Sk8man

digitroll - good comeback with the automatic vs. manual transmission but I'd also ask if you are stuck in mud or a snowbank which would you be glad to have to get your butt out ? I can also do a lot of steering myself despite fishing solo for the two grand for an autopilot I too use whatever technological advancements I can afford and they certainly "help". The case I was making is that many folks (especially those just starting out) who may be viewing things here can get the idea that this stuff is "indispensable" and "essential" to catching any fish when that is not actually the case. There are many very successful fishermen on here that don't own either device that are still "whacking" them and I just thought someone should mention that in the midst of the discussion. I'm as interested in the info in this thread as anyone.

Back in the mid seventies we used flashers (depth finders) to locate fish and a manual fishawk thermometer on a reel to determine where the thermocline was located and tried to fish accordingly. We caught quite a few fish and also the same with manual downriggers etc. Prior to that we used markings at intervals on the anchor rope to find depth for stillfishing for trout (which is why my arms are still sore today ). When I managed to get my first Heathkit graph that had to be hand assembled by my dad in 1976 or so I remember a woman saying "That is very unfair....those fish don't have any chance at all now and that is poor sportsmanship" The point I am getting to is that we get increasingly dependent on the technological side of this sport and the newest and greatest "gizmo" and if you are chartering it may be very desirable to go this route but there are a lot of folks who frequent this website that may or may not be able to afford this stuff that is being presented as "necessary" to catching fish successfully. I would say to the newbies viewing these things learn the basics of trolling and fishing before getting all wrapped up in the technology. Learning the basic skills such as learning to troll in the most productive directions, looking for signs of currents, watching for changes in wind direction and speed, gauging the angle of your lines and position of rod tips, paying close attention to details in all that you do while out there and the results of your actions and watching other more experienced anglers closely etc. If you fail to learn these basics all the technology in the world isn't going to put you consistently on fish. The technological advancements can "fine tune" or supplement these skills......and....what do you do when the technology breaks down or doesn't function properly?

I just ordered a set today of the Firebelly jacket and Toadskin pants My more than 20 year old Goretex rain suit was losing some of its repellency but I guess i got my money's worth out of it

Can't put your nose too close to it mark

The search for "Seneca Gold" is sort of like prospecting for real gold and the locations of the "mines" are hard to come by from veteran local fishermen. This time of year and given where you are launching from I'd say try right in Glass Factory Bay just to the north of Roy's (near where the Geneva Country Club is) and start out in 15 -20 ft of water and drift around looking for them. Go deeper if you can't locate them in shallow. They can be anywhere this time of year. Softshell crabs (expensive if you can even find them use half at a time) or small grass crabs, left over spikes or fat head minnows usually work either on small jigs or just with usual double hook and line set ups with sinker at bottom. depending on wind/wave conditions can either drift for them or try to locate and then anchor away from them and cast back into them. They spook easily in the clear water and shallow and electric trolling motors can help. Good luck.

Yeah and don't be anywhere near the water on weekends at night because there are a lot of drunks running at full speed without lights (seriously)

Lake Superior has the greatest average depth

They are productive spoons with very durable and creative paint jobs and both sizes work well on Lake O.You might want to get some of both sizes. If you are looking for greater selection or variety in spoon action and shape as well as good durable paint consider also Great lakes Lures which have been highly effective for me in both the Finger Lakes and Lake O. They are both high quality spoons by local guys and they deserve our support.

I think there are some previous threads on here that discuss some of the points you mention in detail. There are a number of fishermen that think there is too much bait in Lake O right now. Chinook salmon are pretty much the apex predator in Lake O right now and they are real good at getting enough to eat . The life span for lakers may be 30 plus years from what I've heard. They are a native cold water species whereas the chinook are much more of a warmer water species in their native habitat. In general colder water species usually have a slower growth rate and longer life spans than warm water species with higher growth rates although there are exceptions to that (e.g. sharks etc.). The situation of the Atlantics is a much more complicated puzzle than food sources and even the fisheries departments on both sides of the pond don't fully understand it although they have some ideas about what might be going on (e.g. spawning problems, stream access, competition factors etc. etc.). In any case it may not be just one thing but a whole complex of issues. Just my take on it others may have other views and points. As far as the fishing goes it is always off and on and June is traditionally a tough month for fishing before and while the temps are setting up. Depending on where you fish there have been some good salmon and steelie fishing results (and lakers) again "off and on" and locating the fish is nearly always at the heart of it. The next few weeks may tell more of the story when the thermocline and water temperatures fully set up.

I still fish solo a lot and in days past I used to even winter fish on Seneca Lake with a snowmobile suit and heavy boots in the middle of snow storms (much younger and more foolish) without a life jacket. Then during the mid to late eighties one of my buddies who was a charter captain went out solo there during the summer and I was the last guy to talk with him at the launch ramp. His empty boat was found washed up near shore hours later. We searched for him for many hours unsuccessfully that day and he was found in 8 ft of water the next day by divers and reportedly his zipper was down. It was a real lesson for me and something that haunts me to this day. The way i look at it now is even if something happens out there you have a "chance" and at least if things went really bad they would find you so that your family would have some closure.....The not knowing would be horrible for family.

Wow at least mine (Fishawk) had a depth indicator and a spool winder on it All i remembered in seeing one of those Lowrance units years ago is the slide was on the front and I think the probe line was real light colored and somehow wound around the center? I tried anyway

Sounds as though one is for "zeroing" and one for up and one for down. Probably all you need is a known (and reliable) temp source to compare with.