Frogger

X10 Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Well I guess with a question you had originally asked, you had to expect you were going to get a barrage of opinions. That’s good right? If the intent was to only end up suggesting that these tournaments are for those chosen few and not for everyone it kinda brings you back to full circle of what the outcomes your seeing? I was kinda of waiting for that one bull in the china shop charter captain to say quit your whining speech. Which may still come. Hopefully not, but it will lead you to an opinion that maybe some pros would rather have it the way it is? There’s a tremendous intimidation factor for many from an amateur standpoint. Whether you agree or not, many fish with kids and or non fishing buddies who generally are not comfortable going out a channel with elite fishing machines pushing them against the channel wall going out at start time. Allowing amateurs to spread out for what they are willing to drive to for weigh in and use their go to launch would, I think, make it more appealing and provide more of a comfort factor. Last thought that someone else previously touched on was the entry fee and to be able to pay up until the night before and at least get your money back the morning before start time in case of weather. There’s too much variability in the big O as everyone knows. To say that I’m going to take vacation, pay the entry fee in advance, get everything ready and find out that’s there’s 3 footers the morning of? Only happens once I guess. Safety concerns in one boat is not the same in another. Trying to balance that will get you some increased participation in these tourney formats if in fact that’s the goal. If not then as you suggested the derby’s will remain their venue. My hats off to the people putting the time in for these events. It has to take an incredible amount of time and effort I’m sure. This has been a good read for many I’m sure. Thanks for posting. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Nice going Mike Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Mike, there’s some good info right there. Also if you were to get your hands on what they call a “Twin Minnow”, which is a flatfish type design with a treble hook on the end of it, is a lot of fun and easy to learn as well. Tie your copper directly to a bead chain with hay wire type twist as Les mentioned, but then run a 36-46 inch 50lb mono leader, tied directly from the other end of the bead to the eye swivel of the flat fish, then let your copper out until you feel the bottom thumbing as you hold it. You don’t necessarily jerk it as you hold it most of the time, only jerking it every once in a while to make sure you have bottom and to make sure you feel no weeds or mussels on it. Sometimes it’s deadly and a whole lot of fun when they hit. By the way, from old school when we didn’t have boxes either and just a extension cord reel to store it on once we let it out we would bring the fish in laying it in the boat all the time with no tangles. It’s hard to explain but once you get the hang of it you get good at it. Spreading the copper out on the floor of the boat in a large area is better than trying to keep it small as say a nest. If you get a box though it does make it extremely nice, but you can get by for now with a little patience. Like Les, there’s some copper magicians on here. Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United

Wishing your daughter a full recovery! Derby means nothing at that point like has already been said. There will be many more to come and congrats on that nice salmon! Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United

I really appreciate the kind words from all of you but as humble as I can be I know how luck played a role as well. Just in this post I’d guess there’s +250yrs. Experience fishing this lake. Les has a 100 of those, not that I’m aging him lol. It’s a privilege to be in the audience of such legacy’s of Seneca. Don I was able to put up my tracks for the derby to see what I mean by the hole. You’ll notice tracks that had zilch. Brian, I ran them and did well it was that color You hid from Ron for me down at Watkins lol. Glow was key. Lighting them up on the hour. Kevin nice going with your daughters first copper fish. That she’ll always remember. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Well I’d probably would say this was one of hardest, mind boggling yet rewarding lake trout derby’s I have fished. It all seemed to come together though when it needed to. Sat am- started out in the North end trolling downriggers and lead core. Became frustrating due to the amount of debris / scum line. Marked lots of fish in the top 60 ft but couldn’t budge a rod. No matter how many spoons, speed, colors I threw at them, we couldn’t move a rod. Went then went deep with cowbells and started on some fish but nothing of any size. Sat pm- went back to the area we left off on the east side to middle near high banks and found a couple more fish. Nothing though to weigh in. Uggggg I was some what disappointed for the day. Seeing the boys struggle to stay awake without any action is a dads worst nightmare when fishing. Especially with all of the action going on up on Ontario, what was I thinking we could of been there for the salmon. Heck this is the lake trout derby, we’ll figure it out I kept telling them. Sun am - talked to a few friends / family the night before or the morning of who were either into fish Saturday or were not who gave me some ideas to think about. So we set out with copper first thing. That seemed to be getting the best result. Lots of boats in the area and difficult with the scum lines. We hit one and gave it about an hour before I realized with the weather and the lake being calm this was perfect timing to be out in the deep hole. Off we went. Put the bells down and within 30 min we had 4 fish with 1 of them being our best for the weekend coming in at 11.68. Released it and went right back at it. That’s where we stayed for the remainder of the derby. 140ft to 210ft with 180ft being the hot spot. Speed was critical as we had to make runs back down the lake on every pass so we could get the blades throbbing right while fighting off the current down there. Slow was the ticket. Probably why I went the entire derby without catching anything on top. We ended up with over 30 fish, all Lakers for both Sunday and Monday. Luck was on our side which is always needed on this lake during times like this. On a positive side, all but one fish were released to fight another day. Also always great to see friends out there talking strategy and who’s going to get on the board. Shout out to Roy’s Marina for their hospitality as well. Kinda brought back the old derby weekend feeling again. Congrats to those who placed. Can’t believe another year is by us. Till next year! Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United mobile app

ill be hopping around in that vicinity I’m sure. Good luck to all, be safe. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Newark is a great location for all the lakes. Sodus 1/2 hr, Seneca north end 1/2 hr, Canandaigua north end 1/2 hr, Deans cove Cayuga 40min. I’d stay away from Seneca unless your getting into the derby just from the boat traffic. With the predicted winds this weekend I’d do Sodus. If the reports there start to be dismal I’d do Cayuga. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Real cool stuff. Awesome research no doubt. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Man nice! Great report as well. Way to get er done! Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Way to go Mike! Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United

Someone might want to check the general regulations under general take and possession section. Just to make sure. It might be a little misleading but states you may not possess in excess of the daily limit for a species. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Nice report! Glad you got out! Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United

Well, being in that area I’d expect if he fishes with it there will be a lot of LOU eyes during the lake trout derby if we’re ever so lucky. Wouldn’t want to be that guy at the dock if the LOU gang were to find him for ya. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United