I have received a few calls, and a few texts, regarding the updates on LOT. Unfortunately, Twitter has discontinued the API we used to bring in the Tweets from our Captains. If you don't know what an API is don't worry most people don't. Its a developer term. However here is a quick lesson on what an API is. An application-programming interface (API) is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a Web-based software application or Web tool. A software company releases its API to the public so that other software developers can design products that are powered by its service.
We are going to try to get it up and running again, but it will take some time as the code needs to be re-written for LOT. I would like to open LOT up to our 'Pro' members, but I would also like the Captains Tweets to be highlighted so they stand out. I don't want our Captains Tweets to be drowned in the mass Tweets.
You don't need a mag diver to get to 100'. Mag divers will reach those depths with less line out, but sometimes getting it away from the boat with a 001 diver is better. On a 2 setting with 275-300' of wire out should get you to 100' down. Even when we run 4 divers we run four 001 divers. Very rarely do we go to a mag diver. We never use a snubber on our divers.
We've been smoking them pretty damn good too! No complaints here!
There is no way you will over fish this lake. Back in the hay days there were lines of trucks/trailers waiting to get to the Lake on derby mornings. You don't see that crowd anymore. The last two seasons have been oddities, and I think we are finally back to a "normal" season. Two years ago we had a very cold Winter/Spring. Last season was extremely warm during the Winter and Spring. This is traditional June. Fishing is slow as the lake stratifies.
If your not catching them your not in the right place.
As a looooong time Daiwa fan it hurts me to say this, but you can't beat a Tekota 800 with an update Tuna Tom Drag. You can get 150yds of 50lb backing, 500ft of copper, and your leader. Unfortunately, you should upgrade the drags on a brand new reel, but after you do so it will be sweet! These reels have been proven for many years now too, which is another perk.
FYI.......They went out yesterday. I am told they held them back a few days to do them up a little, and that there should be no complaints about this one.
Fishing the Toronto Islands is something I think every Lake Ontario angler needs to do at least once. You wont fish a better shoreline, or a prettier one for that matter. The structure is similar to the Niagara bar, and the fishing can be some of the best you will see on Lake Ontario. For some reason the Kings over on the North shore seem to fight harder than when they are on the South shore. I wish I could explain why!
Practice - We checked out some water to the East of Bluffers Park Marina first thing Friday morning. The screen was never there. We gave it a few hours looking in tight and out deeper, but we couldn't buy a bite. We picked the rods and headed West to the filtration plant and set back up trolling West. The further West we got the better the screen got on our Humminbirds. The gap seemed to be the best picture for us all weekend. Throughout the rest of the day we would go on to pick a few mid 20lb Kings, and an annoying amount of Coho's. We never "crushed" them, but we had a game plan to start with on Saturday morning.
Tourney - We headed right for the Toronto Islands at blast off, and our picture wasn't bad. We put out our spread which included all three of our Cannon Downriggers, two wire divers, and a 500' A-TOM-MIK copper. Flasher/Fly combos were on everything except the copper, which had a meat rig on it. The bite wasn't there right away, and it took 45 minutes to watch the first rod go. After that we dialed in on the fish and would end the day taking nine shots. Five of which we boated. Four were in the low 20lb range, and the fifth was a 8lb King.
Our hot presentation was our divers on tourney day. They accounted for four out of the five we weighed in. Those four diver shots all were pulling an A-TOM-MIK Glow Blue Hijacker fly. Two shots came with it behind a Hammertime flasher, and two came behind a Double Crush Green paddle out 275-350' on a 1.5 setting. The fifth fish took an A-TOM-MIK Hammer fly behind a Hammertime paddle. We missed a couple fish on meat rigs throughout the day. One was on a deep rigger, and the other was on a long copper.
While we fueled up the boat, after dropping off our cooler, we started to hear how tough it was for teams who fished in many different areas. We knew we had a good day given the tough bite, but we were still short one fish from our tourney limit. When the fish hit the scales we slid into 3rd place, but by the end of weigh-in we would end up falling into 5th place. That worked for us! Anytime you finish in the top ten in a tourney you did well!
I wouldn't get crazy with junk lines. Instead try going to a 30lb wire on your divers. You can cover more of the water column because the wire will allow the diver to get deeper, and tripping them is much easier.
I'm not going to go there. That's something I don't think we can ever scientifically prove. I did watch a Coho go from the surface to a 90' rigger one day to whack that spoon. I've heard of stories where it turned someones day around by putting them in the water. I guess it comes down to your confidence in something.