CBish

Tim, It is just my opinion. I have used many different types of systems dating back to the pro-combinator days. In my opinion any unit with a coated cable is not worth my time or money. If you feel differently that is fine, the question was about the fish-hawk and I answered it to the best of my ability within my limited frame of reference. To elaborate (IMO) – Digital display is better than dial, meter or mercury The fish-hawk is easy allowing me time to concentrate on fishing Surface temp and speed is a plus that you don’t have to pay for Non-coated cable systems have less blow back Coated cable counts out differently than uncoated cable No antenna needed to mount on rigger (to catch net, fleas, weeds and shirt sleeves in/on, or fall off) I like that I can take the probe off and bounce the bottom for staging kings and not worry about my probe (lakers too -- but I heard this from another guy as I would never target them ) You can run any type of release on your cable (including roamer stackers) You never get a false temp readout because of stripping of coating on cable All the Charter Captains that I know that run 100+ trips a year and paid full price with their own money for a temp sensor use the fish-hawk. (see disclaimer below) I have owed the two previous models without any problems that could not be fixed by a call to the company and I have never paid for replacement parts. I have had to buy a few probes that were lost due to cable failure. Furthermore, fishermen’s complaints of leaky probes and battery life has now been addressed and fixed. I see no down side to the fish hawk….plus it works and looks great. Oh and by the way, my display showed me a "low batt" message today indicating that my batteries have finally lost their juice that would be 12 full days of fishing and 2 nights that I forgot to turn the probe off, not bad---IMO. CC PS. Disclaimer….Salmo Charters and Capt. Carl (CC) Bish are not on the pro-staff of any electronics, downrigger, rod, reel, line or marine services company, neither is ANY profit derived from the sale of any brand of such items or services therewith. MOONSHINE lures is the only company that I am on the pro-staff of and may have a conflict of interest with.

Shade, It is the best fishhawk yet, and since the old fishhawk was better than any other down temp unit on the market that says alot. Nice display, rock solid readout, great battery life (mine have been going since April 6). Yesterday I had a solid readout all day from 80' to 180'. The best thing is that it is less expensive than the old fish hawk. This unit is down temp at a whole different level than the others on the market. CC

After 2 weeks off the water we finally got to wet some lines again. The lake was nice, calm and the morning was a slow pick on small silvers off the boards, firecracker and steely dan behind jets and 'rican, hot pearch and orange chartuse plugs. Fished the temp breaks from 100' - 250' Lots of fish on the bottom in 100 - 150' but never got them going. Lit the fish up from 1 - 3 pm larger steels and cohos same lures. We did take a small (6#) king on a 200' diver w/w+nsu. That was the only fish we caught below 15' in the water column. Maybe those fish on the bottom will be up and hungry in the morning! CC

As of this afternoon -- report from independent source -- Kings in 120 fow catching them near the bottom right out front. CC

Should have taken it to L & M!! CC Great job of back peddling CC

Welcome back! Thanks for your service. Take your time -- the season is just beginning!!!!! CC

Why would you need it? The NWS and CG does a good job tracking storms and making weather announcements on ch 16 when storms are approaching. For severe thunder storms they (NWS) even tell you when it will be in your area. For example, Niagara Falls at 0830 Rochester at 0945. Do you really want your laptop out there on a day when it is high humidity, rain pouring down and waves knocking anything not nailed down to the floor? 2 laptops = 1 radar, 10 vhf radios = 1 laptop, common sense = free. Just my 2 cents. CC

The answer is easy -- Move away from the pack. If you are in the pack you should avoid cutting of another boat's fish, but copper and long dipsy's are fair game. As one old time charter captain once told me in 1982 as he swiped by me and cut off my port dipsy -- "That's fishing!!!". Oh and those were the days when there was a pack boats so close you could talk to the guy going by you if he wasn't talking to the guy on the other side of him. We learned to keep our presentations short and our fish under control. CC

Qwerty, Thanks for the report. Nice Fish! Won't be long and the Kings will be here in force. CC

I have the new Raymarine Sport Pilot. It is AWESOME!! It is new on the market, computer controlled. http://www.buy-marine.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=62_63&products_id=718 There is a guy at this store that beta tested the unit last season, he can tell you more. CC

Did/do not know that Simrad has a cable system. Please advise -- link. CC

Yo Bird, Send them to me and I'll let you know!!! Look good to me-do any of them glow? gotta have some glow once the fish are deeper than 50'. I always wondered what people did in FL when the wind blows!! CC

LOL I use 7' Shimano TLD, Heavy action, not because I like them, but because I have them and they are cheap!! They do a good job tiring out the fishemen and then they just go to sleep or get hungry and start feeding me -- either way I win!! As for me personally -- I would never want to catch a fish on copper, in fact, the 2-3 times I pleasure fish in a year, I don't/won't run it. CC

First question is what kind of steering do you have -- cable or hydro? If Hydro you have many options if cable you have only one that I know of the Raymarine sportpilot. I do have a 2009 sportpilot on my boat and it is great. Easy to install, easy to use, I will be getting the wireless remote for it soon and I will not have to touch the steering wheel at all from lines in to lines out. Ask questions and shop around, but in your case -- if you want to fish alone or with guys that are worthless when it comes to the helm -- you love it!!! CC

John, Thanks for the report. Still waiting for a screamer off the downrigger here, I'm thinking they will be around here this week. CC

Jason, Sorry for your loss, we will keep you in our prayers over the next several days. May God bless you and your family during this time of sorrow. Carl Bish

Way to go Capt. Miller!!! Nice spring king, lets hope they stick around for the rest of the month.....summer!!! CC

You need your driver's license and birth cert. until June 9 after that you will need an enhanced DL or passport. A place to stay depends on your budget. You can't do much better than the Sheridan Falls View, but that will cost you. There are many motels both US and Can that are off the falls that offer good rates. I have not stayed in them for several years. The last several times up I spent the long dollar at the Falls View or stayed in Tonawanda and drove to the falls. Good luck CC

Fishing not so bad at the point today. A "take - what - you - can - get" day. Whole story here: http://salmocharters.com/index_files/SalmonFishingReport.html CC

Foster, Thanks for the report. What was the clarity of the lake water in 8' - 15' of water? Yesterday it was clear at the Point. I hope the waves darkened it up a little. Thanks, CC

DON'T over think it. Go simple. Start your set with basic "NK" like spoons, I'm only saying that because that is what lake ontario salmon eat. Run them 15' to 40' back off of your downrigger ball. Keep your balls 10' apart start in 60' (riggers at 55', 45', 35', 25') and troll north till they fire then circle. Best colors will be black/purple glow, 42 second, purple thunder and black magic. All in the standard "28" size. Put the same lures on your sliders maybe add a silver with orange diagonal or orange crush. If you are running dipsys run the same spoons on them, if you were a week or two later I would tell you to run flashers, but this weekend (early May) spoons typically out fish flashers. Or run a flasher fly on one side and a spoon on the other. Dipsys should set at 120 and 180 feet on a 2 1/2 setting with mono subtract 30 feet and go to the 3 setting if you have power pro. If you need help remembering what these spoons are go to the at the oak site (link to the left <----) and look at the popular spoon page. There is no place on the BIG O where the catching is easier then Niagara County waters in May. Keep your lines from tangling you will catch fish. Have fun, CC

Yep, we were heading south bumped the bottom, went to move the rigger up and the rod fired! The steelhead had gobies in the belly. The brown had zebras in hers. Go figure. CC

The big problem with jet are they can tangle other set-ups. That said, I have run the 50' off the out riggers with some success, I attach them to power pro about 50' infront of the lure. Like I said you have to be careful not to catch high riggers (long leads) and dipsys when putting them out. CC

Sean, I guess the question is why do you have to fish that deep when we catch plenty of kings from the surface to 100'? Who is going to drop 25# to 200' when the rods are popping at 60??? Makes for interesting reading though!! Maybe I'll add a 1# weight to my 600' copper that ought to get to about 200' -- pitty the poor sap that reels it in!! CC

WWIV, You will be happy with either the Church Boards or the Offshore Tackle Boards. Google either name to find their websites. CC