WISHIN4FISH

In my experience they tracked well with the 7 color. Just the flag ran in the up position all the time. If the flag doesn't matter to you they will do good for you. After 7 color that's when I would bump up in size.

The smaller ones with anything up to a 7 color. Bigger ones for weighted steel, copper, or longer leadcores.

I like dreamweaver ninja boards personally. Easy to use and work great with braid. 

Congratulations fellas!

Good stuff! Congratulations on that beauty.

Congratulations 

Congratulations buddy.

He loves catching but lately he's pretty camera shy. All of my boys have been going since they could walk. Hooked just like dad

Set lines at 5 in 113 fow had our first hit within 2 minutes. Constant action after that up until 9. Had 17 fish boated mix of shakers up to 5 pounders. Slid out to 150 nothing. Slid in to look for browns in 70-90 took a 15 pound laker right off the bat. As soon as I netted that rigger at 71 fires in 85 FOW and starts heading to Buffalo. We got her to the boat and it was our first good one of the year. Took a few more small ones, 4 more lakers, and 2 browns. Total for the day was 25 kings,5 lakers, and 2 browns. All spoon bite. Except the lakers.

You don't really have to worry about them while jigging. It's mainly trolling when they become an issue. And I have never encountered them in the areas where you would bass fish. I hope this helps.

11 minutes ago, HawgHawler said:

Thanks for the report, James. Were you picking up the lakers suspended from bottom or pretty tight to the mud?

16 of them hugging bottom on a spin doctor whirly gig combo. 2 80 feet over 117 on a raspberry carbon mag.

Launched out of sandy Saturday. started in 130 fow could not find fish active. Slid into 121 instantly took a laker. 5 minutes later 50 foot rigger fired with a brown on an ss NBK.  Consistently picked up lakers in 113-121 the rest of the morning along with a few shaker kings. Son was happy. Big fish was 14 lbs 12 ounces. Ended up landing 18 lakers 4 small kings and the brown.

I have never targeted alewife. But if they are anything like smelt a 3mm tungsten ice jig with 1 or 2 spikes should get you a few. I don't know anything about the net. I'm sorry if I'm not much help. But I hope my one tip can get you started in the right direction.

I second archery solutions. Tim is the best around.

Good luck buddy.

I have caught them suspended on 5 color lead core. as deep as 210 hugging bottom. Most of my fish have been 150-170 fow. But it seems like trout are still scattered throughout the water. 

I run alot of A-Tomik teaser flies behind a flasher/spin n glo combo with very good success. I have also caught some trout on full size flies too. Teaser size flies on my boat out perform full size 10 to 1 though.

Took a couple friends out new to trolling. We picked up 2 Lakers on a dipsey with a spindoctor with spin n glow trailing it. In 95 FOW. 5 Lakers on the same rig 135-160 FOW. All pounding bottom. All young fish. Dropped 3 nice ones at the back of the boat. Went out deep to 200 feet on an attempt to swing to the west side. High rigger fires 50 down over 200. After a crazy battle. The fish crossed the other rigger and dipsey line. Somehow without a tangle. I landed a beautiful 28 inch 8.6 pound rainbow! She took a ss gold rasta goose dreamweaver.

Thank you buddy. Nice to see some success on the lake. Tried a few days earlier in the season and only had one 24" rainbow to show for it. After looking at the wave forecast and deciding my boat was too small for Lake O. We decided on Canandaigua. And I'm definitely glad we did! One of our best days of the season for us.

First time poster here.Went out for a birthday trip Saturday and it was great one! Worked the east side and went 6 for 8. Pounding bottom with spin n glows. 3 shorts, 2 around 3 pounds, and the big fish of the day 13.9 pounds! Things started to slow. We trolled back to the west side and towards the launch. We picked up another 3 pounder 50 down over 85 on a spoon. Made one more pass without a take. And called it. It was definitely a good day on the water though.