Sk8man

Thanks Mike best of luck fishing this week.

He would have a VERY large family Ed ......and some funny looking relatives as well

Still have company or probably would be out there too....good going Mike....just great to be out on such a beautiful day.

Geez and here all this time I was thinking that tiller control was the latest technology

I agree with Wes Ed....don't give him what he wants (to bug you) He obviously has some "issues".

We launched from Sampson at about 8 AM. On board were two friends from Michigan and a retired former VP of Yamaha Outboard division (in my Merc driiven Whaler no less ). We dropped in 6 lines - a couple downriggers with sliders and spoons, 2 wire dipsey rigs one with a wonderbread flasher/fly and one with green and glow E chip flasher and fly a 250 copper with dipsey and echip flasher off inline board and a 6 color leadcore with stickbait weighted with 2 oz weight. Before I had all the lines in the port side downrigger fired with a rainbow jumping wildly with a great Lakes Firetiger spoon (slider) in his mouth. Took his pic and returned him and he took off great. We marked a lot of fish that looked like lakers suspended off bottom and some fish up higher (50-60 ft) in 88 to 130 ft out in front of the chute but no takers despite messing with them at various speeds turns etc....just not interested. Went south against the SW wind which had some rollers initially and we went about even with the barge on east side going north marking fish sporadically along the way and again no takers. Trolled deeper and changed out everything ran 2 coppers, 2 downriggers, 2 dipseys off boards, 2 dipseys off sides still nothing. Ran out deep just south of barge in 470 ft water and connected with 5 lb landlock that jumped 4 times and even skipped across the water trying to shake the hook (on 8 ft.slider....again on a Great Lakes spoon (green and yellow KW with white underside) released him at side of boat unharmed. Decided to try Seth Green rigs out deep so two 5 leader rigs at sides with small to medium spoons after about an hour of up and downs with the rigs had the drag go out and 3-4 lb rainbow on first leader (about 70 ft. down on deeper rig). After lengthy time reviving at side of boat fish released and he slowly swam off. The entire time as we went north each time the grass got worse and worse. A few "patched" out in the middle but much better than at about the 100 ft or so along the east side. We spent quite a bit of time clearing the lines from grass but the fleas were minimal even on the braid, leaders or mono. We had one other hit on the rig out deep but gone almost immediately and that was it. Quit at 3 PM. Had a great busting each other and a few practical jokes some at my expense too . Previous to arriving at Sampson I told the guys that the launch should be "quiet" as the season is winding down at the park and nothing much going on there. When we pulled into the park just before the museum the place had hundreds (if not thousands) of cars about 12 very large (circus size tents) and hundreds of people milling around with dogs and security people directing traffic,,,,some MAJOR dog show going on.....of course I heard about how nothing much went on at the park throughout the day Only goiot the chance for one fish pic and it was of the smallest rainbow. The landlock was colored up but no chance for pic.

Cool Mike....nothing like breaking them in early and when the weather is nice.

Nice going and great fish....once again persistence pays off

Yes even my 18 is that way. I had a guy do a new acrylic mooring cover for my Whaler a couple years ago and he quoted me the price over the phone without actually seeing the boat. I later left the boat off to be done and when I came back for it he said "man...you got me price wise on this job....that boat is the size of a 20 footer".

Yes Mike I fished with Jason Theresa and Scout We had a good time despite the conditions. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to connect...we were right under the gun time wise at the weigh in and it got kinda hectic there for a bit. Hopefully in the near future. Unfortunately I'll be in California during the next one on my home territory (Canandaigua). Your win really pointed up the importance of being persistent as well as being flexible in your approach with adverse conditions....My hat is off to you and your teamates for pulling off a good win. The general results also highlighted the fact that there is an over abundance of very small lakers in the lake....some of them took on lures half their size Likewise John (Nautitroller) and that was one heck of a smallie you had....rivaled many of the trout weighed. I think the general results also pointed up the difficulty of getting really big trout from Keuka these days (vs. the "old days") but I was also encouraged to see at least one nice landlock and a few rainbows. It probably also speaks to the fact that some very experienced and accomplished fishermen were at it.

Congrats Mike ...everyone really earned their fish yesterday.....tough conditions and tough bite for most. Here is what the water looked like for those of you who didn't fish