pro-fish-n-c

Thanks for the advice Justin. What's your thoughts on the brand new touch screen humminbird units? More then I need , but interested on your thoughts since you already have a SI unit. Also, if you haven't seen it, check out Jason Halfen's new webinar on SI, pretty informative, especially with the style of trolling you do on Otisco.

I appreciate the advice, Justin and Pap. I've got inline planers I could try, at least just off one side. Running two would be too complex in the river with the current, I'm usually fishing by myself or with people who are pretty inexperienced, at least at trolling.

Lots of times when trolling I lock my outboard , and use the terrova to steer, sometimes I'll lock in a heading when landing fish or setting lines. Hope to get a 1198 HD SI before spring, so I can identify structure better instead of what I have now.

Next time I go out I think I'll try a inline board on the spots I already know produce fish.

Also, let me add that yesterday I was able to identify a couple of distinct bait balls on my substandard electronics for the first time. They were a bit deeper. Hindsight says I should have tried to pull some diving baits right through them.

I'm getting these fish off points that stick out and make a current break or seam and near spring staging areas that are adjacent to deep water. Mostly 8 to 12 ft deep. The rigger I was only doing 5 feet down and 20 ft back , with the spoons.

I can easily go deeper on the rigger and switch to deep divers on the flat lines. Should I just hit the same areas but deeper? Or look for all new spots of a different type.

This is my first year with a boat , and trolling for pike, so it's a big learning experience.

Back at it today for a couple hours, still can't find the big girls. Trolling only took one fish, casting the others. Put my mom on her first tiger ever, a great outing.

I'm beginning to think the bigger fish aren't hanging out in the two specific areas I've been fishing.. I have some new spots to try when I go out on Monday, that are a little bit different.

Went back out today quick with a updated arsenal of spoons and sticks, sadly a rigger malfunction kept me from running spoons. Trolling a firetiger bomber took two small northerns, casting a f18 clown took a baby tiger and another small northern. Missed one huge hit close to the boat, felt like it was a real good one. Oh well. By myself today, all fish never removed from the water , excuse the crappy pics.

I've never caught a tiger over 32", but many that size and smaller. I must say, their beauty is something to behold when the sun hits them. The various shades of iridescent blues and greens is stunning. Truly one of nature's objects of beauty. When we see its a tiger on the end of the line instead of a pike, everyone gets excited, even if its small.

Managed 5 pike today between 30" and 33", and one tiger we didn't measure, maybe 28", in 3 trolling passes today, in 45 minutes. Spoons off downrigger 5' down, 20ft back, f18 rapala black/silver, and f13 firetiger floater, flatlined. All fish cleanly released.

Trolling shut down, so we cast top water buzz baits And floaters, got two follows, one was a nice 40" fish, didnt connect. Trolled from 1.6 to 2.5mph, based on navionics iphone app.

Sunny, no wind , water temp 50 degrees, a great day.

I went on Tuesday in the crazy wind 10 to 130am, no fish. Hassled by troopers when leaving. I think they were bored.

I appreciate the input. I'm a beginner on otisco but a veteran on Oneida, and one of our hotspots the minnows get pushed on shore onto the sand and the 'eyes dorsal fins come out of the water at times they run so shallow. We tried close in parallel to shore shallow but in my opinion they were stalled at the weedbed lastnight... If the wind kept blowing the rest of the nite in the same direction , I would put money they would be in that first 5 yards off shore like you guys are talking about.

When they are in like that and the water is calm, it's key to keep your headlamp off and not shine the water. If you must keep it on to watch the rod tip, keep your light steady and in one direction, not flashing back and forth.

What rod setup are you guys using to get the big lures out there. I did ok with 15lb power pro, a cheap 7' ugly stick medium weight, and pfluegher president. All my rod and reel money is invested in my jigging setups for Oneida.

I was getting five colors out with this but I can see where if you are shore bound you can use a little more distance.

You have to pay to play, I figure losing 30 bucks of lures is about the same cost if I trailered the boat down for the night. The stupid mistakes are what aggravate me though, accidentally closing the bail, or breaking the tip off my St. Croix in the door of my truck like last week.

I re measured that fish this morning, 26" on the nose, 6lbs 13oz, and 14-3/4" girth. I guess I was a little optimistic on the weight in the heat of the moment.

Hoping for an 8lber in the near future.

Casted east shore of otisco from 7pm to 11pm with a buddy this evening. Threw f18's, bomber saltwater magnums, husky jerks, gapen polish shads, and xrap shallow super shads. . Missed one hit on a black and gold bomber magnum, and caught one fish on a shad color f18.

Heard the fish start hitting about 830, nice wind in our faces, but the fish were pretty far out, and we could hear them hitting slowly yet continuously the whole time we were there. . Frustrating to say the least, especially when i lost 3 , yes 3, f18's by being an idiot and accidentally snapping the bail shut when casting. Fish I landed was 26" measured and an estimated 7.5 to 8lbs. Shocked at the thickness and girth, as this was my first otisco walleye ever. Thanks to everyone on the forum for the advice and info I've read. Will be back with a vengeance when the wind is right, and will be bringing the boat out for sure.

Also astounded at how they sound when they hit top water compared to Oneida fish, sounds like dropping a cannonball in the water from 50 ft up.

I cook my pickerel patties on the grill over foil with a pat of butter. Absolutely delicious. For a even better taste, try mixing in some lump crabmeat with the fish.

I think it's worth trying. I love out of the box ideas, especially if they are on a budget. Interested in hearing the results.

Thanks for the advice everybody. I don't have the precision trolling book, since it went out of print the prices skyrocketed. I have been able to find just about every dive curve I need online with some thorough searching. I intend to buy the iPhone app when it is finally released though.

I did just place an order for two chamberlain releases, instead of the blacks. Hopefully they work just as good. A little more expensive, but they looked easier to use once they are dialed in.

http://www.downriggerrelease.com/

Justin,

I'm running an 8.5' medium power rigger rod, with a cabelas accudepth line counter reel.

Are these the releases you are referring to ?

http://m.basspro.com/Blacks-Downrigger-Release-Clip/product/97412/

Justin, I know you put your time in, the three times I fished otisco this year you were just leaving to go out. This trip out was a shakedown run on how to use the rigger also, which I borrowed from a friend. I suspect the release I have is outdated and a little heavy for walleye needs, so I will look into updating that before I go out again, next time will make it bright and early to hopefully increase my odds of hooking up.

Also, that panorama pic was taken with the trusty iphone.

Inspired by justtracytrollings awesome results on Otisco, I figured I would try some of the same techniques on Cross lake, as it also has monster walleyes and tigers, and has already produced tigers and several large pike for me this year.

It was a fish less day for me, but my first attempt at down rigging went well. After locating multiple groups of suspended fish, I trolled over them with flatlined rapalas and reef runners at 28' feet, and several different baits off the downrigger at 20 to 30'.

Several big shorts hits, but couldn't get to them in time. Still a great day on the water.

The DEC claims that the next state record walleye is currently swimming in Tupper, it was seen during electro fishing surveys. There are lots of fish in there, but they are well fed, gorging on the huge schools of smelt. If you do get into them, will probably be decent sized. We managed only one a couple of years ago drifting bucktail jigs, about 8 pounds. Lots of pike, some monsters, as well.

Locals claimed the only consistent walleye action was flatlining stickbaits at night, over the rocky shoals.

I agree, great report , thanks for the info. I'll look into the logistics of heading out there, more then an hour away for me. If I can make it Ill shoot you a message.

That's pretty interesting. Are these fish resident to the bay or do they come in off the lake? They must be feeding on young of the year perch/bluegills or are there schools of baitfish being pushed into shore? Sounds similar to fall shore casting on lakes like Oneida.

Excellent informative post. Thank you.

Two years ago I found a dead one washed ashore in the seneca river in Baldwinsville. Total length was 62" measured with a tape. Amazing fish .

This fish appeared to have been killed by a boat prop. They are very susceptible to boat impacts and prop damage, as they like to sun themselves in slack water just below the surface.