Nessmuk

Interesting and good to know that there are two sources of Sutton Spoon clones! The Plazma in the pictures look a bit cheezy compared to the Sutton and the pictures of the Blade Runner spoons are a bit fuzzy. The big difference I see with the Sutton is the solid ring vs the split rings on the others. I think I will try the Blade Runner 44 and see what they are like.

Any comments as to quality/durability? I was thinking of using their #44 as a substitute for the nonexistant Sutton 44.

Does anyone troll with Blade runner spoons?

Yah, chain pullin seems to be epedemic on these forums I just read/saw a description of the A rig in In Fisherman. Seemed like a good way to have a school of bait fish but I wonder if the wires put off fish.

Just wondering if anyone has tried trolling for LT, RBT or LL using Alabama rig on DR or Dipsy?

I'm going to go for the Okuma combo and rig it with one of the 20lb super braid lines with the idea that it can be used with a dipsy or on the DR. I am thinking that I could use a spinning rod on the DR and the casting rod on the dipsey which would get two baits down. Thanks for all the knowledge and insight you guys have shared.

Zack, Thanks! Jack

Zack, What line do you use on the magda 20? Jack

This is my first casting rod/reel for trolling and being on a budget this appealed to me. I will be mainly using as a DR reel but might want to use with a dipsy. At this point I only plan on trolling in Finger Lakes (especially Hemlock/Canadice) and possibly St Lawrence R, not for big stuf on Lake O. Getting out 20X a year would be a lot. I tend to go for light tackle but maybe I should be looking at heavier rod/reel? Jack

Has anyone used either of these combos? Are they reasonable quality? is 7' or 7'6" more desirable? http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/Search/okuma%20combo.aspx

It would be nice to see some pictures of these streamers and how they were tied. Always nice to continue the knowledge.

Making it C&R only would be a great idea. The large fish aren't really suitable for consumption and might live to breed if released.

Huh?

Does this Google fella troll them? I hadn't considered bass type flies and that makes me also think in terms of a rapala or similar lure which isn't a bucktail streamer and of topic. Jack

Assuming that LT hunt perch, what is a good fly to imitate perch?

Marty, All that stuff to get the fishes attention? When I think trout I think in terms of spooking them with all that stuff. They must have a prey drive like my springer! Jack

Marty, Tyer no more! I tyed because I couldn't buy the trout flies I wanted at local shops when I needed them. Now I would just order them on line or from eBay! A fellow from Maine lists tandem streamers on eBay. I am familiar with the thunder creek series and they are sweet. Just had a short look at Bates book and there is a section on trolling. Streamers/Bucktails might be a winning strategy for ice-out and spring. Grease trap style? I was thinking in terms of setting them up with a leader attached to the hook on a Sutton spoon sort of flasher style? Jack

Please tell me more about bucktail streamers on the Finger Lakes and how you rig them. I have fished tiny bucktails on streams but am new to trolling on lakes. I have Bates book and will have to check to see if there is anything about trolling. Are traditional bucktails effective in lakes other than Seneca (Hemlock/Canadice) ? What patterns do you use? Sizes? Have you tried any streamers? Tandem streamers?

I wonder why the decline in rainbows and if it is due to more than we might think. Browns and rainbows are non-native and different than native lake trout. Like the non-native salmon in Ontario I wonder if they are creating problems? I'm not keen on non-native species being introduced though browns and rainbows are beautiful fish to catch and here to stay. The bag limit doesn't bother me as long as it is three fish. Other than the occassional meal or if I ever caught a trophy size wall hanger catch and release will be the name of the game.

Marty, If the spring is good it looks like a nice piece of equipment. If I got stuck with it I would put it back on ebay or list it in the LOU classifieds or maybe take it to a swap meet. I'd be interested in it but I don't have the Ben Reno boat to go with it

While sitting here on the LOU forum and talking with my wife I inadvertantly moved the cursor w/o looking and heard a bulb break. Much to my surprise there were bustable lights at the top of the page. Kinda gets your attention!

I can see it now.... one of you guys is gonna follow me with a video camera on my first trip trolling on Hemlock Lake to film a comedy Jason, is the helmet something to do with trolling?

When I get done grilling you guys on trolling I'm gonna write a book Ya, right! This trolling thing is so foreign to me compared to flyfishing or bait fishing. For me it is easy to think in terms of stream fishing for trout - I have a rough idea of where trout will be due to stream structure which is fairly simple most of the time. Trout during the forsythia bloom prefer hendrickson's on a particular stream. I need to fish a hendrickson nymph/emerger/dun/spinner. Each has a way of being fished in a particular stream condidion and time of day. Trout on another stream prefer purina flies because most of the time they are stockers and are use to trout chow. Trout on another stream have a varied diet at a certain time of year but I see caddis flys caught on spider webs today so I will try and imitate them. Imitate what they are eating and catch a trout. Pretty much formulaic? Much can be figured out by observation on all but the most difficult streams where local knowledge comes into play. Variables yes but manageable in my pea brain. Fishing for lake trout - Locate fish in a lake using sonar to locate structure/fish which looks dicey to my unexperienced eye/brain. Dipsy, DR, leadcore, etc. which is the means of presentation but I am unfamiliar with both Lake Trout and the method. Then I look at the myrad of spoons/flies and wonder which one should be fished and how they should be presented. Add flashers and spindoctors etc. etc. and I sit here brain spinning. Then I read and decipher what you guys are reporting and more questions pop up. Maybe I am making more of trolling than there is.

Marty, Are those distances, based on length of rod, iron clad no matter what the conditions? Couldn't view the video? Thanks, Jack

Self untying knot at the launch ramp sounds scarry! At least your boat didn't drift out on the lake! I watched that happen to a fellow. I'm new to this motor boat thing (lotsa time on a sailboat though) and have had a few mishaps like forgetting the plug, problems backing the trailer on uneven ground and not being able to see the ramp/dock and more Getting better at it though! Wish DEC would have better launches/docks. At least you caught some trout! How far back was your spin doctor from the dipsy? Distance from spindoctor to fly? Unless that is top secret clearance stuff