Sk8man

X 2 on Warren's All the salmon stuff you might be dreaming about is probably there

I always used to place a straw bale behind any of the paper or plastic targets and used field tips for practice as just about any foam or cardboard etc. target will pretty quickly deteriorate with use and the paper or plastic targets are "expendable". The broadheads will tear up about anything and I always felt that the edges of them would degrade using them that way unless they are dedicated to that use.

I don't think you're too slow on the draw Keith....most of the rest of us would probably not even have noticed it

All you do with the Blacks is run your line out to the desired length unlock the metal "arm" and make a few loops in your line and insert it in the arm and close it and adjust the tension on it by twisting the little metal button gizmo on the side of the release. Pretty simple in practice.

Ditto on Dave's suggestion

A couple suggestions: include sufficient details regarding what you are looking to do and where and perhaps what equipment you already have to use etc. and try using the SEARCH function on here with relevant terms for what you are seeking first and then read the related posts and then ask about things that weren't already answered that you are concerned about. There is a goldmine of specific information on LOU when folks spend the time looking into it and it then saves others who have already contributed the information from rehashing things. LOU is a wonderful resource.

Yes they used to be commercially harvested leading to their decline many years ago. I'm sure salmon would eat the smaller/younger ones as would lakers etc. They are considered real good table food in Canada and Alaska as well.

From a longer term standpoint the presence of whitefish may be a healthy sign. They might provide a better balanced diet for the salmon if get to good numbers maybe helping to reduce the thiamine problem with the mainly alewife diet....just a thought....

You are very welcome. Yes they have a launch and tie ups as well and bathrooms /showers

Don't sell Sodus Bay short . It can offer some pretty good advantages at that time of the year. The salmon are in large part heading east out in the lake toward the Salmon River but many are in transit there from the western sections of the lake then and Sodus is right in the path. You can fish either east or west depending on the reports of the day. A real advantage is seen when the lake is very rough and virtually unfishable especially for smaller boats there are often salmon right in the channel despite it being far from optimal trolling conditions and also in the bay itself along the eastern side especially.I've seen people catch them right off their docks and the pier itself in the past. If marginal conditions are present in the lake it can be real good fishing right straight out from the channel allowing you to get back in quickly if storms etc. There are also some handy restaurants and some night life there if you are into it So far this year things have been inconsistent all around the lake and I don't think anyone has it figured out yet so no matter where you go it will probably be a "crap shoot" this season.

Maybe try Sodus Point this time? Check with Arney's Marina.... nice folks. Address: 7250 State Route 14, Sodus Point, NY 14555 Phone: (315) 483-9111

I guess the snubber didn't help much on that dipsey

I think this could be a situation where you may get what you pay for price-wise. I have 4 of the Boston Whaler models but they are made by Perko and they have held up perfectly during the past 13 seasons. They are polished stainless and I think run about $120 each. .....but then again what are your downriggers worth to you? I can run my wire dipseys from them and even two 15 ft outriggers as well as the cannon extendable boom downriggers.

Dave you have a PM

First of all 300 ft of wire sounds pretty short if you are fishing Lake O most folks use 1,000 ft straight wire rather than a shorter section with extensive backing. As mentioned earlier ANY sectioning of your main line introduces possible weakness at any connection which affects the integrity and strength of it and this is true of ANY line situation....the fewer connections the better. When running dipseys on wire in most situations a leader is unnecessary. If you have a line counter reel your best bet is to start over with a new spool of 30 lb 7 strand or 19 strand wire with a strong solid ring high quality swivel snap and avoid potential future headaches (money well spent in my opinion). I'd put on 50-100 ft of 30 lb mono to protect the reel spool first and then the wire (I attach with a #8 Spro power swivel). When spooling the line (if you don't have a professional line spooler) it is best done as a two person job by hand with slight pressure exerted on sides the originating line spool by the second person (NO opportunity for slack). and it is important to start the wire centered on the level wind mechanism not on an angle so the wire comes in straight. ALWAYS keep wire under tension whether in use or not. The best thing to do is the first time you use the wire go out deep and attach a bare dipsey or heavy sinker to the swivel and let out several hundred feet of the wire and then reel it back in under tension so that it will sit properly and tightly on the reel spool. You should then be all set to fish

If you have any reloading equipment namely a shaker for polishing brass with walnet shell husks use that for silver brass or chrome ones (without tape or paint) and they come out real nice. If not wash them in Dawn dish detergent for grimy stuff or use silver polish to shine them and then wash them good in the Dawn detergent and water and then dry them real good

:lol: You nailed that one Brian