Frogger

Nice going adesalvo, you had a heck of a program. Thanks for the report. Great read. We had a 5.8 rainbow on the board for a little bit. Bled like a stuck pig. Tried the bottom work but was tough with the depth changes and wind yesterday. 

Do you have a rollers or bunks on your trailer?  Bunks might be hiding a loose rivet. 

4 hours ago, Gator said:

I don't fish when I might encounter wind, or waves, or turns lol...

😜

1 hour ago, Gem said:

Bottom tracking works soooo well!  15 pound weights a foot off the bottom anywhere you go.  Perfect when "following the contour" on helix 12. Can run all downriggers from Helix 12.  One boat network is the real deal.  It's a game changer. Make sure your soft ware is up to date.  No need for  2 transducers when  Helix 12 and its transducer is paired with the optimums.

Plow the mud boys. 

Agree! 100%. A game changer. One word of caution that I quickly learned while using them, anything that can affect your boats movement or speed can quickly get you into trouble with your weights dropping to the point where they can drag or contact the bottom. For example wind, waves or turns. 

9 hours ago, shaneo19 said:

Congrats Frogger.  Was nice to read your post on how you did it.

 

We found the fishing to be better this year then it has been in awhile.  Managed to place second in the mens division with a 8.98 pounder.   Boated 34 lakers for the derby all on copper.  All in 55ft and under.  I think there were a total of 5 lampreys on the 34 landed fish with about 1 in 4 having marks.  

Nice going, congrats on your weekend. You guys sure had things rocking with your program. 

58 minutes ago, Lewis863 said:

Great report and article we fished it hard our first time ever on the lake we topped at 8.5 pounds we landed about 20 fish we lost 9 hours of fishing time Saturday due to a mechanical issue.  We caught Salmon 4 pounds Rainbow 3 pounds and a 6 3/4 and 8.5 lb laker to round out our top end of weights… we brought up a lamp Rey and we saw a lot of scars on salmon and lakers.  I was just thrilled we landed as many as we did being our first time with very uncooperative weather we arrived Wednesday planning to sonar the lake on Thursday but got blown back lost that day.  Congratulations to the winner my hats off to you…

My hats off to you as well. Great job with your results. First time on this lake for you, I’m thinking you will be on top next year. Hope the mechanical piece worked out ok.  Always sucks to have boat issues during the most important time. 

Thanks Brian, thanks again for all you do with your lure brand and tips and tricks to catch lakers!

Heres a recap of our weekend, which actually started back in March with upgrading some equipment. My plan was to never have to reel a 3lb thumper rod on Seneca during the derby or ever again for that matter. Fishing in 120-200ft all day, I was done. So I set out to rig the boat with Cannon optimums. Went out with Signalman two weeks prior to the derby to try them out. We’ll, we had the most fish in one day on downriggers with a slammer to boot. Just shy of 12lbs. No lamprey marks and released. The plan was coming together. Got my order in to Gambler for some rigs and within days I got my package. The team was ready. Boat was ready. Roy’s marina was our starting place every morning. Thanks Steve, (tell Larry and Roz) for the awesome hospitality.  I’m just praying the lake was similar to like it was two weeks prior.  By the way, we caught one fish with a lamprey that day, saw none during derby weekend!  She’s coming around folks.  
Sat: started in 200ft worked the East side north to south and banged out 18 fish that morning.  Gambler rigs on both downriggers did all the damage. Nothing on leadcore, copper or flatlines. Not surprised due to going slow down at the ball. Currents were wicked out in 200ft on the bottom but  7.13 lb was our best with my son placing in juvenile. He was pumped. After drying out from the rain, the afternoon slowed for us but we kept grinding. Picked up few more with nothing to go to scales. 
Sunday: Started at the stomping grounds but only netted 1 fish the first hour. Decided to pick up and go shallow to try for a silver or brown on top. Couldn’t move a rod. 8:00am we said back to the deep water.  ( hence how I got the name Frogger, always jumping around) we started shallower in 120ft and was marking a ton of bait and fish. Boom, hit a fish. Then a second one. This one was a good one.  Came straight up from the back damn near wanted into the motors. John (we call him Brad) did a great job keeping it away from danger with it making it to the net. Weighed it, 10.2. “let’s go boys” Into the scales. It’s a long wait when your thinking you have really no chance with a 10lb fish but yet it’s still in the lead. After that we worked through the slim pickings for the rest of the day. We did manage a 7.5lber  that evening but decided to release her.  

Monday:  plan was to go shallow, head down West side with stick baits to have only a smallmouth to show for it. Went back deep to pick up some more of the 5-6lb range ending the derby with a total of 29 lakers all on the downriggers. A record for me on Seneca. The plan worked. This time. 
 

As Les mentioned and as some on here know, I’ve fished this derby a lot of years +40, with the boat getting on the board 15 or so times. Weve won some majors, men, woman’s, juvenile, and Brown, but this is the first major win for the boat. And yes, some tools, past experience, friends help and time on the water sure do put you in a good spot but a lot of luck to have everything come together made this time work.  Some good friends out there that you see on the water makes it a good feeling as well.  This lake will make you humble really quick and no matter how good you are, you can walk away with nothing as has happened many of times on this lake the past few years. I think now after watching my 13 old get so into it setting and running the boat, I get to sit back, have that cigar, and enjoy. And yes I’m done buying equipment for my SeaNymph, for this year at least…..Tightlines!

You guys are awesome. Definitely with finding a couple heads up coins in the Byrne dairy parking lot that morning paid off…..  I’ll post up some pics and stuff. Have to pay the piper for house work lol. 

And if you have electrical capabilities you can take it one step farther (provided it’s out of warranty) use a meter to check if you have 12v coming from board to motor.  It will tell you if board is fried or not. 

Great trip! Great report. Thanks for sharing. 

I tell ya, you and the others you have had on are the elite when it comes to the LO fishery. Nice video Dan. I’m not sure everyone realizes how much time you take to create the front row seat for us to enjoy the action. We appreciate it so much. Joe good luck with the chargers. Looks like you had some great upbringing. 

Thanks Greg for the quick turnaround. Class A product on your leaders and holders!

Thanks FF, I can’t believe I didn’t look there. Appreciate it. 

Thanks Thork, but I have steel cable.  Looking to put braid on. 

Question for you guys running braid on the Cannons, specifically the Optimums.  I see tons of suggestions to go with the stainless spool due to the stress of the braid as it dries possibly causing the spool to crack / warp.  Is this a thing of the past and is not an issue any more or do I need to worry about it.  Reason I ask is apparently you cant get the SS replacement spools from anyone as Cannon doesn't supply them anymore from what Ive found.  Thinking of going right on top of the steel cable with the braid but wanted to get some opinions from someone who is familiar with it.  Thanks in advance.

I’d take 2 packs of 5, 15lb flouro 8ft,ball bearing each end, could you make the one end fixed slider?

Amazing!

Put them in a box sell for 40.00. Lol

Your on the right line. Most lakers in Seneca are deeper this time of year. I say most but doesn’t mean you can’t get them shallow. By the time May June hits they’ll move in with the bait. Some are still out deep.  Generally you can hit them jigging 130-100 and off the ledges off the drops 40-100ft. All in all when your in that 200ft jigging you have to be on your game to see the hit. And not be windy as I’m sure you know. Good luck. Throw some back if you do get em. Tight lines!

Boy he knows his stuff Bill. Congrats!

Upgraded my Cannons to the Optimums.  Can’t wait to put them into action. 

Very nice!  Congrats on your PB. Will look great on the wall. 

X3

Congrats Brian!  Good to see you there as well along with others that I have not seen since college.  Great bunch of people.  The largest bird was a whopper, triple bearded, some real trophy’s shot by these youngsters, also they donated a lifetime license to a youngster. Although my son passed on taking a long shot, he had a blast.  Hats off to the guides that took the weekend of their time to do this for the kids. 

Came back from the Yates county Youth program for this weekend. What an amazing opportunity for kids that are starting out. The volunteers that orchestrated this event along with its sponsors and guides can’t be thanked enough. My son is pumped.