chinook

Mark, once again thanks for spearheading this last year. I had 2 salmon in the summer derby on the board at the same time that held for quite a while. It was a little frustrating not to see the boat name at that time. Thanks again. Now if only you could work your magic with the 9:00 cutoff for the fall LOC

Chrome, nice pics as others have mentioned. Just out of curiosity, which airport did you fly out of and into? I'm wanting to go Alaska soon, and last I looked into had me going into Seattle then onto Alaska. I was looking into the Kenai area though-

Gene, personally for wire divers I like the Heartland diver rods, with the twili tip. You will get varying opinions on this but these have been a great set up for many thru the years. On a side note, I don't use a snubber behind the diver. Best of luck with what ever you decide.

Anyone have any info on what is happening at the Oak regarding the pens and water temps? I know that they arrived on the 15th and things seemed to go well from what I read. But unsure of the latest. Don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but honestly I don't put much faith in the direct stock. Been through it before as many others have, and seen some not so good results of such. Hope I'm wrong-

Ray, that is funny about Mr Wilson. You never know what you will find this time of year floating out on the lake. As far as downsizing, that is why at most times I have at least 1 mini black magic stinger somewhere in the spread.

cwmwnw- I think I got that right If you don't want to setup with the catamaran style boards simply use the in lines such as Church or Offshore Many have taken alot of fish using these. T hese can be deadly at times, esp in the shallower waters-

LastChance, Paul is absolutely right about catching your first king. I live in NW Pa. as well. Little better than an hour to Erie, close to 3 1/2 to Lake Ontario for me. I always head for the salmon and trout of Lake Ontario. I know I miss some phenomenal walleye and perch fishing of Erie, but been doing this now for 30 years and it kind of becomes addictive. So you have now been forewarned

Fireplug, there a a few variables that come into play here. First do you run any diver rods off the sides currently? If so, I'd then mount the base on the transom corner. As mentioned, make sure that you can reach the cannonball easily or use a retroease. You could then fish this directly straight back or simply lock it into a 45 degree. This would provide a little more clearance then on the sides so the diver rod tips would clear esp on a savage initial strike. Next what make did you get. ? If it is a Cannon, I'd shorten the boom up to possibly 3 feet, if this is then the way you go. Even fishing straight back this will provide enough clearance to clear your worry about the prop. Are you talking about just one rigger for now? Even if so, you could then place the next one on the opposite corner, using the same method described. I know there are many who like the longer booms on their riggers. From what you describe, you won't have the amount of lines in the water as some, thus that is why I suggested this route. For greater coverage, esp. once the thermocline sets up, you could then use a directional rigger weight. Setting up your rigger in this fashion, not only provides ease of loading but also I.M.O. but also provides a means in which will give you the least amount of interference from other aspects. Is this an electric rigger or manual? Reason I ask, if it is an electric I would stay lower profile just off the swivel. But if it is a manual you may want to consider using a small riser to allow your hand to clear the gunnels or transom depending on the outlay of your boat itself. Hope this helps and best of luck- Duane

Gene, I did a little research on your request about "Nothing But Net" If you go to the LOC web page and look under past winners ( '06 or 07) there was a boat that went by that name. Having said that however, if you like it, I'd go ahead and use it. Especially if it was your son who came up with it. There are other ports where a boat name is shared. One of them being at the Oak. I know of a gentleman who fishes out of a 24' Thompson hardtop that goes by "Somethin Fishy" This gentleman is from the Cleveland Ohio area but has fished the Oak for many years. Just in the last couple of years there is now another boat who has taken on this very name. Has it caused any confusion for either of them Not that I'm aware of. Best of luck it what ever you decide. Have fun with the family and remember that your son gets the screamer that almost spools you ---Duane

Tom, thought the same thing about him looking like Whitey. But have to say, that is a great hat the boy is wearing. Go Steelers.- jt-6- congrats on him taking a nice brown. He is now hooked for life. As far as forgetting a few items, think we all do on occasion. Look on the bright side, you remembered the drain plug.

Hank, thanks for your follow up on this. -Duane

81 views and not a single reply? I don't fish the Rochester area but some of the most widely used are 10-60-68-80-82. Others use the lower such 5-9. 19 and 66 Hopefully someone from your area will chime in on this. But I hope this helps-

Gene, I don't know if it is at Sandy or not, but I think I recall the boat name " Nothing but Net" from some area on Ontario. I could be mistaken here however. Having said that, I tried to get a thread started about boat names and their origins just a few weeks ago. I think there were only about a dozen responses on this. Which in all honesty surprised me. Again this leads me to suggest that maybe there should be a Boat name section and home port of call. That would then possibly enable many to not duplicate names that may be used currently in that area, but also familiarize others to who is actually fishing out of what ports. Granted there are many who travel to various ports, such as myself. But my home port would be the Oak. Best of luck in whatever name you choose however.-

Being in manufacturing, that doesn't surprise me. Try quoting a job and be told that material costs are only good for 3 days. :x Then have your customer submit a P.O. 3 weeks later only to find that the costs are up substancially. I saw an instance just 2 weeks ago where an order duplicated in less then a month. The very cost of the same material went up almost 40%. Can be and is frustrating at times. But at least its a job-

Canadian Hi pressure system allows for light and variable winds. This is usually associated with a dry air mass that makes for some ideal situations. The leading edge of this however can bring with it sustained winds( over 20 knots) from the NW that can in turn shove the thermocline to great depths once it is set up. Winds for the NE can turn the lake over shoving cold waters into shore and some of the warmer waters out into the middle of the lake- Usually when this happens, and the fog sets up off the creek mouths, many will venture out and try and locate surface temps at app. 56 degrees. Worse case-tropical depression of course. Next on shore winds from the N- greater than 20 knots. Ideal as described but I don't like to see it flat either. Light and variable 5-10.

Very seldom ever run 4 riggers at a time now. But when I do I use the Cabelas 12# black directional on the outdowns, and fish an inverted V on the 2 center riggers. Can't remember the last time I've had cables cross using this method.

One of the first O.B. that I bought was a '56 Johnson SeaHorse 10 HP. That was one of the most reliable motors that I have ever owned. Sold it to my brother when I moved up in size. He still has it and it still starts on the first pull every time. That was a hell of a good motor I.M.O.

I'd use the albright knot going from leadcore to fireline, with a dab of Sure-Lok glue. I've done this in the past and have never had a knot slip. Some may suggest the "Willis" knot but IMO fieline being it is so small dia . the best route is that of the albright. Tied right, it is relatively small in size thus allowing it to easily pass thru the guides.

Ray, heres to hoping you get better soon. Even though you got many of us on that 22# rainbow Take care and get well-Duane

Ray, sure sign of spring when the Oak reports start on a regular basis Many thanks to Joe and Shirley for once again providing some of the latest and best info from the Oak area. That goes for the charter captains and rec anglers who unselfishly provide that info for them to post as well. On a side note- since many charter captains and others do provide this info to the public at their own free will, please be courteous and use common sense when fishing such ports. I've seen boats literally follow some of these guys out, only to set up within a very close proximity of them. The Oak is one area, and I know there are others where most are not reluctant to divulge the latest on the water info. But give those and others plenty of room to work an area. It's an awful big lake out there.

As far as the rods themselves, the Heartlands are a very good rod at a relative inexpensive price. As far as line, no doubt, load up at "least" 1 with wire. The other you could "consider" mono .Reason being,when the targets are high in the water column esp steelies the mono dipsey setup can out shine the wire at times. As far as braid that would be my last option if in fact you are only going with 2. But if the budget allows for you to add a third, I'd still put on that reel an extra wire rig. Giving you 2 wire and 1 mono. Best of luck in whatever you decide. However if you go with the wire, make sure to replace the current rod tip with a twili tip.

I currently have the FishHawk, and it does OK. But when I go to upgrade no doubt about it I'll be getting the Depth Raider. Lot of positive comments on this unit just about any where you look. Also, there is talk about this unit at some point soon being able to reach depths far greater than the other down speed temp units currently are able to obtain.

Cleiher-I would say yes that the fishery is more "stable" once the thermocline develops. Having said that, if you in fact you have a smaller boat say 16' perhaps, You may want to consider the near shore fishing for browns, meaning your target areas are those close to any outflows or warm water discharges. Thus you wouldn't have a long run from your point of origin.That being April-May- Now if you in fact have a larger vessel, where weather may not be as much as a concern ( not saying one shouldn't monitior the weather- Safety first) then yes I would target into the months of summer. Again, as always there are the exceptions. One being the Niagara bar area during the month of May. That area in and of itself can be and is explosive at times. Hope this helps- Duane

cleiher, It all depends. I know that is not want you want to hear. To say to go the third week of June for instance would not be on my high recommendation list. One never knows obviously what type of weather you will have then as on a given day- On top of that, the lake is often at times in transition, so fishing on occasion can be tough esp, prior to the setting up into its' thermocline. Which once this happens ( I always guesstimate that is around the first of July) But early spring fishing say in April near the shore lines can be phenomenal for browns thru May depending again on the weather and its effect on the lake. Throw in occasional salmon as well. Now the month of May "typically" can be explosive off the Niagara River and to points west and East of there for lakers and salmon. That fishery then will work its way to the east as the latter part of spring progresses. So in general as they say go when you can for a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work Now if you were to ask what month in lieu of what time this spring- given only one choice personally I would take the month of July probably later in the month. Some will say August and others may pick Sept as the salmon make their way back to their points of stocking.But the fishery of July (usually-off the Oak) is next to none I.M.O. On the right days when conditions are right, this being after the themocline sets up- and the ingredients are there- that being- down temp-baitfish- thus leading to the the predators. browns,kings and steelies can be had in the same day knowing how to approach this. That comes over time, but the best teacher is time spent on the water itself. As Musky mentioned, there are plenty on this site who are more than willing to share their insight. What it took many years for some to obtain a certain degree of knowledge of this fishery, thru trial and error, is now often many times faster for the newer generation coming into this with the use of the internet. And its wealth of knowledge that is available thru sites such as this and others.

Lefty, if you think that stress may be an issue by all means find a way to secure the mast. A stainless sub plate to start with if you can get access to underneath it. If not, I was faced with a somewhat same situation where I simply took a turnbuckle with 2 fasteners and secured off my bow rail. I took a piece of 2-6 and cut it long enough to straddle the bow rail itself. Anchored it to the rail using 4 U bolts. Mounted the mast on top of the wolmanized lumber and secured the mast as mentioned above. This did 2 things. It strengthened the mast which was very solid, let alone it elevated it much higher thus allowing the boards greater separation out to the sides of the boat. Hope this helps. But the mast themselves without the proper mounting will create metal stress and fatigue-Duane