chinook

Fishing at the Oak after the thermocline sets up. A high pressure leading edge with sustanied winds from the N.W. will push the preferred temps way down deep. However, a sustained N.E. wind will pile the cold water back onto shore, sometimes causing a fog bank to occur. I often find that is when one needs to run offshore and locate app. 56 degree surface temps, and fish the top 30 feet of water. Hope this helps.

I wouldn't doubt that could happen. Happened to me back on May 12th of 02. Six days after the spring LOC, we boated a 31# 8 oz. king that was officially weighed in at Captains Cove. Beat the spring winner by almost 5 pounds. Caught off Golden Hill in 90 feet of water on Michigan stinger. This can be validated on the Oak site under their archive page.

Guys, just got off the phone with a main contact out west-Niagara Bar- and in all honesty it didn't sound good at all. I was planning on heading up to the Oak-and points west this weekend, and after his bleak report decided it may not be worth the run. He said you can catch all the lakers you want ,but kings are few and far between. He informed me that he was out a day or 2 ago all day and boated 1 king of 15 #. This guy knows what he is doing. Lets just hope that with the Erie ice leaving later this year that has something to do with it. Any other theories? Best of luck to all who are fishing and be safe.

One tip for those who may not know, esp. for those who consider an extension as Skeiner said, once the target is in the net, as soon as possible, turn the but end of the handle towards the sky, in lieu of parallel to the water.This will not allow handle or extension to bend, esp when boating a target of significant size. Just bring it it hand over hand, and target will be sagging in the net below. Also, this as simple as it seems, allows for not hitting those who are near by with the net or handle for it is not moving side to side during the netting process.

Ray and Fishdance, Thanks for your followup regarding the Guppy. Not wanting to rain on this thread as far as Fishdances' post and his selling of his boat But, I guess somehow this is just a small way to keep the Guppy's memory alive. One bit of info for you 2, since you both fish the Oak, is that in true to form from Daves' widow and family, that they upon posting his obituary requested in lieu of flowers that all memorials be sent to the Oak Orchard Penrearing project. The reason I mention that, is this year would be the one for any returning 4 year olds. So in some way the Guppy continues to touch the very sport he loved. Ken- best of luck in selling your boat. It is a beauty. But I guess it would be a real shame if in fact you had to use it again this year:)

Thought that it may be you. I was one of Daves' best friends. Use to go by by 3C's now it is Heavenbound. I don't know if you knew it or not, but he was just ready to semi retire at age 59. He and his wife just bought a 35 foot trailer,moved it to the campgound, looked at and bought a 24' Penn Yan in late Aug several years ago, only to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 2 weeks after he picked the boat up. Needless to say when they found it it was in stage 4. On Deceber 28th '03 he passed away. 5 days before he died he gave me the Penn Yan, and our other good friend he gave all his tackle to. So in memory of Dave I named the Penn Yan -HeavenBound- for I would like to think that between me witnessing to Dave and him being right with the Lord, that he now resides in a much better place. He was a hell of a good friend and fisherman as you mentioned. Fished with Dave for close to 25 years on the big lakes. Anyways, good to touch base with you. Sorry to hear that you are selling. If you want to someday, touch base with me, and maybe something could be worked out getting together at the Oak. Take care.

Hey Fishdance, would you be the one who knew the Guppy several years ago who fished out of the Oak? He sometimes stayed at the North of the ridge campground.

First, dates on the calendar are only a rough estimate. Not sounding to sinical here, but each year could be somewhat different. Granted, a certain date from one year to the next could give an app. idea. Having said that, I tend to agree with Yankee on this. If you would have asked this in mid Jan. the response would have been different due to the relative mild winter we had up until that point. But this unusually cold weather as of late, will have the targets piled up from the Niagara area -west at the time you are looking at in my opinion.

Been fishing the great lakes for the better part of 3 decades now, and have used many different riggers on the market whether it be on my boat or someone elses'. Having said that, I'm currently using (2) Cannon Digi-Trol IV, (1) mag 15 and (1) mag 10. I am very pleased with the Cannons, and personally have had little problems with them, especially with the amount of time on the water for me. The reason I use a mag 10, is with the use of my down speed and temp on that rigger. The digi-Trol and 15 retrieval rate is very quick, so much that my setting for the digi trol is set on the medium setting, which I believe is 150 f.p.m I feel that to much is made of the high rate of retrieve with esp. the new 250's. Personally I don't want the probe to ascend at that kind of rate. However, there are many good makes of riggers on the market. I'm partial to Cannons', having no ties to the company what so ever. Good luck in what ever you decide.

I noticed last Sat, after being up at the Oak, and driving home to PA. that there appeared to be alot of ice yet on Erie. So it wouldn't surprise me if it is still in.

Erin, I think that most on this board know that your heart is in the right place, meaning if there was any way, shape or form that you could have helped out, we know that you would have. I'm like you, in that sometimes distance hampers me in helping out as much as I'd like to. Mick, When I left there on Sat. the pens were not going into the water that day, last I knew. The Oak report stated the pens were in. Maybe just a misprint, or did they in fact put them in later?

Jolly II and Ray, thanks for taking that post in the context that it was meant to be. That being an April's Fool joke. I was looking for Tom (Longline) or some of the other characters to post before me. Anyways, for some reason Ray, I knew that you would make a followup on this, knowing how much you like the Oak. Was up at the Oak for the construction of the pens on Sat. All looking pretty good thus far. Fish should be arrriving real soon. Thanks again to esp. Bob Songin and others for this undertaking, which provides many with a phenominal fishery. Lastly, as far as posts off the wall as above, this is it for me for this year. Next April 1, who knows.

First report of the year. Fished out of the Oak as usual. Managed to boat 4 kings all around 15 #'s. Slow troll, flutter spoons were hot. Inside waters were colored nicely, so we loaded up there for what we knew would mainly be browns. Did 12 in just over 2 hours. Best coming in at over 15. Sticks off the boards were the weapon of chioice. Just when the flat line ripped off with what we felt was a king of extreme weight, the damn alarm went off. Happy April fools' day guys. Best of luck this upcoming season and be safe as well. Just a matter of time before this is a reality.

To answer question 4, In my opinion for what it is worth. Get the heavy duty. I use the Big Jon stanchion mounts that you refer to for certain applications. Ex- spring time fishing for browns, use of a core rod, etc. But when it comes to pulling a dipsey- wire, braid or mono, cut no corners. There is alot of drag on this, and with the amount of jingle invested from rod, reel, wire and rigging at the working end, what it the sense of taking even the slightest chance of losing a rod overboard. Personally, the current Big Jons that you are now using for most applications will work fine. But here again, have a savage king or steelie strike a wire dipsey rig off one of the stanchions, and you may wish you invested it the heavy duty. Been using them since they came out many years ago, and have nothing but good to say about them.

These came out some years ago. I saw them over at the Cleveland IX center when they first came out. I don't own one and really don't know of anyone who does. At the time I looked at them ,I felt that they personally wouldn't benefit me that much. Maybe someone who has tried one will say something different.

Bill, was your guides name Dennis Hull?. Kind of looks like him from what I remember, he being the maker of the Flash-Rattle and Dive. Just interested if so, if he made mention of them and how sales were going. Also, has anyone tried them last year? As Tim mentioned, neat looking fish.

Bill, winner being caught from a Penn Yan. I like the sound of that. Only on a smaller vessel than yours, from a 24' Contender Best of luck with your new rig this year and have a safe one as well.

Out of Olcott. I like your positive thinking as far as weight, but think you are a tad heavy. I'll say it will come in at a top weight of around 27. Reason I say Olcott is that I believe by the end of the derby, you will see a more dispersed fishery from the Oak to the bar, with a greater concentration of people fishing the western basin, with the relatively mild winter we had with the exception of Feb. and early March. We should see the kings spread out somewhat instead on being piled up off the bar. Which to me is a positve thing.

BIll, I think that most would agree that in order to maximize your catch that both fishfinder and speed and temp would be needed. No one has said otherwise. Having said that, the question was which could you not be without, meaning either/ or. Again, if I were limited to one, it would be the fishfinder for reasons already given. I fished without it for years and learned to read the cable angle, bubbles, cable direction, dipsey tip action and other variables. As waterlogged mentioned, G.P.S. S.OG. is a means to monitor ones speed. Granted, it is not at the ball, but one of the best unnamed, highly reputable charters out of the Oak will tell you that he focuses in on his G.P.S. and favors 2.5 S.O.G. on many occasions and doesn't use his downspeed each day. So yes, no doubt one is somewhat limited if not using a down speed/temp. I'll take my chances if limited to one, with the fishfinder. Fish the marks. No takers, change the angle of approach, speed up, slow down, change lead lengths, I think you get the picture until something fires. At least I know I'm on bait, and fish. The 3 ingredients needed to put fish in the boat usually are, bait, fish and temp in that order. With the downspeed I only have one. With the finder I have 2 out of 3. And as Meatloaf once said, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Yankee, have to agree with you. I fished for years without a speed and temp and caught alot of fish. Granted they are nice to have, and will add to the catch .Having said that, there are times when you should fish the marks, as well as locating bait, which is a key ingredient. One can tell relative speed by watching the cables as Yankee stated, also watching rod tips with say a thumper rod. Another consideration would be you are fishing blind for not knowing the water depth. Lastly, many locators can pick up the thermocline once it sets up giving an idea where preferred temps are located. No brainer for me, go with the fishfinder in my opinon.

Jerry, I'm sure that it is just a matter of time before you boat the 30'' plus. These fish are truly to be appreciated. That is why I came so close to releasing it at the time. By the way, I'm still waiting for my first 20# brown. Best of luck in this upcoming season.

Nice fish. The best Atlantic I ever boated was 28 1/2'' long. Had an unnamed local taxidermist tell me any Atlantic over 24'' would be considered a trophy. So needless to say I decided to have it mounted,dropped off by a friend. When they went and wrote up the work order for the mount, the lower half the the 8 was almost enclosed looking an awful lot like a 6, unbeknownce to me until I picked the Atlantic up. As luck would have it,they went and mounted it for a 26'' form. It is quite obvious that the fish was not stretched at the tail for there is almost overlap of the scales and outside covering. It is currently on my wall as is. But every time I look at it, wished now I would have released it. It deserved a better fate. Thanks for letting me vent a little. Again, beatiful fish.

Mick, glad to hear that you got things worked out. You have to give yourself more credit at times. Best of luck with not only your setup ,but thru the upcoming season. On a side note-Since I normally fish out of the Oak, there are times when I'm a man or 2 short. Maybe if you are interested you can tag along sometime. I fish out of a 24' Penn Yan and would always have room if you would like. Just a thought.

The Oak for 28 years and counting. Someday if it's Gods' will, possibly my semi retirement place of residence in the not to distant future.

Tom, again, thanks for your followup on trying to help Mick in his quandry. I, like you would make a spacer to adapt, if he chooses to use his Riviera swivel. I'm always looking for some good help, for it is hard to find. Need a job?