AnglingAddict

Everyone thinks longer is better and sometimes that's the case.  Shorter leaders give your presentation a tighter roll and kick and there are days where short leaders off your divers get smoked.   Generally speaking a 10-12' leader is a good place to start.

I don't know of anything commercially available but have seen a lot of guys make brackets that use the existing bolt pattern for the riggers - made out of thin metal - they literally sandwich that plate between the mount and the rigger and extend back beyond the rigger.    

Is that Ricki's boat?

What's your setup?  Head unit and transducer.

47 minutes ago, Gator said:

Agree completely that kings send browns to the back of the line after stealing their lunch money. However, I wasn't aware that the king bite was so good out of Oswego, which is a traditional hotspot for BT. I did know that Matt and Brian both found numbers but no size...with the exception of one, of course lol. 

 

A 5 degree drop in temperature the day after stocking in 2020 would certainly be enough to decimate that year class. As for cormorants - isn't it more the norm than not these days? While I don't fish browns much, any decline in hallmarks of a healthy fishery gives me pause.

4 man limits of kings in a few hours for the last month out of Oswego pretty much.....We were one of 2 boats fishing BTs to the west of Oswego on Saturday.  

We fished them Saturday out of Oswego - had a 9.48 which was the biggest - my son thought it was over 10 when it hit the net - scaled it quick and it wasn't so he was bummed - already had visions of another youth LOC trophy for his trophy shelf in his room but it wasn't to be.  It seems like early April there were some better fish around on the east end - we also grabbed two around 7-8 pounds the rest all 3-4 pounders.  Landed around 18 BTs on Saturday.  Agree with what Rick said and I think a lot of folks are fishing kings - why wouldn't you at this point.  Its easy fishing right now and for us on the east end a rare spring time treat.  

11 minutes ago, Jimmyi said:

 

 

 

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.

Agree 100% - Salmon school is a great event - I was fortunate enough to be an instructor in 2023 along with Vince and Russell - there are also a lot of great free seminars at the LOTSA show - smaller rooms for the free seminars and a great chance to really ask a bunch of questions there as well.  Develop a network of fisherman who are out there and share info - what works what didn't.  Location is so important when it comes to being on active fish.  Having access to latest info on the water always helps from a starting point.  Bottom line - you have limited time to put it all together when out on the water - every day is different and over time you will start to "get it" and become more consistent day to day.

We had 4 Lamprey on our BTs Saturday out of Oswego (smaller 6-8" size) - landed somewhere around 17 or 18 BTs

Try and find some guys to go out with occasionally who maybe have been doing this for a while - everyone does things a little different but it might help you to see how it's done.  The good guys do a lot of little things many guys might not even consider or pick up on.   Otherwise lots of good points in the discussion thread already.

You will see the difference in rough seas.  Bigger prop has more bite and resists being pulled up out of the water - at same RPM a larger spinning prop will have greater overall stability.  

19 hours ago, mr 580 said:

The Suzuki 9.9 models BTHL or BTHLW (white) have a high thrust 4 blade prop standard- Suzuki’s “pro-kicker’ spec model.   I have one on my Proline and it works well.  Previously I had a Yamaha 9.9 that ran for years with a 3 blade and that did the job too.  In most situations it would be hard to see a big difference 

Pushes my driftboat perfect at idle and was approx same size prop and pitch that was on my T9.9 high thrust that I had on a 21’ fishmaster.  Plenty of clearance between prop and anticavitation plate.  

I lied - not a 12 pitch.  Can’t remember what the OEM prop was but it was smaller with significantly more pitch.  Here’s what fit my 2023 merc 9.9 4-stroke.  (Not a Bigfoot motor)

10 hours ago, stinger said:

 

AA: What is the model# of the Solace four blade prop you use. I have a 2006 Merc 9.9 4 stroke with the stock three blade prop that I use as a kicker for trolling on my 19' glass boat.  Just wondering if a four blade will be better suited for 1.8-2.5 mph that I usually am trolling at.

Im on vacation right now but when I get back will grab it for you. 

Weather or wind?

A lot of guys are running larger diameter shallower pitch props for kickers.  Those props are better at pushing heavy loads at slower speeds.  Main advantage is better bite, more control,  and less prop slip as compared to a prop that is designed to operate at higher speeds.  Some specific kickers like the Yammy High Thrust or the Merc Bigfoots have a gearbox that has a lower gearing as well which helps.  

I swapped out a 3 blade OEM prop on my 9.9 merc 4 stroke that I use on my driftboat for a Solas Amita 4 blade in a 12" pitch versus the 16" pitch prop that came with the outboard - noticable difference in performance.  Boat is limited to about 7mph because its a non-planing hull and either prop could get me there but the 4 blade solas definitely moves a lot of water and keeps the boat on track.

Back when I had a trailerable boat we fished the finger lakes a lot (I grew up fishing Canandaigua).  Flasher/fly on 8" spindoc or echip with a fly is absolutely a great presentation for lake trout in the finger lakes.  White double crush glow attractor with an Ultra White Glow A-Tom-Mik fly took an insane number of lakers for me deep and on overcast days.  For me they were best fished off wire divers - June/July timeframe was best.  Chrome/Green attractors with A-Tom-Mik Hypnotist flies were another great option on bright days.

As far as fishing smaller lures - the fish in the finger lakes feed on alewives and while those alewives may be just a tad smaller than the big adults you find on Lake Ontario - I wouldn't hesitate to run regular size Dreamweaver spoons, superslims, regular size stingers or Stingrays by MIchigan Stinger......

I like fishweather - I use the paid version of it and I've found it to be the one I use the most.  We are slipped so we are at the boat anyways usually so for us its a matter of getting up and looking at the lake but good to know what the wind will do in a couple hours as well.....might help you to decide if you are going to breakfast or going to leave the dock.

My kiddo and I were out of Fair Haven on the 3rd in that fog - absolutely crazy!  We were in the driftboat - 6 rods.  3 flatlines, a one color, a slide on one side and chinook diver on the other.  We ended up 6 for 10 - not on fire but picked away.   All put back for another day.  Vid of him navigating the driftboat back to the chute LOL.

I always say you gotta go make your own reports!  Nice job!  Sounds like a decent day!

He's only shore casting in the spring - winter he's too busy fishing steelhead so for him never really below freezing when he is shore casting - agree braid absorbs water and will make a mess if it gets below freezing.  

My son uses 15# braid to a barrel swivel and a 4-5' of 10# flouro leader - good castability with braid for that application.   He uses a 9'6" 6-12# rated rod and an older 2500 size Daiwa SS spinning reel that holds plenty of braid and has a smooth drag.

There are some good FaceBook pages for GoPro users - I would try there - lots of guys in the know....

bags don't get in the way - rig them to run off side and the end of the bag just forward of your transom.

Yeah - the knot wouldn't slide through the rear clip - probably not that - odd???