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dreamsteelie

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About dreamsteelie

  • Birthday 04/24/1965

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    Erie, PA
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    Family, Fishing, Tournament Junkie

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  1. The 2024 tourney season has concluded. GLSE tracked 17 events in NY and Canada and award 1st place and runner up for being the most consistent and best finishes: Vision Quest won the overall (runner up in 2023) 310 points Howell at the Sky took the runner position (8th in 2023) 303 points https://greatlakesspecialevents.com/locs-division-2#:~:text=Division 2 is a free entry
  2. The Chinook Salmon was introduced into the Lake Michigan in 1967. Sometimes called "King Salmon", these fish were not known to reproduce successfully. In 2007, the DNR of Lake Michigan's bordering states Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, began studying natural recruitment of the King Salmon. It is now found that nearly 54 percent of the annual king salmon catch is naturally reproduced. Great Lakes populations of Chinook are still supplemented by annual stocking programs, but the numbers stocked have been reduced considerably to maintain a thriving predator to prey population. Chinook Salmon spawn in streams over beds of large gravel, near riffles. Within two weeks after spawning, adult chinook die. Chinook compete with other salmon and trout for scarce spawning grounds. The following spring the eggs hatch, and the young usually remain in the river for one year before they migrate down to the lake. Once in the lake, males tend to remain for 1-2 years and females for 3-4 years. The King Salmon average a weight of 15 to 25 pounds and 38 inches in length. Young chinook in rivers eat insects, insect larvae and crustaceans; adults in the lakes eat fish almost exclusively. In the Great Lakes, smelt and alewives make up their main diet. Predators include rainbow trout, coho salmon smolts and fish-eating birds. The young also compete with trout and other salmon for food. Anglers prize chinook partly because of their large size and the challenge they present for fishing, and partly because they make a delicious meal. While other pacific salmon species have red flesh, chinook meat is often light pink. Chinook Salmon Chinook, or “King,” Salmon were first introduced into the Great Lakes water systems during the 1800’s following the near extinction of the Atlantic Salmon population in Lake Ontario. For centuries, legendary runs of Atlantic Salmon into the Tributaries of Lake Ontario supported growth of native populations in the New York and Canada regions, which spilled over to European settlement during the 1700 and 1800s. Despite plantings of 5 million fry and fingerlings from Lake Ontario stocks in 1866-84, the native Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario became extinct in the late 1800’s primarily because tributaries in which they spawned were blocked by mill dams. For nearly a century, all attempted stocking efforts throughout the Great Lakes failed. It wasn’t until a major stocking movement from 1966-1970 in Lake Michigan of 13 million chinook salmon that a footprint began to form. From 1970 until present day, a small population of 12-15% of fish are through natural reproduction, but the majority of salmon in the Great Lakes are a direct result of State stocking efforts and wildlife management. Today, average King Salmon weight 18-25 pounds, with fish pushing over 30 pounds entering the rivers every year. Off topic a bit but there was some bait/forage discussions here. Here is an interesting article done in MI with regard to lake trout and chinook food (bait) consumption done my Michigan State U. I have worked and with these folks at MSU (quantitative fish division) for several years. Usually, I just listen and digest their information-above my pay grade level of intelligence...(I am not sure if NY DEC has done a similar study?) Excerpt: So, on an annual basis a Chinook salmon eats more than a lake trout of the same size. We know that lake trout live longer than Chinook salmon, though. How much does an average lake trout eat over its entire lifetime as opposed to an average Chinook salmon? C.M.: The answer to this question partly depends on the definition of an entire lifetime for a lake trout. Based on the bioenergetics modeling by Don Stewart and others, an average lake trout consumes 143.3 lbs. of food between the time of stocking as a yearling into Lake Michigan and age 12. A Chinook salmon consumes 147.7 lbs. of food between the time of stocking as an age-0 fingerling into Lake Michigan and age 3.5, when a Chinook salmon is ready to spawn. J.J.: Chuck did a nice job of summarizing lifetime consumption of the two species above. When asking a question like this, it is important to consider why it is being asked. Total lifetime consumption of prey does not equate to information valuable in determining sustainability of the system. New year-classes of fish are always being produced and individual species have different life-spans and life-histories. Several generations of alewife and Chinook salmon will have cycled during the life-span of a lake trout. For example, during the lifespan of a lake trout age 12 which consumed 143.3 lbs. of prey there will have been four generations of Chinook salmon each consuming 147.7 lbs. of prey (590.8 total lbs.). Because of fluctuations in births and deaths and the lack of life-span synchrony among species, we typically summarize population levels of predators and prey on an annual basis in order to monitor for changes over. Now we know how much individual trout and salmon eat, but how many baitfish are eaten annually by all predators in Lake Michigan? How did estimated lake trout consumption compare to estimated Chinook salmon consumption on a lakewide basis in 2016? J.J.: In 2016, lake trout consumed 13.7 kt of prey and Chinook salmon consumed 38.4 kt. Even though numbers of Chinook salmon in 2016 were at all time low levels lake-wide, they consumed nearly 3 times as much forage as lake trout. In 2016, the biomass of Chinook salmon in Lake Michigan was estimated to be 5.0 kt and lake trout 5.9 kt. Just four years’ prior, in 2013, Chinook salmon biomass was substantially higher at 15.7 kt and lake trout were 7.0 kt. https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Lake_Trout_Bioenergetics_PDF.pdf
  3. These are the only u ones we know about and that actually get weighed/entered-how many do not? GOSD: July 27-Aug 2 Great Grand Prize Leader: 31.14# 1st Place: Nathan Mifsud – Wellers Bay – 27.64 lbs. 2nd Place: Jonas Usackas – Whitby – 27.48 lbs. 3rd Place: David McFaul – Rays Cottages – 27.22 lbs. 4th Place: Jessica Ritchie – Newcastle – 27.14 lbs. 5th Place: Andrew Tolcher – Peters Tackle – Fishin Clinician – 25.86 lbs. 6th Place: Tim Mandzak – Whitby – 25.78 lbs. 7th Place: Jack Robinson – Bluffers – 25.40 lbs. 8th Place: Justin Tadgell – Bluffers – 25.32 lbs. 9th Place: Mitch Hoyle – Newcastle – 25.27 lbs. 10th Place: Isaac Seabrook – Bluffers – 25.12 lbs. 11th Place: Adam Paryz – Lakefront Promenade – 25.00 lbs. 12th Place: Thomas O’Neill – Wellers Bay – 24.92 lbs. 13th Place: Vincent Lafrance – Cobourg – Gabriel Vachon – 24.88 lbs. 14th Place: Chris Attard – Newcastle – 24.72 lbs. 15th Place: Joel Tiede – Whitby – 24.52 lbs. 16th Place: Casey Moss – Lakefront Promenade – 24.48 lbs. 17th Place: Aaron Brautigam – Lakefront Promenade – 24.30 lbs. 18th Place: Doug Smart – Peters Tackle – 24.30 lbs. 19th Place: Fisher Mastromartino – Bronte – 24.16 lbs. 20th Place: Luke DePietro – Peters Tackle – Setting the Hook – 24.10 lbs. 21st Place: Sid Jensen – Bronte – 24.04 lbs. 22nd Place: Fran Stevenson – Whitby – 24.04 lbs. 23rd Place: Ryan Hymes – Lakefront Promenade – 23.98 lbs. 24th Place: Aaron Hyde – Lakefront Promenade – 23.90 lbs. 25th Place: Garneth Fry – Newcastle – 23.86 lbs.
  4. A Happy Report I am not sure we can have it all. BIG fish and lots.... ? I know I would prefer a cooler of 10-20# kings VS 6 bigs all day. I know my clients would also. Hell, I may fall asleep in-between changing lures if fishing was slow but fish were big. This season may be arguably the best in years (ever?) in terms of fish being caught, happy anglers (most) and it seemed at times the entire S and N shores were HOT. There are some big adults around also. Lake Erie is going through a similar thing. LOTS and LOTS of fish, many happy anglers and a great fishery. Its rare to catch a "legitimate" 7# walleye right now. Do I care? not really, except in a tournament. Or I would care if I was dinking out and my peers were constantly catching hog eyes.. Not the case. Bigs are not the preferred eater anyways. (Less contamination also) I can speak for many rec and charter anglers. Its nice to catch a nice limit of fish and be back in at a reasonable time-avoiding sun, heat, sometimes bugs and waves (typically waves grow as the day progresses here). Whether that's Lake O or Erie. I fish both Lakes hard and sometimes the old saying is best left alone and it is: "take what the lake gives us". I know we can bring up the 2 or 3 years when Kings were 40# but things change, that was a LONG time ago. Cohos, when first introduced to Lake Erie in the late 70's and early 80's were PIGS.. Eventually, the stocking process, genetics and maybe less bait (always an argument) affected the size? By the end of the stocking program, the avg fish was 6-8#. Not 10-15#. Lake Michigan was similar. Lake Erie steel in PA are flat out BIG this year. There has been years when they were clones-mostly 4-6# fish. This year has been an exception. There has been more 10# plus steel boated so far than I can ever recall and I have been fishing for them for a longgg time. Was it the mild winter again? Large presence of Alewives this year? IDK but lets not change it in PA.. LOL Back to Lake O: Whatever happened recently to provide the great brown, steelhead and king fishery this year-I would take every year. Give Credit to the DEC or mild winter/weather conditions helped? My customers never said 1 word about catching small fish this year. Oh, I did not even mention those occasional overlooked coho which make great box fillers, r fun to catch and add to the diversity in Lake O. Then we have lakers to play with when desired. (Just ask Screamer Dave-they came in handy 2X this year:)) Been a great year so far aboard the V.Q. and yes, we do like Big fish also, just not sure we can ask or have both? Good topic folks. Captain Pete V.Q.
  5. Updated through A-TOM-MIK Invitational.. August King of Kings was deleted due to the event being cancelled. The 2 leaning payout spots are: 1st place: Vision Quest 310 points Runner up: Roll With it 301 points Fairhaven Challenge and September Big Boys are the 2 events left for teams to make a move. https://greatlakesspecialevents.com/locs-division-2 Thanks Captain Pete
  6. The lakewide D2 series has been updated through the Oswego Pro Am Vision Quest 310 Screamer 299 Howell At The Sky 298 https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/97ee3c68-8684-42cf-a9b4-4256d5595c8c/2024LOCSD2Standings-b68f72d.pdf
  7. DII Through Niagara event. Still lots of events to come... Complete scores click on link https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/97ee3c68-8684-42cf-a9b4-4256d5595c8c/2024LOCSD2Standings-b68f72d.pdf 1 Vision Quest 82 97 103 2 100 302 2 Screamer 94 72 103 2 271 3 Howell at the Sky 84 82 92 258 4 Oh Baby 76 80 97 253 5 Yankee Troller 54 74 78 90 242 Captain Pete
  8. 7 Newbies registered by the deadline. Good odds for someone. Good luck. "0" CND entries Captain Pete
  9. Just a reminder, deadline is approaching. This Friday May 10th by midnight. Or late registrations taken up to Captains meeting with added $200 reg fee. 1K and Slam: anyone can enter these two events. Participation in the WHI is not required to fish these events. Registration is up to May 16th at 11:59 PM. We also have the Newbie division and Canadian division. Extra 2K for each added in. However, we need 5 teams min in ea. to proceed with that division. See website details for more information. https://greatlakesspecialevents.com/wilson-harbor-invitation Thanks Captain Pete
  10. 2024 Salmon School is sold out. Thank you to everyone who signed up. Captain Rob, Casey and myself are excited and looking forward to a fun and informative day. Did I say fun? Also, thanks to the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association for continuing this annual event. They do a lot of work behind the scenes to promote and organize the Salmon School as well at the 4 day Expo. There will be a lot of seminars, in addition to the SS. Check out the link to view the vendors, reps and more. #niagarafishingexpo2024 Captain Pete VQ
  11. Hello anglers, The LOTSA organizers wanted me to let you know that the 2024 Salmon School is nearly sold out. So, if you are considering attending the event in February, do not wait to long. There are 15 seats or less available. Captain Casey Prisco, Rob Westcott as well as myself are excited to present at this year's event. Captain Pete https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FC-jvNSdac5c&data=05|01||56b59718699c4f90cf3f08dbf0f739a6|84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa|1|0|638368716832440992|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D|3000|||&sdata=%2ByyYD11JaMhB3qYbc014i289%2F0EEUC7E2LwNzx5kvkw%3D&reserved=0
  12. As of 10/18/23 there has been 100 seats sold for the Salmon School. The 2024 SS is sure to be an informative, interesting and fun event. Plus it supports pen rearing and LOTSA. Captain Pete Vision Quest
  13. Congratulations to our 2023 Great Lakes Special Events Division II Champion, Captain Dave Antenori and Team Screamer!!! Full results available on our website. Runner Up: Team Vision Quest. Tight race: (305 and 304 final points score) AWARDS: Overall Winner: $300 cash plus $500 in sponsor coupons from FishUSA and Dreamweaver Lures Runner Up: $200.00 check and $200 in sponsor prizes from FishUSA and Dreamweaver Lures Winner will also receive a BIG championship series check, which will be awarded at the 2024' WHI event in Wilson. https://greatlakesspecialevents.com/locs-division-2 Next year, we hope to bring back Division I back (paid entry) large payout.
  14. UPDATED: DII has been updated after Fairhaven... We have a new leader: Team Screamer moves back into 1st, Team Vision Quest in second and Team Thrillseeker in 3rd. There are 1 events left, Any one of these 3 can still win it all. Team VQ and Thrill did not fish the Fairhaven Challenge. All 3 are expected at the September Big Boys at the OAK on Labor Day weekend. Going to the wire. DII pays out 2 spots.. 1 Screamer Atommik 97 92 97 103 2 62 76 100 74 100 305.00 2 Vision Quest 76 62 94 103 94 76 103 4 304.00 3 Team Thrillseeker 54 80 84 82 54 100 97 100 297.00 https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/97ee3c68-8684-42cf-a9b4-4256d5595c8c/downloads/2023LOCSD2Standings08.23.23.pdf?ver=1692810089391
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