bridget

Thanks for the info. Was thinking a making a short trip Saturday A.M. close to home. Any action out of Hughes?

Does anyone know if the launch by the Coast Guard Station is now open and functioning? Thanks.

http://www.stopperlures.com/perch_fly_rig.html http://www.stopperlures.com/no_tangle_rig.html Perch fly rig with 1-1/2" of worm best for Bluegill. Minnow rig best for Crappie. Perch a mix of both.

Unfortunately Bridget is having shoulder surgery after we get back from the Oak or I'd go up for another week in September. Hopefully the action will be good Labor Day weekend at the Oak, but "relaxing" probably not. Get's pretty hectic out front first thing in the A.M., but no comparison to the combat fishing in front of the Salmon River. Actually last few years at the Oak that time of year hasn't been too bad but you have to be on your toes.

Well we had our second and last one week trip up to Black Lake for 2015 (8/1 – 8/9). Again had a lot of fun and caught a lot of fish. A little late on posting, as right after coming back I had trip for work last week to Boston. We decided to go out for Haddock fishing on the last day out of Gloucester. That trip ended up something our experience a Black Lake, caught Haddock (or Pollock) almost every time we put down the clams, but like the Crappie at Black Lake, the majority just under the minimum length. Caught Cod as well, but for the second year now, have to throw them back, regardless of size. Weather was great, but according to the regulars on the boat, not the best for the larger Haddock. OK of us however, it was a fun day and we brought back a bag of fillets. I checked my Black Lake post from 8/2 to 8/10/ 2014. I'd estimate we caught about 1000 fish keeping about a 1/3. Ended up with 5 one gallon bags of fillets. Gross make up was approximately 45% Perch, 35% Sunfish and 20% Crappie. Also landed 4 LM Bass and 3 Bull Head, all released. No Pike this time. Fished Tin, Raspberry, Limestone and Wood Islands along with some of the shoals in the area. Didn't do that well on the shoals. Fishing ended up to be very similar, but only fished one afternoon/evening with Bridget – rest of the time solo morning trips. Again estimate catching about 1000 fish and ended up with 5 one gallon bags of pan fish fillets. Gross make up was approximately the same. Surprised that last year ratio of keeper (9â€) Crappie to throw backs was on the order of 1 to 10. This trip was more like 1 to 20. The word from the locals is that Crappie are said to grow 3†per year (not sure if this is true) but if it is, why the ratio change in the wrong direction? What was good this trip is that we caught many more good size perch. On our last day fishing (Saturday) based on word from fellow campers at McLears ended up fishing from 10 AM to 1 PM fishing in front of McLears (never fished there before). To my surprise did extremely well on nice size Perch, Sunfish and throw back Crappie until we ran out of bait and quit for the week. Put back 3 bullhead and 2 nice smallmouth. Fished mainly near Tin and Raspberry Islands until the honey hole find in front of McLears on the last day. There are so many areas to fish and of course with Pan Fish moving around or drifting is key. Unfortunately for the first 4 days it was so windy is was hard to effectively drift (could have put out some drift socks but didn’t bother). If you like Pan Fishing I’d highly recommend Black Lake. It has never disappointed in the last four years we have fished there. Next year plan we plan to stay a week in June, July and August. Have some thought of fishing Pan Fish in the AM and do catch and release Bass some evenings. This weekend have to do some yard work and transform the boat and tackle to Trout and Salmon mode for our upcoming trip up to Oak Orchard. Based on from I’m hearing on LOU, the T&S fishing on the big O has been kind of slow this summer – haven’t fished it the last month.

Well we had our second and last one week trip up to Black Lake for 2015 (8/1 – 8/9). Again had a lot of fun and caught a lot of fish. A little late on posting, as right after coming back I had trip for work last week to Boston. We decided to go out for Haddock fishing on the last day out of Gloucester. That trip ended up something our experience a Black Lake, caught Haddock (or Pollock) almost every time we put down the clams, but like the Crappie at Black Lake, the majority just under the minimum length. Caught Cod as well, but for the second year now, have to throw them back, regardless of size. Weather was great, but according to the regulars on the boat, not the best for the larger Haddock. OK of us however, it was a fun day and we brought back a bag of fillets. I checked my Black Lake post from 8/2 to 8/10/ 2014. I'd estimate we caught about 1000 fish keeping about a 1/3. Ended up with 5 one gallon bags of fillets. Gross make up was approximately 45% Perch, 35% Sunfish and 20% Crappie. Also landed 4 LM Bass and 3 Bull Head, all released. No Pike this time. Fished Tin, Raspberry, Limestone and Wood Islands along with some of the shoals in the area. Didn't do that well on the shoals. Fishing ended up to be very similar, but only fished one afternoon/evening with Bridget – rest of the time solo morning trips. Again estimate catching about 1000 fish and ended up with 5 one gallon bags of pan fish fillets. Gross make up was approximately the same. Surprised that last year ratio of keeper (9â€) Crappie to throw backs was on the order of 1 to 10. This trip was more like 1 to 20. The word from the locals is that Crappie are said to grow 3†per year (not sure if this is true) but if it is, why the ratio change in the wrong direction? What was good this trip is that we caught many more good size perch. On our last day fishing (Saturday) based on word from fellow campers at McLears ended up fishing from 10 AM to 1 PM fishing in front of McLears (never fished there before). To my surprise did extremely well on nice size Perch, Sunfish and throw back Crappie until we ran out of bait and quit for the week. Put back 3 bullhead and 2 nice smallmouth. Fished mainly near Tin and Raspberry Islands until the honey hole find in front of McLears on the last day. There are so many areas to fish and of course with Pan Fish moving around or drifting is key. Unfortunately for the first 4 days it was so windy is was hard to effectively drift (could have put out some drift socks but didn’t bother). If you like Pan Fishing I’d highly recommend Black Lake. It has never disappointed in the last four years we have fished there. Next year plan we plan to stay a week in June, July and August. Have some thought of fishing Pan Fish in the AM and do catch and release Bass some evenings. This weekend have to do some yard work and transform the boat and tackle to Trout and Salmon mode for our upcoming trip up to Oak Orchard. Based on from I’m hearing on LOU, the T&S fishing on the big O has been kind of slow this summer – haven’t fished it the last month.

I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but this is the third year we have been going up and staying at McLears. We like it there since we can set up our camper and look at our docked boat from the window of our camper. They have the Fishbone Cafe to eat, showers, a great fish cleaning facility (been spending at lot of time there) and its nice to be able to at predawn pick up bait and ice (and pay when later in the day when I get back). I'm sure there are other nice places to stay as well, but I haven't checked them out. We have made good friends with campers that are up there all summer or for several weeks at a time. Most all fish with plastics and focus on Crappie. They joke with me about fishing with worms and minnows and catching more perch and sunfish than crappie. While I have never discussed it with them, my belief is that most end up selling their crappie fillets. Live bait cuts into profit margins as well as messing with dink perch and sunfish. I'm quite sure I could clean 25 crappie in well less than an hour. Cleaning a half dozen crappie along with 50 perch and 50 sunfish, takes me two to three hours.That can get old fast.Now that I am pretty well stocked for deer season, on my August Trip, I'm confident I'm going to be a lot more selective on the size of perch and sunfish I keep. At some point I may change, but for now I do this; I fish with three rods. Two 9 foot light action rods with dual minnows and one ultra light with a dual fly dropper tipped with an inch or two of worm. Often I can't keep up with all three. Most of time it is constant action and you can't keep all three in the water. If the crappie are really hitting strong, I'll pull out the ultra light fly rig and cast a plastic. I bring a thermos of coffee with me, but to tell the truth there is little time to sit back and have a cup. If I was like my friends and there for the season or for weeks, I'd probably join them and switch to plastics. For me however, I usually fish trout and salmon in LO and the FL. Lets face it, even on good days it can be hours or fractions of hours between hits. For my short time up there I like the constant action and to be able to get enough pan fish for the two hunting camps I go to in the fall. Actually in the early 70's I kept a boat at Cayuga Lake and fished exclusively for bass and pickerel with plastic worms, jigs, etc..almost every day during the season. That got old so why I switched to trout and salmon.I have not doubt that that scheme of fishing at Black Lake could be extremely productive, maybe not for pickerel but for bass and pike; and in the trips to come I may take a shot at it. When I was cleaning fish on the Friday night before we left a party brought in some huge SM and LM Bass and a Pike. The same thing happened the last night I was cleaning fish last August. If Bass and Pike are your targets, the opportunity is there. The lake is full of warm water fish. It's basically your choice of what you want to focus on or how you want to catch them.

Wanted to give the first two accounts of 2015 trips to Black Lake. Had to postpone our June trip this year, maybe a good thing? Black Lake water levels fluctuate dramatically. Watching the water levels on line we heard in May the water level was very low, concerned about docking. In Mid June we heard of rapidly raising levels and docks underwater. Got to McLears Saturday afternoon and heard the a week or so earlier they had to pull all the boats our the docks due to high water. Boat Launch their is always an experience. We have heard their are upgrades and we hope it happens. Strong south wind when we got their and a couple with a pontoon boat is having major problems. Bridget helps them while we are launching, which ends up having our boat do a 360. Worst parts of the trip is launching and pulling the boat - just hope for not a lot of wind. Decided not to fight the wind and fish Saturday evening. Started out in front of Tin Island on Sunday A.M. and didn't do much so quickly moved to the North West end of Raspberry. Pretty much constant action. Caught about 20 Crappie with zero 9" keepers. Released one Small mouth bass.Perch and Sunfish were good.Caught and kept close to limits on both and release over twice a many. Went back in the afternoon with Bridget for a couple of hours and the action was non stop with an additional bullhead released. Monday A.M. went back to the same spot and never moved.Probably caught well over a hundred crappie with only 8 keepers. For a while constant doubles, but most of the time. Caught and released a Small Mouth and Large Mouth Bass which were great diversions. Limited out on Perch and Sunfish with over twice as many released. Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty windy so we didn't fish. Wanted to sight see for two days anyway so we did. One day to Ackwasanee Casino and the other to Alexandrian Bay with a stop a 1000 Islands Bait Shop (love to got their and look around pick up a few things). Wednesday evening a cold front came in. Burr. The furnaces on nearby campers came on during the night. Thursday A.M. went back to North West end Raspberry. Caught a small throw way perch immediately and then nothing. Moved in and and out with little action. Then decided to drift south. all the way to Tin. Did two drifts with so - so action, best of the South Side of Raspberry. Decided to finish up on the South West Side of Tin in about 14 feet. Immediately double up on Perch with by Black Lake standards a slob. Fished for the next two hours until I ran out of bait with some very good perch and bull sunfish, constant action, along with a bullhead (back to the lake). Limits of Perch and Sunfish. Friday A.M. went back to the same spot. Not much doing. moved in and out with not much to show. Decided to go to the South End of Tin in close on drift. Found the spot which included a nice Small Mouth (released). Anchored on the spot until I ran out of bait and culled my limit of perch and sunfish. Forecast for Friday Night a Saturday were iffy so we pulled the boat after lunch. Probably a good move. After a great fish fry at Turners I came back cleaned over 100 fish in the fish house while the rain was pouring down. Got up on Saturday about 5 A.M. (normal fishing time) and went to the fish house to clean another 100+ fish. Weather looked liked a big time storm approaching while we we picked up camp and headed home about 10 A.M.. Love Black Lake and can't wait to get back in few weeks. While I was cleaning my pan fish Friday Night some guys brought in some huge Small Mouth and Large Mouth Bass. May on the next trip try to do some bass fishing as well. Already have several bags of pan fish for my down south and up north deer hunting camps.

Camping at Hamilin this weekend. Took out a JY from the big G and his son. Tons of bait and few fish in 80 to 120 FOW off Sandy. Took three small kings and nice Laker (55-75 Down). Then washed lures for an hour and half. Called it quits a 10:30. Didn't see much going on that was the story from everyone we talked with a the ramp.

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"Fished" if you call it that , the Seneca Derby. I have half a dozen Anglers Pal Tubular Rod Holders that I mount on and off depending on the program (usually when fishing flat lines off the otter boards). Decided to give them a try for the church boards after the the great in-put received earlier. Adjusted two of them at about 80 degrees and pointed in the direction of the boards. Ran 5 and 10 color lead color all weekend and had only one diving issue, because of picking up junk. Putting the reel on free spool (with thumb on the spool) and pointing the rod at the board, corrected that. Wasn't a lot of wave action, but still a very significant difference. I should mention I did at one point put the rod in a 90 degree " rod holder" that is higher off the water that I use for my net, and the board almost immediately dived. I am convinced that the key is getting the correct angle and orientation of the rod relative to the board. The solution ended up to be as simple as proper positioning of the rod relative to the board and it made a tremendous difference. Didn't catch a fish on the boards, but can't blame the boards for the that. Caught some fish on the down the chute copper and down riggers. Not a single hit on two dipsey divers in three days either. Last fish on the the down rigger crossed the down the chute 300 foot copper and it wasn't pretty. Again that for the input. I might have just gave up on the church boards, but the solution ended up to be simple.

I reviewed the board set up again, and is correct. I have a roll of lead foil that I use to balance my ice fishing tip downs. Was thinking of cutting out some of the foam and adding a single layer of foil over the existing rear weight (not as drastic as doubling the rear weights). After all the good info though going to switch to one of my anglers pal tubular rod holders that have infinite rod angle adjustment (instead of the fixed 45 degrees) and experiment with rod positioning. That maybe the key? Hope I can figure it out, because I would like to buy some additional boards, to use them as an option in the program. Thanks again everyone, for all of the advice.

I want to thank everyone again for the helpful info. I watched a Church Video last night on adjusting the TX-22 Board for the problem I am having. They say it's common to have to adjust the weights back to prevent the diving problem (so they ride up) I looked at the TX-44 tonight and I don't see much room for adjustment. There are two lead weights, but little room to move either way. I suppose if I snipped off some of the forward weight it might have the same effect from the stand point of balance? My problem hasn't been letting them out or reeling them, just how they dive after setting in the rod holder. SK8man has a good point about the release arm (that makes sense). I also ran across the advise on replacing the plastic pins. I was thinking originally of using the boards for my copper but haven't reached that point early in the season. I started running copper down the chute a few years back and it has been very effective, although it took me a awhile to get the knack of letting it out properly. Like the Wire Dipseys we use, kinks are a BAD thing. I think my Lead Core Rods are 8 ft. I have the rod holder options to position the angle any where I want (once I figure out what is best). I'll keep everyone posted on my success (or lack thereof). This is a great site to share such info. I am awaiting delivery of a new rod holder / mounting system for my dipseys from cisco fishing systems. Last few years I have run Berts ratchets and they work great. Now I am looking to have the option of running 4 instead two dipseys. Went to cisco because I have a Lund Sport Angler and they a 42 degree track mounting system that allows placement without drilling holes. Quite sure this adventure may lead to more questions on the ins and outs of running four dipseys. Hey, that's the fun of it to experiment with new stuff. Thanks again everyone.

Thank you all for all the insight. I was looking at the BloodRun info last night actually ( and good info there). We run our dipseys rods almost at 90 degrees to the boat. The rod holder I was using for the board was at approximately 45 degrees (should it be higher or lower?). We were running into the wind when the problem happened, but waves were less than 2 foot. Seemed like every time we made a slight turn or a larger wave appeared, the board would dive and I would have to put the reel in free spool and point the rod towards the board to get it to surface. Had to keep an eye on it every minute, which was a PIA. With the wide use of these boards, I have to think something I'm doing is wrong, maybe adjusting the ballast or positioning the rod? Appreciate all of the comments. Thanks

Hadn't run in-line boards since using Yellow Birds for browns in the late 70's. Just tried a TX-44 and experience frequent problems with the board diving under. So much that after a couple dives, gave up for the day. Any ideas on adjustments or positions of the rod? Was using 5 color lead core with a short length of 30 lb fluorocarbon spliced in to connect to the board. Thanks.

Left the house a little late (on purpose) with it being the first time out with the boat and trailer. Pulled out a little after 5:30. Launch is looking better than ever with dock upgrades. Channel reportedly has been dredged. Boat started right up, so that's a good start in itself. What boats we could see (not many) were hugging the shore line so suspect some kind of brown bite was on. Didn't see any move out in the course of the mourning, so assume the must have been catching something? We decided to try for Kings and Lakers. Not a minute or two after getting out the first dipsey (60 on the counter) we got a nice later in about 50 FOW. Got the other dipsey out on the other side and after a few minutes, lost a screamer. Thought we were on to something, but that was not the case. Turned around and headed West. We have a Mercury Smart troll which works great with one major problem. It allows us to dial in RPM to +/- 20 RPM. Bad thing is 1000 RPM is the maximum. We were told a few years ago there was a fix, but haven't seen it let. Going West a speed was messed up (to slow most of the time when we going directly into it. When we angled towards shore we did get a high teens king on the same dipsey we got the lake on. Managed one more laker on the DR (30 Down). Maybe should have worked the inside for browns? Called it quits at about 11:00 A.M.. Boat ran great and we got a nice King, so it was good. Didn't mark much bait in 40 to 60, but some. Every now and then there were pods of very large hooks hanging around 30 to 40 that we assume were kings, but??? May take a shot at it Sunday? Surprised about the breeze today. Cool going with it, but hard to control speed going the other way. If we get a better start Sunday, may initially take a shot with boards in close.

Good information. At Black Lake at McLears they have a great fish cleaning house. Its interesting to see what is brought in and how different folks go at the cleaning job. The resident folks who normally bring in the most crappie,almost exclusively use the electric knife and definitely have the technique down to a science. To see the job some of the weekenders do, usually with a dull knife is painful to watch. We fish for perch and bluegill as well, and for eating favor the perch and bluegill. When you have a hundred fish to clean at the end of the day you definitely want to get the job done as fast as possible, but at the same time don't want to butcher them and be throwing out meat along with the scraps. Most of the perch are not the seneca lake jumbo variety so you have to use a good technique. We use a hybrid technique of electric and a very, very sharp fillet knife. For the perch we use the electric for the cut behind and head and the belly cut. The crappie seem to be better suited for the electric, particularly the larger ones. For the smaller ones we use a combo and for bluegill use the same technique as for the perch.Its definitely something you get feel for and get into a groove after a dozen fish. The guys at deer camps both in Speculator and West Almond much appreciated the work. No complaints of bones to date.