Sk8man

It is a tradition with me too. I've fished since shortly after I came back from overseas in 1967 (military). I start looking forward to the next one about a couple weeks after I fish it :>) We've placed several times over the years (including last year) and have led it a few times but never scored the winning position. The funny thing is that a couple times over the years I've caught bigger lakers than the ones that won it BEFORE the derby or AFTER it.....timing is everything in life :>) My son (35) has been in it with me since about five or six and thats truly the best part of it....fishing it together as a team and busting each other too :>) Out fishing Adm Byrd comes in a close second as well :>)

Les

We welcome you as a fellow fisherman and wish our north shore brothers good luck in the days ahead on the big O. The anticipaton of Spring is killing me already :>)

Just a little tip regarding the EZ Steer connector....do not adjust the sliding tube on it (from factory setting)...some dufus did it to mine at the marina and it became unusable. I found that I didn't even need it anyway as my 9.9 is a long shaft and the prop is at about the same depth as my 135 Optimax so I just set it to the straightened (central) position and steer totally with my big motor and it works fine even in rough water. I know this may function differentlly on an IO. If the EZ Steer "locks up" for any reason it is quite difficult to disengage the connectors from inside the boat (have to reach way out precariously)

I third that! I've been getting my stuff together already during down time between ice fishing sessions :>)

MarkNY - If they are the same size as the new 47 Daiwa LIne Counters (i.e.the spool setup) they should hold 1000 ft of 30 pound wire plus  a moderate amount of braid or mono for backing. Check the line capacities of both and compare. I put it on my new Daiwas without any problem.

The letter is a very good one and covers the issues in a well thought out manner. Thanks for sharing it.

I am also heartened by the stance taken by some of the firearms manufacturing firms who are boycotting the government agancies. If the main ones come on board this may be more powerful of an influence than anything the rest of us can do but keeping up the pressure on all fronts is necessary.

I attended the Ontario County Supervisors meeting for the first time last night when they reviewed their plea to the Legislature for an ammendment to the NYS SAFE law. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb gave a wonderful speech requesting everyones support of a repeal. All went well until the very end. There were many articulate speakers from the public but you had to be invited to speak by the supervisor from your town. Everyone was in favor of tthe ammendment with the exception of two liberal dems and everything was set to pass although a couple of the supervisors had reservations about asking for an actual REPEAL rather than asking for an ammendment so they voted only on the ammendment and it passed Then the two liberal dem supervisors put forth a motion to stonewall things (there is a March 16th deadline for any ammendments to be set forth) by having the thing "lay over" for public review prior to sending it. We were all disgusted after waiting  2 1/2 hours to hear that crap....and everyone left mumbling things not to be repeated here  :>)

The problem with ANY money they collect is that ALL the money is impounded by Cuomo and not released to the area DEC folks.

Think this new gun law is just about guns? Think again! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXg2WsNCrW4

If you have any trouble launching at the south end.... I was at Sampson yesterday and it was all open water at the launch ramp and all but the extreme northwest corner of the dock area which had some ice.

This video may be of interest to folks who want to know what the pro Constitution legislators in Albany think of the gun law - Brian Kolb sent it to me.

Lets hope they do a decent job of it. I've got two scratches on the bow my boat in ten years...they both came from the corner of that launch dock. I even put that white rubber piece on the south corner a couple years ago to try to protect my boat :>). It could use a good dredging also .

Great video. Thanks for sharing it with us....gives a very look at how people can make a difference in helping out the environment. It also shows indirectly that cooperation between Canada and the US is an important factor im maintaining this vital fishery. Thanks.

I agree with everything said except the fact that "no manufacturer of semiauto guns makes a 7 round magazine"....many if not most .45 cal semi autos and  for example my Walther ppks .380 auto and most of its kind in the smaller calibers have 6 or 7 round magazines. The crux of the situation is that MANY manufacturers make 10 round magazines and higher capacity magazines but not 7 round mags for many common handguns and I'm sure they have no intention of starting to manufacture them for one state out of 50 when from a marketing standpoint the HIGHER capacity magazines are what sells. Another issue is for example someone who has a 9mm Sig Sauer P-228 which came with two 13 round magazines (as sold) and is no longer manufactured as it was supplanted by the P229 (multi caliber not just 9mm). The problem is that there is no way to make the gun legal now because you can't get 10 round mags now and it was an $800 firearm and thats only one example. Now it becomes a single shot firearm which is what the bozos in Albany are heading toward. I also have been told that 10 round magazines will no longer be allowed to be shipped to NY or sold in NY and this was confirmed when I tried to order some from a number of manufacturers. Even the firearm manufacturers are running scared with this NY stuff and Obamas ideas and the fact that this NY SAFE thing could set a precedent for other insanely like-minded state legislators. On Emperor Cuomo's website it is mentioned that existing higher capacity magazines can be PERMANENTLY  MODIFIED to accept the "legal"  (my quotes) number of rounds. They don't however specify what constitutes PERMANENT. As I read the stuff on the website even an old Mossberg .22 from over 50 years ago ( over 50 years considered an antique by this law) despite having a 15 round tube fed magazine (not a detachable one) is required to be registered. I guess it may make a couple of woodchucks and squirrels happier but not more safe:>)

Great job Chad! and thanks for all that you do with this website. You are correct when you mention the possibility of "sleepless nights" when the new little one comes along but it doesn't last forever and it will be well worth it. After a while you'll wonder what you ever did without kids but that won't last long either....when they hit the teens :>)

Les

The Department of Justice is laying out justification for using drone strikes on American citizens... http://burnpit.legion.org/2013/02/doj-l ... s-citizens What (OR WHO) is next?

Dre - The north end of Canandaigua including the launch ramp and channel as well is totally iced in and has been for a few days. The only other possibility is the ramp at Onanda Park. I'm not sure if it is open but usually when the north end is frozen up they have opened that ramp for use. You might want toi call out to the park to see the south end is "doable" from there.

You might contact here to find out:

Dennis Brewer

Director of Parks and Recreation

(585) 394-1120

(585) 393-1233

[email protected]

I applaude the Erie County Sheriffs Police Benevolent Associations stance on this incredibly stupid law that fails to deal with the REAL problems that jeopardize the safety of all of us. None of the law enforcement officers (DEC and Deputy Sheriffs) in my locality that I've spoken with are supportive of this law. The fact that law enforcement views and input weren't taken into account prior to passing this insane legislation says a lot about the regard the governor and his cronies actually hold for law enforcement as well as the rest of the citizenry of this state.

I fished Honeoye yesterday out from Trident Marine. The ice thickness varies from 2 inches out near the middle (reported to me by others) to 3-3 1/2 inches solid ice on the east side (only fished out to 12 ft.). Area in front of Trident is not real great because of the bubbler off to the side of the ramp leading to the lake....need to use caution there.

I was out on Honeoye today and although there is good hard ice of 3 to 3 1/2inches out from Trident Marine the area right at the ramp at the edge of the lake has a bubbler which sends currents under the ice so care needs to be exercised there in getting out there. It was a bit slushy on top tonight in that area when we came in. I stayed within 12 ft of water on the east side and there were some folks out further and they reported spots where there was only 2 inches of ice out towards the middle. It was open water last week there. The ice is too thin to go way south to where the good perch fishing is (toward the middle of the lake across from California Ranch etc.). I didn't go to the south end so I don't have a handle on conditions there. I saw a few guys north of me out from Sandy Bottom but didn't talk with them so details are unknown. As far as the fishing goes I was after big gills and only caught a few of them and had to work VERY hard for each one as most fish came up to the jig/bait and looked at it and went back down or away. Multiple jig changes and variety of bait didn't change that. The other guys I spoke with all reported the same thing (8 people). I caught some small ones that were returned but the few large ones came on very small jigs and during a short period right before dark (the bite). P.S. I wear a "float suit"

Les

Some research has pointed to the fact that the color line itself acts as an actual BARRIER for fish inside it because of subtle temp differences that influence the water density. The increased turbidity also contains microorganisms stirred up from the sediment (as well as worms, and other critters so that opportunistic feeding circumstances are there for the fish as well so they may well be in a feeding state when your lure passes by and the brighter colored lures are more easily seen.

ZOOM55 :Right now the ice is a real question mark in many of the popular places because of the bizarre thaw last week. Even the best places should be approached with caution right now. When ice reintegrates from a thaw it is usually irregular in thickness and dangerous. I would say that right now wait until you see other folks out there with their tents and huts before venturing forth yourself. Honeoye Lake may be ready in the next few days especially at the south end. Conesus is being fished right now at Lakeville (5 huts today on the webcam at least).

A little bit of advice from an "old timer":

1) Never go by yourself, if possible go with someone experienced first couple times till you get the hang of it....it really is a "specialized" type of fishing and its not for everyone Stay away from creeks, streams or rivers entering the lake. Stay far away from ANY open water or "bubble-ups or bubblers around docks even if it looks like a small spot. Never go anywhere near the edge of ice where it meets open water no matter how tempting. Ice is almost always weak around docks or posts in the water.

2)carry a spud (to check the thickness of the ice with and possibly to straddle the hole if you go in),

3) carry a pair if "ice handles" (e.g. two 4 or 5 inch pieces of broomstick sections with nail spikes in the ends of them - cut off the nail heads and file them to a point and tie them together at the other ends with a few feet of parachute cord so if you go in you can crawl out with them),

4) let people know exactly where you are going when you start out

5 go to FAMILIAR places at first until you get some experience. Watch the other fishermen to pick up tips. BS with them and let them know you are just starting and the good ones may feel comfortable sharing at least some of the basics. We can be a "secretive" lot at times. Only believe half of what you hear as far as their stories go Especially regarding the size of the fish

6) Until you are VERY experienced make sure the ice is at least 4 inches thick of good hard ice (test a number of places because it can vary even just a few feet away...carry a rule or tape measure with you in your gear to make sure).

7) Dress in layers and warmer than you think you might need to be especially your feet and head

Try to fish with your back to the prevailing wind. You'll stay warmer and be able to see your line move better when the fish bite.

9) When it becomes very warm especially toward the end of the season always keep watch of the shoreline as sometimes it melts near shore and you will be wet going home.

10) Until there are good solid ice conditions (e.g. 6 or 8 inches or so) don't be too anxious to go near groups of folks because if the ice is thin someplace everyone could go through some folks never think about it....

These are VERY BASIC things other guys here may want to pipe in to fill in the blanks -

Best of luck!

Did you notice how stiffly he's holding it and real close to his face? Somehow I don't think he did much skeet shooting in the hood back in Chicago

Sitex used to make some very good high end electronics so hopefullyyou will be a happy camper

Hard to tell. I don't think anyone has been out there to check it (and returned) I've been monitoring the web cam and this morning it looked as though someone was checking it out close to shore in near the launch ramp at the south end but I couldn't make them out clearly on it.