Sk8man

Dipsey rods are usually stouter or stiffer especially ones used for wire. Downrigger rods have more action at the tip end usually because they spend a lot of time bent.....kinda like us old geezers I guess

Keuka freezes most years at the north end (Penn Yan end) and hence ice fishing . The length of the ice shelf heading south is mainly determined by the depth and duration of the cold temp and a lack of significant wind from southerly directlions. Often the Branchport arm near the state launch is open water but it is always a question mark whether the road is plowed.,.

WTG nice photo too. pilot or Air Force?

Very good info from Gill T regarding the equipment Here are some examples of different types of cowbells (they serve basically as attractors).There are many others.... If you look closely you can see examples of peanuts as well Here is an individual setup with peanut....(many other setups possible(twin minnow, spoons, bait etc.) All that is missing is a 32 ounce sinker at the end of a "drop line" suspended (about18-24 inches) from the red colored rudder at the front of the cowbell setup

Sweet Joe! Really beautiful fish.....Nice going!

Trolling speed is usually about 1.3- 3.0mph and most commonly about 2.3mph. The slower trolling speeds for cowbells and flashers or Spin Doctors usually than just an all spoon setup. If you go the thru hull route you may want to have a good marina technician do it because there are quite a few things to consider (for example the degree of deadrise, any voids or wood embedded int he hull, potential prop and hull (e.g. chines) turbulance sources etc.). There can be many limitations regarding where the transducer can be placed and you want to maximize your coverage of downriggers (select widest cone angle possible in that regard at the stern). I would mount the downriggers ( or at least let them know exactly where) where you wish before the transducer installation too so they will be able to assess that placement too.

First of all WELCOME to LOU Shea! I am sure you have realized by now from perusing the website it contains a rich storehouse of useful information and a lot of very knowledgeable people willing to share their experiences and "gems of wisdom" In terms of obtaining basic equipment for trout and salmon fishing this site often has some pretty good "bargains" in the way of used equipment especially stuff like lures and attractors etc. Trout and salmon fishing can (and is) be an expensive "hobby" (as he looks behind to see if his wife is nearby ) so it may pay to start out slowly. Searching this site and doing some basic research regarding some of your equipment needs can be productive although it will require a bit of patience and perseverance to sort out personal opinion from "fact". In general, if you start with high quality basic equipment you'll save money in the long run and also minimize headaches and frustration. Better to get good stuff and go slowly than to jump in with a whole bunch of "questionable quality = usually but not always cheaper" items. Getting reels with good drags is essential. Getting rods with some backbone to them is also important. Rod length is mainly a matter of preference but can be important considering the size of our boat and location of rod holders for separation to reduce tangles. You will need good sturdy rod holders as these rods and reels (especially with wire line and dipseys etc.) get a real workout even without a chinook on the other end but the torque from an aggressive salmon can rip a rod holder out and/or send a rod and reel flying so they need a solid anchor point on the boat. Having an auxillary trolling motor is very desirable for two reasons: speed control and serving as a"backup" if you experience main motor failure. Setting up your transducer properly on your boat is also important so that downrigger weights can be followed especially at depth....sometimes this requires a lot of playing around until you get it right for your particular situation but if you are going to use "riggers" it is critical. I know this information doesn't answer your specific equipment questions but hopefully it will serve as a general "backdrop" or "grounding" for you in thinking about the specific input of other folks.

And there you have it.....the secret to success...seasonal adjustments in both speed and distance and "to tease or not to tease". Thanks Tim. Great info as always. Les

To take off on what Pap said....this type of thread would be an interesting "puzzler" as there are thousands of vintage lures....but on the other hand....it could drive some of us nuts too trying to remember or figure them out....kinda like trying to remember somebody's name from the past

Pap- Thanks man...but I was pretty much guessing this time...I think #2 since they are thin may be just blanks that someone bought some already painted and they doctored up the rest. Even the smaller Williams are thicker spoons. I think Red Eye spoons became Evil Eye spoons and then were finally bought out by Daredevele. In the case of the Locos my hunch is that the Glen Evans were the original spoons and the Locos came afterward and are "look a likes" but the Loco name is what the shape is known by. I think all mine were stamped Loco and were from the late 70's to early 80's.

lure 1 - unfamilar look almost like pike lures lure 2 - possibly doctored up Williams Wobblers ? Hard to tell the exact shape and contour thickness from the pic they have an almost "Cleo" look to them in the pic True Cleos have their name on the underside and a pic of a dancing girls torso saying "wiggle lure" or something like that lure 3 - possibly large size Krockodile spoons? (I think they spelled them with a K :>) both casting and trolling but mostly casting off piers etc. for trout and salmon lure 4 - Definitely "Loco's" I think the company was sold a couple times.

Same here.....been tying home made (experimental) trolling flies all day

If it were me (not knowing anything about the lake and going there) I'd try to fish the spaces near any weed beds found or to the outside edges of them. Most lakes that shallow 7 ft medium depth and 20 ft max. the deepest part on bottom (eg. 20 ft area) usually have low oxygen levels after the ice forms so the fish are scattered in the shallower parts near where plants give off oxygen and contain possible food sources. I'd be jigging with small jigs with spikes or mousies (purchased before going) or small plastic tubes on 4 lb test line (maybe fluoro as well) for bluegills and crappies etc. and if things looked decent there I'd set up a few tip ups for pike (depending on what he finds nearby for bait e.g. live shiners etc.) and if not then set up for perch with light line using whatever bait he has available. If there is a bait store anywhere near there I'd pick the locals brain about it (even if just on the phone).

Sounds like Pearl Wobblers on the rig (made out of mother of pearl) nice rainbow lure but usually not used on Seth Green rig interesting....

Mike....yes....right between the second pier and the arterial bridge in those sand/ weed beds is where we were....

Here is some BASIC info about what fish are supposed to be there etc. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/76433.html

It may relate to high contrast with the light above (sky etc.) and could resemble a "shadow" outline of bait from below it as contrasted with bright colors that "attract" the fishes attention from anywhere? Also colors specifically fade or darken (depending on the original color) at depth and the black would show up (coupled with movement) at a much greater range of depths increasing the probabilities of them perceiving the object. My theory anyway

I'm with you on that MT!

Although Seneca has only frozen over completely twice in the last hundred plus years it did so in about 1977 and we got into the pike big time at the north end. I have never seen so many BIG pike caught anywhere....there were 15 -20 pound pike lying all over the ice one Saturday....we limited out and even little kids were getting them on their tip ups.... there is nothing like a good pike at the other end of your tip up (without a wire leader and hoping the line was BETWEEN his teeth) and wondering if you'll land it or not A lot of folks dismiss eating Mr. Pike because of the bones but they are one of the best eating fishes of all.