NitroMusky

I read the story...line wrapped around its gill plate 4 or 5 times during the fight and essentially strangled itself as it couldn't flare its gills. still a shame but needless to say i feel better about the situation [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

What we need is for someone to catch a true 70 pounder. Short of that would be to wipe the slate clean and start over going forward. If that were to happen (it never will because NYS did not find the Lawton evidence incontrovertible), I agree that the largest on record be found and use that as a starting point for considering a 'new' record catch. However I respectfully disagree with the idea of installing a prior catch as the record. It would be mired in an illegitimacy of it's own, which does not get us out of the current dilemma. Namely, there may have been other, larger catches which were never correctly verified, submitted, or even kept because the angler knew the fish didn't surpass the 70lb mark (correctly verified per NYS regs is likely a particular issue with most of these private contests/records). Can't replay history so anything installed as the record would always have a big * next it's name too. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Thanks gambler. You're right. Those regs don't provide any meaningful protection for spawning females, which I'm told starts at 17 inches. 53cm works out to about 24inches, So that leaves not even a year of growth before it can be harvested. If it were me I would lower the upper end of slot a few inches from 86 cm-roughly 34in for us Americans- down to 28 or less. I would also eliminate harvest above the slot for fish less than say 40. Point being is there would be greater numbers of young of the year due to higher spawn rates. it provides greater numbers for those who want to eat them, but forces people to take some of the smaller ones (thin the herd of so to speak) while protecting for a time the spawners that grow through the slot, so that they can can breed... not to mention give folks a chance at fighting some decent sized fish. Maybe my suggested sized are off slightly but you get the idea. Catch em to eat em or try to catch a trophy, but don't eat a trophy IMHO. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

I wasn't trying to insinuate anything or start something. i know most up there are very good about catch photo release, but I also know perspectives can change when the fish of a lifetime is in the clients hands,be it wanting to keep or even get that one or two extra picture...the guide relies on those fish for his livelihood so I have no doubt about his ethics [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Throw out that record and you start a whole new round of kills, starting out rather small and gradually increasing in size, which will also include some which people guess might have a chance at the beating the record at the time (who don't have the correct equipment on the boat) and are proven otherwise on shore. Let the record stand...once a record is recognized, the burden of proof is on the naysayers to disprove it with incontrovertible evidence. Sounds like a game of he said-she said with the Lawton fish based on what i've read, and being so far in the past, new incontrovertible evidence is unlikely to emerge. Someone has to beat that mark IMHO. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

I was going to make a comment about the fish ending up in the freezer but held my tongue. Here is what I know...cold water equals a subdued fish that doesn't fight as hard and gets to the boat more quickly and is certainly easier to release than a similar fish caught during summer, or even early fall. I also saw pics with two different anglers which could mean too long out of the water...then again one could have been taken after they tried to release it. Only they know what really happened, but I do know that fish won't be helping to rebuild the fishery or passing along it's proven DNA ever again. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

next year sol? cmon the seasons not over yet! the susky flows into PA... sluggo, ive heard of worm harnesses but a walleye harness is taking it to a whole new level [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

I was kinda thinking the same thing, like arctic circle! [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Where they go during or after? [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

typically october but exactly when depends on that years weather, how warm the lake got during the sumner and the specific cooling pattern in the fall. just look for murkier water and crap from the bottom floating or suspended. fast or very slow and unnoticeable turnovers are possible, as are double turnovers [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

How far north you prepared to go??? [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Interesting. What was the regulation they used up there? I would think that a narrow slot for harvest would allow folks the opportunity to catch some to eat while allowing many to grow through the slot. As it stands now without a slot there are plenty that reaching breeder size and reducing anglers odds of catching one in the slot would help increase this in the case of conesus. Maybe not so much in colder waters where the fish grow so slow that they remain within the slot for a long time. In a perfect world C and R would be the way to go, but I respect peoples desire to have some for a meal as well...there has to be be a happy medium that would allow for some real trophy potential. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

slot limit [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Here's the fish that Zach mentioned...my first great lakes muskie. He and I picked this one up on leadcore last wednesday trolling the south gap. not a slob but 44in made for a most successful trip. The conditions turned favorable for a couple days and we were fortunate to make it out there during that window (and on a nice day too!), but by the time I was able to get back out there on Sunday, the graph wasn't looking nearly as good and the results reflected that...one good rip over the deep hole, but zilch in the boat. Hopefully there's still some action left on the canadian side of the river yet if the rain and wind hold off long enough to let the water clear up a bit. heres to hoping theres still one left to be had for the year And heres a couple for Zach... glad you could join me...you got that guiding gene in ya!

Whoops...yeah, what Joe said: 3rd Saturday in June for pures. One too many pops last night I guess. LOL. Tigers are open all winter [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Last day of muskie season is tuesday. It will not be open again until the 3rd Saturday year, so you cannot target Muskie in New York during ice fishing season. Fortunately they are not as active through the ice as pike are but there was some DEC enforcement of some who caught and did not directly release muskie after they were inadvertently caught through the ice (they took pics). They must be immediately released unharmed...no pics etc and you cannot target them. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

all the fish I've seen there in the fall have been in or just off the weedlines. the key is to search out whatever good weeds are left. particularly pond weed. i don't fish there frequently enough to know where those are on any given outing...usually work the weedlines till I find some. I do best using something with a decent vibration-good search bait. I think jerks using a long pause could be good for less active fish if you know what the spots are ahead of time, but they need to go deep so nothing too buoyant. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

hey nice fish! I had heard/read the same thing about the pike turning on the fall, but I too have been skunked many a time in fall not to even see a fish on conesus, but then again there are other times where there are follows and hits coming from multiple spots seemingly all day. I'm no expert, but it seems to me that they turn on and off just like they do in the summer, but in the fall when they turn on, they really turn on. maybe the feeding windows this time of year are longer or more pronounced... by this late in the year, the only time i'm on Conesus is when two things happen simultaneously: 1) dying to fish and just not enough time for the trek to pure muskie waters and 2) have someone with me to help launch with no docks

I''m with Has Been on this one...I rarely break out the round reel unless swinging for the fences, since most of the pike and tigers around here are in the 30s or smaller (too much harvest IMO ). heavy bass spinning or baitcasters with MH rods rated to 1.5 or 3 oz is just easier to cast all day. I prefer the 65lb braid for most every esox, but I do change out the leaders depending on the situation. 80lb fluro attached with a snaploc for pures, but for tigers and pike I like to get more stealthy and tie direct, usually 20 -40 lb flouro 5-7 feet long. as long as the rod has some give to it, it will take the shock of most pike/tigers you'll encounter around here when using the 20lb. unlike muskies, its numbers over size for me playing the pike game

glad I usually wear shades...i could see having to extract the hook point from my eye, given the velocity on some of those hooks when cut [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

don't worry Ray. zach's lures are so well coated that hook rash let alone teeth marks are non issue [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

same thing here...one rip on sunday. first time running 4 rods (finally!). still getting that whole thing worked out tho. running lead core at an intermediate speed the first time out left me a bit confused about the best setup (lead high/braid low or vice versa). oh well its all learning right? casting was unproductive, but then again I don't have the patience or confidence to stick with it long enough. maybe i should have stuck with the initial plan and headed to buffalo lol. thanks for putting the chaut idea in my head bob great fish bob. like zach said, smile was priceless [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

its a great offer, and I have a few days off planned before the end of Nov, but alas, tomorrow is not one of em. sounds like the harbor is still lagging a bit anyway, so best to stick with my original plan. hopefully chaut on sunday and hopeully runnin 4.

I tried it out as well and abandoned it for the reasons you mention Bob. I rather go to a medium gauge of fluoro. Something in the 30-40 range but I often settle for 20 to err on the side of stealth over protection and keep it tied inline on my light duty gear most of the time...that tyger wire doesn't seem all that stealthy to me and if you don't get hit, break offs don't matter [ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Welcome back sol. Glad the fixit man fixed it ok. [ Post made via Mobile Device ]