John USMC

Matt, Thank you for the input. I am throwing out my mid-day fishing and will shoot for those first and last couple hrs of daylight. I am going to switch to running fours poles. Two downriggers and two dipsys. When I have used the Dipsy's I set them on 2 but they didn't really seem to pull away from the boat much. Trolled at 2.5 when I was using the Dipsy'S and slowly let out the line so they didn't flip. Had the release tention set right so they didn't open on me. Did I miss anything? Do you run flashers with the spoons or just the spoons? Curious what everone is doing with spoons... colors... brands? Thanks, John

Gill-T, Thank you for the input. I am a sport fisherman, catch and release, though I may have to try these trout out in the oven. Have never been a trout or lake fisherman before. My background is mainly rivers and ponds for bass and cats. So I am out of my element at this point, however I am determined and enthusiastic to figure this out. The bigger the better so I assume I should target the Lakers? What are the average size of lakers, browns, and rainbows in Cayuga? Flys vs spoons? Colors? Is it harder to catch one species vs others? I will start at the 80' depth next time out. Thanks, John

Mower, Thank you for the input. I did notice the blow back on the downriggers. What weight balls do you use? What color spoons... I have heard silver or purple/black are good... any particular brand? I will try 2.1-2.3 knots next time I am out. I am new at this so let me make sure I understand what you are saying; drop the spoon in with no flasher, let out 60', then attach the line to the release on the ball? Thanks, John

Gentlemen I keep coming up short. This is what I have been trying... does anyone see anything that I am doing wrong? I have been out 5-times and only hooked one small landlock. Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you 1. I have a 16' boat with a 70hp motor. I am using the 70-hp for trolling with one of those flaps that slows down the boat. (is motor noise from the old 70-hp 2-stroke a factor?) Have tried trolling at 1.2, 1.5, 1.9, and 2.5 knots and making slow "S" turns at each speed. 2. Location: Taughannock State Park. Usually head out towards the middle and then troll north. 3. Fish on the finder are usually suspended in the 60-70' and also the 110-130' range. I have been fishing the 60-70' range. I have a Humminbird 365i fishfinder. Doesn't read the bottom well while I am trolling however it does pick up the fish good. 4. Equipment: downriggers, 8-lb balls, 8'3" light action rods, line counter reels, 20-lb flea flicker line with 12-lb flourocarbon leads. 5. Rig One: Spin Doctor green/silver with a green A-Tom-Mik fly trailing 18" behind the spin doctor. 15-20' behind the ball. Rig Two: Silver Flasher with a Pearl/Silver Spoon trailing 18" behind the flasher. 15-20 behind the ball. 6. I have also tried Dipsy Divers with a Spin Doctor 6' behind the Dipsy and the A-Tom-Mik Fly 18" behind the Spin Doctor. 2-2.5 knot trolling speeds. Making slow "S" turns. (Didn't have line counter reels at the time though so I could have missed the depth I wanted) 7' MH rods, 50-lb spiderwire with 20-lb flourocarbon leaders. There it is gents... any suggestions? Do I need a smaller kicker motor? Should I go back to Dipsy's? Do the A-Tom-Mik flys work in the Finger Lakes or is that a Lake Ontario rig? I have been fishing mid afternoons... wrong time of day? Thanks, John

Nice fish and congrats for it being the first. I just bought a boat and installed the downriggers last night. Heading out today. Semper FI