How things have changed .

[HB2]

I launched my boat at a once and still  popular spot on Fri , derby first day , early morning . 

 

There was one out of state boat getting ready to launch and no other trailers in the parking lot . 

 

Fishing the last 3 days I saw a total of maybe 10 boats total . Today 1 was within 2 miles of us . And the fishing and weather mostly  is quite good 

 

I remember when the ESLO started .Everyone who was any kind of outdoorsman was there .  Launch at every port  lines very long . Arguing and yelling and a few altercations . Anything that would float . Guys on the piers. 

Most guys trolling in close with boards . 

 

What happened ? 

[shorething]

That was a long time ago! I remember in 1988 there was over 12,000 entries. I bet they don't even get a thousand niw.

[Silver Fox]

1 hour ago, HB2 said:

I launched my boat at a once and still  popular spot on Fri , derby first day , early morning . 

 

There was one out of state boat getting ready to launch and no other trailers in the parking lot . 

 

Fishing the last 3 days I saw a total of maybe 10 boats total . Today 1 was within 2 miles of us . And the fishing and weather mostly  is quite good 

 

I remember when the ESLO started .Everyone who was any kind of outdoorsman was there .  Launch at every port  lines very long . Arguing and yelling and a few altercations . Anything that would float . Guys on the piers. 

Most guys trolling in close with boards . 

 

What happened ? 

No trailers at the Sandy launch when I went by at 545 this morning. I figured they were in the west end. Maybe not…

[Fishmaster196]

Check the gas prices these days i cant imagine filling up some of these big tournament boats things are defintitely changing.

[Gill-T]

I think the answer is a little deeper. In today’s world of instant gratification, I question if people have the patience, time, knowledge or money to maintain a trolling rig. Easier to grab a charter. I question my sanity every year dealing with boat maintenance. 

[Skins]

HB Deuce -

 

This is correlation without causation....You blame today and forget about the past...

 

The southern shore in the 80's was booming with industry and execs.  Kodak was still king...B&L, Xerox, etc...Tons of money in town.  Just Rochester...

 

Niagara Falls was classy...

 

Youngstown, Wilson, Oldcot, are built off that old money...

 

Who has money now?  

 

Where do these people come from when the normal guy can't afford to troll and the rich guys can't be bothered with the hassle because they worry too much about taxes and policy?

 

Go have fun and stop with the challenges...youre too old to tell people where the answers are...Im tired of your ****.

 

Edited May 4 by Skins

[LongLine]

What happened?  You got to be kidding me!  Times have definitely changed. Skins nailed a lot of it.

 

1. In the early days of ESLO, the county & city did a great job of promoting it, especially off the Genny. I remember counting over 350 boats off the river and waiting 2 hours to launch. Of course, I was a lot younger back then and a lot of those guys are gone. The county and especially the city don't care about it. 

 

2. The only items on the lake that the local news (hard copy/digital/TV) carry concern high water, pollution, invasives, "clean your boat," stocking cuts, Lampreys, swimming advisories and storms. There used to be weathermen on TV that would say "This weekend would be a great one to go fishing." When's the last time you heard the TV say "next week the LOC starts"? Heard a local lake forecast lately? 

 

3. This is the largest fishing site on the Great Lakes.  Look at the number of boats being sold in the classifieds.  Obviously, they're not being traded in, and new ones are not cheap. Years ago, I paid $12K for my boat, motor and trailer. I couldn't replace the motor for that now.

 

4.  Re #3: Yank does a tremendous job with reports/methods and a couple other charters post, but where are the rest?  (More than three charters on this site.)  I love the posts where kids get taken out and catch something. A smiling kid is very positive.

 

5.  Re #3: Did you know that last Fall's discussions on Salmon size and stocking were some of the most viewed on this site?

 

6.  Seen the cost of a DW spoon lately?  $9.00. Holy fishhooks Batman!!!!  

 

7.  Some guys laughed at the thread about saving gas. Sound to me like a lot of guys are saving gas by not going out. (I won't say "you voted for it" as I don't want to introduce politics but I'm sure someone will try to turn this political.)
 

[BRsnow]

You don't have the big fish of the past. We came every summer for 1-2 weeks, but the fishing in Lake O is not better than any other Great Lakes and the salmon are currently smaller. 

[HB2]

LL makes a lot of good points 

 

I feel that the shine on this fishery has worn off . A lot of my friends don't like trolling  for salmon . 

 

You pay the entry , which I think was 10$ back then now 40$ , get excited to go , to drive to the lake to get blown off , or its fishable but rough , troll all day and get nothing but maybe seasick . We threw cleos off the piers thinking we might win it all , but in reality all we would win was brown division . 

 

The prizes are not nearly what they used to be adjusted for inflation  . 15 k grand prize now . Use to be a big boat for salmon and another smaller for the big brown .  And most springs , if you aren't fishing west , you really don't stand a chance of winning it all . Unless you are super lucky .

 

This downturn has been going on for sometime now . I don't think gas has a whole lot to do with it but maybe some . A big boat back then was 21 ft . Look at some of them now . 9 $ for a DW ain't bad . But the 10k in equipment does hit hard . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fisherdude]

Sure are right about the cost of rigging a trolling boat . Look at a fish hawk . I paid 300 $  for 840 fish hawk now the cost is 1200$ for new. Gas is not reason for less entries in my opinion  . The launch over here on the Finger Lakes had 25 vehicles and trailers in the parking lot yesterday.

Edited May 4 by fisherdude
.

[Kingfisher06]

I wish all these bass guys fishing smallies in Jeff County right now would switch over to salmon. Up here the parking lots are stuffed a week before bass are even legally targetable. Goes to the point of promotion-ever since ESPN deemed Jeff County the best smallie fishing in the world its been jammed packed. 

[HB2]

Also , there are no more door prizes to my knowlege. You could go and get your ticket punched and win some worthless item that at least you got something .  Although my brother got a 47 h when they first came out I still use  and I got a spinning reel . Nothing for the kids anymore  . Give them A lure or hat or something to keep them interested when they visit  the weigh station or sign up .  Cultivate the next generation . 

 

 

 

 

 

Also I remember Lowrance and Riviera coming to the ports and fixing your depth finder or demo downriggers . No celebrity on boats fishing showing it on the news . 

 

Those bass guys want to catch bass. 

 

And the best biggest king fishing is last week in July till 2nd week in Aug. And for first 2 weeks in Aug , no derby .  

 

[Silver Fox]

You guys may poo poo this statement, but youth sports the last 15 years are a full time gig 12 months out of the year.  Believe me, I lived it until recently and everyone fishing out there is probably a parent. There is just not the time for all that goes into to fish Lake Ontario.  

[Kingfisher06]

37 minutes ago, Silver Fox said:

You guys may poo poo this statement, but youth sports the last 15 years are a full time gig 12 months out of the year.  Believe me, I lived it until recently and everyone fishing out there is probably a parent. There is just not the time for all that goes into to fish Lake Ontario.  

As a softball coach for the last 7 years Im not going to be the guy who poo poos that reality. Kids these days and their travel leagues are something we barely had during my playing years. 

[Silver Fox]

9 minutes ago, Kingfisher06 said:

As a softball coach for the last 7 years Im not going to be the guy who poo poos that reality. Kids these days and their travel leagues are something we barely had during my playing years. 

I coached softball also and it amazes me what a racket travel ball has become. Also, parents are pushing their kids to a point that they can’t be kids anymore just to fill their own needs for Fakebook gratification.  It’s getting sad really. 

[LongLine]

How about we help put the shine back on fishing out there?  Look at any outdoor show/magazine.  They're very positive about the hunting/fishing experience. They show/talk about a lot more than just their catch to build up enthusiasm. (And I'm not talking about advertisements) This is a very popular site.

 

Along with pics of your catch, how about some pics of the sunrise? Your launch/retrieval experience? The Genny & I-bay (and others)  have some of the best launch sites around.  Anybody post a pic of going out?  The harbor? The shoreline? Other boats? (even ragboats?) Freighters? Lighthouses? An upwelling?  The skyline from the water? How about a little description of your overall experience and the joy of being out there in a positive manor? 

 

Bottom line: Catch is important but there's a lot more to being out there.  Constructive criticism is more beneficial than negativity toward a policy one doesn't agree with.
 

[GAMBLER]

Let's not forget the one big thing that turns a lot of guys off to the LOC.......  Dave Chilson has made a ton of changes that turned people off over the last 10-15 years.  No lakers in the fall, no steelhead in the spring, walleye division and now not a walleye division, can't hold fish over until the next day, weigh stations are not open late, salmon can only win the grand prize (this one could put a ton of $$$ back in Daves pocket this year) and prize structure changes.  This sport is expensive as hell.  Most can't afford all the must haves in the economy we have had since covid.  Weather has also been a huge issue this spring.  

[UNREEL]

All good points Brian. And only one weigh station in Monroe Co that closes at 3PM

[whaler1]

All that being said, and some very good points, I still love fishing the Derbies. I look forward to them every year. I look at them like a buffet, I stay away from the broccoli!

[GAMBLER]

7 minutes ago, whaler1 said:

All that being said, and some very good points, I still love fishing the Derbies. I look forward to them every year. I look at them like a buffet, I stay away from the broccoli!

Me too Bill.  The grand prize $$$ keeps me coming back.  I would kick myself if I didn't enter and have my guys enter and caught that grand prize fish.  

[HB2]

I love fishing these LOC derbies . I concentrate my trolling time around it . Anyone can win . 

 

And I liked the Orleans . 

 

I want nothing to do with the big boat tournament scene . I considered it long ago but I don't want to dedicate my fishing life to it . 

 

The LOC needs some long overdue tweeking.

 

Things I would like to see. 

 

The ability to fish alone . But I doubt that  will ever happen . 

 

 

A reasonable fee so anyone that comes on my boat is covered,  maybe 200$ that's 5 guys entry  . Especially the summer derby . If a guy at work, or visiting family member or your son's name is friend  wants to go he has to get in the derby and pay and most don't want to . I asked Dick about this a few years back and he said no way . He and Sue Oshman  together said it would cost them money ( he kind of showed his hand with that response). I said so instead of  getting 200$ from me you get 80$ . 

 

And seeing how this is the Lake Ontario Counties fishing derby . How about each county kicks in and no registration fee ? Anyone with a valid NYS fishing licence is eligible . I mean we waste money on everything else why not this as it's supposed to be a promotion thing for NYS fishing.

 

It seem like as little effort is put forth for the most profit at this point .

. 

How does it work ? Is this a private venture by Dick Chilson or is he in some sort of partnership with county of state . 

 

[whaler1]

3 hours ago, GAMBLER said:

Me too Bill.  The grand prize $$$ keeps me coming back.  I would kick myself if I didn't enter and have my guys enter and caught that grand prize fish.  

We have seen that way too many times haven’t we. 
 

[chinook35]

Memories 

I fished the old ESLO derbies for many years starting in the late ‘70’s 

the LOC can’t start to compare 

We would look out over the water from our camp on Sandy pond and try and count the navigation lights on the boats long before dawn. Hundreds of boats in Mexico bay 

lines from Mexico pt boat launch all the way out to rt 104 

fish in the high 30 lb class were common. 
the costs have made salmon fishing out of reach for many people 

 

[HB2]

The summer derby really is the Icon of the 3 IMO . The best fishing of the year , and I'm talking best weather , best waves ,  consistent temp once the lake stratifies and the fact the salmon are lake wide . 

 

Spring the Majority of kings are west. Derby starts show that . 

 

Fall use to be great but now with the Canadian nat reproduction , at least half of mature fish migrate there . So staging numbers are low on trib mouths that use to be great . Mexico Bay is not nearly what it was . And the prizes should be the biggest for the summer . 

 

So I would like the Summer derby to be say 6 weeks from July to mid Aug. Or 4 , second week in July to mid Aug . Out of state guys can plan vacations around it , kids , etc . 

 

But the tourny guys probably could not care less either way . 

 

And the state pretty much has its head up it ass on stuff like this so I'm not holding out much hope . 

 

Just keep calm and fish . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shakemsam]

You will never see the numbers like you did in the ESLO days. For one, ESLO began as only 4 days, so those days were really busy.. Also, the gear needed was really basic. Todays gear has priced a lot of guys out of this type of fishing. Dick Schleyer the OG of ESLO promoted the heck out of it where LOC dont do a darn thing.

That being said, I saw more boats off Rochester this year than for quite a while.