Capt Vince Pierleoni

Actually, Kings maturing early is due to EXCESSIVE Alewives in the lake in relation to the pelagic predator population, and the fast start some of the pen projects are providing.

This thread may never end. The posts here have brought back so many memories. Yeah, that red hot "Manistee wobbler" in glistening dull nickle plate finish, LOL. Yes Skateman it did look like mantaray! Mature Kings were caught by the "bull fighting" method at the pierheads--we wore them down. Back and forth with sub par presentations until a frustrated Male blasted one. The marinas at the Oak took POLAROID pics of EVERY Salmon caught(talking late 70's the "ban years"). One King made for a successful outing, the entire crew would pose with the fish like they do with Great Whites and used to do with Marlin. My first memories started with being being in love with fishing in "the big lake" at my grandfathers cottage at Wautoma beach. Too many hours in the mid to late 60s sitting on the dock watching dying and dead Alewives not knowing I was wasting my time soaking worms and minnows. We caught our first Salmon on bobbers and worms in the late 60s in Sandy creek(Hamlin)--they were yearling stockie Coho and they were the coolest little fish. We released them and little did we know what was about to happen. By the mid 70's we wore rubber off our bike tires riding to Russell Station to cast in the lake current in the Spring or drift sacks or anise sponge inside by the "tubes". When the drivers licenses came in late 70s we were on adventures to the piers at Hamiln or renting boats from Dick Barney on the Little Salmon river. This post will close with that story. Rented one of his 16fters(for a while no one cared if you took them out in the lake) brought our portable 2 x 6 with the manual "Rivies" at each end and clamped it to the rental vessel. Our weights were official Riviera plastic torpedos filled with bb shot. Our rigger rods were Heddon "Silver Kings", with huge spinning guides on them--and we accomodated with big surf casting reels. We slapped my buddies dads 15hp Evinrude on the transom and shot down to the SR. It was a merry go round circus even then. We each hooked one on Green glo Fire plugs, one on a flatline the other on a rigger set halfway to bottom. Landing both of them proved life threatening, as the boat was shut down for the battle and offshore wind blew us a mile out in the lake while battling the beasts, no cell phones and no marine radio. We had 2 Kings however, and from that day forward it was ON. Many a sleepless night before even a pier casting trip. I dont lose sleep anymore, but each and every Chinook Salmon is as good as ever. I refer to those early days as "the wonder years".

Just saw this. No time tonight or this week but I can offer what I know and remember next week. Not ready for the "old timer" label just yet, however. For now, know that Dr. Howard Tanner in Michigan(still living retired) and NYSDEC's late Bill Pearce were men of great vision and courage. They were all aboard about creating a booming sportfishery and giving their states an economic "shot in the arm", while at the same time creating a solution to the Alewife problem. Contrary to what some believe, its BECAUSE of the introduction of Pacific Salmon that any progress has been made in restoring native species.

Great pic! Captures it all. Nice work.

We all want the Kings but its Lakers like that(congrats!) that are getting national attention in addition to our Salmon.. I had some guys last week that have fished all the big named lodges in the NWT and Manitoba and 2 of the 4 got their personal best with us that day. We also have been putting some of the giants back and suggesting smaller ones for the table. Go get a bigger one next week!

I was a native of Greece, NY. When I started my charter business at Oak Orchard in the early/mid 80's, I couldn't believe how everyone just left their rods and tackle out. I asked the late Butch Tiberio about this and he explained that in those parts at that time- "if you touched another mans tools you would find yourself in the bottom of the creek with the sheriff looking the other way." I've always felt that for the most part fishermen and hunters were much better than average and wouldnt steal from each other even if easy targets were available. Yes drug addiction is most of it, makes me want to abandon some of my conservative positions and just make them all available and legal--we certainly are not winning the war on drugs--just paying for the hamster wheel which is enforcement and incarceration. Still, there are others that are just addicted to stealing and cant let a perceived opportunity go unexploited. When I heard about this it made me sick to my stomach.

Nick I went to Brad Penn racing oil in my 454's strictly because it has the zinc in it already. It's a blend of Dino and Synthetic and obviously a product of PA. Valvoline racing oil also has zinc. I have been running 15w-40 in the cold weather and 20w-50 in the hot weather. Seems to hold up very well. Does anyone know if the Rotella(which is much cheaper) has adequate Zinc in it? The zinc is important for the cams. I too, am puzzled by the 260 designation. 260's are small blocks, 350 cu in.

100 percent an adult-in "coho years." Once they are big enough to eat adult alewife(first year in open lake) thats it, they're off and running and their growth is explosive. Now, they can experience "delayed maturity" just as Kings can. Some of these that are very small may hold over another year and be those rare 10 lb Spring Coho next year, but the majority of these will still hit 8lbs + by Sept. Be prepared, small or not they have an agenda and tackle wrecking is part of it. These super agile crazed feeding machines are going to "blow up" many a pretty set come June.

Small, but not a baby--it's an adult Coho. Something is going on this year, there's LOTS of Coho but they are very small--for now. Either the tough winter stunted their growth or there was a large wild hatch somewhere and they are a bit behind. I've seen this before and they will pack on the weight in a hurry, should be caught up by June. Regarded by many as the top table fare in the Great Lakes.

I hope this doesnt happen in your backyard, Skipper. It would be sad to see from the lake as well. The proposed area is a recently discovered bald eagle nesting area, I'm surprised it's gotten as far as it has. It would be sad enough if it made sense, but the power produced doesnt make economic or environmental sense. 1429320721709.jpg If you value your peaceful star lit nights without disruption by blinking red lights 500 feet high all over it, better see about what you can do here! Get educated or express your own knowledge!