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Mike M
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Everything posted by Mike M
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Just wish Canada would allow us to come into there waters. We usually start spring king fishing west of the Welland canal. We'll launch at Ft. Niagara and run west looking for warmer water. We never go ashore or drop anchor. My understanding is were still not allowed to do this. Last year was first I can remember that I did not get a Canadian license. Maybe you Canadian fisherman could put some pressure on your officials to let us back in so long as we don't go ashore. We used to get in your derby years ago. I know you have good club thats very active.
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Can I Install a Planer Mast? Or No?
Mike M replied to nomis's topic in Questions About Trout & Salmon Trolling?
I ran big boards on Ontario and Erie for 20-25 years. Could not believe inlines were a better way. About 10 years ago I give inlines a good try. I'll never go back to big boards. One big difference is you gotta get used to watching the boards and not the rods. That was hard for me. I'm convinced that Inlines set up not to release put more fish in the boat. No slack and constant pressure on the fish is why. On my current boat I use track. On starboard and port gunwales theres 48" of traxsteck track. Furthest back on each track is a rigger. Forward of that are 4 adjustable traxstech rod holders. Think this would be a more efficent setup for you. There is some investment into track, rod holders, and inline boards. Lots of choices on track and holders. Cannon,Berts,Cisco,and Traxstech. Think there all good. Really like the Cannon rod holders even though I don't have them. We use Church Walleye boards with Lockjaw releases. The plastic pin on back of board is replaced with a stainless steel pin . We spin the board 5-6 time on the pin before putting line in the Lockjaw. Anyhow thats my HO. Best of luck to you this coming season. Hope its a great one for all of us. -
Its a Yay for me. I've heard alot of positive reviews from people using it. I'm gonna put together 2 combos and give it a try. Never went all in on copper. Just own 1 300 copper. Don't use it that much cause its not user friendly. My fishing partners don't seem to like copper. Know some good captains that said goodbye to coppers and replaced with weighted steel. Gonna try it this year.
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Anyone use stick baits
Mike M replied to jmyers8's topic in Questions About Trout & Salmon Trolling?
Agree on poor quality of Renowskis last few years. I pretty much stopped buying them. I have some that are over 20 years old that are still catching fish. We get rid of all 3 hooks on most sticks and upsize to a #2 mustad KVD triple grip on rear of the stick. Works for Eyes and spring Kings. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United -
Anyone use stick baits
Mike M replied to jmyers8's topic in Questions About Trout & Salmon Trolling?
We will start our early spring salmon fishing running a lot of straight running sticks like renowskis and bombers. This is when surface temperatures are 40-45 degrees. Typically we’re in less then 50 fow. Longer leads on riggers,3 to 5 colors off boards, slide divers on # 3 with 25-40 ft leads. Smelt are around early spring ,sticks look like smelt. As water warms and kings move out to 60-120 fow we’ll switch to spoons and flasher-flys. Usually we start spring king fishing in Wellend canal area or even further west Canadian water. We haven’t been able to go into Canadian water for almost a year. Hopefully this spring we can. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United -
I know the Ninja board is designed not to release until it gets to the boat. Whats it like fighting a big King with the Ninja still attached to the line ? I'm thinking of trying them for running 10 color or 300 weighted steel rods.
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Also have you tried this with any other banana type baits like Kwik fish or Mag Lips? We've been tipping our straight running stick baits (renowskis, bombers, bayrats) for years with a 1/2 a crawler on the back hook. We think the 1/2 crawler gets us more bites vs. no crawler. You got me thinking for next year. I got alot of old banana baits in my basement.
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Yankee @ the Oak 9/26-9/27
Mike M replied to Yankee Troller's topic in New York Fishing Reports - Lake Ontario (South Shore)
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Anyone else having failures of these counters? Bought 3 new 2116 Scottys in 2013. Been real happy with them. All had a counter with a permanent lithium battery in it. Was told by Scotty they lasted double there normal expectancy. They sent me new counters that run on replaceable AAA batteries. Mind you this did not happen all at the same time. The old counters failed one by one over about a 6 week period. Anyhow all 3 new counters sent to me have failed. Scotty has since replaced the 3 failed new counters with 3 new ones. The old counters say made in Canada on the back.. New counters say made in Maylasia on package.Person at Scotty pretty much said the old counters were better.Also said we had a bad batch of a couple hundred new counters. Scotty has been good about covering these under warranty. I'm just sick having problems. I'm at a point where I'm carrying 1 or 2 extra counters on the boat just in case. BTW i had another new one fail today.
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How are the fleas?
Mike M replied to Fishmaster 196's topic in Questions About Trout & Salmon Trolling?
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Don't forget about the rod holders for your new diver rods! Important and expensive decisions to be made on rod holders. On my boat I have 4ft of Traxtech track on each gunnel. That track has my outdown riggers mounted to it plus 4 adjustable traxtech rod holders. Besides running a diver rod from one of the holders on each side the other holders are used for board rods or sometimes we'll run 2 diver rods on each side..Agree with above. Don't go cheap on the diver rods or reels, there gonna get alot of work.Mason or Bloodrun 7 strand is definitely the way to go. Many days divers catch more then 1/2 our days catch. Nothing like a big King smashing a wire diver rod !!
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Boga grip with builtin scale is a great tool to have on boat. Very well made and quite accurate. Mine will out last me.
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I had the TR-1 on my previous boat and loved it . Was a big factor helping to sell that boat. My next, new to me boat I bought another TR-1 and have no regrets. That was in 2013. Best money I have spent on both boats. As far as the EZ-steer setup,leave all the hardware on the kicker and your outdrive. Disconnect the EZ-steer bar and keep it on the boat. If TR-1 ever fails just recconect the EZ-steer bar and continue trolling. As far as parts availability I'm not 100% sure. Talked to Garmin and they did not give me a definitive answer on how long parts would be available. I talked to a marine dealership in pacific NW that has sold and installed probably more TR-1 then any place in USA. Can't remember the name but I wrote it down and will find and post. They made it sound like they have lots of parts that would be available for some time to come. The TR-1 originated from the pacific NW. Company was called Nautimatic marine. My first one I bought directly from them. Garmin bought them out-not sure when. Garmin made no chances or improvements in the TR-1. BTW only component that has failed 20+ years of 2 TR-1s is the pump on my first TR-1. Watching this closely cause I feel someday I'm gonna need parts or need to replace the TR-1. Yes I have read positive reviews on the Reactor 40 AP. If it was me, and they would discount the TR-1 heavally I'd go for it.
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I called the # on that public advisory. Was told this is about recreational boaters crossing borders is now banned. It’s misleading the way it reads. We can still social distance on our boats and fish in NY waters. Called Coast Guard too and they confirmed no ban on recreational boating. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
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Hughes 3/28
Mike M replied to chowder's topic in New York Fishing Reports - Lake Ontario (South Shore)
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Good topic. Years ago before EVERYONE had a cell phone there was lots of chatter on the VHF radio. Its very quiet now and personally I don’t like it. The purpose of your VHF is safety. Your supposed to all ways be monitoring 16 even if it’s on scan. We all need to get back to this. Cell phones are not dependable especially on the open lake. I miss the days when I’d get info on the radio to help the days catch. I’ve made some friends on the radio. But # purpose is safety! The radio got me towed in once by CG. Another time by a fisherman 20 years ago and he’s still my friend.Yeah,turn the radio on even if u just leave it on 16. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United
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I would find a reputable prop shop in your area work with them. My current new to me boat had wrong prop on it when I bought it. Local prop shop let me test 2 different props by giving them a deposit. What a difference when I got right prop on the boat. BTW , I do not like stainless steel props on a fishing boat. No need for it. If you ding something with a SS prop its just gonna cost more $$$ cause you probably have lower unit damage too. Aluminum props are easily repaired.
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Advice on where to Stay & Launch to fish Niagara Bar
Mike M replied to Hacrwj's topic in Open Lake Discussion
I’m local. A place I’ve heard good things about is the Lakeview motel in Youngstown NY. 716-791-8668. It’s in a good location to launch at either Ft. Niagara state park or Tuscarora state park in Wilson. Hard to say where best fishing will be that time in May. Checkout Lakeview motel on line. I’ve heard it’s fishermen friendly. I’m gonna try PM you with more info. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United -
Mr clean's Fair Haven Report
Mike M replied to mrclean's topic in New York Fishing Reports - Lake Ontario (South Shore)