Jimmyi

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I started out as an observer in the tournaments, and I was blessed to able to meet some of the finest captains on the lake and to be able to fish with them. I know many captains from Niagara to Oswego and also Canada that I have fished with, gone out to dinner with and just spent time talking fishing. I am personal friends with a lot of these guys. I've been a member of LOTSA for 16 years. I have only missed one Salmon School that LOTSA puts on since they started at the old 4H building. If there was ever a trout/salmon seminar whether it was at LOTSA, Dan Keating Salmon School, Gander Mountain, Cabela's, Erie and Western New York Sportsman Shows, Bass Pro or any other place, I would be there with my notebook taking notes and asking a lot of questions. Just like you, I remember struggling when I first started out and a great fisherman, Curt Meddaugh from LOTSA who passed away used to tell me, "Just hang in there, it will come". Like Keith {Gator} and Brian {Gambler} said, go on a charter with a good captain who will share tips. Watch their videos on YouTube. Pay attention to details. Get some books or videos by Dan Keating. Go back to all of the old post on LOU in the Questions about Trout and Salmon Trolling, Fishing Reports and Tackle and Techniques sections. Join a club, LOTSA {Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Anglers}, ELOTSA {Eastern Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Anglers}, LOCBA {Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association} and go to their meetings and seminars. Sign up early when it is posted for the LOTSA Salmon School at the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo because it sells out. Start putting a little money aside now because you may want to spend a couple extra days at the hotels and go to the seminars on Thursday and Friday before the school. You're going to find some good deals on tackle also. A lot of great captains will be sharing information and tips. And like what Brian said, you will pick up the fine details that do make a difference. "Just hang in there". One more tip, if you're married, don't let your wife know how much you spend on fishing tackle and equipment.

My daughter sent me this

Folks, 42 guys had already signed up the within first nine hours that the school sign up started. You have three of the best fisherman on the lake teaching this school who are not afraid to share their secrets and help people catch fish. This school is going to fill up fast so don't wait and then regret that you didn't sign up in time. I don't care if you have 30 years of experience fishing Lake O, you will still learn something new from these guys.

That's a beautiful fish Matt. Great job landing that on walleye rods and lures.

It does except it didn't have that dark tube shape above it. It just looked like a big pillar from the lake surface straight up into the clouds and the clouds were nasty looking.

Yesterday afternoon we were fishing out of Sandy Creek in Monroe County which is about 20 miles west of Rochester. My buddy was driving the boat heading west while we were trolling. I'm sitting turned around facing east watching the rods while he is driving. For as many times that I have been out fishing, I have never seen anything like this before. I'm looking in the distance at some strange clouds and I see what looks like a cloud that is shaped like a huge pillar. This thing is coming straight down from the clouds to the surface of the lake. It was a long ways off. This was really strange looking. I say to my buddy, Look at this strange cloud coming straight down to the water". He turns around and says to me I hope it's not coming our way, that looks like a water spout. After a short while it just disappeared. Never seen anything like it. I wish I had taken a picture of it

I can still see his smiling face hanging out the side of the boat at the dock as we would be heading out to the lake. Niagara Show, Sandy Creek Shootout or where ever I ran into him, he always had a smile on his face. He was one of the GREAT ones. Like Whaler said, "missed but not forgotten".

Hi Bosco, PM sent.

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Congratulations Bill. When you saved that ladies life last month one of the guys said karma will pay you. God has truly blessed you!! Beautiful fish.