Sk8man

DSM5578 you have heard from some of the most proficient sport fishermen out there. A lot of valuable information which if this were the old days you might not be privy to it.....something to be carefully mulled over taking time to digest. I'm sure everyone on here has been in the same boat as you at some time in their fishing adventures and that should give you a lot of hope. Fishing Lake O for about 50 years now I've seen the ups and downs of many different aspects and it is worth mentioning there will pretty much always be a time when you don't connect with your hopes or expectations out there, and some of the time it may have nothing to do with you, or doing something wrong, or not doing something you should be doing. When you think of the lake in terms of water VOLUME instead of just distance from shore etc. you realize that there is a seemingly infinite space in which to operate. Some things become readily apparent in that much if not most of the water lack, structure in much of Lake O to hold fish there. Most of the salmon, and steelhead are pelagic which means that they travel for great distances and they don't generally hang around long in one spot (unless maybe food is available there), and they are not generally or necessarily bottom oriented either. One of the above tips mentioned keeping a diary of things that work, the conditions fished etc. and attention to detail. It is just as important when looking at the data recorded over time to note what DOESN'T work. That can serve as the basis for experimentation which can be critical to success when reviewed after a few times out. A lot of times you will hear "fish the marks" which can be valuable too but sometimes it is forgotten in the excitement of locating fish that many of the marks may not be the targeted species....there are many species available out there and a lot of them don't feed on the usual offerings for salmonids. Another frustrating thing is when you do mark fish and they won't hit no matter what you put out there, or how fast or slow you go it can be a matter of target fish that are just not hungry (may have fed previous night) or the wrong species; but the often experienced thought is "Am I doing something wrong?" which can lead to becoming discouraged when in fact it may have nothing to do with your techniques or even anything you are doing. Take into serious consideration the tips given here and experiment with adjustments, record the changes and the results but most of all don't give up hope it is a series of successive approximations to the final result or solution and attention to detail that distinguishes the successful from unsuccessful fishing.

Nice going I have yet to get out....but soon

Great results Anthony and thanks for the report! Cool too that the Elmer Hinckley 88 came through for you. They are great spoons and especially at that speed.

Right as the maximum darkness of the Eclipse happened everything was very still and then the coyotes started howling and kipping like hell here and then quit as it lightened really interesting.

The true flatfish I believe had rather thinner rounded front end. I think these may be Kautsky Lazy Ikes.

Nice work Kevin

Yep but the so-called "live weigh-ins" aren't truly that. I have personally seen dozens of huge dead bass near a launch after tournaments. The live wells may not be the answer when the boat is pounding waves going 50 plus mph and carrying the fish to the scale in bags doesn't do much for their health either. I agree there are also some pluses regarding the environment, and as with the evening news we do tend to get focused on the negatives but they are important.

HB2 is not alone in his concerns and they are valid in light of the current trends. There is going to be some threshold crossed where the brakes will have to be put on and it may have to come from big brother if people are unable to keep from totally ruining the entire fishery. The unfortunate fact is that too many people already ignore the existing limits (still snagging and lifting, taking multiple limits in a day etc.) and disrupting the spawning process (whether treading through rudds in streams, bothering bass on nests, hammering the perch while spawning etc.). There are a lot of things that require a closer look as well as sportsmen adhering to existing regs and need for ethics. "Self-policing" has always been a problem in our society whether relating to fishing or many other things. I'm all for personal choice, and freedom to select techniques, and equipment, but the reality is that our environment IS becoming more fragile and vulnerable and we need too carefully evaluate our own actions in pursuing our hobby (or obsession) so that we have a viable fishery for the next generations.

A whole website could be devoted to this discussion of electronics. Much of it boils down to personal preferences as does much of fishing itself or many like sports. My hunch is that like the video games as things develop further some of the allure will wear off for those not as addicted to it as the current phone stuff has become. As Rick mentioned there is a real difference in the time consumed in learning curve and the time spent riveted to the screen can also relate to missed opportunities in learning fishing basics as well as nuances important to success, as video screens don't actually catch the fish. I remember an instance in 1979 when I first started using my new Heath Kit paper graph recorder I pulled up to the dock after fishing and a lady was standing there and she wondered what the "tv" screen was on my boat and I told it was a "fish finder" and she immediately became incensed and said "that is so unfair to the fish" and you must not be much of a fisherman to need that. I responded "Lady this thing is no guarantee... believe me". I was kinda glad she didn't ask me about my 2 manual Riviera downriggers

Six years later I have no idea. Maybe try to contact garymny to see where he got his? Sorry about that. Also may want to post on here that you are in search of the board as someone may have one that is functional. The old stuff has become as rare as hen's teeth now Good luck.

Yep yesterday the launch at the north end had nearly exposed sandbar out from the dock and about a foot of water at the launch.....undoable even for a small boat

I run three Seth Greens with 5 leaders each all the time solo no problem.

Thanks Bill

I didn't mean to go off on a tangent as far as the gaff use but I figured while we were on the topic of the requirements I'd underscore that they can be very important; especially with unexpected toothy critters. I have had folks ask why they are used on ice and not allowed in boats so I thought seeing a firsthand example would illustrate why they are needed rather than retrieving them with hands etc..

My son had a lesson about having a gaff handy awhile back fishing on Keuka for perch. He caught a 42 inch northern on his 4 lb test jigging rod. I was beyond hearing range from him in the wind when he struggled to land a huge pike without a gaff. He paid for it too. Got all cut up on his hands and then got infected requiring antibiotics. He released the fish (which was probably thinking he got the best of the situation)

"Use and possession of Gaff and Gaff hooks is explicitly prohibited on fresh water in New York State, in the general angling regulations. Maybe regs say you can use them with tip-ups/downs somewhere, but I'm not aware of it. Tip-ups/downs are not considered angling." It's in the regs but it only applies to ICE FISHING.