Sk8man

There is no path for Gobies in Canandaigua Lake.  They have apparently migrated from Lake Ontario up through the Seneca River to Cayuga to Seneca Lake but unless someone actually purposely introduces them Canandaigusa and Keuka should be spared as they aren't connected to the canal system.

I think as Shakemsam mentioned South Bay Marina was a dealer for Tohatsu at the time I bought mine elsewhere in 2016 so if they are still around worth a chack

Proves that it doesn't take a 40 pounder to to put a great smile on a kids face

Wonder if you could find something like a cylindrical closet hanger rod in aluminum or thin stainless at Lowes for example?

If all else fails try Trident Marine in Honeoye

WTG Keith

Doesn't get much better than that! Nice going!

Wish they still had the 30 Sutton 44's that I donated years ago Mike. I believe the barge itself is in exactly 500 ft with the cables stretching outward to a little greater depth Years ago I talked with one of the workers about it. When they are testing he said the sonar would be influenced by the motor noise of my (at the time) 4 horse kicker for about four miles or more and he requested I shut it down at the time.

I have contacted Elmer Hinckley lures about the copper finish concerns Brian. As I am sure folks realize copper is a "touchy" material and moisture  (even high humidity)can wreak havoc on it. He is looking at and working on solutions as we speak. He takes a lot of pride in his product so I'm confident it will be solved (possibly by lacquering etc.). In any event the lure action seems the most critical variable and these spoons really work very well.

Lake George you have a PM

Crestliner I have used Suttons for nearly as long as you have been alive and I agree with your comments regarding them. I now have mainly switched to Elmer Hinckleys for my primary flutters on Seth Greens and riggers. They have slightly different action and the plating is much better than the current Suttons and the hooks are stronger. I also have a few Suttons that my grandfather used too back in the early 1900's which I very much treasure. The Suttons and Hinckleys were developed on Canandaiugua about the same time (around just before the turn of the century ( late 1800's) and they both work great on all the Fingers that have trout/salmon, and some work for walleyes as well. Both spoons were designed at a time when fishermen used rowboats to fish them so they were designed for slower speeds than some of today's spoons seem to excel at running, Some run better at select speed ranges so knowing these ranges can make things more effective when using them. I consider the Sutton flutters a bit fragile for Lake O especially the trebles they come with. I have had a king actually rip the hook right off one of them previously and it tore the rear hole open. The heavier versions work Ok with the hooks changed out to single SS salmon hooks.

1 hour ago, JLK said:

Trolling with current should be just as good, but requires increasing GPS speed. 

 

Is the current in Lake O. the same at the surface S down 50 ft? If so a spoon over the side at the surface would let you check the action.

My hunch is that increasing GPS speed may be irrelevant. Subterranean currents are complex and often follow structure in most lakes and Lake Ontario has mixed currents as well but not as much structure and drop-offs that may you see in other lakes; BUT it has strong inflow from the Niagara River at the west end and strong outflow at the east end and the St.Lawrence which probably greatly influence the currents along with wind direction and velocity.  So underneath the water is anyone's guess about strength and even in some cases direction as with mixed currents and you can run in and out of them as well in different parts of the lake and even within the water column at different depths.

Yes that video really captured the reality of the situation. Trolling into or against the current and across it may be one of the most important factors out there and just randomly changing out spoons because of no fish action may not be the answer. Aside from the obvious changing lures for the color and size etc. it does have a couple or more useful functions though. Taking care of flea build-up, which in addition is a pain to clean off in bulk it may also allow fish to see your line and possibly spook them, and especially with downriggers the release of the line may trigger following or nearby fish and sending it back down may attraction as well. When I release downriggers I usually let them "float" upward for a bit and sometimes they take hits this way (rather than fast reeling them in immediately). When trolling for browns near bottom in 40-90 ft of water this can be very effective. Two seemingly "identical" lures may in fact not be so identical in action as even minor changes can influence this like two different sized or types of swivel snaps for instance or slight bends in a spoon (possibly unnoticed). I think trolling WITH the current is mostly a waste of time but I'm sure others may swear by it but as in the video it kills the action of the spoons.

It isn't just the lake either. It is throughout our society these days.....that lack of respect and consideration for others.

8 hours ago, Crestliner said:

All ya need is a suttun. Sounds like an ole cig commercial .

Not exactly sure where that is coming from but maybe my rationale for thinking the way I do should be mentioned.

Starting with physiological factors: color perception is different for most species and is thought to be different from human color perception as well as many species including fish see more of the electromagnetic spectrum (.e. wavelengths) than we do, and possibly including UV for example. Color perception is complicated and there are other physiological components that are more basic to functioning in most living organisms and more important to their survival. a primary one is detection of movement, another is the perception of figure/ground. These are more primary (primitive) functions in the brain and neurological systems and relate to survival of the species. In this case, the fish needs to detect movement and determine whether predator or prey. Trout and salmons eyes are located forward and toward the top of their heads so they mainly locate possible predators and live food sources looking forward or up when swimming in the water column. Any movement may either attract or repel them. Figure/ground (or the discrimination of foreground object from the background and contrast) comes into play here while looking up or forward the fish detects the shape and size of an object along with the movement and its shape is highlighted by the sky and gives the characteristic shape they know as bait or else  something to stay away from possibly. This may also be a reason why black or dark lures often seem  to work real well as they stand out more against to sky. If the object appears "vulnerable" in some way they go after it if determined to be potential food and not something to stay away from. This relationship can occur (and does) even in very unclear water along with possible vibrations, chemical scent etc. If a fish was highly dependent on color alone it would not be adaptive to their survival. Is this a "personal" theory ? Yes. It is based on knowledge of fish physiology, animal behavior and perception/cognition, and over seventy years of fishing for salmon and trout. Are there other factors? probably and including color perception. That is why I said what I said.

I've been saying for years that the most important factors seem to be action of lure, proximity to the fish. and appearing "vulnerable" to the fish attracted to it. I have believed for some time that color is down the line in priority. Most fish are "opportunists" so the above fits that model.

Cornelis you are very right. That is why I bought the 18 footer too. I have a lot of confidence in them and other than a little rain I have never had any water in this one in 22 years despite  experiencing some good wave action sometimes. The point that any boat can overturn and none are immune to that should always be kept in mind.

There are still some good ones in there but you will seldom find them trolling out deep. They are usually within the first 80-90 ft water out from shore and at this time of the year just off bottom and especially near points and drop-offs and if you can find 58-60 degree water near bottom in these areas that is where you stand the best chance of hooking up. Although it is seldom done anymore out here night fishing for them with live sawbellies especially at the south end of the lake is what would be best to try.

I swear to God it is true. I used to go out in the shipping lanes (when younger and more foolish) and the big ocean going rigs crew would laugh and make the "crazy" signs with their hands....once I saw a 23 ft Outrage Whaler was one of the boats 'dingy" so I did feel a bit "inadequate" at that point. I've had a n 18 1/2 ft Whaler for the past 22 years and although that boat can take just about anything most freshwater situations present I don't take chances anymore especially when you think about the potential motor problems etc. despite having a kicker. That situation made me realize just how "vulnerable' you can be out there no matter what. 

The currents can be very mixed down there and combined with turns etc. could explain the twisted line on the rigger.

Another point is that despite the online predictions from the buoys being useful you can usually double the number for the wave heights.

5 minutes ago, GAMBLER said:

I have hundreds of spoons/flies/flashers  and only use a handful of colors.  Stick with what works!  

Ditto

Here is another thing to think about ....all of the above depends on your motor running once that is not the case you are pretty much screwed no matter the size of boat and at the mercy of Lake Ontario and Mother Nature both of whom can be merciless and unforgiving of mistakes or foolhardiness. There are times out there when even having a kicker is not necessarily going to save you either.

Size of boat can become irrelevant. For years I fished out in the 600-700 ft area in my 13 ft. Boston Whaler but it was all dependent on conditions and there were times when the weather report suggested it would be good only to find when i got there to the lake....impossible conditions to go out at all. One particular time I was out in the deep stuff and a storm came out of nowhere  from the west with lightening and huge waves building and raining like hell. It had been beautiful all morning too. When I finally reached the channel all the big boats were struggling to get back in the 12 ft. waves. The people on the Sodus Point pier were clapping and cheering me on as it probably looked to them that I was in someones dingy I had about 8 inches of water in the boat from the rain but I made it in (white knuckles and all) but it was a huge lesson to me as even the 32 ft or larger boats were in just as much trouble as me getting back in.  You have to choose your conditions no matter what sized boat but keep in mind regardless that the weather out there comes with no guarantee and can change quickly. 

I think it is .021

There are plenty of folks including "lurkers" that may benefit from the info anyway given the large audience so the energy isn't exactly wasted I guess