HB2

Running a charter business is just that ,a business. And to stay in business , you need to run it well, by keeping expenses low as possible , being efficient , and doing good work to have satisfied customers for return and new business . You need to charge enough to cover all that and turn a profit . If not you will be out of business soon . Before a huge outlay of cash is made , you better be damn sure the business is viable. I have people undercut my prices all the time but my clients use me because of the value I bring . I'm sure Yankee has no problem booking trips because of his reputation . if you want to tip , that's great . But you should not be obligated to do so.

Tipping in general to me has kind of gotten out of hand . I worked in the restaurant business for years . I feel service workers should get tips . Waitress , floor workers , not cooks or managers . And that should depend on their level of service . But it seems everyone feels they deserve a tip .Even garbage men . As a business owner , interior carpenter contractor , I've received tips , but I don't expect it. I charge what I think I should get . I personally go above and beyond to bolster my reputation and get more word of mouth business . Mates have always traditionally been tipped . But the Captain / boat owner expecting one also ? IMO no . And having the long swim to shore sign ? A little arrogant to me . I might hand him 5$ , point out that fact , and never set foot on that boat again and tell my friends and everyone else . If you expect more money , charge more .

Imagine that

There were way more kings and fish back then . We just didn't know how to catch them . Look at what we have now compared to back then . Boats ,equipment , electronics , rods and reels , lures .And better , we have seasonal knowledge . Nobody has a down speed / temp gauge back then How many big kings broke off a 6 ft spinning rod and reel ? A friend of mine won with a 1/5 Cleo on 8 # line and a 5 ft ultra light 5 ft down over 15 ft on a rigger . They netted the fish and the mesh was rotten and it fell through . They fed the pole through the net and grabbed it by the gills .

I remember way back when and the first ESLO derby . A lot of people got in it . Guys were casting Cleos off the piers . Anything that floated was out there. Long launch lines at every port . All we had were spinning reels pulling flat lined Rapalas in 15 ft of water or less . Then planer boards and it was a traffic jambs in close . That's where everyone fished we didn't know any better. Grand prize winners form Sodus, Rochester , a few at Bald Eagle and the oak Fast forward to now . If you don't fish Ollcott West or more specifically Wilson West your chances at the Grand prize King are slim or none . It's a now a west end king derby , and an east end Lakers derby. Very few guys run the shore for browns maybe explaining 2 on the board . Few boats out of a lot of mid lake ports Everything changed after the zebras cleaned up the lake water . I know time marches on but I long for the old days .

Finally after all these years got a derby dock at Wilson Had high expectations . It was a Humbling , frustrating , and disappointing time . But spent quality time with my son . We fished 6 days , a few till 1 , some shorter because of weather . Spent most of the time 4 to 8 miles west 45 to 75 ft. Marked fish and bait sporadically. Day 1 1 hit . We were not in good water . Day 2 ran farther west and found good green water . Boated 6 with a 17# king best Day 3 Lost 2 Day 4 and 5. No hits Day. 6 no hits , blown off Got a few takes on a flasher and my rig. A few takes on spoons . Best was an old school GFR J13 on a small slide diver . 100 lead , 100 to 150 back. I figure it was down 20 to 30 ft. Went out to deep water yesterday . Saw fish , no hits. Did not see hardly any nets flying . There was a time I would skunk , then run to the tackle shop and drop 50$ . I accept it now . The fish were there but didn't want what I had . I was not good enough to get them . It got to the point where I didn't know what to put down next . Then I read Yankees post . He had a hard time so where does that leave me . Summer derby next !

Is it just me or is the fishing not great this year ? I've been out of Wilson 3 times during the derby . Got 6 fish . Skunked twice. Yesterday I was around some boats and never saw a net move .

Moon phase also has a lot to do with it in my experience

I have a Lowrance Hook reveal Split shot 7 and I love it I paid 285$ on sale for it . Did not like it at first . Once I got it adjusted right it's great . Also I had those tell tail electrical interference lines on it and my Depth Raider was losing signal .I put a noise filter on my kicker and everything has worked flawlessly since

My Depth Raider did the same . I put a noise filter on my kicker and it works flawlessly . Got the filter from the guys who make the depth raider

Actually don't eat those nasty fish from the lake. Better off going to Golden Corral or Mickey D's and eating all you want of that and wash it down with a diet soda . There's no chemicals with adverse effects in that . There's some healthy food right there. But seriously folks , fillet the like Brian said .

No idea

They guy has a huge outlay of capital You have to charge whatever it is to pay off the loans and all expenses and still make it worth your while or he will be out of business soon . It's tough to make money if you don't charge enough to cover all that Has to be profitable for why do it

Actually , in order for it to be successful , it need to be profitable . Otherwise it will go under .

This could all be done with a QR code and an app on your phone and be way more accurate . The survey boats are rarely there , and I have seen many boats , especially charters drive right by . When you get your license , scan the code, install the app , and that's it . State could have a big push to report every first you catch from a LO salmon to a bullhead from West Buttwipe pond . Maybe have a sign saying " Don't forget to report your catch ". Maybe post pics of catch . Would be a great database and way more accurate . And here's a thought , call me crazy, ,if there is small craft advisory with 5 to 7s all day , go to plan B and have those guys do something more productive than sleep and fish , which I've watched them do more than once . I can't afford to pay my employees to sit around do nothing and the state shouldn't either . I don't blame the guys in the boat , I blame leadership.

Yeah , were screwed .

So I go out and take a few cast . I look down and see the DEC survey boat launch and head down to the mouth . I can see the whitecaps and hear the waves crashing on the beach . Wind is bad . Nobody in their right mind is out there today . Are they really expecting any boats to interview today if that's why they are hear ? So 2 guys , a truck to pull it from where ,Avon , and a boat . You want to know why we are broke as a state and nation ,stuff like this is why. Some serious leadership issues to let this happen. Like I said , get rid of this survey deal and put an app on your phone .