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bfarrow

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Everything posted by bfarrow

  1. Lol! Well you sure had us fooled! That was a calm collected looking pair on a nice boat. No matter what it was like on there, you sure look like you had it locked down. Did you land that fish? That area we marked a lot but if you slid in too far down the Webster coast where it shallows up it was dead. Maybe some bait on the bottom but that was it. We slid back out coming back West and marked a lot.
  2. As the official Last Place Team of the Monroe County Offshore Classic among boats that weighed a fish (meaning almost everybody) - our intrepid Trio thought it best to change the scent of the boat. A special dance and some spray later, we set out on a 4 hour tour this morning still working out the stinks - errr…I mean kinks. Due to a boat dock debacle where our trusty “Just Add Water” got to stay on land until the end of June, this was only our third trip of the season. An earlier trip would have been nice, but two months on land with the boat uncovered lead to some friendly lichen gracing the boat and its canvas. I should have learned about Wet-n-Forget about 13 hours of cleaning earlier. Having the classic be our shakedown was probably a bad idea, but we made a nice donation to those who won! You are welcome! As we prepare to have a better showing for Sandy Creek, we got some great intel from those who boated fish at the classic about WTF- where the fish are. Today we came out of the inlet and turned straight North to 65 fow to start a slow troll out heading Northeast, then running along the Webster coast between 85 and 115 feet. Our setup was to be two riggers with two dipseys and two 10 color leadcore pulled off tx44 inline boards. ”Was to be” is a critical statement. Running a smaller 42 second spoon (one of the few spoons I have that I honestly remember the name of thanks to Mariano Rivera) we were able to set out the two leadcores and the dipseys running spin doctors and flies before we got our first hit. TECHNICALLY - we got three rods in fully with one placed in the holder to be dealt with later (45 feet back on a two setting was not where I wanted it.). Those three trebles on the 42 second though sunk in deep, pinning a 15 pound king’s mouth shut. Thank goodness it did, as pulling that tx44 to the boat resulted in about a 45 minute back and forth just to get the board to the boat. Man the fight of a planer board going under water is amazing! Great work out! Once the board could be appropriately brought to the boat though, we gazed around to realize we were way out of where we wanted to be with the wind pushing us back in from 100 to about 80fow. Apparently we didn’t know where we NEEDED to be though rather than WANTED To be as just as the mighty king on the leadcore finally got close to the boat and aspirations of Genny Light gracing our lips in celebration ran through our minds, the too short dipsey with a Blue Dolphin Spin doctor that had not even been set out appropriately while we fought the in-line board fired. “Zing” went the reel! Whoosh went another king (smaller) leaping out of the water. Just what we needed- doubles to really cause us to squirt obscenities and dance around on the back of the boat. With some three stooges grace and acrobatics, both fish were brought “safely” to the boat, netted and no hooks penetrated our lovely skunk tails. Always a benefit! Slime cleared from the deck, back away went the leadcore on the tx44. Back away went the dipsey, and a momentary lull graced us as a nice couple of guys on a great Pursuit boat were coming back towards us from Webster, waiving as they went by AND catching a fish at the same time. We commented their technique was much too calm and relaxed, and involved none of the normal chaos and interesting odors that we spray all over the boat as we fish. Still, the score was Skunks 2- Kings 0. With a sigh and slight trepidation by the lone deckhand who knows how to deploy the gear, as the other skunks frolic and drink merrily talking about a variety of stinky escapades, the decision was made to deploy the downriggers with some mag spoons as had been recommended. We had trolled to 70 fow and the hooks on the screen had disappeared so a long slow turn back into the wind was started right after the riggers got set down at 60 and 70 feet down with black and white patterned spoons. As our overly cautious turn (due to prior week debacle where the wind caught us and crossed our lines as they went dead slack and we spun in circles) was completed and we were back trolling West in 90 fow the hooks on the screen returned. As an educational discussion about “hooks” and streakers coming into the riggers ensued as little lines showed up all over the screen, and the ubiquitous wicked tuna beeps were made verbally by our trio, sure enough one of those little streaks was another king about 16 pounds. Being closer to the boat and fooling us into thinking this is much better without the tx44, the king quickly taught us a lesson as it charged straight into our wire diver setup on the starboard side. Having gotten it out of that fun rod dance, the king decided it wanted to get a better look at us and charged at the boat running up alongside of us. That was when thoughts of a net came to mind, but our scent was not welcomed and the king did its best run of all zipping away before we could land it. Dancing and shuffling ensued as two of us repositioned ourselves in the slight waves for a second crack at it, achieving the feat just before it ran itself into our kicker motor. Skunks 3-Kings 0. Back down went the spoon, more blood and slime rinsed from the deck, and a new odor filled the air as cigar smoke mixed with salmon slime on the net and sea fleas graced us. Hardly had time passed when POP- off went the other downrigger. The outcome of that riggers location being different than the first didn’t matter though, as yet again the king charged head long into the wire diver, which with our new found skills we much more swiftly dealt with. Thinking it best to pull that before any other issues arrived as we fought this fish, the wire diver was removed to clear space. “HA HA!” We said! We outsmarted this one we thought! Feeling we had to learn another lesson as we were too smart and smug at this point, this king wanted to really see if we could move by moving slightly further over in the spread and actually getting itself slightly hooked up on the tx44 board out on our starboard. Fearing calamity we jumped to get that unhooked, DID IT - took a big sigh of relief - and POP - off went the other downrigger. Doubles again for the skunks. As quick studies we more adeptly shifted the three participants in a round Robin fashion this time around - with one skunk fighting the first fish till it was close to the boat, the second skunk trying to keep some control on the second fish as the third steered the boat. As the first fish got to the boat, skunk two handed the second fish to skunk three to fight and steer at the same time, as netting occurred. With a 16 pound salmon thrashing in the boat, skunk three handed skunk one the rod for fish two as skunk two dumped salmon one back in the water. Skunk two then took over the boat as skunk one handed the rod back to skunk three to fight fish two. Skunk two then handed the boat over to skunk one so skunk two could again net fish two. Skunk three then said he was hungry, and decided this one needed to face a surgical procedure on the docks. Following this elaborate mating dance ritual, the three skunks looked up and realized- Skunks 5- Kings 0. The day was at a time to get to shore and do some cutting. The surgical team scrubbed up and got to work on the dock, realizing that Bay traffic can create more waves than the lake. Closest any skunk came to taking a swim was standing on the docks. All marks were basically 90 fow - 110. Lots of fish all around 50-75 feet down. Most kings were mid teens with the biggest one being 18. Colors were black and white with some green on the spoons - with both mags working and smaller ones. Dipsey with the spin doctor was only down 40 when it took a hit. Fleas weren’t too bad, but were present. Thanks to our good friend and winter time Genesee fishing buddy Captain Larry for some tips, the guys at the Classic weigh in line that we eavesdropped on, and the guys at the IBFG for sharing as well. We’ll be stinking it up all summer now! 🦨🦨🦨
  3. I’ve been looking at autopilot ideas for my 2452 Bayliner Cierra hardtop. I use a Honda 9.9 kicker and fish I Bay and the Lake. I’ve been thinking that for trolling purposes I should get a Garmin TR1 Gold or something to the main engine and connect the kicker. I need to be able to pull the kicker out of the water when traveling so the connection idea has been less appealing. In my research though I see a lot of people have started to use an electric bow mounted trolling motor to essentially “steer” the boat and the kicker to push the boat. With the big saltwater kickers pushing 100+ thrust and 6 foot shafts, this seems plausible. The appeal of an electric kicker that could just hold my position in the bay too, versus trying to always throw the anchor, is also appealing. I wouldn’t really use it to move locations- just hold a spot. I’ve never seen a bow trolling motor on a cabin style boat like mine though. Does this seem plausible or a silly idea? I have little experience with bow mounted trolling motors. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app
  4. I have had some great luck with Walleye in the bay after learning from a lot of guys on here. Nights definitely work but I’ve had luck in the day light too. Simple mister twister slowly retrieved off bottom or a bit faster in appropriate colors for the water clarity have been very successful for me. Walleye deep divers trolled along drop offs in my Kayak also work well. The black and silver deep divers I see work best and I troll along a 11 -15 ft shelf with the diver just hitting bottom once in awhile. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  5. It has been a...challenging offseason. I read many posts to figure out what to do today, so I’m paying it forward. Today was only my second time out and my crew had one back out late this morning and one not get to the boat until 8:40. We persevered. Quick stop for gas and to the lake we went. Dropped in around 80 fow heading north of the Webster point and set two down riggers, one at 60ft other 70ft. While tightening down the line on the 70 down rigger I thought I tripped it until the line started ripping off. Got the fish to the surface a ways out but lost him. 0-1. Set the same pole down to the same spot and went to set up a dipsey - the rod fired a second time. Handed the rod to the new guy as line was ripping out. He is learning and did a lot of reeling with no line coming in. Worked on his technique, but the fish had other ideas. 0-2 in 15 minutes. About 20 minutes after that the first rod fired - small king. Slow troll out to 150 and turned around. The way in the current was causing problems for our speed and we seemed unable to dial it in. On the gps out we were at 2.9 to 3.0. On the way in we were down to 2.3 or jumped to 3.3. It was my first time trying trolling bags. I usually use a Picked up one small laker. 2-2. The trip was short (pulled lines at 11:30 for the guy that was late to start) but blood hit the deck and my new fish finder/gps (Raymarine Dragonfly) was AMAZING! My old fish finders never picked up the detail we got today. Marked bait all through 90-120 fow. There was a good amount of life out there. All bites were on Spoons - 50,60,70 down. Glow spoons seemed to be the key for us. White/Red and white/green. It was great to be back out there! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app
  6. We are inside trying for browns from IBay to Webster - thinking of sliding out- any recommendations? Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  7. Not the result that I was hoping for. My new boat seems to be cursed. I have now logged more time than I care to think about - not a single fish. Nothing. Not a bounce, twitch or wiggle....since I got it....last August.... Today I had a tournament team for the shootout. We left at 5:15. Lures in the water at 6:15. We fished from 90 fow to 380 fow. Ran two riggers- two dipsey and two leadcore (10 colors) off walleye boards. Depth covered from 40-190 down. Used flashers- used spin doctors - used dodgers. Tried meat rig and multiple fly setups. Green spoons, red spoons, black spoons, white - glow and no glow. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I think I'm cursed. I went 1.9-2.6. Swerved- did everything I could think. I tested down temps using the fishawk TD...targeted areas....marked fish....nothing. Marked fish all day. Nothing. Most were around 100-150 fow and scattered through the water column. Ranged from 15 ft to bottom. We fished all the way till the weigh in. Hit the Dock at 5:15 in Irondequoit with an empty cooler and a shattered faith in these fish. I've never gone so long like this. Anyone know a way to break the curse? Exorcism? Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app
  8. Anyone on the radio? Channel? Pm me... Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  9. We have been skunked three trips in a row....I appreciate the tip! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  10. Setup at 100 and heading North Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  11. Heading out shortly from Irondequoit- be there in about 45 minutes by the time I putter out of the bay! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  12. This is actually a better photo of a base that resembles mine. Does anyone have experience mounting a track system to something like this? It has MANY different pre-drilled locations for mounting items, but I have no idea if a track will fit and my confidence that Cannon-to-Cannon mounting is possible....
  13. I've thought about that, but before I spend even more money purchasing objects to put on the base mount, I'm not certain now that the holes on the track will mirror the holes on the mount- in which case I will still have to drill into the cannon mount to create holes for that new track- which I could have just drilled holes I guess for the base anyways and saved the expense of the track. I really like the track idea though. How far apart are the holes? I could go measure to see if it would work. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  14. I have a different holder. I bought two of these separately because I didn't have the space for that larger downrigger based system (which I REALLY like the look of by the way.) My issue with this one is that it doesn't screw into the holes on the downrigger base that looks SIMILAR to the Cannon one I copied a photo of below. The difference with the one I have versus the one below is mine has MULTIPLE holes for many different size downriggers. I just want to mount this rod holder on that base. StoneAM2006 - Did you do this with a hand drill? I see a Harbor Freight Tap and Die Set and I'm not sure if I could do this with a simple drill. Is it possible?
  15. I have the single rod rodholders that are separate from the downrigger itself. I think that would fit - but the regular base does not match. I also have a slightly different model of cannon downrigger base. I'm In Rochester Stoneam2006- how far away are you or do you know anyone close to here that can help? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  16. I purchased two of the cannon dual axis rod holders and intended to mount them on a base that is already attached to my boat that is a multi option cannon downrigger base. It turns out that the rod holder base and the downrigger bases for cannon products are not the same - not even close. I do not want to have to create new holes in the boat and like the location of the current base. Is anyone aware of a mounting option? Is there a universal plate that may work? I see one from Cisco but I'm not sure if that works. Does anyone know if the track mounting systems will match the holes on any of the cannon downriggers? I know the manual mini mag downrigger unit base fits on this cannon mount. I have two electric and two manual downriggers and will never use the manuals. I prefer dipsey divers and that is why I got the more sturdy rod holders. I figured staying with cannon products only would work fine - I was wrong. Help is appreciated! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app
  17. We have been too far out - out in 180. Are they still biting? We have lead and ff SD - ff @ 115 and 140 right now. Spoons in green at 50 Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  18. Finally! It has been...a process. Are you ready to fish!?!? Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  19. We never broke the 180 fow area and yes we trolled from the Bay to the NE and then E in front of Webster. I moved speed between 2.1 and 3.0 to change things along the way. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  20. IBay Shakedown SKUNK It was great to FINALLY get the boat in, the rods out and the lures in the water....unfortunately nobody liked what I was offering. We marked some fish on the way out from 130-150. We headed NE and then E but took one hit over 150 90 down - but nobody was home. I stuck to spoons all day...maybe I should have tried the FF? Better luck this weekend!
  21. Back in the power outage of '17 I got two of these to heat my house and they have become my favorite outdoor patio items! I recommend this to anyone! I love mine! I have two and no place to store three. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  22. I typically use the fluoro for winter steelhead fishing. The reel has 15 # power pro braid and I can cast it a mile. I have 10 mono on other reels...but man I like the setup I have. I am just amazed that the Fluoro is snapping like that. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  23. Buffalo trace Jim Beam and Woodford are nice...but I'm a Makers Mark and Genny Light guy when it comes to attracting fish. I find the combo is deadly! Cigars are tough to keep on a hook - but with practice comes perfection, so I keep trying. Blue and silver and green and silver cleos have been hot for me, but 6lb fluorocarbon p-line leaders have been less resilient. I've now lost two cleos simply casting and I didn't even see/feel a knick in the line. Any suggestions for alternatives? I'm making a Hudson River Striped bass trip this weekend with co-workers and a friend from Boston. Tips are appreciated! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
  24. Makers Mark really attracts fish... Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
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