mostlymuskies

I have decided to not to return to Chautauqua Lake anymore for this year,will spend remainder of the musky season on the Upper Niagara River.I will also miss the 1st to 15th of December Canadian Waters Upper Niagara River part of the season.I will be in Costa Rica looking at the possibility of doing Rooster fish Guide Trips there in April every year.

We started out up north again this morning,winds were about 20 mph out of the South East and waves were 2 ft + white caps.Barometric Pressure was still stick at 30:35!So at noon we decided to quit and go home to watch the Bill's game.I talked to fishermen from 6 other boats,all were like us Skunked!

We spent most of the day up north,covered the Flats,Dewittvile,Bell Tower,Prendergast Point,Witney Bay,Long Point and Tom's Point,no hits!We went South at 2 pm and more of the same,no hits.We quit at 8:10 pm.I hate East winds & high barometric pressure of 39:35 that is steady.Water surface temp 68 degrees up north and 69 degrees down south.Back out on the water again tomorrow morning.

We got out from 4 pm to 7 pm,down south we caught one small 34"muskie before the winds changed to east,then it shutdown.Back out for a full day tomorrow.

Out of 76 muskies this year so far I have not seen any fin rot on any fish from Chautauqua Lake that were caught by clients on my boat.

Pro-fish-n-c,I have seen parts and all of the tail section that looked like it rotted right off on Chautauqua Lake Muskies 3 to 4 years ago,caught three that were like that.

Steve,Where the tail section was missing on your nice tiger,was it an open sore like rot or was it healed over?Just curious if it was the same tail rot disease like I seen on a couple Chautauqua muskies 3 or 4 years ago.

Steve,Did you get Toothy to spring for the Ontario Fishing License yet? Best fishing is infront of a Marina is at the one most SW on Grand Island,but your in Canadian waters 10 ft off the Marina!

A muskie charter with me and you could learn the spots to be in quick time!

Slapshot,The best muskie fishing has been at night.We are mostly trolling 13 to 14 ft edges coming off waters of 20 ft or deeper.Depthraiders,Hi-Fin Trophy Divers,Legend Perchbaits,Believers,Muskie Candies and 5 1/2" Wiley's trolled slow up stream or cross stream angle never going over 3 mph down stream or 2 mph up stream. You could drift and twitch crankbaits as well or toss top waters at creek mouths.

Today started out by total fog out until 10 am,then bluebird sky,mirror glass water surface and 30:35 barometric pressure.Marked lots of big hooks 20 down over 32 to 35 ft of water up north but none active.At 2 pm we went South and the water was very green with a few algae peas mixed in,but marked lots of big hooks mostly in 14 to 15 ft of water,but no.action.Then out of no where the wind that was very light out of the NE turned NW and went up to 20 mph,instant 2 to 3 ft waves,but v also instant action.35" off right board and 34" off the left board.The left board went under water on a big wave and broke off the rodholder.Rod went over and I thaught I lost everything until the inside rod on that side went off,it hooked the overboard rod with fish.So we recovered the rod combo,board and 34" muskie.Started moving to set out lines and before I could get the 2nd line out ,the 1st rod went off a smaller 29 1/2" muskie.Finally got all 6 rods back out and we caught a nice 41" muskie on the inside down rod.Then the wind died out and back to washing lures till dark.69 degrees surface water up North and 72 degrees down South.Home for a day and a half,back on the water mid day Friday thru Thursday next week.

I took a nap from 1:30 to 4 pm and headed back on the water.First 29.5"er 4:15 pm,41" at 6:05 pm,one more short rip at 6:18 pm.Back in for dinner and 6 am start tomorrow.Water surface temp at 72 degrees north and 76 degrees south.

We started today at 6:45 am up north just past Bell Tower.Unbelievable at 7:30 am muskies started rolling on the surface all around us.Quickly shortened lines to 60 ft of leadcore and caught a 35"er quickly,followed by a 39"er,then a 34"er and we lost a bigger muskie half way to the boat.Then the wind stopped and it turned like a mirror surface and it shut right off.Clients had to quit at 1 pm.Back out tomorrow morning.

Started today at 7 am down south,marked next to nothing no bait fish & no hooks.Water surface temp was 65.5 degrees.Went north did not mark any bait fish or hooks until 23 ft of Irwing Bay.All the big hooks were mostly tight to the bottom.We went 12 hours before we finally caught a 37"er in Witney Bay 21 ft.Very tough day after cold front East to NE winds,and 6 degree water temp drop over night.Back out in the morning.

Prendergast Launch is very shallow,washed in with sand.Also all of Chautauqua Lake is down about 20"!

You need to move to 85 ft off Brockton Shoal,Golbie colored Bay Rats on dipsy 165 out #2 setting was what worked best Thursday.

Beautiful Tiger Pix!

I use to like Molson XXX until I blew my galblader out consuming mass quanities.Now I except not having any alcohol at all.More boat gas money!

The regulars that have been fishing at night have still been catching muskies and it is starting to even pick up with a little more action with the water temp dropping 5 degrees to 72 degrees.I will be back out on the Niagara River tomorrow night now that the water temp has dropped back down to where catching & releasing muskies will be successful.