Capt Vince Pierleoni

Matt LeClair and myself will be collecting $100 from Captains of teams wishing to compete for the Cup. Must be in before boats depart Saturday for day 1 of the Orleans County Open.  

Good deal Pete. I have wanted to get back to Ludington myself but Sodus is a damn good event.

The Sodus Pro/Am is excited to announce that the tournament is go for the 2020 season. The event will run July 15th-19th. Plans are currently being put into place to meet the social distancing guidelines. Some of these changes will include no observers and live broadcasts.
 
Although, observers play a big role in helping protect the integrity of the tournament we have decided to move away from this rule for this year. This will allow teams the peace of mind that they will not have a stranger onboard. We will instead have random lie detector tests for placing teams to protect the tournament’s integrity.
 
Last year we ran the first live broadcasted weigh-in on Lake Ontario and it was a huge hit. We will use this experience to offer unique ways to reduce mass gatherings. We have plans in place to use broadcasts to aid in our captains meeting and weigh-ins. These plans will be fluid depending on the guidance from our Federal and States officials.
 
Our overall goal is to provide a fun and safe tournament for our fishing community. We will continue to adjust the way we conduct the tournament to meet the needs. We wish everyone a happy and safe summer and hope to see you in July.
 
 
 
Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

1 hour ago, dreamsteelie said:

VP,  I may get in this year if I dont go to Ludington in July.  Sodus is same weekend as Ludington but they are unsure if theeir having their event as of today.

 

Capt Pete

Good deal Pete. I have wanted to get back to Ludington myself but Sodus is a damn good event.

Well done guys and gals. Joe would definitely appreciate that tribute much more than the traditional kind.

Just to confirm to everyone, the WHI is a go on June 6th, make up 7th.
 
Also, the salmon and trout slam and 1K day (prorated based on participation) will also be occurring the week days prior.  Daily weigh-ins will be at the Wilson gas Shack (only).
 
If you missed out on the annual spring LOC, then the salmon and trout slam and 1K day is just the right thing.  You can participate in these without competing in the WHI.
 
This will be the 1st event  for 2020, followed by the Orleans Open which is the following weekend.
 
That week/weekend will make a GREAT distraction from a lot of the negativity occurring.
 
Spread the word on the the WHI event, salmon and trout slam, 1K day and the Orleans Open (which has a few rule changes also like no observer and  a twist to the importance of the steelhead in this event)
 
See ya at the dock

With the cancellation of the Niagara Pro Am, and confirmation of the Oak Orchard Open and Sodus Pro Am, the 2020 Lake Ontario Challenge Cup will be awarded based on the scores from those 2 events(4 days).  

Many people worked very hard for this to happen. Lets hope operators have respect for the guys that worked on this and play nice. Good practices onboard and on social media will go a long way. If you read ALL the documents, this CAN be rescinded.

Too many people to mention did good work getting this in front of the right people to be considered, you know who you are--good job.

I want to say a special thank you to Rob Wescott, Matt French, and Ryan from Sodus Pt. for the extra effort that went into this. 

On 5/12/2020 at 12:43 PM, dreamsteelie said:

 

UPDATE:

 

The WHI is still on track for the event, esp now as NY is loosening things up slow

 

 

Looks like KOTL is out for the possible dual even weekend. (taken from the FB page)

 

Let me start by saying thank you for your patience.

It’s been a trying time for all of us planning around the pandemic!

As most know us, we want to fish! We want to fish tournaments!

We were waiting for good news to happen on Monday the 11th of May from our government but unfortunately didn’t happen.

We are not postponing our spring event. We are officially cancelling the event for many reasons combined. This is a decision we took seriously. We looked at pros and cons as well as looking at all the obstacles in order to operate.

This is like a weather call, split decision and we understand both sides. It’s a no win situation for any of us running events.

We will be back on Labor Day weekend for our fall event and we anticipate a very good event.

For those who have entries paid and want to leave entry for fall event, your welcomed to and those who want their money back shoot me a text 9056513327 or email [email protected] and we will put back on your cards

Thank you for your understanding.

The kotl team

Just to clarify for the newer teams and visitors from outside the area--the WHI out of Wilson is still a go. the info below that is in reference to the "KOTL" event out of St Catherines Ontario, Canada. That event will hold its second leg on Labor day weekend. Hope to see everyone in June in Wilson. 

Thanks for the updates Pete.

This is a good deal for anyone with a Force or a similar year Mercury. Many of the lower end parts are the same as Mercury made Force. I had a guy give me $900 for a similar lower end on a blown up Force.  Good luck with your sale.

I never had a chance to fish with Joe but I've known him since the 80's. Regardless what was going on in his world he always managed to find a reason to smile or laugh. I am so very sorry for your loss Bruce, and condolences to his family and all his close friends.                   RIP, Thunder 

5 hours ago, dreamsteelie said:

All,

 

Thanks for your patience PT, 

 

No decision has been reached to date on any of your questions or concerns and may not be until we see what further happens in NYS and Canada regarding this situation.  To cancel now, would be premature, even tho it's not looking good for a May event right now 

However, we will remain optimistic for an improved situation soon. There is plenty of negativity surrounding many of us right now, we hear BAD news every day we wake up.  The WHI does not want to add to it by cancelling an event, just yet  that many look forward to.

Much will depend on ramps, marina closing etc... being closed or remaining closed (in May, June?) Things are changing almost daily, so.....(like the recent: are public ramps closed or open-for sure??)

Just had a Zoom meeting with NYDEC, OMNR, PFBC, MDNR and all said launches are open still??  Anglers are saying different, I get pics of ramps closed then someone shows pics of one open? (Al lot may have to do with "local" decisions/jurisdictions.  And I don't want to go there on this thread.  There are other threads for that but I was just showing an example.

There have been discussions of pushing the event back as needed, perhaps to the weekend of the Pro Am?  Since it was just cancelled.(Again, more bad news for many of us that look forward to that event)

There have been discussions of combining the spring KOTL with the WHI. (all optional and "talk only" for now)

This will impact deposits, refunds, deadlines, the early bird drawing, who can or cannot fish etc..

 

We will try to keep everyone informed  and as soon as we have the answer to the rest of your questions and will post them. Kevin is aware of this and this is obviously impacting his business at the marina, restaurant ,etc.. Like MANY of us.  

 

God Bless, keep your heads up, be safe, and try to stay positive during a very challenging time for all of us.

 

Captain Pete

 

 

 

 

Thanks Pete. I think it's very reasonable to not rush to cancel. The south shore of Lake Ontario is probably one of the safest places to be--especially FIVE weeks from now. I am getting called/text/emailed constantly by concerned peers, restaurant owners, and clients who all desperately want the Country, State, and Fishery to open back up. 

I can imagine you are being asked many questions that you just cannot answer. Thank you for your dedication to the events. People need things to look forward to, especially at times like this. 

7 hours ago, Gill-T said:

Above and beyond the alewife catch rate at depth, I was watching the graph when on the Kaho and I agree that the bottom was fuzzy with bait from the 300-400’ depth band. 

I recall that as well on my trips with them.

B,  We will be doing some recreational fishing and after a few shakedowns will concentrate on Kings. As for now I've heard of about 4 Kings caught. I know of one cleaned and it was full of emerald shiners.

It's too bad you guys won't be trawling, but I think you would have missed many of them from the bottom haunts as the movements have started and some alewives never went deep.

I am seeing a lot of kids outdoors, and not just fishing. I would add that everyone, not just kids, will be more grateful for everything around us.    

There are many good full time operators in both of those areas. Some have already begun operations from smaller vessels, and many will have their big rigs in by the end of the month.  I have too many friends in both areas to make a suggestion but do some digging. Even the established guys will have short term openings as we draw from all over the country and each area has different challenges. 

See you there. Looking forward to it!

If it's new or used from a dealer, they owe it to you to go over everything. If they took it in on a trade it may not be wired properly and it should be gone through. If you bought it from a prior owner, that owner should be a wealth of info. Do not be ashamed to ask the last owner or the dealer any and all questions. Even 12 volt systems can be a fire hazard if connected wrong or not fused properly. At the very least the battery life can be shortened so try to get the back story.

If everything is wired and fused properly then all the above info applies. Todays "smart" chargers can be plugged in after each use without concern that the batteries will be overcharged. Enjoy your new rig.  

10 hours ago, RUNNIN REBEL said:

Table 1. Anticipated lakewide (DEC and OMNRF) 2020 stocking for Lake Ontario.

Species	Life Stage	Stocking 2020
Chinook Salmon*	Spring Yearlings	1,161,568
Lake Trout	Yearling equivalents	601,600
Rainbow Trout	Spring Yearlings	755,700
Brown Trout	Spring Yearlings	556,755
Atlantic Salmon	Spring Yearlings	240,000
Coho Salmon	Fall Fingerlings	235,000
	Spring Yearlings	90,000
3,640,623     Jerry RUNNIN REBEL

Thanks for posting Jerry. One correction however. Chinooks are stocked as Spring fingerlings. Fingerlings are much smaller and much more vulnerable to predation.

For 2020 the events used for scoring will be the Niagara Pro Am, the Oak Orchard Open(new for 2020), and the Sodus Pro Am. Sign up will take place at the Niagara Pro Am Captains meeting, and the Cup will be awarded at the Sodus Pro Am awards ceremony. There has only been a couple of years where the Cup was awarded for two, 2 day events--last year was one of them due to unforeseen circumstances involving one of the planned tournaments. While staying with the 2 day, multi species theme of Tournaments used, (for the traditional Challenge Cup chase) other factors have to be considered. The 3 chosen for 2020 scoring have proven stability and hopefully adequate dockage for traveling vessels.

At one time there was 2 scoring events in the western basin, and 2 in the eastern basin, and we are hopeful in the future to return to this format. In recent years this Cup chase consisted of 1 tournament in the Western basin and 2 in the Eastern basin--all of which were 2 day multi species events.

Lets hope we have a dry Spring in the Great Lakes basin.     

If you are Chinook fishing you must broaden your horizons to alternative rock.

If you are going to limit yourself to just water/nautical themed songs then you must include Gordon Lightfoot's "the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". 

This is so very important. It doesn't matter where you fit in NY fisheries. They decimate native trout streams, eradicate Largemouths from lily pad patches, rob Smallmouths from rivers and rocky reefs and most certainly pilfer stocking sites (after all the work DEC does raising them and volunteers do penning them). 

On 2/14/2020 at 7:53 AM, schreckstoff said:

You know if it was up to me I’d tow every day we could in the winter. Shakedown is scheduled for mid March, still a bunch of maintenance to finish. I’m getting anxious to get out there! 
 

If that warm, early spring indeed happens we will be set up for good/great Alewife reproduction this year.

 

 

I think there was good reproduction last year as well. Now whether they can be "measured" or found, thats another matter. Lots of observations of alewives that did not go deep this year, East and West.

I think many will already be "up and in" this Spring when it's possible to conduct the bottom trawls.  

Great responses and advice here. It's challenging enough in what was "normal" flow/level. I used to think a minimum of 70 hp but these days I would say 90 hp. It's flow like none of the 30 plus yr vets of the river have ever seen. Whirlpools can and do open with no notice--if you hit one of these while on plane you could throw people out of the boat. if you ever have a break down or have to fight a fish through the plants you can get the transom sucked down in a flash.

If you do opt for a hull 17' or less and plan on fishing up there regularly, strongly consider a closed transom over one with a low casting platform.