Billy Bones

Hey Dave this is my setup with two feet of space covering battery and other essentials. Will change it slightly next year and mount the riggers on a board across the back. just to raise them up a bit. Works great! Billy Bones

Thanks Guys when you take into consideration time invested, money invested in gas, boat, tackle, and all the peripherals, three spools of line was a cheap investment to keep my lines in the water longer. I'm a Canadian that has fished out of Henderson and Oswego (a few years ago). Now I fish the North Shore simply because it is now a hassle to cross the border, either way. Billy Bones

Recently got back into fishing on Lake Ontario. Encountered the spiny water flea for the first time earlier this year. Terrible little critter, (absolutely ruined that first trip.) My fishing time is valuable to me, and being just naturally stubborn, I decided to do the test for myself. After some research and a bunch of opinions I decided on three of most recommended fishing lines. Ande line 30 lb., Berkely Big Game 30 lb. and Flea Flicker 20 lb. by Cortland. Ran all lines off Downriggers and Dipsy’s Although the Ande Line and the Berkely Big Game were much improved over the 20 lb. fluorocarbon that I had been using, they would still have a string of fleas just above the swivel. The Flea Flicker although it looks terrible on the reel because of its elliptical profile would have only a tiny glob of fleas, about half the size of a dime, right at the swivel. This can be overcome by adding a leader of 20 lb. fluorocarbon, 4 to 6 feet at the bottom of the line. Or will be stopped by a flasher or dodger. All three lines were run at the same time in the same area to keep my test as fair as possible. I have since respooled my reels to the Flea Flicker and have not looked back. I have had no trouble with the line breaking as long as you wet your knots before tightening them up. Billy Bones

Read my post entitled "Invasion of the Spiny Water Flea" Billy Bones

Was out at Darlington yesterday. Was not marking anything. A few schools of baitfish but no hooks. Billy Bones

Was gleaning the board and found some posts about free sliders. Being new to Lake O fishing after a few years away from it, I am not familiar with it. Could someone tell me the best way to rig a free slider. Thanks Billy Bones

Thanks Candianblueboy, was planning to go to Darlington Tuesday til Thursday next week. Any suggestions as to what to use to put them in the boat? Thanks Billy Bones

Any decent reports from the North Shore. Thinking of spending a few days out of Darlington, Port Hope, or Coburg. I'm from Ottawa and would like to spend a few days fishing salmon. Any info as to set-up and what you guys are using to put them in the boat would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Billy Bones

Has anybody been fishing around Main Duck Island recently. Last time there the fleas were so bad it made fishing unbearable. Was marking fish but lines were so fouled couldn't keep them down for more than 10 minutes at a time. Spooled some reels with flea flicker to give it another try. Anybody catching fish there yet? Thanks Billy Bones

Has anybody been fishing around Main Duck Island recently. Last time there the fleas were so bad it made fishing unbearable. Was marking fish but lines were so fouled couldn't keep them down for more than 10 minutes at a time. Spooled some reels with flea flicker to give it another try. Anybody catching fish there yet? Thanks Billy Bones

Hi Ya Guys New to the board and glad I found it. Just recently got back into fishing for salmon and trout on the Great Lakes. Used to fish out of Waukegan Illinois as a charter skipper in the mid 70's. Things don't seem to have changed much, except that now you have to deal with spiny water fleas. Ran into them for the first time earlier this year around Main Duck Island. Terrible little critters, absolutely ruined that trip. After gleaning the boards here, got some decent info and gave the advice a try. Got them almost under control, not perfect but not like that first time. Picked up an 18 foot Starcraft aluminum and equipped it with two Mag 10's. I run four lines, two on stackers or two on Dipsy's plus the riggers. Thanks for all the great info. Billy Bones (aka Bill Jones)