Keep'n it Reel

Good job good job can't have complaints on that day

Shocked you didn't say sawbellies are the way to go

I like fishing a bit shallower maybe 30-60 FOW . I also troll faster for the browns and LL 2.2-2.5. Small spoons and stick baits... Shocked you didn't say saw bellies are the way to go hahaha

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Les I agree they are a blast so much fun we are usually spoiled with a few big fish each spring but this one was a fantastic year one for the books on all accounts!!!

And nick I am still trying to forget that brown since I had to hit it with a flag pole and put the butcher to it for those guys sad sad day

The unseen fish as most probably do I spent some time fishing before the derby both on my boat and aboard reel stories and we got some real beauties from 15lb pike to 11lb browns and the biggest salmon I have had the pleasure of sliding a net under at the back of the boat that would be the one bobby fuller of finger lakes tackle is holding up for anyone that knows him you will understand the size of that salmon! So here they are the unseen untold stories!!!!

Way to go mike!! Good job

Thanks guys! This shaping up to be the big fish year I think mike in the iron duke with his monster from keuka some monsters on for the derby and I have some pictures I will post of some real tank salmon now that things have come and gone leading up to the event got many browns over 10 and a lot of 9 to 10 pound salmon 2 over 10 in one day plus the biggest I have seen come into a net while fishing the lake

I purchased one last year and tracks all just fine I see fish down over 250 and even tracked my rigger on bottom in 198fow and that took 213ft of cable to get their hahaha!!! But I have one screwy setting that I messed up and mine won't read shallower then 30fow not sure what I did with that one

My riggers have that on them to who knows what way it goes for better or worse I never even mess with mine! And hope you figure out the wiring!!!!!

Thanks for the info! Fishing there Sunday. First time to fish Owasco where is the best launch site?

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weigh in is at south shore marina last year was my first time their I just fished all the way around the lake last year that was my day lol was a nice launch to

Those temps are great to know thank you for sharing that!!!! Very help full information I have to get a down temp and speed

That's a nice brown!

thank you!!!we got 3 of them this weekend about that size the brown fishing is awesome right now lots of them around the 4-6lb class

I will be their this Sunday will post what I come up with!!!

Well the derby has come and gone and look forward to it every year and will continue to do so for years to come I'm sure. Congrats to all some very very impressive fish brought to the scales. Well I fished with my good friend butch and we did what we wanted to do we fished the silvers and we caught them a lot of them weighed a 8.53 brown and a 5.34 salmon the first morning and unfortunately as I worked the scales from 1 to 3 I myself had to remove my name and butch's name from the board the bite was very good Saturday and all quality bites just not enough quality!!! Sunday got up with intentions of doing the same setup but this time had different results the area we fished had gone dry so searched a few minutes and hit a brown out over 300fow down 27 fishing the scum line had a few others of the same the morning dragged and by 10 I was tired of slow fishing and tired of debris so we decided to take a little break went in got a bite to eat and made some sandwiches for the afternoon even had a few cold ones! I told butch when we go back out it will be a whole new day fresh start clean slate, and I was right went out set up on the west side in 120fow and instantly started getting fish salmon and browns well fished for 2 hours before noticing the boat was not charging the battery at low idle so of course had to leave fish to take care of it! Well decided to call nick up and see if we could fish back with him from Sampson and got the typical get up here let's go response so we got dropped off at Sampson cooler and cold ones with us and made the trip back!! Caught fish at all stops we made got back to Watkins and fished for a hour and a half getting salmon rainbow and brown! So the bites still on!!! Monday morning went up the west side and just as before the fishing was steady once we found the "bait" had some real nice fish lots of laughs and good times! Finger lakes tackle knocked it out of the park for me this weekend except for the exception of one other setup I had in the water!!!

Why yes sir I did lol that was on bait as well grew up drift fishing saw bellies as you said sometimes it may be better to go back to the basics and keep things simple

I feel especially lucky this year despite not landing in the standings. Two of my long term (more than 30 plus years) fishing buddies scored big time this year. Admiral Byrd (Bob Boerjan) and Gary Hoppy. To hear the excitement in both their voices while discussing things has been a real shot in the arm for me as these results have been a long time coming for these two very competent fishermen. This derby was was exceptional in terms of the sizes of the fish for Seneca Lake or any of the Finger Lakes for that matter. Some of the fish that barely missed placing in the standings at all would have won some of the past derbies. Catching any trout over 12 pounds on Seneca or the other Finger Lakes isa major accomplishment and catching two 13 pound plus lakers and others over 11 pounds is exceptional and not something attributable to "luck". Gary Hoppy's 15 pound plus laker is the culmination of many years of paying his dues, putting in the time, attention to detail and proof to me that "Old School" (e.g. Seth Green rig fishing) is still very much alive and well in the Finger Lakes and that all the newest and fanciest equipment isn't always (if at all) the most relevant variable or absolutely necessary for success it is in both of these guys cases very much "experience and knowledge" that separated them from the 'luck" variable. Apparently Bob was shy about posting a pic of himself with the fish so I'll do it. For those of you who know Gary (from Ovid NY area) here is a pic his wife took of us at the awards ceremony. He is on the right in the blue shirt. By the way the separation of the overall winner (15 lb plus Brown Trout) and Gary's Laker was just ounces making a $3,000 difference in the prize money and it is another reminder of why it can be important to weigh fish immediately too. By the way, I had always thought that the Lie Detector (Polygraph) test that is mentioned on the entry form was just BS to scare potential wannabe cheaters but Gary confirmed that he was actually given a polygraph test and so was the overall winner and that very specific questions were asked regarding the integrity of the catch and the process of catching it.... I was kinda surprised because as many derbies as I have fished I have never actually known someone who was given the test. Certainly adds to the integrity of the derby regardless of one's perception of the validity of a polygraph.

i received the lie director test when I won 1st place brown as well a few years ago a

Awesome awesome awesome way to go that is a great story I'm glad all went well with the boat that is a major repair for sure congrats again on the awesome fish!!!

Yes I will be fishing and good luck to all and be safe tomorrow

So as I sit here at work I find it comical all the trash talk has stopped I'm sure everyone is still

Looking at this site but everyone has got quiet! I have had a few calls from some guys but come on northerners lets see what you have to bring to the table! I will be in Watkins tonight maybe venture to Sampson to say hi. Good luck to all and be safe

We just got sick of lamprey fishing:).

those things attacked my boat!!!

This is mine..

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nick it's a good thing you had a trusted captain at the helm hahaha

Yes yes!!!! Southender here! Let the games begin

My compass is cracked in my boat and flipped upside down lol does not take much to head the wrong way hahaha!!! I'm starting to get the pre derby jitters I was in the boat practicing yelling were on were on were on in the drive way neighbors do express some concerns for me lol

Thanks for clearing that up Les I thought those waves coming from the south were funky without any wind blowing ( other than on this board )

"those waves" are from us southenders nets sliding under all those biggen lakers on the north end can you say triple double double triple quad giant yes yes yes

It all depends on the boat I would not have hesitated to take mine out if It was not such a long tow for the little trailer just have to be wise on the weather and keep a eye on the sky!! First little breeze you have to go and as for gear mine was loaded with tackle every trip yes have to be paying attention to what you do but it's possible to fish from them and plus no one follows the little boats so can get away from the crowds