stoutner

YOU EITHER HAVE REALLY SMALL FEET OR A REALLY BIG FISH

Hal, Those pancake style weights were a nightmare on my Trophy. I gave them away and bought those 12lb torpedos off of Troutman. They run really great behind my boat. Good luck. I'm sure you'll figure it out. By the way, I just started running a couple of Chamberlains and really like them so far....allthough the Blacks are fine.

I think PP is actually Ray K in disguise just trying to stir things up

Paul, Thanks for the info. I guess my "complaints" had a positive effect which is a good thing. I am 99% sure the contact info was just installed at http://www.lakeontarioproam.net/contact-info/ within the last day or two. It was not there last week or even on Monday as far as I know but I am not 100% sure. The ability to contact these guys with questions is really all I ask. I was totally frustrated last week before the tourney when I could not find any of the contact info. As an apology...and/or a thank you for getting this corrected I am going to contact Chris Kenyon to see if I can help with the Wayne County event. If I cannot, I will at least have my business donate a prize or a little cash toward the event and try to turn this into a positive. Wayne Stoutner

Paul....I guess the 2pm thing would be my preference. By the way, the lake was calmed down at 9am. Waiting around even for 4 hours with "no decision" just really gets to me. I hate airports and long lines at the DMV too

I agree with everything you guys are saying and yes I just wanted to vent a little. I stand by my complaints as I know they are legitimate complaints and some are very easily fixed. I didn't see any of the directors or committee members jump in and answer any of my questions though. Questions like who runs it?, who holds the money?, who makes the decisions?, and who could receive constructive suggestions? I did not say anything at all during the event because I don't think or was the right time or place. And quite honestly I had a pretty good time even though the weather just ruined it to some extent. I would consider helping with the Sodus event since my boat is there and that is my home port. I can't volunteer though because I have no idea who to volunteer to???? Get my point? I'm sure the last thing these volunteers want is to hear crap from a guy like me and I'm sorry if I come off that way. I just don't like being in the dark more than anything. P.S. I have run many golf tournaments and golf leagues as well as served on several boards of directors for non-profits. It IS a thankless job and do understand that you will make 50% happy and the other 50% will be unhappy. It truly is a thankless job.

Although I came off like I disagreed, I actually think it was a wise decision to not go during the small craft advisory. My point is that it should be clearly stated in the rules and posted prior to the beginning of the event for everyone to see. The decision to postpone it every two hours to wait and see what the coast guard said was a poor one. They should have just cancelled it until 2pm and made it a go if the advisory was lifted and a no go if it was not. That way, guys could have went home or went and did something else other than standing around the marina all day.

Paul, I agree with you about the attitude...nobody needs that especially since they were dealing with some trying circumstances. I saved all my comments until today. The issue is the complete lack of foresight from a committee that is supposed to have vast experience with this tournament. Although I can't really say that because it is apparently a top secret on who actually runs the tournament or who sits on the committee. I guess the good ole boys network that is established knows but I don't since it is not published anywhere that I can find. The committee is trying to increase participation yet keeps all of the details about the event under wraps. Who holds the money? Who sits on the committee? Where is that rule written about the small craft advisory? This is not rocket science yet it amazes me that it was mass confusion when the small craft advisory was in effect. It's not like it is unusual to have a small craft advisory on Lake O. Why was it such chaos Saturday morning? It was totally uncalled for if the rules were clear before the event started. Why now are guys on L.O.U. coming up with way better ideas to determine whether to fish or not based on data bouys and real time info? Additionally, the directors brought it on themselves. If there was in fact some top secret rule about the small craft advisory then why did they announce at 5 am that they were going to physically go out in a boat and check the conditions at 6 am? I assume they did so and found that conditions were fine. Yet, at 7am they reverted back to the "small craft advisory" statement. That whole situation could not have been handled worse. Bottom line is this. If that is going to be the rule, clearly state it and stick by it. If a small craft advisory is in effect at 5am on the day of the event then event is called off til 2pm. At 2pm if still in effect it is called of for the day....period. The participants should then be allowed to go fishing for fun or side bets or a Big Fish Event at 5:01 am as long as they were back in port by 2pm. At least this way you wouldn't have hundreds of guys sitting around with nothing to do all pissed off because of some poor decision made by the top secret good ole boys tournament directors.

To be fair Erskin. The Open division is just that...."Open" They may have had weekend warriors like you and I in mind but it was stated as Open and I have no problem with it. You are never ever going to please everyone so in this case I think they did what they thought was best. I personally would rather see it as "open division boats 27' and under".

Don't get me started.... Oooops. to late you already did. I fished in the Open division and prior to the event I had a few questions that needed to be answered. I went to http://www.lakeontarioproam.net/ to find contact in fo and there was none to be found. I also was wondering where the Captains meeting was to be held and wanted to know if I needed to attend so I went to this link http://www.lakeontarioproam.net/captains-info/ and found no info at all. I then went to this link http://www.lakeontarioproam.net/niagara/ and found the info for last year. So, with no info on where to go, when to be there, where to weigh in etc I trailered my boat to beautiful Olcott NY for BFF early Friday AM. Decided not to sign up because it was too snotty for my boat. Friday night around 9PM I received a call from Bill H. from the tournament. seemed like a nice enough guy and informed me that "if a small craft advisory is in place at 5 am the event would be cancelled for al boats all divisions." He said to check channel 16 at 5am for an announcement. Great! I got down to the docks ready to fish and they announce that there is in fact a small raft advisory and that they would send a boat out at 6 am to check things out and would make an announcement at 7 am. So, being in the open division and not really having any rules other than weigh in my 3 biggest fish somewhere in Olcott or Wilson by 12:30 I thought....what the heck. Lets go fishing. The rules for the Open were Any port on Lake O start at any time as long as you weighed in by 12:30. My thoughts were this.... I could be fishing out of Rochester or Sodus or even Oak Orchard and not have heard the radio transmission so it must be "legal" for me to go fishing. So, off we went at about 5:30. Got out of port and found waves to be 1 or 2 footers with an occasional larger roller but actually pretty good fishing. Around 6 AM I see this boat go out of port and head 3 or 4 miles offshore. I assumed that was the boat that was "checking things out". The boat did return to port and at 7 am they announced that the small craft advisory was still in effect and another 2 hour delay was in order. I had to laugh as we were out in pretty calm waters just fishing away and having the whole lake to ourselves. A couple more hours pass and we really couldn't find the fish and we didn't go out past 200 FOW. The wind started to pick up and the waves and rollers started to get bigger. We decided to call it a day around 9:30 or so I think. Since we saw the waves and wind pick up we decided to just say screw it and gambled that they would not fish on Saturday. We drove 150 miles home and slept in our own beds that night. I read Motoman's post and would have been reallllly pissed If I were him. I originally thought about fishing Sodus or Rochester and just driving up with my box of fish. Man would I have been pissed if I wasted my time and gas money. Sunday went off without a hitch as far as I know but quite honestly the seas were way rougher Sunday than they were on Saturday. I'm assuming that most of the guys running this event are volunteers. If so, I am not going to be too rough on them other than to say that if you are going to volunteer to do it....do it right. Not half assed like this event was run. A good start would be to add the rules, location of the weigh in, location of the captains meeting, contact info, and tournament committee members contact info on the website. Please tell me if I'm wrong???? Last but not least.... This was the first time I have been to Wilson or Olcott and I must say the ports/marinas, tackle shops, and restaurants we went to were really great. That Newfane town marina was really nicely set up....Much nicer than anything in Sodus and on par with Oswego. We also had a great time meeting some of you guys and talking to some other guys that we only see once or twice a year. I gues the point of the evnt is to spur tourism in Niagara County and to that end I was impressed.

Water is all screwed up due to the winds. Have to go really far offshore to get to good water or stay in close and chase browns ... but then the weeds will get you. Go somewhere else until the water stabilizes. Or go out to 550 deep and start fishing. [ Post made via Android ]

The forecast I'm seeing doesn't look as bad as the one you posted but it's not much better. If this forecast holds true I will be able to fish in my little 22' boat but any more than this will be a nice donation to teams with a bigger boat. Friday: E wind 16 to 19 kt increasing to 22 to 25 kt in the afternoon. A chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 7am. Waves 2 ft building to 5 ft. Better get out in the morning before the winds pick up and get 3 big ones for B.F.F. Friday Night: E wind 18 to 23 kt becoming SSE 9 to 12 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Waves 6 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less. I'll be sitting at the Motel if anything over 3's show up. Saturday: SSW wind 17 to 20 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Waves 2 to 3 ft. Doable but sucks for a 22' boat. Saturday Night: WSW wind 17 to 20 kt decreasing to 13 to 16 kt after midnight. A chance of showers. Waves 3 to 4 ft. Sunday: W wind 11 to 13 kt. A chance of showers. Waves around 2 ft. Doable....hopefully the fish will still be around.

Great job Nick. Good seeing you again. If you ever get any free time and want to go out on Lake O (Sodus) for some big Kings, let me know. My boat is always rigged and ready to go!

Jeremy, Congrats on that 9 lb'er on Friday. I couldn't get anything over 6 on Friday. That $200 was a pretty sweet start to the weekend though! We took 4th place in the Female division and won a crisp $50 for the derby. 2nd year in a row we cashed. Just wished we cashed bigger

Great job and great pics. Nice meeting you on Friday.... and good seeing everyone.

Good job Jason, Did you steal tha hat from Carl

Wake up again. Time to catch a beast! [ Post made via Android ]

60 to 70 down..... wake up! Time to fish! [ Post made via Android ]

Bring it on old saggy balls man. [ Post made via Android ]

In for both days.

That wil be just fine. I spoke with Nick tonight about it. See everyone at 7 - 730 pm. Wayne

Dave.... I'm not very encouraged about your report. These past few clear calm days seem to have shut the fish right down.

Anyone else????

If your going to drive all of the way to Elmira, think about going up to Warren's Hook Line & Sinker in Sodus Point. Same distance as going to Elmira. ....or, Bass Pro in Auburn also about the same distance. Warren's is a much better shop than Bass Pro for trolling tackle. They have a HUGE selection for fingerlakes/Lake O trolling gear. All of these places are about and hours drive from Dresden. Never been to Roy's Marina but that is definitely the closest. To find Warrens just follow the Route 14 signs north until you hit Lake O. Warrens will be on your left hand side