justtracytrolling

I have a lot of friends that arent fans of trolling as they would rather cast...that be said most of them have asked me to take them out after seeing my catches...1 who brought his son had to hear him all morning repeat...dad how come we dont fish like this it's way better...jigging and casting take a lot of skill and local knowledge, trolling allows everyone on the boat to participate regardless of skill level...I love to jig, but I know better than to try it where I should be trolling. Tough to get wife and kids to go fishing for walleyes regularly without getting them involved. Trolling might be a bit boring at times, but so is not catching and so is staying home! Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Nice report Les! Im headed to Tupper lake thursday night for walleyes, and I thought Id do some trout trolling there too. Your darn seth green rig has been stuck in my head, so I went thru some stuff I had and I think I can make one. Just had a couple of questions. What can I use for a homemade float so I can run it behind my rigger rods? I plan on running 80 lb braid to the float at least, then I can either segment barrel swivels in heavy flouro or braid or heavy mono? How short can I go with the leaders as that will dictate the spacing? I realize this setup might not be ideal, but I still wanna try as it sure seems like Id cover a lot of water with 1 rod as ill want the other 8 rods for eyes. My only worry is the pike will tear it all up. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Mmm crappie...i only have 1 package left...maybe ill go get some myself tonight...no way ill limit in an hour, but i got a spot where they run 14" to 16" if you can find em... Justin Sent from my N9500 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Probably gonna be tough getting a release to work properly without a heavier ball. Seems like the ball would just swing back if the release was strong enough for a hookset. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I can relate to enjoying the challenge. My favorite way to catch stripers is jigging the cape cod canal. Its a steep learning curve! I love walleye fishing otisco as it takes a certain stubborness to keep going back until you learn to succeed. I have very limited experience on The Larry, but it was humbling! Nothing beats a good fish that comes after a lot of hard fishing. My best musky in my mind was no where near my biggest, only 36", and was my first. I swam the susquhanna to fish a gravel bar before I had a boat (no lifejacket...young and dumb). Started 200 yds upstream and let the current take me to it. Caught the fish on my first cast, tied the musky to me, and we swam back. I ended up well downstream, but never felt better about catching a fish. justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Ive used three way rigs and they do work, but i found that if you run them on big boards its very easy to catch the floater with a line outside it when you get a fish on an outer line. You definitely need much more separation in the water column or you get a mess. Otisco is over 60 feet deep but im only fishing from 20 to 32 down and i cant run those rigs and fit 2 lines in 12 feet, i should prob try using them on just the outside lines and 1 rigger. I also found you have to make sure you use the clicker or your thumb laying lines or its a mess. I always used same length leaders can you explain the different lengths. Everybody has tricks and its great to read them and try to apply those tricks to your own fishing. Justin Sent from my N9500 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Gorgeous fish...I know what you mean about pics not doing a fish like that justice...they are truly spectacular predators. justin

Anybody got a clue on its depth curve? I haven't used it much at Otisco because you need to be very precise with depth and I have no clue. Seems like it would dive to 25 anyways, but with out a curve..... justin

They just don't feed much all summer and I hear the same from everybody, and most don't believe me on how I catch them. Worms work for a couple guys but Ill take 3mph over 1mph. Otisco is very humbling, which on the other hand makes it more rewarding too! justin

Forgot the pics! Sent from my N9500 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Kevin you think that live target perch in this pic is too big. Havent used it alot, and no luck with it. Can anyone tell me what lure the one on the bottom is? It pulls harder than a reef runner. Justin Sent from my N9500 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Joe i confess...a couple were snagged accidently. My list for fish i like to eat is exactly the same as yours. Justin Sent from my N9500 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Kevin I envy your geography...We get some good fall walleye fishing in the Susquehanna, but its the summer fishing I love. I love the heat and sun and Otisco is a great summer lake...especially for me. Bow season will be here before you know it, and its about cool enough to run my hound already (we run coyotes all winter). I gotta get up to try the salmon, and Quinte well what can I say...that's just a dream right now. I have been taking people out for over a month trying to guage if chartering is what I want to do and if Im good enough. This weekend at Tupper has me excited to fish...as much as I love watching and helping others put fish in the boat, nothing beats the challenge of trying to get big walleyes on new water. justin

I ran 1 color, perch, only all summer till today, and left the same lures on my rods all summer except when they got taken by tigers, and I had to put a new one on or to change leaders. Most trips out I didnt open a tackle box. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Was just thinking about what im going to use next week at Tupper and I thought id start a thread on favorite baits and lures. Favorite lure (trolling) Rapala deep taildancer size 11 foil perch Reef runner deep diver in gold clown (fall) Favorite bait (susquhanna river) Suckers (fall) What are your favorites....for bigger walleyes not numbers Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Well the summer pattern is fading fast...last night was slow and weedy! We struggled for 1 bite and I lost it trying to keep tension as it swam at us. Fish turned and I ripped the hook like a idiot. This morn we got 4 eyes and my first sub legal walleye ever at Otisco. Garret got his first tiger only a 24 or so...and yes I know his dad is holding it wrong, but given the little size it was a good release. Only ended up with 12 lbs in 3 fish this morn...1 more morning this week and off to tupper thurs! Have to say bubba played a barely hooked 5 pounder to perfection and I netted it just in time. Bite is very tough right now and we really earned every fish all weekend. If the heat doesnt turn on it wont be great till fall pattern sets in....I think ill be able to get a few fishing 4am to 6am...evening bite is even more off. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

We ate the cat we caught and it was fine but you should never eat it right after walleye...as its very apparrent that its not nearly as good. Here is a list of species I caught just this year at otisco walleye trolling cranks. Tiger musky Smb Lmb Brown trout Carp Catfish Perch Sunfish Crappie Alewives Bullhead Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

The only good daytime trolling for eyes that ive had is a reaction bite on Otisco. Its been 6 weeks since I caught an eye that didnt have a shrivelled stomach. I have just been using my reaction bite program at first and last light as its even better then. The water is down to 71 degrees so the reaction bite isnt great. If the water is over 80 its better. If we dont get some warm weather the fall pattern will be early...reaction bite is fast trolling at precise depths...the cooler the water the closer you have to get the bait to the fish. Not sure about worm harnesses as I have pulled one since may. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Way to go Les, just had to earn em...nothing wrong with that...Im always game for a second try at seneca during the week...I had a great time talking fishing with you and also must say that is fine setup you have. I just love that boat...needs boards and some walleye setups tho...lol! Let me know when you are ready to drive east for some big eyes...im defintely on them!! Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Had a solid morning on my boat. We got 2 nice eyes early on riggers, a 20 and a 22. Bubba and his son each got 1. His son Garrett lost a taxidermy walleye just outta reach. If he had polarized glasses hed still be crying....lol. He really struggled with the fish and tried to pass it off as he was worried about losing it, but Im not a fan of taking rods away from kids just cuz its big. He dipped the rod at the end a bit and I watched her roll away. Had 2 hit and runs, a brown and a nice catfish...go figure kevin...tim thought it was another big eye and so did I...super bowl to toilet bowl. All fish were 3+ gps and on perch rapalas. Only rods that didnt produce were 2 core rods. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Sk8man uses a 2 pound weight on a seth green rig and his rod takes it.. I say give it a try...use what you got...of course its not my rod! Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

By the time we got camp set up and new longer planer lines set up we didnt get lines in till dusk. We have a friend bubba and his kids with us this weekend and despite the weeds we managed 1 nice 22 inch eye. Kylie dropped her hat in on the way out trolling and miraculously thanks to a gps we found it on the way in! Marked a ton of good fish and boy did I wanna circle back for more, but with a hat still to find we quit after 90 minutes. Walleye fillets are almost done and I have 2 reels to spool. Hopefully the am bite works out better. Justin Sent from my SPH-L710 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Way to keep going till you get on em! Its crazy how you can keep going to the same spot and then the next day...gone. Its not so bad for me its 1 side or the other and small water. Those catfish can really get me excited and then when you realize it isnt an eye you go from super bowl to toilet bowl! Justin Sent from my N9500 using Lake Ontario United mobile app