CBish

300 feet -- ouch! Like Pete said, get 300 yards spool on some mono backing (25 yrds) and fill the whole spool with wire. If you want to use the 300 feet Here is how I would attach the 300 feet to backing, mono, super line or whatever. I would slide a 2 inch piece of shrink tubing over the wire then crimp the wire to a heavy duty ball bearing swivel. These swivels look like a cylinder with a cut in the middle and a hole drilled into each end. After crimping the wire to the swivel slide the shrink tubing over the wire, crimp and the end of the swivel and shrink it. Tie your line to the other end of the swivel with whatever terminating knot you like. This will give you a very smooth connection that will not frey or cut your backing. Most wire trolling is done with less than 300 feet out so use a heavy backing I would suggest 250 yards of 50# power pro in high vis yellow. Note: I use this method for copper and it is 100% effective, don't tie your backing to the swivel until after you melt the tubing!! Good Luck! CC

Both of the above posts I agree with. Choose a way you are comfortable with and change if it does not work. I would be concerned about long arm riggers off the back, as I prefer to have my stern riggers just out of harms way of the prop. It may not be a problem, if you do run into them crossing then shorten the booms on the long ones. Good luck, CC

Quick and easy -- put a spro 30# swivel (very tiny) between the line and leader it is quick, easy and is as strong as the knot that you tie your lure on with. Dont do this in flea season! CC

If I were looking for an inexpensive combo (less than $1500) I would consider the Raymarine A series. These are units made for fishermen by a company that is the leader in commercial electronics. I owned a Hummingbird 1197 and did not like the graphics or resolution of it, other features did not work well and color separation was not even close to what my 5" Raymarine digital finder could do. Add to that the issue of engine noise (both interference and in the water) and transducer options and I could not live with the 'bird. I decided to stick with my 5" finder (raymarine) and 5" gps (garmin) having 2 units does make a lot of sense that way if your fish finder goes on the fritz you can always use your plotter for location and estimation of water depth. I would stick with Raymarine, Furuno or Garmin for quality fishing electroncis. CC

Planerboards: 30# power pro, 10# PLine floroclear Riggers no fleas: 20# big game Riggers fleas: 30# big game Cons for big game: Large Diameter, starts off stiff but then limbers up Pros: Strong, cheap, Strong CC

April 10, 2009 After 7 days of constant high winds, snow and 4 canceled charters we finally were able to get out on the lake. The plan was to run to 30 fow and set lines on a south east troll that would put us right into the fish zone in 8 feet of water in the east bay. We were heading north at a speed of 20 kts when a swishing sound caught our attention. We were breaking ICE there was about 1/8†of skim ice on top of the flat, calm lake. Needless to say we turned around and headed back toward shore, setting lines as soon as we hit clear water. In April the key to success is finding the warmest water and sticking with it, usually that would be water in the 40’s today the warm water was 35.5 to 36.5 degrees. I did not have high hopes for the day. We began an east ward troll and hit our first fish on the set up. Fishing between ice and shore we only had a small area to fish—about 1/2 mile by 200 yards. We began tight circles and landed 10 fish before we finally got all 10 lines in. The crew landed cohos, browns and one small atlantic all 2-3 pounders, just right for the fryer! The wind picked up around 9:30 and we were able to move down the shoreline in search of some larger fish, which we found landing several of them and missing a couple of others. We trolled back to port ending the day landing 22 out of 29 fish. Not so bad considering we skimmed the ice for the coolers off the top of the water 8 hours earlier. HOT LURES Gold/black Rapala #11 (very hot) Hot Steel Rapala #11 Kaboom Goby #7 GFR jointed Rapala Speed 2.1 kts, water temp 35.5-36.5 Special thanks to Redneck Ray who navigated the ice & shore very well. WARNING!!! 1/8" of skim ice will cut 10# florocarbon like a razor blade!! Don't ask how I and 7 board lines know this ..... but after being cut off they will float on top of the sheet of ice that cut 'em. This was the first time I experienced skim ice and was one of the most interesting phenomenons that I have witnessed in a long time. CC

I think that it needs to be the same person all the way to the net. It is a question worth asking LOC/ESLO. CC

Thanks John, That reminds me of the day last year (see August 1st report at the link below), rough water right next to your Seaswirl. Could not buy a fish and each time we went by you -- you were hooked up sometimes doubled up. Again a crew from NYC and they rode me each time we passed: "We should be on that boat!", "Where did that white boat go?", "What's he doing that you are not?", "Call him again and see what he's using!", then after we lost sight of you, "NO!, you wouldn't want to follow that white boat -- he's catching fish!" Although they kept the preassure up they are a couple of good guys and will be back. It was a tough day out there for me--had to make it fun and not crack under the preassure. http://www.salmocharters.com/index_files/Page559.html MTC, CC

Story #1 Title: If it can't be fun -- find another boat!! I had a 5 man crew from downstate here is the fishing report from the two days they fished with me: Friday Returned to the 25N x 16W line. Began an north troll, but found the direction to be difficult. Turned the boat west and the rods began popping. Once they started they did not stop. We had 29 hits and landed 19 fish. We ran only 5 lines, 400’ copper, riggers at 80’, 90’ 100’ and a 250’ dipsy. The fish were big and hungry!!! Ernie landed a fish over 30 and Izzy had a 29 pounder!! Hot lures 42 second spoon 80’ down Moonshine Purple Nurple 90’ down Grape Picker 100’ down 400’ copper WMD & Glitter green apple fly 250’ dipsy, white/white Spin Dr. Green Sigg fly Saturday DITTO of Friday only the fish were 60’ - 85’ down and the dipsys were firing at 150’ - 180’. We boated 23 fish and had well over 30 hits, we lost count. The only difference today was the lack of the Jumbo kings. Same hot lures minus 20’ on depth. Add a black revelator/blue green Sigg - 180’ on the dipsy. Ok sounds like fun right? Well by the end of the second day I was out of my mind. I began cleaning fish at 11am with rods still down by 12:30 I had managed to only clean one fish and all seven rods out had taken fish. These guys were all about who's fish was who's, they had marked them when going into the box and now that I was cleaning them they were arguing about the ownership of each fillet as I stood there looking at them with fillet in hand. Well it took forever to get the fish cleaned and at 2:45 when they were arguing about the last fillet, I could not handle it any more. I lost it and told them, "IF you come back with me next year we will catch and release. I cleaned 36 fish for you guys and you still are arguing about who the last 2 pound fillet belongs to. You guys are a bunch of fish hogs and need to appreciate more the sport of fishing." Needless to say I did see them again in 2007 --- getting off another captain's boat. That is fine by me because it opened up a prime weekend for another crew -- a crew that was FUN!! CC

Not to blow the LOU horn or anything......BUT If you subscribe as professional you get some really neat links like graphical wave forcast and stuff like that. It is way cool and I am glad I spent the $20 to subscribe. That said it looks like thursday night thru Saturday morning will be ok with Friday being the best. CC

Last year: Moonshine Carbon 14 Multiple big fish!! This year: ????????????

I concur with Paul and Larry. I have been in the charter business twice. I was licensed in 1987, 19 years old and had my dad’s new boat at my disposal (word chosen intentionally). As a sophomore at SUNY Brockport, I thought it was great if someone paid me to go fishing, and I did not care what they paid me. The next summer I ran 150 trips and the boat into the “groundâ€. My dad, after fighting with me to take his boat on his vacation, turned the keys and the payments over to me. Lucky me I had my own boat. Lucky me I had $600 payments for the next 8 years. I continued running trips for the next 6 years then “big boy†responsibilities caught up with me – wife – kids – health insurance, ect. The low rates $320/day and failing boat made the business impossible so the boat was sold and I walked away 7 years in business, busy and broke even, well mostly broke. I went to work for 10 years as a corporate sales manager working for an old man that knew what running a business was all about. I learned a lot, combined that with my former charter experience – quit that job, and became a school teacher so I could try the fishing business again. Here is the formula for theoretical success in this business IMO, the details are what each captain must figure these things out for himself: 1)Set your priorities ie. Family – business – clients – fishing 2)Have a way to make a good living during the off season 3)Charge a price that allows you to make a good profit – my boss used to say if you don’t double your money it’s not worth doing. This may translate to a smaller boat or more trips to spread costs. 4)Don’t compete on a port level – clients of other captains are there to fish with them respect that if the people want to try another boat they will find you. Put your cards at the tackle shop and keep quiet. 5)Understand that a charter fishing trip is not about the number of fish in the box at the end of the day. If you yell at customers for loosing fish or get disgusted because client x can’t hold the rod upright you take the fun out of the day for the folks paying you. Think about it -- in the end a safe, enjoyable day with 6# of fillets is better than a safe, miserable day with 60# of fillets. It is not about you it is not about the picture at the end of the day and is especially not about what any other boat in the port is doing/catching! 6)As Paul said keep in mind that this is a business. I tell my clients: “I teach for a living and fish for fun, if we are not having fun I don’t want to be on the boat†while that is a true statement the real reason I am out there is for the paycheck. The fact that I enjoy the job is icing on the cake!! 7)Don’t turn away business, if someone wants a date that you have booked, refer them to another captain that you trust. The client will come back to you and the captain will someday return the favor. Stand by for some stories. CC

Larry, Thank you for your consideration of this topic. My reports are always honest, they have to be my clients go home and read them and nothing worse for clients that catching 1 fish, paying the bill then reading the captain’s report of a great day of phantom fish catching. You certainly may add the link and I am willing to copy the posts whatever LOU decides. I am well aware of the line between bragging and reporting. Myself if I had a day struggling to catch fish, I am after all the information I can get to tweak my presentation for the next day. Sure my ego is a bit bruised to hear Capt. X caught a limit of kings and steels, but not so much that I am not interested in how he done it!! Reality is that some days will be slow and on those days some will have located a pod of fish or a hot lure and catch fish. The whole idea behind the reports is to lessen the slow days for everyone participating by providing contemporaneous, pertinent information. Some are too proud, too stubborn or too old to learn so they take to complaining and gossip, the good fishermen we learn and change and learn some more that is what innovation is and that is what we do to catch fish. Will address this more in the charter tales thread. Good luck, CC

Unless you have some way for gradual release of the scent, I don't think that it does any good. How long does a water based scent last on a steel lure in a constant stream of 3 mph running water? In order to prove it to me you would have to show me fish hitting scented lures on the way down consistently. It has been said the if a dog can smell 200x better than a human a fish can smell 200x better than a dog, but you can't smell what is not there. Most dangerous would be oil based smell, gas, oil, wd40 oh wait some guys spray lures with wd40 and claim it works. GO figure!!??????? CC

Larry, I type a report for each day I fish and post it on my website. I used (2004) to copy it and post it on LOU as well, but then I was called on the carpet and banned from the site for posting my reports so I no longer do it. 2008's report are archived on my site if you want to take a look at them and if you approve of the style, I have no problem copying future reports (without fish pictures) to the reports section of LOU. Most likely I would keep fisherman's names in the first paragraph and the fishing details in the second paragraph and copy only the second paragraph. Let me know what you think, CC http://www.salmocharters.com/index_files/SalmonFishingReport.html

I used to have a link to the offshore bouys on the big O. One off of Rochester and another off of niagara. They don't seem to be working anymore. Can anyone refer me to another? Thanks, CC

There is no such arrangement at the oak. The best you could do is tent at lakeside beach state park and launch at the state or county launch. The Park is about 4 miles west of Point Breeze. If you have a small boat you may want to look into Green Harbour campground it is about 7 miles west of Point Breeze and you can pitch your tent at the end of your dock (or just about). You can find a link to Lakeside Beach State park on this page: http://www.salmocharters.com/index_files/Page909.html Good luck and keep checking reports for the latest info. CC

Shawn, We did the pens today and we also ate all the doughnuts so there is not use showing up tomorrow. Sorry we hogged all the fun. CC

Name: Carl Bish Boat Name: Salmo salar Boat Name Origin: The genus and species for the Atlantic Salmon; the only salmonid indigenous to the Great Lakes. Boat Make: Aquasport 280 Home port: PT. Breeze Years Fishing LO: 31

My boat used to be a soft top, thanks to Atlantic Towers, Barneget, NJ. It is now a hard top. Hard tops allow for mounting of all kinds of cool gagets on them from rod holders to radar. Hard tops also add rigidity to your boat, sort of like the top on a box. If you are buying used work you best deal on either, but if you end up with the soft top call AT and have them make you a hard top to your own custom specs. SEE BEFORE AND AFTER Good luck, CC

Jim, You should be able to launch at Lake Breeze Marina, just up the creek. The launch is right at their gas dock. I have launched a small boat there this spring. You can call them at 585-682-3995. CC

Duane, You should buy a used one now for parts or spare. I think that Narby's will have a good selection of MOONSHINES this year, when one of their colors is hot it is hot!! I am not impressed by much these days, but 3 of their colors have done that, the C-14, Purple Nurple and TNT. The OAK is going to be good this year. CC

Jobena, My point exactly!!!!! CC

Nick, Tell your WIFE congrats on getting a boat and You. Good luck with both. I know that the saying with boats is that the 2 days owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. I personally do not know if there is a correlating saying for marriage......perhaps we should ask our wives. Good choice on the scotty's. Have Fun, CC

Bob, Tie a 10' length of 15 - 20# floro on the end of your power pro and have at it, loosen your drags so your leader does not break, spring kings need to run and you need to let them do just that, then.........bring them back. Copper is a whole different ball game use a special reel put 300 yards of 30# Power pro then 200' - 600' of copper you may need to buy a new reel that can hold this much line. Copper sinks about 11' for each 50' out so: 200' gets you 44' 300'/66, 400'/88', 600'/132' decide how deep you want to go and you can always leave a metered amount out for less depth. Good Luck, CC