Sk8man

My comment was directed specifically to the Seneca derby that ended yesterday and because many of the money fish were caught with iive bait (the winning brown still had the hook snell in his mouth when I saw him) so I naturally thought you were referring to that . I guess sometimes it helps to carefully pose your question so that folks don't misunderstand. This is a lot of potential drama about nothing and as Nick mentioned the vagueness of the question may be the problem here.

It certainly wasn't and isn't my intention in the above post.

You'll be getting a lot of "personal preferences" regarding this issue. A lot depends on what you will be using the wire on (e..g. twilli or roller tip/guides) and how you will be running it (ie. with what at the end and how deep etc.). The 19 strand wire has finer filaments and is probably more resistant to friction at the tip but it may be harder to detect when it is beginning to fail (fray) and because it is more "rounded" may be less likely to kink. The larger the diameter of the wire the less it cuts through the water well and "blow back" becomes an issue. Normally 7 strand ss wire is commonly used on Lake O with wire diver setups but some folks use the 19 strand and swear by it. Something to be aware of is the fact that the 30 lb stainless 7 strand wire can or will cut through the side plates of cheap (aluminum side plate with ss roller insert) roller tips when the rod is at an improper angle but with a twilli tip it should make no difference. The 19 strand is said to have less wear on the rollers and guides. As far as brand names go you may wish to check for tensile strength of the various brands as they vary considerably according to a chart I saw a while back. One additional thing to consider is the reel you will be using and the space opening at the side of the spool between the side plate. I recently tried using 30 lb ss wire instead of the 60-90 I have used for years on a Penn 309 (Seth Green rig not wire dipsey) and quickly got reminded of why I used the larger diameter in the first place....the 30 lb wrapped around the spindle as it fit through at the side of the spool. It did it repeatedly (so it wasn't a "fluke") and I had to scrap the brand new wire as each time I had to cut it out to free up the reel.

No need to set the hook if the hooks are sharp. Many times folks don't check them or sharpen them as needed....it makes a huge difference. The slack from the downrigger needs to be taken up quickly especially when fished deep or sliders are attached. From then on steady pressure from reeling them in does the trick if the hooks are sharp. I have long ago replaced nearly all trebles with single stainless xxx Siwash salmon hooks and seldom lose a fish with them. One of the problems with trebles is that in certain places in the mouth the cartilage is very hard and if the fish clamps down on all three hooks deep penetration is not achieved and the third hook on the treble can also be used to work the other two free while a single will usually hook over and behind the cartilage or fully penetrate it. Additionally singles save time getting fish out of the net and releasing them as they don't catch in the net as readily as trebles.

I think most of the folks out there would agree that first of all it is a long standing trout derby and before I had a boat and was into trolling I fished it from shore with live bait and then from a buddy's boat still fishing with live bait then into trolling and my own boat. It is a very successful method of fishing for trout especially large ones. Still fishing and jigging by knowledgeable fishermen are usually the most effective ways to catch them once fish are located and if it came down to having to survive by catching fish that is what I'd be doing. The derby for my son and I represents a tradition over many years and the fun for us is bonding and doing diverse things and trying new methods and lures and traveling through different water and the excitement of hearing the drag go out not knowing what might be on the other end. I have spent many many hours sitting on shore and also from a boat waiting for the line to go out with live bait and having to frequently have to let down and pull up your anchor a million times trying to connect with the fish. To me it is a very boring way to fish these days. For those who consider it unfair I would relate what a lady (non fisherperson) once said to me back in the 70's at a a lunch ramp on Seneca when she saw my new Heath Kit graph recorder in my little 13 ft. Whaler - "That is so unfair... those fish don't have a chance and you should be ashamed of yourself" (true story). This was not a trollers derby pure and simple but not everyone out there a has a boat or the necessary equipment to fish the way many of us prefer to do. In the past folks including kids have placed in the derby with fish caught from shore or docks along the lake shore (e.g. seawall at north end etc. using live bait and they have just as much right as anyone to fish with their preferred or in some cases only method to have a chance of catching something so the issue isn't limited to just experienced fishermen using live bait to "get the upper hand" on trollers. Everyone deserves a chance if they put up their money and this is truly in the spirit of this particular derby it is often a family event not a highly competitive formal "tournament".

Nice landlock Rollie ,Yeah I missed that one Alec.

Nice shot of the lighthouse Nick and Theresa. Best of luck this season.

Good going Jason. You sure did better than anyone else I've talked with that was out there today.

Lively I think you can take whatever Hank says to the bank....he really knows what he is talking about

I think it may be noted that over the years not every one has had a boat or launched they used to heavily fish from shore along the seawall and off the rocks at the Chamber even etc. and wait until 6 AM to throw their lines in so in terms of consistency I would think it refers to lines in the water and not "launch time".

Hi Dre -A couple of things involved I think. I don't think the 6 AM start time on the first day refers to when you launch it is when you put your lines in the water. This may become real important in the event that you win or place highly because you are subject to a polygraph test (which I used to think was just to scare folks into doing the right thing) but apparently it is one of the questions asked (did you start before 6AM? ) according to a friend I know who was administered the polygraph so it isn't just a "scare tactic" the wrong answer could disqualify someone. Good luck out there tomorrow.

I know I guess I am a glutton for punishment

Those south end guys are probably still blowing up their fake fish and blow up dolls comeon...where is all the usual trash talking? Maybe its nap time out there....

Dave I had the same thing with my 2 stroke 9.9 intermittently and I narrowed it down to a couple of things the gas/oil mixture and the lean/rich setting on the motor itself. I had to play with it to get it right (the lean rich knob) but the air thing may be a distinct possibility I know sometime when I would forget to open the air intake on the tank itself it would run erratically too. I'd try looking at those things before spending the $$ on a new tank . Good luck with it.

Welcome to LOU. I think you will find a lot of good info on this site and some very helpful people. Good luck fishing

You're welcome Pap have a great season!

Yes Nick is correct.....over the years the two have cycled back and forth and although many factors appear to be involved I wonder about the lamprey populations impacting the fishing in each of them. Lately I have noticed some pretty big adult lampreys on the lakers in Seneca and those adults can do some real damage on the fish over time. I haven't seen many juvenile lampreys and that is a good sign if accurate. On the downside I haven't been seeing nearly as many juvenile fish either.The presence of many juvenile lampreys may signal a real concern for upcoming years on Cayuga. Hope fully the lack of them on Senecamay reflect the fact that the previous lampracide treatments are taking effect on Seneca now but those adults have quite a long life cycle too.