Sluggo / NY

Nice fish Kevin! We were up this past weekend fishing just below the mouth out of Mud Bay. Picked up two nice eyes then ran to deep water and got into the browns. Great fishery up there. We'll be back there soon! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Any tips to calibating it on the water? I just put one in my Lund Fisherman to replace the old Sportpilot that died. Looks the same as yours except mine has a rotary knob on the controller. I'm just a but concerned because when I fire it up in my garage it comes up with a hardware error message.. which clears, but the controller reads about 320 degrees and the boats heading 180! We'll give it a wet test soon. Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Yep..

Spoke with my buddy who charters out of Barcelona. He fished the PA line and then Brocton shoals this weekend. Picked a few up both places. Claims that it's going to start getting good real soon! Hopefully my next report will be a "first hand" one. This working is really putting a damper on the important things! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Hopefully I'll be able to add to this thread. With the water warming so early.. we'll be hitting the eastern basin soon! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Glad to see some positive reviews. Just ordered one to replace the old SportPilot that crapped out last year. It sure was tough fishing without one! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

I'll definitely be out somewhere.. just not sure where yet. If I get the big boat out in time I'll be somewhere between Chaumont and Mud Bay. If not, I'll be hitting the Susky from my little boat. Can't wait! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Nice job Kevin! Can't wait to get back up there. You never know what you're going to catch out of those waters! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Nice eye Greg! That's even big for the Susky ! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Nice walleye! Boy.. that spot sure looks familiar . Those other pics. were nice as well. I was down in the Bahamas about the same time. Only got out once and picked up some snapper and a couple small grouper. Nice change of pace.. but I prefer chasing walleye! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Now I'm starting to get excited after seeing Stedke's report! We're planning a spring trip out there this year.. probably early April. It's been a while and it's a long haul (8 hrs), but what a walleye fishery! We get some hogs on the eastern end, but you'll wear your arms out if you hit them right out there! Can't wait! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Wow.. Nice eye! My charger's also running. Mid-forties tomorrow and the river's still open. I'm loving it! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

I've been running the same pair of Walker electrics for over fifteen years (on three different boats) and only had to replace a counter spring on one in all that time. They're smaller than most.. so they're ideal for smaller boats like ours. (I run a 1800 Lund). Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris) PS... Welcome Aboard!

I've had vacation to burn, so I've been hitting the river with the little boat a lot lately.. I think my wife said 12 out of the past 14 days! The action hasn't been fast and furious, but the quality is amazing! I've caught (and released) more big females this year than in the past five years combined! I'm talking about 6 to 10 pound eyes! I have no idea why so many, but I'm having a blast down there! I'm stuck working through the weekend, but then off till next year. Guess where I'll be? Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Some really great advice! I do a lot of solo cold weather fishing on the Susky in my 14 footer and some of the things I see down there amaze me. I've pulled guys out of the water twice down there after they flipped or swamped their boats. Both times I was the only other boat around! One piece of advice I would add.. to those in the little 12-14 footers.. keep your butt on the seat.. Don't stand up in them! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Welcome aboard Dennis! Nice to see another walleye guy here. Sounds like we ply the same waters. We've been fishing out of Barcelona for years.. and recently out of my brother-in-law's place on Mud Bay at the mouth of the St. Lawrence. We've got Erie pretty much down pat, but seem to struggle up on the river. Love to compare notes and always willing to accept tips and info Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Is your motor the Merc. block with the closed cooling system? If it is.. it's a piece of cake to winterize. Sluggo (Chris)

Jim..We sent ours back to Raymarine and it was sent back to us marked "unrepairable". It worked great until our last trip out.. then started going goofy. Let me know how you make out. By the way.. they told us that they make a replacement unit for the Sportpilot, but it's been recalled! Good Fishing, Chris

Andy.. Good to see another one coming over from the "dark side". I'll be getting to Barcelona as you're leaving! I assume there's a reason you're staying in Lockport? That's a pretty good haul to either Dunkirk or Barcelona. Not sure where the fish are now, but I much prefer launching at Barcelona. Launch is much better and there's tons of parking.. Dunkirk is a real pain. The only drawback is that Dunkirk has a fish cleaning station, Barcelona doesn't. But.. our motel has one. If you want to stay closer.. I can shoot you the phone# to the place we stay at.. clean, cheap and great parking for the rig right in front of the room. As for the fishing.. I haven't been out there this month, but I'll be starting in deeper water.. 80 - 90 ft. and running from 30 to 60 down. Dipsies work best for us, but boards with snap weights and riggers work as well. I have lead core setups, but rarely use it.. hate the feel of it (or lack of). Biggest difference for you will be the speed. I run from 1.8 to 2.2 for starters. I make my own harnesses, but most shops out there sell 3D rigs, which are tied on wire and hold up well. Leave your Dixie Spinners at home! If I can be of any help.. shoot me a pm or call me at 624-9743. Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

I totally agree with John's assessment. We fished out of Barcelona the last five days of the Southtowns tourney and managed to avoid a skunk, but our best day was only four fish. We'll be heading back out when the fishing picks up. Thanks for the updates John! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Mower.. You must be right across from my buddy Rick. He's got the little 38' SeaRay. Just told me he's got it sold and is getting out of boating... told me that when he sold his 32 footer also Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Ken.. Thanks.. I'll be in touch. Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Copied and pasted this post from another board. It was posted there just a couple of weeks ago. Interesting.... Sluggo (Chris) Saw them today at Fall Creek under the black iron... A guy was fishing egg sacs. In the short period of time I was watching, he caught one maybe 29 or 29 inches, and as big around as a softball... maybe 8-9 pounds. He also caught one probably 36-37 inches, and as big around as a damn football. That fish had to go 15.. I had never seen one as big as the "small" fish, until I saw the big one. I was shocked... Guy had a pile of big split shots above his hook,, and a sac laying on the bottom... These massive walleyes vacuumed those things up like suckers, and came up like logs... I have NEVER come close to a walleye that size, in almost 20 years of fishing for them.. My best is 27 inches and around 5 pounds.. This guy cuaght 2 monsters in minutes by accident... I wonder if the DEC realizes how big Walleyes can get in Cayuga??? There could be a monumental fishery here, if anyone wanted them here.. I know I am in the minority, but man those were impressive fish... Once in a lifetime fish, and a guy catches 2 in minutes... by accident. The irony....

Landsharks quote should be.. "There are walleye in Lake Ontario I haven't met yet"? Mike.. You've got some great info here from guys much more familiar with the area than me. Keep pumping them for more.. I'm taking notes! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Mike.. Didn't realize you were an "Erie" guy.. Barcelona? Sluggo (Chris)