Sk8man
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Everything posted by Sk8man
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Cayuga Best downrigger cable to fight spiny fleas?
Sk8man replied to Bo Hunter's topic in Finger Lakes Discussion
If the fleas are real bad none of them will totally prevent them from attaching but braid is not thought to be great for repelling them in any case. I'd be sticking with 150 lb or 200 wire if it were me. The 150lb wire will cut through the water a little better (i.e. a little less blowback). The Mason in that lb test is fine. -
At that speed range just about anything could be going on as well as a combination of them if you are running attractors behind the dipsies. A combination of strong current (very (common out there these days) the relatively high speed forcing the dipsies a little sideways (which attrators can do at that speed) further than you may think and even slight turning while this was happening could explain it.
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Thanks for the pic Schreckstoff. As the old saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words" -
Might want to get a transom transducer mounting plate (plastic) and then you can move around the transducer to find optimal spot. Not easy to see with the white background but is an example. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/transducer-mounting-plate -
Not sure what size or type of dipsies as that could be a factor but I'm not sure why the coppers aren't sent out first then the dipsies in the first place as it avoids going over the top of stuff. Dipsies can run a long way behind the boat and not exactly where you might think they are especially when you have a lot of wire out, (speed matters too) and when they are on higher settings further out sideways than you might think depending on what you have on them. If my dipsies are out and I decide to send out a copper with a spoon for example I usually let the copper and some backing out the center of the transom till it is all the way out and then attach the board (inline) to it and cast it over my dipsy and let out more backing to the desired spot. I have never had it tangle in this scenario. My hunch is that the dipsy is possibly getting into the copper rather than the reverse although that is possible too Try running the dipsies set to zero or 1 to get them closer to the boat, or doing it the way I described. if running riggers also I usually swivel mine away a bit (as far as is practical) from the dipsy regardless of setting.
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That is my choice too .....just don't launch at the town dock at Sodus Point if you value your boat. I was there a few days ago in a buddy's boat and the new dock (the dock itself is beautiful material-wise) but it was installed by people who apparently have never boated or fished from the looks of it. There is a railing at the front along side the dock that prevents you from easily holding on to ropes while boat is coming off the trailer etc. and the dock is many feet in the air away from the water so it is VERY difficult to get in and out of a boat (nearly need a ladder to board or exit from boat) and if wind is from the east or southeast you'll need onshore help coming in at the dock (regardless of number of folks in the boat). I kid you not. In all the years I have boated fresh and salt water this is the most screwed up I've ever seen a launch site. I know this sounds like a rant but it should be taken as a warning as somebody's boat could really get messed up there.The dock was installed way too high and probably should have been a "floater"
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I live here near the lake and within 5 minutes of the launch at the north end. Right now this place is totally insane at the lake. The north end launch is loaded up, the pier and beach is full of folks from early AM now (most without masks) the entire north end is a sea of boats (partying etc.) and if a storm or some reason to get off the pond early comes up....good luck it can be more than an hour getting your boat out unless you are first in line. My boat is sitting right outside the garage and ready to fish but the north end of Canandaigua right now would be my last choice of any lake on Earth. If you do go Woodville would be the choice and fishing is better at that end of the lake in general this time of year anyway and with less boat traffic.
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If it is blue/green algae (even spots of it) be very careful as that stuff is very toxic to people as well as animals (e.g. dogs etc.) so don't let anyone swim if it is present. I believe there is also a hotline for reporting its presence. -
Yes there is also substantial stretch in the Sea Flee line. After using it several years ago I changed about a dozen rods to it and it is all I use on my rigger rods...(1,000 yd spools)
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+yep. The downside to the larger diameter is two-fold: capacity on the reel (less line with each increase in diameter and once you get to say 40 lb of most mono it begins to get quite stiff and offers a lot more resistance in the water (e.g. 50 lb.or more Big Game). For all of my pre-flea years on Lake O (about 40 of them beforehand) I used 12 lb Big Game mono, and before that its predecessor Berkeley Hombre (tough salt water mono) in 12 lb and many kings were caught and landed on it including a 32 lb. king my 8 yr. old son (at the time) caught on a rigger with it. Even the thirty pound line I'm using now feels like rope to me
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The increased line diameter is only one factor in the equation. The line texture is another factor. I think that the longer you experiment with this stuff over time you'll find that when the fleas are really thick line diameter and perhaps texture become nearly irrelevant. Even on the same body of water they vary in density both vertically and horizontally in the water column. This is why some folks report that the fleas are not bad and other report they are "terrible" on the same day on the same body of water, same side of lake and they may be using the same diameter and types of lines with somewhat different results. Another concern is the TYPE of waterflea encountered. The spiny flea seems to be generally easier to get off lines while the fishhook type seems tougher to get off. They are both a pain in the butt regardless. My hunch is that the fishhook type are a little more susceptible to the increased line diameter because of the size of the hooking apparatus which limits their grip so maybe when these guys are the culprit encountered they don't seem quite so bad because they can't adhere real well to the larger diameter line.The Bloodrun Sea Flee line has both an increase in diameter and a slick coating on the surface so the fleas apparently have a harder time adhering to it. When the coating wears off after time the situation may change,. I have used it for over five or more years and I have noted that as the line gets older and is used more the fleas seem to be abole to get a better grip or so it seems. I know this explanation is subjective and not scientifically based but I know for sure line diameter itself is not the only factor involved because 150 and 200 lb test dowwnrigger wire is also affected when they are real thick and can be so bad as to impeded retrieval of the wire.
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Two things come to mind as possible factors. increased photosynthesis taking place with the increased sunlight and higher temps of late and with the higher water temps potential algae blooms.
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Last week I was able to shake most of the fleas off my line when reeling in with the30 lb. Sea Flee. It isn't a total answer but an improvement over most other stuff I've tried.
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I think the most critical question to ask yourself is: "Do i want to be cranking these 16 lb weights up and down all day? Good way to work out though and end up with one popeye arm Twelve pound torpedoes should be fine most of the time. If the current is real strong even the 16's will be getting some blowback on Lake O
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Yeah one on headed east and the other going west while trolling south and boat in close
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Sandy 7/9/20
Sk8man replied to GAMBLER's topic in New York Fishing Reports - Lake Ontario (South Shore)
Just saw the post. WTG Brian! Hope things hold up for you two -
Did you have your boat winterized (e.g. the livewell)? Sometimes there is a on/off lever in the bilge or place where the livewell drains that shuts off the system and it is in the off position.
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Too bad they couldn't be interrupted somehow before the mating occurs but given the size of water bodies most things would be impractical or cost prohibitive i would imagine. -
When they are really bad I use a paint stir stick with a strip of commercial (sticky side) velcro at the end. It works best on taught wire with scraping motions. It isn't a total answer but can help. Not very elegant looking but functional and you can tell it has been used Show Reply
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Always good to support our LOU guys. I have both bikinibottom sharks and Trpoutman87's torpedos and they each do a good job of it. If Harvey has the lead right now I think he makes a 16 lb torpedo. I don't think you'll find any for as reasonable price out there. Both Rich and Harvey are great to deal with.
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More than one type of water flea. They are softbodied pests (invasive species) that multiply like crazy and attach to fishing lines and clog up the rod tips and when very thick can prevent you from reeling in fish.P.S. They can make a mess of your boat (e.g. grey/brown stains) and smell like hell.
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Try John Mann of Sodus Bay Canvas 315-871-6400 One of the best in the business and reasonable.
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I think we have all had those days and when it happens now like you I opt to call it a day and not push it .....always another day -
Humminbird Helix9 SI sonar stopped working
Sk8man replied to Bobinette's topic in Open Lake Discussion
I don't have a Humminbird unit but I think you described the issue very clearly and it may save some other folks from headaches and it is really to your credit for taking the time to let folks know
