Sk8man

I feel for ya Bob....they say your memory is the SECOND thing to go Happy Birthday and many happy returns!

We think the Lake O fishery is tough to manage properly but the ocean environment is much more complex....even in terms of the number and types of commercial fishing "players" involved. If it was a matter of "rods and reels" and small boats it wouldn't be a problem but the large multinational and multi-tiered boats (catching to processing and freezing/packaging) that catch millions of fish and also end up with tons of "off catch" (wasted) are at the heart of the problem and no one can (or will) control them so the small commercial guys will be out of business while those big commercial rigs fish outside the U.S. boundaries unimpeded decimating what is left of the fish population. Like most things nowadays human greed is at the heart of the problem.

http://www.newsweek.com/feds-close-most-northeast-cod-fishing-284126

I'm with Bazooka Joe on that one...fewer problems with the Daiwa's and they are very durable over time. I've had problems with an Okuma Convector right out of the box. The Magdas perform fine despite being a less expensive reel.

I know most folks fish area off the loop and the channel markers but a couple other places are worth checking out too.... a) Between Newark Island and Eagle Island where it drops from about 7 ft to 13-17 ft (line up the two western outer points into the bay of the two islands at the edges of the weeds b) The north western edge of Thornton Point (facing Arney's) at outer edge of weeds and around the north eastern tip of the point near the submerged crib (fatheads or spikes on jigs)

That is about as "hardcore" (and crazy) as it gets

Tim- really sorry to hear that and it has to be really frustrating. After seeing what my buddy went through re-doing his Penn Yan I know it has to be really disheartening knowing you have to go though that process again and the work facing you.. Best of luck with things. Les

Tim probably just put it up for the season

Nice work but how come you left the others just standing around?

I have to hand it to you Johnny....you are really "hard core" to be out in this stuff . I toyed i with the idea of going after the perch today but punked out and opted for in front of the fireplace

Jason- Your view is a common one. The major problem with it though is something called "reality". The reality is that the larger stores don't give a rats butt about you or the "product" or the product lines for that matter. All that is important to them is the bottom line of their profit margin ...they are basically like "hookers" they do whatever "sells" and that meets their target goal for profitability at that particular time. If you look closely overtime they start out with a wide selection of potential items which draws people in then after a while they don't seem to carry the things that brought you there in the first place because those items didn't sell enough volume and that is what it is all about selling volume not particular items that people specifically come there for. It is all about selling as much as they can of various items and if those items don't meet their "targets" for profitability they delete them regardless of whether specific "regular" customers desire them. One somewhat exception to this that I am aware of is Wegman's for they will order stuff if you request the product but even in that case it will probably disappear if there isn't enough general demand. Dealing with small businesses you tend to have more input once you develop a relationship with the proprietor and they may even be amenable to "custom" ordering from their suppliers....they are much more "customer" oriented and that is a major reason for supporting them.

Thanks Rick. Another very interesting article that may relate to some of the posts here about the balance of bait and salmon can be found here....it is worth reading too. http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2011/04/collapse_of_lake_huron_salmon.html#incart_related_stories

Sean you hit on a great topic and nobody is offended. I think it is important to discuss this type of thing as many of the folks who run these businesses are "our" folks and these big store chains have pushed out many small businesses narrowing considerably the variety of products available and basically doing away with the personal aspects of doing business. Most of the clerks in the bigger chains barely look at you (if at all) and if asked 30 seconds after you left for a description of you they wouldn't know whether you were male or female let alone anything else. Fishy and Mike (Hills valleys and Streams) and Jason (Great Lakes Lures) are very experienced competent fishermen aside from their business relationship so there are important things to be gained from interacting (e.g. information, tips, suggestions) not just a matter of handing somebody a credit card or cash and walking away. This is the kind of thing that is vitally important in today's fast paced and highly impersonal environment.

I feel the same about Hills Valley and Streams.....I am seldom down that way but if so I will surely frequent it. Some of my friends have done business there and all good reports. These are the kind of businesses we need to support. The buyers for a lot of the big stores have probably never had a rod in their hand (or at least not a fishing rod)

Fishy is dead right.....and for a small business he has the right approach...and we do need to support that ...not the "Ganders of the world.... he stocks the stuff that fishermen actually use because he is a good fisherman himself. I highly recommend anyone to check out his store over near the Keuka State Park. He also has a good stock of Honey bee lures that are very hard to find these days and are deadly on browns.

I wouldn't waste any money on lottery tickets though

I run mine on various 8 ft. downrigger rods...the flexible tip gives things some action and yet the base has enough backbone when fighting them.

Good news and great to know that there still are some honest good folks out there....too often you hear the opposite.

Happy Birthday Dick...and many happy returns. I think you made the right choice today too.....the same one I would have made have to take advantage of things before the weather turns sour (soon)

"We the people" now reads "We the sheeple" When I enlisted in the military at age 18 just as Vietnam was starting up I was proud to be a "New Yorker" and represent our state but today I am ashamed and embarrassed to be living in this police state where the Constitution is viewed as an irrelevant document and greed and personal power and political ambition are the name of the game. Eastern Idaho is looking much more promising right now.....