Kevin J Legg

A deep diver Bandit Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Actually I got skunked on eyes but did hit a couple bass. Perhaps muskiies are feeding on eyes. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

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Her image is definitely burned in my mind. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I got an early start this morning on the SLR. Was on the water by 2:45. I was trolling solo with two longlines on 7’ ugly stick spinning rods in rod holders with Bandit deep divers and a heavy bottom bouncer on a third rod in my hand. It was now 4:00 AM! While trolling in 24 fow I saw a longline come tight in the rod holder. while reeling in the bottom bouncer I headed out to deep water with the fish on the rod in rod holder. I then stopped the motor and began drifting down river. After grabbing the rod I knew it was a big fish. My first thought was a trophy walleye but it felt very heavy so next thought was a huge catfish. It went deep and I really just felt weight but then it turned and made a powerful run toward shallower water taking lots of drag. It made a move up river and I followed it around the back of the boat and then it really made a couple big fast runs and I was nervous it might cut me off on the shoal. There was no controlling it at this time and I basically just hung on as it took drag. Next it came out of the water and I knew it was a big muskie! It jumped a second time and fortunately then moved back to deeper water. It now seemed to be tiring and I slowly began gaining line. I was still drifting down river and now in deep water with no obstructions to deal with. It move toward the surface and I finally spotted it with my headlight. I easily lead it in and tried to slide her into my big salmon net but she wouldn’t fit. I had her head and about 2/3 of her body in the net but could get her tail in and hook was hung in the net. I tried lifting her tail into the net but still could fold it in. I decided I would have to to get my fingers under the gill plate and succeeded but it flopped and put a hook in my hand. Fortunately it didn’t go deep and came out when I dropped the fish and net. Now the fish and net were in the water but still attached to my line. Fortunately I was able to regain a hold on the net handle and by now was concerned with releasing the fish. I decided to try to get the hooks out without putting her in the boat. Fortunately I was successful but her gill plates were still tangled in the net. Finally I was able to free them and she swam off well. I have caught some big salmon and carp but this fish dwarfed them. As I have zero experience with big muskies My estimate would simply be a guess but I have a 38” ruler on the side of my boat and it was much bigger than that. If I were to make a guess I would say 50” or more. I know her head had to be 8” wide and she was thick all the way to the tail. Wish I could show a photo but it wasn’t to be as I wanted her back in the water safely. I’ve been fishing the river for 45 years and this was definitely the fish of my lifetime. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Wow, if your below(south of) Henderson it’s a long run to the the places I suggested unless they’re trailing their boat. Much closer to Henderson, Chaumont, and Black River Bay. Unless wind is really bad they should be fine. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Certainly could fish those big bays but Goose, Chippewa, and Eel Bay are much closer and all hold fish. Also Lake of the Isles. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Not so much of an issue now that season is open and bass are off the beds. Most locals were complaining about guys fishing bass before the opener which is illegal here. Water level is low and lots of shoals so you need to be careful. Use charts and GPS to avoid accidents. The current in the main river can also be an issue but with a bass boat shouldn’t be a big issue in boat control. The bigger bays tend to be shallower and weedy with little current. Largemouths tend to be related to the weeds and smallmouths more on rocky shoals and deeper water. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Another successful outing. They are now both able to bait hooks and unhook their fish. Oldest even used pliers to remove a deep hook.they said they caught dinner for their mom and dad who will arrive tonight. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Here’s one instance when size definitely doesn’t matter. Grandsons fished for a couple hours and caught a mixed bag. Bonus was they each caught a keeper bass. Yes I filleted them and got 1 lb 3 oz of fillets that they want for a fish fry. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Yep a fall fish. Pretty common. Saw a bunch at the launch in Keewayden last week. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Took my wife for our annual opening day outing. We had to do some searching and caught them a little deeper than normal. My wife took the big fish of the day with a 19”. Since we kept them I was glad to see only one still had eggs. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Nice one! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I’ve had them come into my decoys on several occasions, seen them chase turkey, and even had one come in and grab a tom I shot but dropped it just before I was going to hammer it. I also know they hang around winter roosts. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I ordered the wrong size trailer fenders and have no use for them. The photos show size ,make and description. These are new and never used but I did drill one for side lights before I discovered it was the wrong size. Looking to get back some of my investment. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Finished my season with a decent Tom. It took quite a while for him to come but once some hens moved toward decoys he and his buddy came in fast. They came about 150 yards across a plowed field to my decoys. I was actually sitting on a couch in a vacant house trailer and shot him out the open door which had a big piece of cardboard with a shooting port cut out to hide my movement. Had seen them near there on my last hunt so decide to use this set up as an improvised blind. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

At least you finally got rewarded for the long grind. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I get at least 1/3 more meat if I don’t just breast them and it is good for grinding and bones make great soup. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app