I run clippers for flatlines and Scotty power grips for coppers and cores. I run the small ones for cores and coppers under 300' with spoons and the big ones for long coppers or coppers with flasher/flies
If you can't afford doing a couple charters, look into finding someone that will take you out. Lots of guys are looking for someone to pitch in for gas.
I have seen some lakers in small Lake O tribs. There is a strain of lakers in Lake Ontario that spawns in the Niagara River so yes some lakers spawn in rivers/streams. I think you might be onto something Sk8man about them coming into tribs to feed. As for the skinny body, I ran into a bunch of lakers like this from Canadice. They all had rubber baits in their stomachs.
The DEC needs to change the regs by a lake to lake basis. 5 pike any size is way too much for some waters. The issue with pike in Conesus might not be just a catch and take issue. In the older days, pike used to have a healthy population of perch to eat. Now they are eating more alewives and no perch.
Ice derbies offer too many oppuritunites for cheating. Catch and release tournies would only make it easier. This derby catch and keep or catch and release, will be easy to bring a fish to the scales that was not caught by the rules.Last thing, What is the payout going to be with only 55 entrants with an overhead of $15,000 ?
Only pick them up by the eyes if you plan on eating them. The DEC has a little article about the vertical thing. It can damage their spines and internal organs.