muskiedreams

Bob,

I have one but I don't really want to part with it. Been wanting one for a long time. Just got it this year from NMA raffle table and only used it once, last Wed. Might consider letting you borrow it or maybe take it and replace it later.

Nice fish Dan. Looks like Chautauqua was the place to be today.

Nice Chad   Looks like that may have been either the first of the day or the last.

I hope they don't give any to the Waneta and Lamoka Lake association to put more weed killer in the lakes. They have already killed too many weeds (including native vegetation) in Waneta Lake, which is causing problems with algae and it looks like the fish populations have also suffered.

The definition of upstream is against the current. I like going downstream or cross current more than upstream. You can generally cover more water that way. You need to change trolling motor speed when you change directions to compensate for current. Also, lures will go deeper downstream than they will upstream and action will change. For colder water slower is generally better. So the lures you use need to have good action at slower speeds. Going upstream you may need to use lures that run better at faster speeds. If you see big fish arches in an area (better if there is also bait), keep pounding the area. Make changes in speed, depth, trolling angles and maybe lures. Sometimes all it takes is a turn or change in speed at the right time to convert a follower to a strike. Sometimes when bottom comes up and you think you are going to snag, that snag ends up being a fish.

If it makes you feel any better, there were others out there that day who got skunked. After all it is musky fishing but the more time you put in, the more success you will have. We got lucky. There are many times we get skunked and I consider it a success to get one fish. Anglers who spend a lot of time on the water do better than us but they even get into a slump once in a while.

Ryan, That is a lot of distance to cover.

I fished East River with Mr. Toothy on Wed. 10:30 to dark. Nice day to be out there. I got a 39"er dragging a ROB tube about Noon. Mr. Toothy got one about 37" pulling a Mr. Toothy about 1:30. That was it for the day. Both were between Strawberry Isl. and S. Grand Island Br.

Very nice.

Yes. Also need to make sure shafts are ok.

Nice!! The trip paid off.

Go to this LOU string for more details.

http://www.lakeontariounited.com/fishing-hunting/topic/55001-is-this-real/

The colors and pattern on that last one looks more like a purebred musky except for the rounded tips of the fins and also the fact that only tigers are stocked there. In waters that have both, it can sometimes be hard to identify a fish correctly. That is why the regs are the same for both in waters that have both.

Just a reminder. NYS law requires all boaters in boats 21 ft and smaller to wear a PFD while on the water from Nov. 1st till May 1st. I know that some people are against the govt. telling us what to do but this law can save your life. I would recommend it even in a larger boat under any circumstances where you are at risk to go overboard. If you go overboard you are at a much greater risk of death this time of year in a very short period of time. Plus there isn't as much help available, if any depending on body of water. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. Also it is good to be extra cautious to try and avoid any MOB situation. Even with a PFD or a survival suit you are still at greater risk this time of year.

Hope you all enjoy the late season and catch a monster but PLEASE BE SAFE and keep in mind, no fish is worth dying for.

One thing I wonder about is if any will survive to become adults. I have no idea about whether there is enough cover left for them to hide in and how many will be able to keep from getting devoured by pickerel, bass and birds.

In early 2014 Brad Hammers came to one of the MI Chapter 69 meetings and talked about Waneta and Lamoka as well as to get us on board with a diary study for those lakes and Conesus Lake. At the time, the subject of stocking Lamoka came up and he said that they were considering stocking muskies in Lamoka again. I haven't heard anything about it since then so I don't know if it has gone any further. At the time, we gave him a big thumbs up.

I'm baffled!! about the face in my post instead of the # 8 and ")" after. I tried to edit it and it was still there. Was that you BlueEye? Or was it aliens?

Wind was strong from the south all day. I;m guessing about 30mph. Water temp was 53*. Zach and NitroMusky cleaned up on jerks. Zach got 1st place and big fish with a 48" (on a figure   and one other fish (I think it was in the low 40s). NitroMusky got 2 fish for second. I'm not sure of their sizes. Ronix 51 got 3rd place with 2 fish on ROB. I am not sure of the sizes except I think the smallest was low to mid 30s. One other fish was caught. There were 16 to18 participants. There were also 2 guys in another boat who didn't participate.

See original post above.

Added info about tournament registration and awards presentation.

That is one lady you don't want to release.

We would have to bring it up to the region 8 DEC. Find out if they are aware of it and if they have plans to correct the signs and go from there. I will see what I can find out.

First SLR muskie post ive seen this fall.... I was starting to get worried, lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

SLR anglers are much quieter about posting about their catches than in other waters. It is just that way in low density and/or natural trophy musky waters and small waters. It can be the same way on some walleye waters and trout streams. I don't think it matters so much with the SLR because the water is so huge and success rates so low.

choo-choo, I'm glad you understand that I was not trying to bash you. I just saw that picture with the fish laying in the back of the boat with the net torn through the tail fin and became concerned. I realize that with a big boat, it is not possible to keep the fish in the net at boatside while removing or cutting the hooks and you just have to do the best you can. I do hope your friend considers using a fin saver type muskie net. They have thicker netting and a tighter mesh so it won't tear through the fins as easily, and if it does, it probably won't go as deep. The netting also has a coating that helps to keep the net from removing protective slime. I believe the hoop and the bag are also larger. Also, with the coating, the hooks don.t penetrate through the cord of the net as easily.

Again, Great fish. I would be happy getting a 50". I know someone who got a SLR 56" this year while jigging. His description of the experience was incredible. He tells me that in the SLR they fight harder than anywhere else he has fished for them.

UPDATED INFO IS IN RED

We are holding a muskie tournament on Waneta Lake.

Open Tournament Rules apply. A 30" fish is 4 points and each additional inch is another point. Winners are based on total points per angler for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Registration will be between 6:00 and 7:15 am. at state boat launch. Tournament hours are 7am to 3:30 pm. Entry fee is $25 per angler and there is an optional big fish pool for $5 per angler (longest fish takes all).

After the tournament, at about 4pm, we will meet at the Wayne municipal Pavilion at the intersection of route 87 and route 97 for awards presentation, and cookout/get together. Alcohol is not allowed there. See this map.

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Great fish!!

Please don't take me wrong but I am concerned about muskies being released safely with as little trauma as possible. Here are some improvements that can be made over what was done. 1) Larger coated net with tighter and thicker mesh to help keep from damaging the fins (you can see in the picture the net is torn through the tail fin). 2) Always use a high quality steel leader or very heavy fluorocarbon leader and check it often for damage. 3) Keep the fish in the water while removing or cutting hooks if possible. With some larger boats it may not be possible but everything you can do to minimize time out of water or anything that will rub slime off the fish will reduce the chance of delayed mortality. Wet any surface the fish will come in contact with. If you can, lift the fish out of the net while it is in the water instead of lifting the fish out of the water with the net.

Again, please don't take this wrong.

That is not an easy question to answer. For one thing, most lures have an optimum trolling speed or speed range for best action. So you will need to watch lure action and try to make sure all the lures you are running are compatible, speed wise. Some lures are more sensitive to speed than others. Since the water temps are not very cold yet, you will not have to go too slow unless maybe if fish are inactive and hugging structure. Since you will be in a river with differences in current, that will be a factor as well. When you change your direction in relation to current direction or if you enter into an area where the current speed changes, you may have to compensate. Trolling cross current or at an angle to the current often is easier to control than with or against the current. But sometimes when working an edge, you have no choice but to go with or against it. Keep in mind that lures will go deeper with the current than they will against the current (with same amount of line out), depending on current speed and line diameter. And of course when you go against the current you need to be going fast enough to cover ground. If you find a combination that works for you, stick with it and pound the same area for a while because there are most likely more fish there. You can also try similar structure, etc. with same program or slight variations. You may also want to try jigging around deep structure or casting around shallower structure and weed beds. Especially at dusk and dawn in shallow. Areas where there are current breaks, temperature changes or color changes are good bets to try. A lot of the locals troll open and deep water with downriggers but that doesn't mean shallower 15 to 25 ft areas and the structure will not be productive.

Muskies are a special and very fragile resource in the St Lawrence, especially since it is an all natural fishery. So please be prepared to treat them kindly. Here is a  discussion in LOU about musky catch and release techniques.

Good Luck