Sk8man

It is hard to believe this boat hasn't sold....what a steal!

Wow Pete Holy s..t! Gorgeous bud. You are a master craftsman!

I think the lampreys have to come under better control before that can happen on any meaningful scale

I remember back in the 50's and 60's there were huge die offs on Seneca and as mentioned they littered the shoreline and smelled to high heaven. I'm not sure of the specific dynamics involved but I do believe it can be a population regulation mechanism like that seen in some insects, birds, and some rodents etc. We have been discussing the apparent absence of predators (e..g. Lake Trout, Pike and others) and maybe this contributed to the situation.

WTG Brian

Lake George you have a Personal Message

I guess in all fairness to the various manufacturers trying to beat this perplexing problem I don't see any total solution to the problem. Flea densities vary greatly throughout the water column and when they are at their height in terms of density they will adhere to about anything regardless of component makeup or diameter. I have had them clog the downrigger cable so thick that the rigger barely retrieved. Most of the time the lines go in and out of the various densities of fleas giving different results on the various lines and some spots on the water don't seem to have them at all. A lot of times folks assume that their lines are the reason that they don't have fleas accruing on them which may not actually be the case; they may just be fishing in spots where there are none or fewer flea densities. I have used the 30 lb SeaFlee line on my riggers for about ten years. It seems to perhaps shed them better than the 30 lb mono lines I have tried alongside it but they still get on there. Any line connection (e.g. swivels or knots) are particularly prone to picking them up regardless of setup. Like a lot of things in life there appears to be no "silver bullet" at present. Checking lines more frequently and keeping a flea scraper handy seem to be the current options.

Nice going John. Great way to spend time with your daughter. My youngest used to go with me too but now she is in LA so those times are gone....Enjoy it while ya can bud.

It has been raining like crap in a lot of places and some seemingly harmless streams can create havoc when that much rain comes down ion a short time and the result can be miles from origin quite quickly and pile up.

Welcome to LOU Rob. There are still a bunch of us dinosaurs on the Finger Lakes interested inpulling copper or having done so for much of our lives. It is one of the most effective fishing techniques out there for Lakers despite the preoccupation with more modern techniques and equipment. Best of luck to you and your kids. It is a great tradition worthy of passing on.

Small to medium spoons J-7 or J9 size sticks. More likely to get Atlantics too trolling them. Troll slower for the browns.

Browns aren't the easiest fish to find but some things seem to be more successful than others catching them. First of all on the Fingers they are often night feeders and inhabit the shallows then so getting on the water just before light is often the best option. The browns are usually located near drop offs in 40- 80 ft of water at this time of the season and especially where the water temp is 58-60 degrees and usually near bottom They also seem more vulnerable to live or dead bait such as sawbellies or in a pinch shiners. Commercially prepared shad (sold in packages or jars at local tackle shops or places like Runnings or Walmart) can also work. You can use standard spinning rods with 8-10 lb test with an 8 lb fluoro leader about 24 to 32 inches long with a #8 double or treble hook at the end attached to the main mono line with a small swivel snap. above the swivel a weighted bobber is attached so that it can slip on the main line allowing the bait to cover depths. If windy it may require a lot of adjustments and re-casting. Trolling in shallow water 8- 25 ft in very early hours or using planers boards can also work. Trolling out beyond 80 ft or so is seldom the ticket to success.

Sweet! Bill. I'm jealous....haven't fished since first week in June.

Mudflat is right Sammy the prickly side. It isn't the ultimate solution but it does work and is a whole lot better than by hand. Best of luck out there Sam.

Yep that is the best way to do it.

Nice going John. Stuck at home right now but hope to get out there soon

X2

Nice going John. Guess it was well worth putting up with the flies and fleas after all

I'll bet the kids will remember that day for a long time