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Solid chew today. Flounder Pounder early and then Dirty White Boy as the sky brightened. 75’ over 180 FOW. Been monkeying with 8” vs 11” flashers. Smaller ruled the day today. Odd number of face hooks of late? I presume it is a function of kings aggressively slashing at bait.

Thanks for the report. I fished that range later on Friday after finding warm water top to bottom for most of the morning. Back at it later today.

A few weeks ago I posted here exploring options for a third rod to compliment my down-riggers. I settled on the Okuma Classic Pro GLT rod paired with an Okuma Coldwater 55HA reel spooled with 300 feet of 45 lb braid and 400 feet of 45 lb Reaction Tackle copper line finished with a 20 lb Seaguar fluorocarbon leader tipped with a Two Face Ultraglow magnum spoon. I set this rod up between my riggers (down the chute). Lines went out of Irondequoit Bay before sunrise and our first fish was on the new set up!! I love the setup but will need to get used to the weight of the combo as it is hefty!!

I have been fishing Lake Ontario for several years and have aspired to run a third rod in addition to my pair of downrigger rods. I often fish solo from a smaller boat (Tracker Targa) so conditions often muck up my program as soon as I add the third rod or hook. I like Braddocks and I Bay as my home ports. Haven’t had much luck with cheater lines or a dipsy so I am looking at a copper set up with 400’ of copper. Thoughts?

My 15yo has become a pretty avid fisherman and likes the challenge of carving his own path outside of our salmon/bass trips. He is super focused on bullhead! Any decent spots between Rochester and the Finger Lakes? Brown was a couple of weeks ago out of I Bay on a Thinfish.

Trolled east with spoons at 110’ over 160’. West troll was tough with the wind and subsequent blowback on my gear so we didn’t cover too much water before we zipped back to our starting point. Did a nice fish on each of our passes.

Hustled out to a bunch of marks I have stored on my Helix 8. Lines in by 4pm and out by 7pm. With my son in the boat I had hoped to run cheaters off each rigger but the bite started pretty quickly. 6 hits on a purple magnum and 3 fish to the boat. Mostly on a west troll at 70 over 150 fow. We kept one with a full belly for the smoker.

Fished Braddocks for a couple of hours. Wandered from 200 into 70. Ran spoons on riggers and meat on a dipsy. Switched to plugs when I got in close. Only a brown. Out deep cold water was up high. Really warm in shallow.

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Same. I am sure I am reiterating here but I have a good formula using WindfinderPlus and a lake camera or two when unsure. I focus first on waves 1 foot or less and a south(ish) blow. I do infrequently see low wave heights and higher winds. On those days I find that I need to be a bit strategic with my boat window so the boat is less of a sail. I have grown to be a bit smarter and consider whether I can properly clear lines and land a fish on marginal days. Sometimes yes and sometimes no way. I am a Tracker (Targa) guy too.

Great fish all and agreed any tiny kernel of wisdom is appreciated. Good karma will make its way. back to you.

Good work. I grew up in Urbana and share your love for the lake. So many stories of fishing…boozing…fishing and fishing!

Yup. May be a touch less on weekdays.

By the way $18 launch fee.

I am in Fairport and have always fished Braddocks. Not sure why, maybe I just got comfy with the launch. This summer I committed to “figuring” out Irondequoit. What I have definitely determined: Yes on browns and yes on lakers.

Loaded the boat to fish Conesus this morning. Double checked the wind/wave forecast on Lake O and I liked the early window so I did a quick 4:30 am flip. Great screen a touch east of the bay. Ended 4 for 5 before the lake started rolling. Fished a narrow slice of water from 129-134 fow. Bite temperature was a bit higher than is typical (56 degrees) down 75-85 feet. First fish was on a glow spoon and others were on NBK and Dirty White Boy. For bigger fish I clear all my rods and balls as I am solo. It was a bit unnerving watching the reel wind down and down and down and then get slack for a bit. All is well that ends…

I think I saw you start out west of the bay. I too may need to start loading my small game gear to keep busy.

Confirmed the reports of blank screens. Ran a dipsy meat rig and two rigger rods. Spent an hour in 550 fow. Spent two hours in 175-200 fow. Did one king 65 down over 175 fow on a west troll north of the Webster pier. My sonar wouldn’t read cleanly below the thermocline. Not certain of the fluid dynamics here beyond middle school density but suspect I can overcome the issue in my Helix 8 settings.

stopped to get ice on the way out this morning. since we don’t keep much of what we catch excitement levels kicked up a few notches. i think i had forgotten the joy of sharing a good catch with friends and family. started west with lights on. continued west zig zagging along a line from 80-110 fow. plenty of cool water with some “hot” gaps mixed in. marks were plentiful as was bait. fished glow spoons early (pic of my glow box included) and switched things up each time we ran over marks with no hits. turned back east after 2.5 hours and lengthened my leads a bit (using 11” flashers for the first time) and switched to small stingray style spoons. jack was on the rod lickety split and did a nice job with this 19 lber. bloodynose behind an 11” chartreuse flasher. nothing on my dipsy/meat stick.

Great thoughts. Your assessment of a solo program is spot on. I have tinkered with cheaters and stackers and all told I just cannot manage it all! I am using Windfinder much more effectively this year so I am actually getting out there on days that are pretty inviting to three rods. Take care.