My hunch is that the critical factor in designing them so the inside board is set back slightly may be on inside turns and the leading edge shifts emphasis to the inside maybe as the bow moves that way?
It is possible that the rain and higher winds will be in the afternoon so maybe the morning will be doable. Things can change drastically sometimes so we'll just have to wait to see until closer to Sunday as we're still pretty far out from that point yet.
I sure didn't mean to scare anyone....just the opposite really. A little information sometimes can go along way towards eliminating problems or obstacles. We just need to prepare a bit if the weather actually does throw us a curve. My hunch is we will be able to fish it so the above info was intended mainly just as an "FYI" for anyone not familiar fishing the Fingers. Magill has the right attitude and idea
A couple things come to mind here especially for folks perhaps either new to fishing or the Finger Lakes scene....first of all the weather folks have been off quite a bit this season and especially with the long range projections so the picture could change markedly either way. Secondly, if the winds are strong and it is still safe to get out folks should reconsider how they fish with the existing conditions. While the use of inline boards, long toplines and long coppers may be great or tempting in decent or even marginal conditions, in rough water with moderate to heavy boat traffic in prime water it may not be a great idea and less can be more in this situation. The main thing about rough water conditions and a lot of wind is boat control and trolling speed; not necessarily how big a boat you have, and whether you can do what you want or need to do out there. Safety is paramount wherever you fish so a little thinking and preparation beforehand is a good idea and having a plan B for fishing is also advisable. Something to be aware of regarding fishing the larger Finger Lakes like Cayuga and Seneca in heavy wind conditions is that unlike Lake O with its "rollers" the wave characteristics on these lakes can be quite different as they tend to be shorter in distance between them yet can be relatively high amplitude wise; which means that in a small open bow boat they can come over the bow, transom or gunwales easier. Just something to be aware of if you haven't had much experience in these particular bodies of water. Folks just have to maintain a healthy respect for these waters and use good common sense during marginal wind/storm conditions and things should be fine.
Another way of looking at things is that Lady Luck may level the playing field a bit given these natural "challenges". Lets not overlook the importance of getting together and doing something we all love and being able to BS about it afterward
I'm with Wes on it....lets have a real challenge. I won't decide how to fish it until the last moment....cmon..makes it more exciting (as long as it is safe)
These guys have given you some real good info. The spawners often aren't as hungry as usual so sometimes it helps to "agitate" them sort of like with the staging or spawning kings. Try some wobbly lures like flatfish type, jointed rapala type or heavy wobbly spoons trolled way behind the boat near stream mouths or harbor entrances.
Good one Wes It was worth a try
I too look forward to meeting with you and other LOU members. I also know how special that bond with a son is as I have been fishing with mine since he was 2 1/2 years old and I felt terrible about your son's passing. I'm sure he will be looking down from above and squeezing for you this weekend and it is a great way to honor his memory
Yup ...I was just adding those couple of points to his for folks that might not think about those things as variables as I didn't think about them when I bought my Explorer and then had to go bigger
Good to know that it doesn't "tailwag the dog" which for me was a matter of the wheelbase width of vehicles with only a 3300 lbs load. I had to shift from an Explorer Eddie Bauer all wheel drive to a 4 wheel drive Expedition because of it. Tongue weight distribution is crucial to trailering properly too and can create its own set of problems if not adjusted correctly
Hey you guys don't take all tjhose big fish out of there before the thing next weekend. I'm jealous of your opportunity to get out there today. Good luck!
There are advantages to the big boards but also disadvantages. I used to use them even back to the 70's but these smaller Walleye boards are hard to beat because you don't need the mast etc. setup and these smaller inlines are much easier to manipulate in "traffic" and run in real shallow. Regardless of what method is preferred being able to get out away from boat turbulence is what it is all about and either method catches fish when used right.
Twinmotors try using the Walleye boards rather than the TX 44's if using 100-300 coppers. They retrieve easier and run fine even with a 10 color leadcore. If they dive on you they are easier to retrieve too. I seldom use my TX 44's anymore.