jeb1340

Dave, Here is a picture of the releases I use They are from Scotty and are very simple to use. You put the clamp any where you want on the down rigger cable and then just place your line in the pinch pad. They have worked very well for me, they hold big dodgers and release on most fish. I still get a few shakers that wont release them, but most of the time I don't have to worry about it. Just another option. I haven't ever tried the blacks or the roemers so I can't compare them to anything else. I'm sure someone else probably has though. Good Luck

I think I'll stick to the river and keep the boards in the car. If I need them I can always go get them. I think with the rain we are suppose to get tonight the conditions should be great Sat and Sun. Anyone else going out?

Are you willing to sell without the bases?

1 White aluminum pocket ladder. To see a picture: http://www.ggschmitt.com/ , click on ladders and it is the third one down. This ladder is brand new and has never been installed. Asking $150 or trade for trolling equipment. Pictures of ladder:

Just wondering if anyone has been on the Niagara lately? I'm going out Saturday or Sunday and can't decide if I want to fish the river for steelhead or go out on the lake and fish for browns? Tough call.

The Youngstown # is 716-745-3327. I have ran into these guys a few times, always pleasurable and a few of them are fisherman.

I wanted to see how much ice was left on Erie and came across the following satellite images. http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/ ... n=e&page=2 http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/ ... n=o&page=2 Hopefully, we will have a few more weeks of steelhead fishing in the Niagara. Check out all of the muddy water coming out of the river. Time to see if I can catch some brown trout!

How deep are the lakers usually? Are they up on top of the bar? I've never fished for them this time of year and the pictures have my curiosity working. I may have to try for them next weekend.

Here is a link that might help: http://www.gloutdoorstore.com/vmc9650ni ... size1.aspx Good luck

What about "HUNG LOW"?

If the fish don't like them, feel free to send them to me!

What part of the lake, and how big of a boat?

Chrome, If you go up Military Rd. just past Rt. 31, and before you get to the Rite Aid on the left hand side there is Grauer Rd. Make a left and I believe it is the 4th house on the right. You'll see some old coolers and a display case out front. He has turned his garage into a shop. The front half has bait and is open 24 hours, you get your bait and put the money in a slot. If you call ahead, some one will let you in the back and he has a fair amount of tackle, all stuff for the the Niagara. He must have 50 of ever color flatfish that they make. In the near future he is planning on having posted hours that he will be open. The address is 5425 Grauer Rd., sorry if my directions suck!

A-1 shut down by the launch, but their other location in Niagara Falls is still open. The guys in there were great, sucks to have to drive to the Falls now. The hardware store in Lewiston does have some bait. The # is 754-2301, I think they open at 8:00.

Storm Warning, will you be back this May, I'll try not to get the crew too drunk!

Heard of a few being caught downstream of the marina on the Canadian side (across from Youngstown Estates). They were fishing Emeralds and moving really slow. Good Luck

I have a 19' Sportcraft. I have used both the north and the south launch. The south launch is much deeper than the north launch, I can't give exact lengths but have seen some boats launched out of the south launch that I couldn't believe were being trailered. Ray is right during the earlier part of the year there maybe some screws or fastners to look out for. Usually by June or July they have the docks repaired. Also, I don't think they start charging until Memorial Day. The launch in Youngstown is another option and they did do a nice job on it, I just prefer the Fort because of parking, and it isn't next to a yacht club. Sometimes the blow boys tie up right next to the launch (even though there are signs there telling them not to). I prefer not having to deal with their "superior attitudes"!

I launch out of the Fort during the spring, summer, and fall. The only time that it is a problem is during the winter. The ice is usually to wide to get a boat out. As far as parking I've never had a problem, and if you have an Empire Pass it is all free. There is a north and a south ramp and I have never had to wait more than a few minutes to get in or out.

Western NY, the sales tax is 8.25% and then the 10 % that all fishing equipment is taxed. While doing the research for this I also found out that every arrow purchased in the US is taxed $0.43 along with the other taxes. I'm not saying that taxes are a terrible thing, they do fund numerous activities that I enjoy, but I do like to try and stay informed about where my money is going (not that we REALLY ever know!).

With all of the proposed new taxes and proposed license increase I decided to try and figure out how much money we pay a year in taxes and fees just to go fishing. I did about 20 minutes worth of research and found out some interesting and disturbing information. 1. Cost to register my 19' boat = $36 + 10 surcharge =$46 2. Cost to register the trailer = $22.50 3. Tax on 100 gallons of gas,in Jan of 2009 $0.579 per gallon = $59.70 4. Tax on $1000 of fishing equipment $0.1825 per $1.00 = $182.50 5. SuperSportsmen License = $68 Total = $378.60 I'm sure that there are a few taxes that I didn't consider (like the tax on beer), but I was shocked to see how high the actual number was. I would hate to see how much some of the charter captains pay a year. On a positive note, my wife asked "If I was trapped doing the same thing everyday for the rest of my life what would it be?" My reply "That's easy, FISH". Hopefully she starts talking to me again soon.

Before I bought my boat I was fishing with a friend on his, we were both new to downriggers and had read about using them but neither of us had even been on a boat with them before. We decided to move to a new spot and Chris had left the ball on the down rigger and set it on the side of the boat. We take off get to where we are going and realize that there is no ball and what were did all of the wire go. About a month later we were back out on the lake and took of with 50 feet of cable out. Luckily we both realized it before we lost it all. Still to this day I check the riggers twice before taking off.

I'm thinking about buying a copper set up for this year and have been following this discussion. What type of rod do you use??? I have a few extra Diawa Heartlands 9'6" Med. Would one of these work?

I went through a similar experience last year. I was selling a 85 16' to a friend and spent two months battling with the DMV. I was told to do a title search, which was returned, they set they couldn't do that on a boat older than 87. I can't remember all of the steps that we went through but what we finally were told was that the registration for the boat is considered the title and it is transferable. I had to re-register the boat in my name and then transfer it to him. If you know the person that you are dealing with maybe you can transfer it to him and then "sell" him the trailer for the cost of the boat.

www.walleye.com They have quite a few boats for sale that fall in that category. Good Luck.

The launches in Youngstown are open. I don't know if this is too far away.