new Ranger Tug trawler with a three cylinder diesel inboard. I am going to do sightseeing tours as well as fishing trips if, I do not sell the Bayliner. Best, Andrew

If you double click on the image icon it will open and answer some of the questions you have... It is a 1989 Bayliner Trophy in excellent condition with a V bottom and is powered by dual Honda 90's with 400 actual hours. It will do 30 MPH wide open. The dual motors are especially nice for maintaining any trolling speed you wish in just about any wind and water situations by running one or both motors at different speeds as conditions dictate. It is also nice to have two motors if you get on the big lakes and have a problem. I can troll all day at 2 MPH on one engine and use less than 5 gallons of gas. The motors are so quiet that you can barely hear them at idle. I usually run one motor one day and the other the next to keep the hours close on both engines. These motors are really fine and the main reason I bought the boat. This package is being used often and is in the water on Seneca and ready to fish. The slip can go with the boat if someone wishes.

I forgot to mention that it was a BIG WEENIE fly (proctologist I think) with the SPIN DR. I am not sure yet but I am starting to consider the possibility that the flasher/fly setup produces bigger LLs. I hit several smaller LLs today on various spoons but the big hit hit the flasher/fly. The same thing for the last three weeks. I have caught a number of fish but all three bigger LLs (6-9 lbs.) went for the flasher/fly. I am fishing 30 to 50 feet down and 2.5 MPH is working for me. ac holmes

Got out early for a couple of hours and hooked with a very lively LL...fought like hell and jumped several times best, Ac holmes

Whenever I boat a "larger" Laker I always am a little surprised at the size of the fish's mouth and teeth. The fishs mouth opens to nearly the circumference of it's body. I think it quite likely that a 10-15 pounder might gulp down a fish a foot long. I have never fished a very large plug, but am tempted to do it sometime this summer. My guess is to fish deep and very slow with a 3 way swivel and a big sinker.

Hi folks, This article is interesting... what do you think? ever catch a big laker with a big fish in it's belly? keep grinning, AC Holmes http://www.fishsniffer.com/wiza/050320lures.html

Been getting quite a few Salmon a few Browns and an occasional Laker...lots of eels and eel marks...5 to 10 miles north of Watkins Glen. Some on spoons some on flasher flys some deep some on the surface. Picture of my niece's husband and his first trolling experience. He looks happy...no? Andrew Holmes

I finally got my boat in the water on Thursday and took her out on Friday PM for a shake down cruise, but did not fish. I do love those dual Honda 90's. They popped right off after 6 months of storage. I fogged them properly, changed the oil and filters and put a fuel stabilizer in the tank last fall. Honda makes a terrific motor (maybe the best). I have to keep checking the tachs to make sure they are running, they are so incredibly smooth and quiet. During the Friday shake down cruise, I marked lots and lots of fish on the South end, out of Watkins Glen. I was not surprised, because I know my fishing buddies have been hitting the fish hard on the south end for a month or more. I could not fish on Saturday but went out today with wifey and fished hard and got skunked on South end. I saw hundreds of fish on the bottom at 350 to 400 feet. As most know we had a big North wind last week and a pretty big South wind yesterday. The suspended fish and bait balls at 80-120 feet are gone. Does anyone know what happens when the fish go so deep? I know they follow the bait but who knows what the big wind had to do with the fish going bye-bye? I am going to go out in the AM and will head North and look for the fish. No sense fishing where the fish are not? I heard from some guys today that they got into fish in a minor way 5-8 miles north of Watkins Glen. Best, AC Holmes

I totally agree that captain Danials is top notch and Sea Tech is a together progam. I much enjoyed meeting the group of students. I stuggled a little with the plotting/dead reckoning section but started to "get it" in time to pass the test. Best wishes and good luck to all, Andrew Holmes

Worth a read for all of us who fish on cold water http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/cold_water/

Hello intrepid fishermen, I just mentioned (on the bilge pump thread) about my close call in the cold waters of Seneca and will take the chance of sounding like I am lecturing, so please do put up with me. When I got in the drink many years ago and nearly drowned, I was a strong swimmer (trained in combat swimming in the USMC), strong as an ox, and very fit. The only thing that saved me was a first class life jacket that was zipped and pulled up tight. I took this precaution because I was testing a small sail boat that I had built for a customer. It was gusty and cold that day, but I wanted to test the sails and rigging before I delivered the boat. The boat sailed beautifully and I got a little salty and tightened the mainsheet, and then got hit with a heavy gust and the boat turned turtle. I was soon trying to hang on to the upside down hull. In a very short time I was too weak to hang on and could not think straight. I started to feel a little sad but remember thinking "the hell with it, I am going to die now." The next thing I knew, two young couples in a speedboat were trying to pull me aboard their boat. I was too weak to help and no longer cared if I lived or died. It took all four of them to drag my 210 pounds over the transom. If I had not put on the top quality life jacket I would have drowned in 5 minutes in the 50 degree water. When you get caught on Seneca and it gets rough most people head for the canal. The waves get two or three times as steep at the canal because of the shallow water. You can stay close to shore on the east side of the canal, but believe me, do not plan on doing much swimming. In my estimation, the best thing to do is not go on the water at all in a small boat if you see white caps. If you get caught, do consider another option than the canal. If it is real bad, tie up someplace at a dock and make a phone call. If you go for it, it is better (I think) to keep the power on pretty good to prevent yawing around in the cross-chop at the entrance of the canal. I have been on the lake all my life and that is 50 years or more. There are most certainly conditions on Seneca that can kill you, and many people have drowned over the years, usually in the spring when the water is very cold. Usually one or two poor souls each year at the south end, in a north wind. You cannot survive for more than 15-20 in 40-50 degree water. Without a life jacket you area goner in 5 minutes. Sorry if I sound like an ****, but it is all true. Best, Andrew Holmes

Hello fishermen all, I am also more comfortable with a backup bilge pump. I nearly drowned once in Seneca having tipped over in 50 degree water, so I am thoughtful about that memory. I was in the water for about 15 minutes before some folks saved my ass and I was hypothermic and nearly comatose. Here is one idea that works very well for me. I installed a through hull strainer and pump to supply the live bait well. The model I used has an extra "T" fitting inside the hull to supply fresh water to a wash down pump. The wash down pump I installed is quite powerful and will supply a garden hose with good pressure. I forgot what brand it is or how many GPH it can handle, but it is way more than the bilge pump and it cost about $100. I put another "T" on the intake side of the wash down pump and run a piece of garden hose to the bottom-most corner of bilge. I installed 2 ball valves between the "T" and the two hoses that go to the fresh water supply (mentioned above) and the other that goes to the very bottom of the bilge. The wash down pump can pump a lot of water in a hurry from the bilge if needed, and it also offers the advantage of pumping the bilge bone dry as the open end of the garden hose is sucking the bottom. The wash down pump is installed up high in the hull and far from the water and well protected from rain as it is under the cockpit rail. Also, the wash down pump has an easily accessed strainer with a fine mesh screen so any crap in the bilge can be easily pumped out and trapped in the pump screen. works for me, Best, Andrew Holmes

1989 Bayliner Trophy 2302, walk around, new canvas 2008, hull rock solid. Stringers solid and no rot in transom. Heavy, dry hull and great in rough water. Good interior with porti-potti and lots of room for gear. Twin 2001 Honda 90's, 300 hours, professionally maintained, as good as new. (compression test of Honda motors recently surveyed by Seagar marine and factory trained mechinics confirm 300 actual hours, like new condition and at Honda specs across the board.) Top speep 30 MPH fully loaded. Motors are whisper quiet at trolling speed and very easy on gas. 140 gallon nylon tank. New motors and controls would cost aprox 25 K. These motors are perfect and any trolling speed can be maintained by use of one or two motors at variable speeds, in all sea conditions.. 2006 Load Rite tandem axle trailer. Good tires and brakes and all lights and electronics are perfect. Baystar Hydraulic steering new 2008. Professionally installed and functions perfectly on the two linked engines. Simrad auto pilot new 2008. Simrad is top of the line for auto pilots, and easy to use with remote controller. That is to say, one can controll course with remote handheld while tending rigs or landing fish at the stern. NEMA date can be downloaded from Hummingbird 595c to set course automatically. If you have not fished with an auto pilot, you will wonder how you ever fished without it. Humminbird 595c fishfinder with navtronics gold chart new 2008 Cannon speed-n-temp, new 2008 Two Scotty depth power downriggers new 2008 Two fish wells with separate thru hull fresh water pump. Live bait well with fresh water thru hull pump Lots of custom wood work with canary wood by professional cabinet maker 6 high quality stainless rod holders wash down pump with full pressure fresh water Big Jon electric planer boards mast with two Otter boats Two custom installed copper rigs with 1000' on each reel Trim tabs VHF radio portable radio two fire extinguishers two deep cycle batteries two bank battery charger This is an excellent boat for a serious fisherman, ready to fish anywhere, and can hold up very well to a in depth survey. Although the 20K price seems high, according to blue book values, this setup is state of the art, put together by professionals and ready to fish anywhere. Replacement cost for this full capability dual engine set up would be 50 to 60 k. This is set-up for a knowledgable fisherman who wants all the bells and whistles for the finger lakes or the big O. I have alrerady bought a bigger boat with inboard diesel power for doing pleasure and fishing charters. I am in no big hurry to sell this rig, but will work with someone who knows the difference between a project boat and a ready to go fishing machine. $20,000

Watkins Glen NY The boat is at Seneca Marine's lot on 4th street. The people there can show you around. Ask for Billy Bob Lusk.