Chowdaire

Was there 2 weeks ago. Surface temp was 80deg

Pro Am, Crinkle Mirage, Stud

I took my Mom out on Saturday afternoon trolling cranks and we did very well. Lots of active walleyes in 30-40fow. I personally don't pull harnesses anymore. I find jigging or trolling cranks works a lot better on the eyes here. But this time of year you should do fine regardless of what you want to do.

I'd also recommend that if you jig, jig aggressive, and if you troll, troll relatively fast. 2.5mph for cranks

I use the 8 footers for my wire divers. Love ‘em but they don’t have the expensive tip like the longer ones. Just a plain roller.


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I get a slip for the night and then park the trailer at the launch. It's a little more expensive but saves you 2 launch fees and some time in the morning.

I've done it at Newfane, Ernst's and Wright's.

Not an expert on the subject but based on my Ranger 621, that probably goes 3000 pounds all in, I’d recommend the 15. Dealer talked me into the 9.9 and it works pretty hard in chop and even more trying to get to musky speed.

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Not sure but that’s why I said that it was a few years ago. They may have improved it since then.


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Vanish was the worst fluoro I ever tried a few years ago.


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Awesome report and pics.

I think I saw your boat out on the West end. I took Dad chasing bass yesterday afternoon for a few hours from 13:00. We had a blast. More stinking pickerel than we could count and a dozen nice bass split about evenly lmb/smb. Added a couple of walleye and a big drum for good measure. Pretty good fishing for flat calm and sunny.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

28 minutes ago, Charlie P said:

Green fireworks, caddy shack uv and mountain dew works well for us in bright Sun. Two face, white glow, 42nd spin doctor produce in the morning and cloudy days.

Have you tried Lance's UV Two Face on bright days? By far my biggest producer last summer.

I use crystal. It's great for jigging in my opinion because it's bright white and you can easily see the line jump.

Ah. Thanks. I tried running copper down the chute for the first time on Saturday and didn’t hook up while it was out but was worried about potential tangles. Makes me feel better that it’s possible seeing it done from a smaller footprint.

Good luck with the sale!


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Nice rig, Jeremy. What are you running down the chute in that shot?


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Also. Problems with the others...

Other braids got wind knots, nanofil seems to degrade over time so you have to watch the business end, and nano braid nicked easy and lost all strength.


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I’ve tried a few braids, nanofil and suffix Nano braid. I only use fireline for spinning gear now (except for steelhead). It’s awesome. You don’t really need to go heavier than 6#. It’s actual strength is way higher than that.

For cranks and sticks I tie on a 6# fluoro leader but for raps and blades I’ll actually use 8# fireline to a small barrel swivel and then about 18-24” of 10# fluoro.


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Bigger spoon on a shorter lead attracts them. They come in to look and, if they decide not to eat, as they’re sliding back down in the water column the smaller spoon comes by and they can’t pass it up.

Had a couple of days last year where the mup rig went one after another and always that bottom spoon. Can’t guarantee it was working as described but it was working and that’s good enough.


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No problem. All 3 of those places had slips available last I knew.

Three Pines in North Bay

Anglers' Bay near Jewell

Apps in Cleveland

Nicely done!


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Why would you resent that? I said don’t need new laws just enforce laws on the poachers.

That wouldn’t affect a guy like you at all. Just the guys making 5 runs back to the truck throughout the day.


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Right on. I self impose a slot 16-19” (I know a lot of guys that do) and practice C&R as soon as a I have a few bags in the freezer. Don’t always need new laws.

I am lucky enough to live on Oneida where it’s easier to cherrypick your keepers though. I understand guys that have to travel keeping whatever they can. I did when I had a long drive to get ‘em.

Back to the original topic it would be nice if the fish could be protected up the creeks longer because they get crushed when they’re still up there on the opener. Don’t necessarily need new laws, just some enforcement on the poachers.


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Chamberlain's work great. Very simple.

Last year was my first with down riggers and even I had no problems.

But like other guys have said I pretty much stopped stacking because the sliders work so well. I had great luck with both a Mup rig and a free slider last year. 

My Trollmaster is terrible. Got it last summer. Doesn't give much speed control, you go from 45-46 and it jumps half a mile an hour which is worse than just using the tiller handle. I've read about upgrading the servo and such to make it more responsive but why should you have to?

And if that's not bad enough the screen died yesterday after less than a year.

I'll probably get an iTroll soon and be selling the Trollmaster cheap (if the screen starts working again)!

1 hour ago, Hachimo said:

Think im gonna go for mexico i have to stop at fat nancys at 5 when they open for a license and more gear and its not to far down the rd from selkirk.  Chowdaire can u give me a little insight into which direction i should st art fishing once i launch at mexico.   LIke i said im new to this spring brownie fishing. But from the sounds of things the direction really dont matter as u need to find a mud line or warmer water.  Whats ur thoughts?

To be honest, I've caught fish going both directions. For me 2 years ago was better going South, last year it was better North. Like you said, you're looking for green, warm water.

3 weeks ago the water was 37 but we found an area of green water close to 41 deg. That's where the fish were. We had a blast and kept catching as long as we stayed in that water as it moved during the morning. 

There's also the Mexico Point state launch on the Little Salmon River. It's a nice launch once the dock is in and you pay ($7 last year, if I remember) if the machine is working.

The center dock wasn't in 3 weeks ago so you had to use the break-wall on either side but it may be in now.

Oswego is made for big boats though. Not too far down the road and you'll have no trouble there if you don't like the looks of Mexico.